Ode to a Gandhian

GVG Krishna Murthy Even when most Congress leaders have discarded it; he loved his Gandhi cap, and presented himself in homespun khadi as a “simple Gandhian leading a simple life”, at home and abroad. Public life minus politics became his creed in an age sinecures are much sought after with regular rounds of 10 Janpath and 24 Akbar Road.

Bhishma Narain Singh I met him during this phase of his life at an award function held at the Indian Law Institute last year. He was the chief guest. I was one of the recipients of the awards on offer. GVG Krishna Murthy, a former Election Commissioner, who chaired the meeting, asked me to speak.
Like Bhishma Narain Singh, GVG was a favourite of Indira Gandhi. She wanted him to contest for the Lok Sabha once. He could not do so due to a bereavement in the family.
Bhishma Narain Singh’s first tryst with the ballot took place in1967 when he was elected to the Bihar Assembly. So with two poll veterans on the stage, I could not resist the temptation to remark, ‘Can you win today’s election with the budget they had for their first election’.
The Gandhian readily agreed, said today’s election arena was not for ‘someone like me’, and regaled us with anecdotes from his public life. “How did the bouquet incident happen”, I asked him. It paved the way for the resurgence of Indira Gandhi phenomenon.
“Much has been made about it by the media”, he remarked and recalled with relish every aspect of the ‘story’, which, in a way, was a tribute to political acumen of India’s only iron lady.

Bhishma Narain Singh stood by Indira Gandhi in her worst days. As Prime Minister she rewarded him with the key Works and Housing Ministry in the run-up to the 1982 Asian Games.

Indira Gandhi “Indiraji, you know, was jailed by the Janata Government’s Home Minister Charan Singh (in 1978). Yet, she told me to present a bouquet to him, when he celebrated his birthday with great pomp at the Boat Club lawns. I bought a bouquet from Janpath market for Rs.41, I still remember the price, it was no small money that time.
When I went to the Boat Club lawns, Charan Singh told the crowd, “Look. Indiraji has sent me a bouquet,” and they broke into huge shouts of Indira Gandhi Zindabad, Chaudhary Charan Singh Zindabad. And the rest is history”, he said with a laugh.
Bhishma Narain Singh stood by Indira Gandhi in her worst days. As Prime Minister she rewarded him with the key Works and Housing Ministry in the run-up to the 1982 Asian Games. Also with the crucial Parliamentary Affairs Ministry. He was also the Chief Whip of the Congress party in 1978, which was a critical juncture for the Grand Old Party.

Chaudhary Charan Singh ‘Do you have any tips to your present day successors in the Modi dispensation’, I asked him as he was about to get into his vehicle to return home after a long day with the public.
‘My advice to Modi ministers for parliamentary Affairs? No advice is the best advice’, he remarked with a chuckle. And went into a long discourse on how parliamentary affairs minister should conduct on and outside the floor.
‘Do you know Indiraji was annoyed when she heard that I was meeting opposition floor leaders regularly? I told her that I had to meet them. I said it was my job.
How can we ensure smooth functioning of Parliament? She understood. I never criticised the Opposition leaders on the floor. Why should I? I was not like Modi’s parliamentary affairs ministers. In fact, I used to arrange regular interaction between the PM and other leaders.
Indiraji was a gracious host. She used to host lunch or dinner for them. Well, at my request, you see, the government should keep doors open, must respect the opposition even when numbers are on its side like with Indira Gandhi after the Janata interregnum’.

Bhishma Narain Singh followed the Gandhian philosophy all his life; he passed away into pages of history on August 1. He was 85. He died of multiple organ failure following high grade B cell lymphoma with metastasis.

It is this ability to communicate and be receptive helped the Gandhian when he was sent to Guwahati in 1984 as the Governor of North-eastern states; Assam was on the boil over illegal Bangladesh immigrants into the state. Student leaders at the forefront of the agitation made conventional politicians redundant. Soon, the uncle born in a family of modest agriculturist means (in Palamau district in present day Jharkhand on 13 July 1933) and a graduate from Benaras Hindu University, became their friend. And paved the way for the historic Assam Accord Rajiv Gandhi had signed with Asom Students Union (ASU).
Bhishma Narain Singh was Governor of Tamil Nadu when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur.
‘It was a sad day’. He was sent to Chennai Raj Bhavan by the shortlived Congress propped Chandrasekhar government in the 1991.
‘I was not very keen to take up the post. But the prime minister, a long-time friend, insisted that I should …Tamil Nadu needed a governor as (incumbent) SS Barnala had resigned. I was told he refused to recommend dismissal of the DMK government even as the Centre wanted it’, he recalled in an interview with Asian Tribune. ‘When I took over in February 1991, I promised them (TN people) a popular government within six months. Fresh elections were held and a new government under Jayalalithaa was installed in June, within four months’. He described his stint in the state as ‘very good’.
A teetotaller, he travelled extensively through Asia, Europe, and Africa besides the US.

He received several national and international awards. The Government of Algeria honoured him with Medal of Merit and Certificate of Honour (April, 2005). Russia bestowed on him its highest award, ‘Order of Friendship’ in April 2009.
Bhishma Narain Singh followed the Gandhian philosophy all his life; he passed away into pages of history on 1st August. He was 85. He died of multiple organ failure following high grade B cell lymphoma with metastasis.

Malladi Rama Rao