Remembering Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi And The Times When Dissent Was The Flavour Of The Season

Remembering Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi And The Times When Dissent Was The Flavour Of The Season

In the times we are in and polity much subjected to wear and tear it becomes all the more necessary to reflect on Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's political innings and many illustrious achievements to his name. Architect Of Modern India Rajiv Gandhi was admired by masses as he had the pulse of the nation and a politico with a soft heart. Like his Grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru who laid the Foundation Of A Secular Republic Rajiv Gandhi Essayed A Script That Underlined The Import Of Giving Respect To All Irrespective Of Caste, Creed And Colour. A Doting Father, A Dedicated Statesman And A Man With A Vision. A person who was initiated in politics in odd circumstances he learnt the ropes of governance from his mother Indira Gandhi. Amethi his parliamentary constituency Rajiv Gandhi  nursed well and he did not confine himself to that belt alone as he traversed length and breadth of the country to understand the pain of the common man. Inside out he knew the intricacies of India the nation and the one not willing to restrict himself to South Block he criss-crossed the country more when he was Prime Minister. With wife Sonia Gandhi in tow he would have perhaps covered more than 400 districts of that time knowing fully well unlocking the potential of India was what his govt was committed to. 

Not The One To Employ Divide And Rule To Stay In Office

Soon after he assumed office riding on the back of brute majority in December '84 Lok Sabha Polls (Parliament Polls) he thundered at the AICC (All India Congress Committee) Session in Bombay (Now Mumbai) that system urgently needs to detach itself from characters who were middlemen out to milk the system. He took a vow that his govt would do all it can to engineer a format where India of 21st Century would be a bright spot. Not the one to be identified with any business house he strongly believed in delivering for the masses. Unlike today when the country is in thick of violence and vindictive agenda the Rajiv Gandhi Govt delivered as and when the occasion arose with no ill will towards anyone.  He was inclined to work for the downtrodden and those at the bottom of heap and his observation that for every Re 1 less than quarter of that reached the masses and he was here to erase this sarcasm that country had been identified with. Unlike today when divide and rule is the ploy to sustain and stay in office Rajiv Gandhi believed in taking people of all faith along with no tinge of rancor and scorn towards any community. 

Giving Space To Opposition; Dissent Was The Flavour Of The Season 

He gave space to Opposition in and outside Parliament and political stalwarts in Opposition Camp of the likes of  Madhu Dandavate and Jaipal Reddy who would often take stand against him he was not the one to hit back. Unlike today when dissent is least tolerated and people of one particular faith are being repeatedly targeted in some parts of the country Rajiv Gandhi let each individual of any background speak out be it an exercise of illustrating the misgivings he or she had. During His Days Dissent Was Flavour Of The Season. 

The Much Traveled IT Road Today Is Much Due To Him 

He had the knack to know from early days that unshackling the system from bureaucratic muddle was the way forward and no bureaucrat of any fame brought him a bad name. A bureaucrat if seen to be a liability and not willing to submit to demands of governance he would shuffle the administration and bring in elements that shared his vision.  From IT in full throttle that we see today is much due to IT Revolution he championed and cheered. In Indian Railways he introduced Shatabdi trains from Delhi taking connectivity to a new level. Political stalwarts of his times who are with us today include Mr Harish Rawat, Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr Ashok Gehlot, Mr P Chidambaram, Mr Ashok Chavan, Ms Mamta Banerjee, Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and others. As for media Doordarshan was the solo news channel beamed from India and The World This Week Anchored By Dr Prannoy Roy Was A Big Hit.  

First To Reach Areas Hit By Disturbances

Rajiv Gandhi traveled to Bihar and other parts of the country when they were hit by natural calamities. Floods of '89 in North Bihar wreaked havoc and My Father Gouri Shankar Rajhans (Dr G S Rajhans) who was Member of Parliament from that territory traveled with Rajiv Gandhi to address the grievances of those who were witness to nature's fury. Not the one to turn blind eye when some parts of India were facing turbulence Rajiv Gandhi was the first to reach there and hear tales of atrocities experienced by some and take necessary action. Bhagalpur riots in '89 in particular pained him and he was eager peace returned to the table.  

Ties With United States To Pakistan Had Begun To Look Up

During his times ties with United States reached a new pecking order and with Pakistan with Benazir Bhutto at the helm things had begun to look up. The much awaited meeting with Deng Xiaoping showed him as a man who desired for peace and tranquility. From China to Tanzania, from Saudi Arabia to Turkey India's ties were the best unlike today when ambivalence is theatre of convenience. Rajiv Gandhi would remain in the hearts of millions across world and the Template of Unity In Diversity reaped dividends for the nation at large. Rajiv Gandhi is not amidst us but the legacy that he has left underscores the threads of democracy where dissent and divergence of opinion are the strong pillars. 

YEDU KONDALWADA VENKATRAMNA GOVINDA GOVINDA