TRIBUTE

Remembering Rajivji

A visionary of the modern India "The poverty gap, whether between countries or within countries, is essentially a technology gap. We believe that it is only through increasing the technological input in the daily lives of our people that we will be able to foster equitable economic growth. In India, therefore, the prime objective of technology is the elimination of poverty." -Rajiv Gandhi

The nation pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 57th birth anniversary on 20th August.

Rajiv Gandhi changed the mindset of my generation. His vision of
the 21st century caught our imagination. Though he lived a short life he achieved so much. His work and vision endures. Why and how did he make such an impact in so short a time? Because he was fearless, charismatic, handsome, magnanimous spontaneous, trusting, a doer and he gave his all to his people and country. He had a flair for foreign affairs. His domestic priorities included environment, information technology, education, human resources development. His mind was modern and secular.

I saw him from close quarters when I worked in the grievance cell of the AICC a decade ago. I remember two moving incidents. When I look back to the year 1990, immediately after the 1989 general elections, when Rajiv Gandhi became the leader of the opposition, I recall the multitudes of people who would come to see him each day. On one such morning in May at his official residence 10, Janpath I remember an old lady standing in the queue waiting her turn to meet him. Meeting everyone in his inimitable style, he would listen to each person with patience and kindness, completely endearing himself to the young and the old. His manner was one that was meant to put every one at ease, because he knew how people could be affected by the mere presence of a VIP.

I know, what it is to get tongue-tied and to babble something incoherently when one wanted to sound so intelligent and wise. It has happened to the best of us. That day in May as I stood next to the frail old lady waiting for Rajivji, I could feel the excitement rippling through the crowd and could see the look of anticipation on her ageing features. As Rajiv approached her, the lady's companion - a young man - introduced her and said that they were from South India and that his mother had wanted very much to meet him and hence they had travelled all the way to Delhi. Overwhelmed and with tears streaming, she put up both her hands to touch Rajivji's face and kept asking in her mother tongue, whether he really was Indira Ma's chinappa (little boy). Rajivji stood absolutely still, letting her grasp his hands, his wrists for as long as she wanted. He then kindly thanked them for travelling so far to meet

him, asked if he could help them and instructed his workers to look into their needs, and then moved on.

On another occasion a similar incident took place which was both incredible and funny. It was election time in Bihar. Rajivji had addressed a series of meetings covering different constituencies in north Bihar and again it was a scorcher of a month, the 5th of May 1991. He had just finished one round of election campaign in Tamil Nadu where the tumultuous crowds had lined the roads between each town, making it so difficult for his convoy of cars to move. The women in sheer frenzy had wanted to hold his hand and he had come back with swollen fingers, bruised and scratched. It had been like that everywhere.

On that summer evening as his convoy of cars drove towards Patna, where he had a meeting to address, he was already running late and was still two hours from Patna His car drew to a halt at a closed railway crossing. Tired and spent having had no time to eat, he got down from the car and headed towards a man selling popcorn from a trolley. Smiling at him, he asked for a packet, popping a piece of corn into his mouth to see if it was good. As it began to register to the vendor who his customer was his eyes widened in sheer shock and he went into overdrive getting a packet of popcorn ready for him. The other Congress workers began to curiously move in, and Rajivji took out a twenty rupee note and handed it to vendor.

Folding his shaking hands and short of falling to his feet, the man said speaking in the local dialect 'Sarkar ka kara tani. Apne ke darshan ho gayil hamar janam sidh ho gayil ee paisa hamara na chahi' (what are you doing honourable sir, meeting you has made my life meaningful, I can't take this money). Patting him on his back Rajivji told him he would have to take it, for his effort. Almost weeping with joy, the vendor took the money, blessing him. Armed with his packet of popcorn and smiling at the crowd gathered round him, Rajiv Gandhi got back into his car and as the railway crossing gates opened, one by one, his cavalcade of cars thundered off. As we bid him goodbye, happy at the success of his meetings we were sure about his victory. All the signs were good. However, it was not meant to be. On the 21st of May 1991, he left a whole nation grieving, his family and friends, bereft, a task incomplete. Deep inside me, I know his dedicated endeavours will not be wasted. In the years to come the dreams he had had for his beloved country were going to be fulfilled. Of that I am sure.

Sadbhavana Award for Kapila Vatsyayan NEW DELHI : Noted linguist and cultural policy maker Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, was confered with the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award, 2000, by the former Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice A.M. Ahmadi, at a special function. The award carried a cheque of Rs. 2.5 lakhs, a shawl and a citation.