Remembering former PM Rajiv Gandhi: A man of equanimity, vision and values
He would have turned 77 today. The accidental, reluctant and young Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, piloted the destiny of India during the tumultuous ’80s. The beginning of his political innings was traumatic and the end tragic. But he showed exemplary equanimity and dignity and infused new confidence in the life of the nation.
I’m fortunate to have worked with him closely. In essence, he was charismatic as former US President John F Kennedy and an idealist like his grandfather and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He was keen to be perceived as a break from the past. He symbolised a change in the arena of politics, economy and morality in public life, through consent and conciliation, participation and persuasion. He was a determined peacemaker and worked hard to put an end to agitations and violations in Punjab, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland and Kashmir to restore peace and democracy. Ironically, he fell victim to the violence that he fought throughout his life.
Countering mayhem at Meham
He described India as an old country but a young nation. He did everything to save and strengthen democratic systems as a passionate patriot and democrat. I vividly recollect that early in 1990 during the Meham byelection, democracy was being trampled upon through rigging and intimidation by then chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was seeking election to the Vidhan Sabha to retain his chief ministership. Rajiv, along with a young Rahul, visited the house of Anand Singh Dangi, an independent candidate, where three people were killed in police firing. He stood with the people. Consequent to his visit, Chautala had to resign on May 22, 1990. This is an irony of history that Rajiv visited Meham on May 20, 1990, to fight violence exactly a year before his assassination on May 21, 1991.
Rajiv chose me as a candidate in the 10th Lok Sabha elections from Rohtak of which Meham is one of the nine segments, to oppose Devi Lal, the then deputy prime minister, who was trounced not once but thrice in three consecutive elections. But alas! Rajiv was no more to see the election result after which the Congress formed the governments in Haryana and at the Centre.
Curbing corruption, opportunism
To check corruption and political opportunism, he got the 52nd Constitution Amendment Act, 1955, commonly known as the anti-defection Act, passed within months of taking over. It provided for disqualification of an elected member of legislature on the grounds of defection to another political party. It was amended subsequently through the 91st Constitution Amendment Act, 2003.
Though attempts are being made to circumvent the provision of this law, yet the measure has succeeded to a large extent.
To make democracy broadbased and to harness the emerging advantage of India’s demographic dividend, Rajiv reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Undoubtedly, the idealism and energy of youngsters have changed the political dynamics of the country forever.
Decentralisation of democracy
Moved by poverty in the rural areas of Kalahandi, Rajiv famously said that of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paise reaches the beneficiary.
He realised that the decentralisation of democracy at the grassroot level was imperative. He decided to revitalise the framework of panchayati raj institutions. He included the setting up of panchayati raj institutions in the Congress manifesto in the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress government fulfilled its dream by enacting the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment Acts that enjoin the states to establish threetier panchayats and municipalities in the rural and urban areas, respectively.
Expanding higher education
Education is the most critical weapon in building a nation. Rajiv established the ministry of human resource development in 1985 to modernise and expand higher education. He conceived the concept of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the free, residential schools for providing quality education to talented children of the rural areas. The first Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya was opened in Jhajjar district, a part of my constituency. At present, there are 660 JNVS.
Architect of digital India
Rajiv is rightly acclaimed as the architect of digital India. The seeds of information technology and telecom revolutions were planted by him. Several institutions such as MTNL, BSNL and C-DOT were established to spread the communication network. He launched institutions to liberate the mind, the economy and culture by infusing the dynamism of youngsters and changed India forever. His memory is eternally etched in the hearts and minds of the people of India.
THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WAS A DETERMINED PEACEMAKER; IRONICALLY, HE FELL VICTIM TO THE VIOLENCE THAT HE FOUGHT THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE