A clash of the Titans

Pitched against Patel’s towering personality, Indira Gandhi is hardly a match. She is remembered for her

If the Congress had its way it would never have allowed a dilution of one of the very significant dates in its history: October 31. 

 On this day, in 1984 two assassins pumped bullets into Indira Gandhi’s body. The Iron Lady, as she was known, slumped never to wake up again. 
 For over three decades, the Congress has staked ownership on October 31. Twenty five years down the line, in 2009, it decided to observe it as martyrdom day. 
 Of course the manner in which the Congress decides to remember its late leader has to be of its own choosing. There can and should not be any dispute with that. As there cannot be with the fact on how the people wish to remember a Prime Minister who brought India out of the throes of poverty and backwardness. 
 This is not to suggest that Indira Gandhi had only admirers who shed tears over her bloody end. There were a large number of critics who felt that her ruthlessness did more harm that good to a country that could have taken more strides than it did under Indira Gandhi. Irrespective, October 31 was Indira Gandhi’s day. 
 Till the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trusted lieutenant Amit Shah changed it all. Consequently this year, like the other two in the past,  was different. October 31 was not a solo show of remembering only Indira Gandhi. Neither did it remain one of solemnity or mourning. While Congress and those on its bandwagon mourned her, there were celebrations on another count: the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The BJP pulled it off by branding October 31 as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in memory of Patel or Sardar as he was popularly known. 
 Sardar Patel role is well documented in India’s history. Apart from being an integral part of the  independence struggle, his contributions to the Satyagraha Movement and the Quit India movement are well known. 
As India’s first ever Home Minster, hs role in the integration of various regions into the Indian union was perhaps the most significant; particularly his efforts for the integration of the former princely states of Junagadh and Hyderabad. He was reportedly  instrumental in securing the Kashmir valley and recovering lost territory militarily, following the voluntary accession of the state to the union of India. 
 In a famous interview of Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, Sardar Patel was quoted as becoming angry with Nehru and asking him – ‘Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to give it away’. He (Nehru) said,’ Of course, I want Kashmir (emphasis in original). Then he (Patel) said ‘Please give your orders’. And before he could say anything Sardar Patel turned to me and said, ‘You have got your orders”. 
 Equally it is well known that Sardar Patel had dedicated followers among the party rank and file. Of course his anti Muslim stance was often criticized by the likes of Maulana Azad who felt that he had agreed  too readily to the partition of India. 
 Pitched against Patel’s towering personality, Indira Gandhi is hardly a match. She is remembered for her acts that were  pernicious to India. What right minded Indians will find hard to forgive is her act of imposing the Emergency between 1975 to 1977. She has also been slammed for her act of  nationalising India’s banks as also turning a blind eye to the  forced sterilisation programme that happened under her rule, the architect being her wayward son and heir apparent Sanjay Gandhi. That Sanjay died before she did is another matter. 
The Congress dilemma is that both Ptel and Indira Gandhi were Congresspersons. So owning one and disowning the other is not workable. But embracing Patel at the cost of Indira Gandhi is a kind of sacrilege for those who have identified the grand old Party with the Nehrus and Gandhis: not only the party but even India. 
 It is this the the BJP under Modi is determined to change: dilute the over importance to Nehru Gandhi family and give others their due and the place denied to them under decades of Gandhis rule. 
So even while Congressmen are samming the BJP for what it dubs as “dwarfing” Indira Gandhi’s memory, the fact remains that the BJP stole the show. 
 Sentimentailty and emotion apart, it was clearly a one up on the Congress. The BJP succeeded in making  Indira Gandhi share space with Sardar Patel.
 It is a coincidence that October 31 marks the birth and death anniversaries of two of its own. But what is a political masterstroke is that it was an adversary, namely the BJP, that resurrected Patel and transformed martyrdom day to a national unity one. It also changed solemnity to celebration. While the Congress had restricted it to a day of mourning the BJP transformed it to a mega celebration including having a Run for Unity. More importantly it brought  back Patel centre stage and reminded the nation that India is not synonymous with the Nehrus and Gandhis. There is much more to it. This also served as a wake up call to delirious Indians who did little to correct the imbalance and like mute spectators allowed the Congress to have a free run. At the same time the BJP  ensured  that first rung leaders will not get second place and the not so tall be allowed to hog  national space. 
 Since Modi assumed power, the priorities were made clear: it is Sardar and others who would supersede the Nehrus and Gandhis. Ofcourse there is politics in this and the BJP dealt a clever hand but it is one that has takers in an India that has for years remained Congress and family centric.  In a single stroke , the BJP pushed back the Gandhi legacy forcing it to make way for Patel. At another level it balmed the wounds of the Sikhs who were massacred following Indira Gandhi’s brutal death given that Sikh bodyguards had shot her dead. 
 While the BJP showcased the Sardar, the Congress was left licking its wounds. Call it a revenge of history if you will or Time coming full circle,  the BJP managed to get the better of Congress, drawing the nation towards Patel the undisputed icon and taking it away from Indira Gandhi the controversial leader. 
 
The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected]) 

A clash of the Titans

Pitched against Patels towering personality, Indira Gandhi is hardly a match. She is remembered for her

If the Congress had its way it would never have allowed a dilution of one of the very significant dates in its history: October 31. On this day, in 1984 two assassins pumped bullets into Indira Gandhis body. The Iron Lady, as she was known, slumped never to wake up again. For over three decades, the Congress has staked ownership on October 31. Twenty five years down the line, in 2009, it decided to observe it as martyrdom day. Of course the manner in which the Congress decides to remember its late leader has to be of its own choosing. There can and should not be any dispute with that. As there cannot be with the fact on how the people wish to remember a Prime Minister who brought India out of the throes of poverty and backwardness. This is not to suggest that Indira Gandhi had only admirers who shed tears over her bloody end. There were a large number of critics who felt that her ruthlessness did more harm that good to a country that could have taken more strides than it did under Indira Gandhi. Irrespective, October 31 was Indira Gandhis day. Till the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modis trusted lieutenant Amit Shah changed it all. Consequently this year, like the other two in the past, was different. October 31 was not a solo show of remembering only Indira Gandhi. Neither did it remain one of solemnity or mourning. While Congress and those on its bandwagon mourned her, there were celebrations on another count: the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The BJP pulled it off by branding October 31 as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in memory of Patel or Sardar as he was popularly known. Sardar Patel role is well documented in Indias history. Apart from being an integral part of the independence struggle, his contributions to the Satyagraha Movement and the Quit India movement are well known. As Indias first ever Home Minster, hs role in the integration of various regions into the Indian union was perhaps the most significant; particularly his efforts for the integration of the former princely states of Junagadh and Hyderabad. He was reportedly instrumental in securing the Kashmir valley and recovering lost territory militarily, following the voluntary accession of the state to the union of India. In a famous interview of Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, Sardar Patel was quoted as becoming angry with Nehru and asking him Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to give it away. He (Nehru) said, Of course, I want Kashmir (emphasis in original). Then he (Patel) said Please give your orders. And before he could say anything Sardar Patel turned to me and said, You have got your orders. Equally it is well known that Sardar Patel had dedicated followers among the party rank and file. Of course his anti Muslim stance was often criticized by the likes of Maulana Azad who felt that he had agreed too readily to the partition of India. Pitched against Patels towering personality, Indira Gandhi is hardly a match. She is remembered for her acts that were pernicious to India. What right minded Indians will find hard to forgive is her act of imposing the Emergency between 1975 to 1977. She has also been slammed for her act of nationalising Indias banks as also turning a blind eye to the forced sterilisation programme that happened under her rule, the architect being her wayward son and heir apparent Sanjay Gandhi. That Sanjay died before she did is another matter. The Congress dilemma is that both Ptel and Indira Gandhi were Congresspersons. So owning one and disowning the other is not workable. But embracing Patel at the cost of Indira Gandhi is a kind of sacrilege for those who have identified the grand old Party with the Nehrus and Gandhis: not only the party but even India. It is this the the BJP under Modi is determined to change: dilute the over importance to Nehru Gandhi family and give others their due and the place denied to them under decades of Gandhis rule. So even while Congressmen are samming the BJP for what it dubs as dwarfing Indira Gandhis memory, the fact remains that the BJP stole the show. Sentimentailty and emotion apart, it was clearly a one up on the Congress. The BJP succeeded in making Indira Gandhi share space with Sardar Patel. It is a coincidence that October 31 marks the birth and death anniversaries of two of its own. But what is a political masterstroke is that it was an adversary, namely the BJP, that resurrected Patel and transformed martyrdom day to a national unity one. It also changed solemnity to celebration. While the Congress had restricted it to a day of mourning the BJP transformed it to a mega celebration including having a Run for Unity. More importantly it brought back Patel centre stage and reminded the nation that India is not synonymous with the Nehrus and Gandhis. There is much more to it. This also served as a wake up call to delirious Indians who did little to correct the imbalance and like mute spectators allowed the Congress to have a free run. At the same time the BJP ensured that first rung leaders will not get second place and the not so tall be allowed to hog national space. Since Modi assumed power, the priorities were made clear: it is Sardar and others who would supersede the Nehrus and Gandhis. Ofcourse there is politics in this and the BJP dealt a clever hand but it is one that has takers in an India that has for years remained Congress and family centric. In a single stroke , the BJP pushed back the Gandhi legacy forcing it to make way for Patel. At another level it balmed the wounds of the Sikhs who were massacred following Indira Gandhis brutal death given that Sikh bodyguards had shot her dead. While the BJP showcased the Sardar, the Congress was left licking its wounds. Call it a revenge of history if you will or Time coming full circle, the BJP managed to get the better of Congress, drawing the nation towards Patel the undisputed icon and taking it away from Indira Gandhi the controversial leader. The writer is a senior Indianjournalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected])