My
Lucky Coin!
My
first impression of the 1st In dependence Day celebration
is jubilation and celebration everywhere including in school
where I had just began my education. On the occasion bundi-ladoos
were distributed in the school. When I started eating ladoos
I found a 4 anna (25 paise) coin in it. It was an
unbelievable surprise to me and to all other kids. They
were fascinated and called me the lucky one. I kept the
coin as a souvenir for a number of years. As I stood along
with other kids saluting the national flag at the flag hoisting
ceremony in my village over 2,000 km away from the national
capital, little had I dreamt that I would have an opportunity
to participate in a similar programme after 50 years of
Independence at the national capital, Delhi.
My
second memoir takes me back to the year 1952, when as children
we were shouting slogans in favour of the Congress party
when its symbol was ‘jodu bori’ (pair of bullocks).
My entry into politics was gradual and through voluntary
social service.
When
India was facing a famine in the 60’s, there was an acute
shortage of foodgrain all over. In the locality where we
were staying, we the youth had decided to distribute rice,
which was given to us by elders to be distributed to the
needy people. That was the time when Indiraji gave a call
to the countrymen to tighten their belts and also usher
in a green revolution. The youth of our town under the aegis
of Jolly Club, started growing vegetable and trees in every
available vacant land. For me personally, the call of Indiraji
was so strong that I took a piece of land on lease and started
cultivating paddy. As a progressive farmer, I developed
my own water-sprinkling arrangement. I used the high-yielding
varieties, the IR-8, and was adjudged best by the Agriculture
Syndicate Foundation and was awarded the first prize, for
raising highest yield in paddy in an all-India competition.
For
livelihood, I joined LIC of India on a daily wage of Rs.
3. While in service I was persuaded by the Congress party
to resign from the job to contest for municipal elections.
My expenditure in the election was Rs. 46 and won with the
highest margin.
In
1972, I was nominated as secretary Block Congress Committee
and subsequently the Block President.
When
the Congress split in 1978 some of the senior leaders left
Indiraji, the workers stood by Indiraji. So did the masses
in the country. Subsequently, when the Lok Sabha elections
were held in 1979, I was fielded as our party candidate
from Udupi Parliamentary constituency in Karnataka. I won
with 2nd highest margin in the State. This was the beginning
of my Parliamentary career. It was people's will that Indiraji
come back to power.
