Obituary

KR Narayanan Passes Away

NEW DELHI: Former President, Shri KR Narayanan died at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on 9 November. Shri Narayanan, 85, who had been suffering from pneumonia and renal failure, breathed his last at 5.45 pm, according to a defence ministry spokesman. He is survived by wife Usha and daughters Amrita and Chitra. Shri Narayanan was admitted to the Army Hospital on October 29 after he complained of acute breathlessness. He was on a life-support system since, October 31.

Shri Narayanan was recently bestowed with the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award on 20 August by Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on the birth anniversary of late Shri Rajiv Gandhi. While giving away the award, Dr. Singh said "Narayananji is a proud example of the triumph of ability and determination over discrimination and inherited disadvantage."

President APJ Abdul Kalam led the nation in mourning the death of former President K.R. Narayanan. In his condolence message, Mr. Kalam said the country had "lost a great leader with a noble and inspiring value system."

Recalling his personal association with his predecessor, Mr. Kalam said: "I had several occasions to be benefited by his counsel in many matters. I have known his high intellectual ability and admired his scholarly advice. He distinguished himself as a diplomat, educationist, Member of Parliament, minister in the Union Government and as Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, and as President of India in every respect."

Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Somnath Chatterjee said the country had lost "a sagacious statesman, an ardent champion of secularism and constitutional propriety, and a friend of the underprivileged." He said, Mr. Narayanan's death had left a void that would be difficult to fill but his life would remain an inspiration to those who believed in building a secular, progressive, rational and egalitarian society.

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan said Shri Narayanan was "an endearing voice of reason against all forms of intolerance, inhumanity and injustice."

In his condolence message, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh recalled how Shri Narayanan had braved numerous hardship and overcome social prejudices to emerge as one of the outstanding personalities of the country. Summing up his life, the Prime Minister said: "his life and career represent the extraordinary profile of a person who rose from humble beginnings to become the First Citizen of the Republic of India. His elevation to the highest office of the land in the golden jubilee year of our Independence constituted the fulfillment of Mahatma Gandhi's vision."

Extending her condolences to the bereaved family, Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi described Mr. Narayanan as "a tireless champion of India's age-old secular ethos and composite culture." She said Mr. Narayanan's life was a testimony not only to his individual drive and determination but also to the functioning of Indian democracy.

Defence Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said Mr. Narayanan "best understood the great Indian ethos. He leaves behind a legacy of simplicity and humility."

The former Prime Minister, Shri I.K. Gujaral, noted that the former President had always upheld the oath he had taken to protect the Constitution.

As an old friend, Shri Murli Deora, MP, put it: "Mr. Narayanan was the last of the Nehruvian personalities in our public life." He was his personal friend since 1978, he said, and "that he could become the President only reaffirmed the strength of India's democracy."

Union Minister of Power, Shri P.M. Sayeed compared Mr. Narayanan to Abraham Lincoln in his ability, intelligence and simplicity. Recalling his long journey from a humble beginning in a remote part of Kerala to occupying the highest office in the country, Mr. Sayeed said that he valued his wisdom, commitment and dedication to the nation.

Minister of state for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed recalled that in 1992 then Vice-president, Mr. K.R. Narayanan described the Babri Masjid demolition as "the gravest tragedy the nation has witnessed after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi". He always upheld democratic values, especially in times of political crises," Mr. Ahamed said.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Jaipal Reddy described Mr. Narayanan as a "true champion of the downtrodden who never lost touch with the grassroots despite reaching the topmost position." Never remaining a mute spectator to erosion of liberal and secular values he left his distinctive stamp in all the different fields he worked in, Mr. Reddy said.

 

HKL Bhagat is No More

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister, Shri HKL Bhagat, Delhi Congress strongman during 1980s died on 29 October after prolonged illness. Eightly-four year old Bhagat, a close associate of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and had been hospitalized for one-and-a-half years. He was comatose till the end. He is survived by wife, Asha and three children. Born in Montgomery in Pakistan on April 4, 1921, the Congress leader migrated to Delhi in 1947 and began taking active interest in the capital's politics. He became deputy mayor of Delhi and was chosen as the chief whip of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). He was elected as president of DPCC in 1972, an office he held till May 1983. He got elected as a Member of Parliament in 1971 and again in 1980 from Delhi. He was appointed the minister of state in the ministry of works and housing from 1975 to 1977 and again from September 1982 to February 1983 as minister of state for works and housing and parliamentary affairs. He later held the portfolio of information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs.

Resolution

Meeting of the Congress Steering Committee held on 10 November, 2005 at the Congress Headquarters This meeting of the Congress Steering Committee expresses its heart-felt condolences at the sad demise of Shri KR Narayanan, former President of the Republic of India. This illustrious son of India was born in 1920 in the district of Kottayam in Kerala where he had his early education. For a man who rose to the highest office of our land, Shri KR Narayanan never forgot the constant struggle he as a Dalit of humble origin had to wage against a casteist society. His brilliant record in school and college could not enable him to get even a permanent lecturership. After a brief stint as a journalist, Shri KR Narayanan went to study at the London School of Economics in 1945. Here his intellect and academic prowess impressed one and all. It was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who inducted him into the Indian Foreign service in 1949. He retired from the IFS in 1978 after having distinguished himself as a diplomat par excellence in important world capitals like London, Beijing, Tokyo and other places. On coming back to India he was made Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University and later India's Ambassador to USA. It was Indira Gandhi who brought him into active politics. He successfully contested several Lok Sabha elections from his home State Kerala and served in the Council of Ministers under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He became Vice-President of India in 1992 and as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha he conducted the proceedings of the House with fairness and dignity. In 1997, Shri KR Narayanan was elected President of India. He will be remembered for the vibrancy he lent to his august office, his efforts to bring transparency to presidential decisions, his role in preserving and protecting the Constitution and its secular ethos as well as the composite culture of India. Shri KR Narayanan's life of great achievement and accomplishment, overcoming adversities, is a testimony not only to his individual drive and determination but also to the functioning of Indian democracy. He was the embodiment of the aspirations of the down-trodden and the under-privileged sections of society. On this poignant occasion we recall with pride the many contributions Shri Narayanan has made in diverse fields. The Congress Steering Committee deeply mourns the death of Shri KR Narayanan and conveys its condolences to Smt. Usha Narayanan and the other bereaved members of the family.