Tag Archives: LK Advani

THE GUJARATI DNA

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    The Indian subcontinent has seen the worst of times in the past. It was trounced by myriads of invaders from central Asia finally ending up with the British Raj. The invaders’ rule and the British Raj left behind umpteen miseries for India to deal with. Although leaders from many parts of the country participated in India’s freedom struggle that lasted for almost a century the actual heavy lifting in the game changers such as India’s freedom from the British Raj, the partition of India, the integration of the princely states, the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of  Jammu and Kashmir, the legal battle, construction and inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the CAA (Citizen Amendment Act) were all helmed by a few Gujarati leaders/politicians. So is there anything special about these leaders from Gujarat?  

    Let us begin with the first war of independence that began in the year 1857 but soon withered away because there was no one to lead the fight. Later, it was only when Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915 after more than two decades he realised that India was gasping for breath and wanted freedom from the British Raj. Gandhi went to Champaran to attend to farmers woes and it was here that his real work in India began and later spiralled into the freedom struggle. And very soon he was spearheading the independence movement. Gandhi was the institution revered by freedom fighters across India. Mahatma Gandhi was a Gujarati. Today, in hindsight, it is hard to imagine an independent India without the sacrifice of Mahatma Gandhi the father of the nation who was the backbone of the freedom struggle movement.  Gandhi inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

        Standing opposite the mighty Mahatma was Muhammad Ali Jinnah the divider-in-chief of India who too had Gujarati roots. He too was a barrister like Gandhi but was amongst the chief proponents of the doctrine of a divided India and the leader of the All-India Muslim League. Though he was educated in England and was well versed in the divide-and-rule policy of the Britishers, he took the ugly decision of dividing India. Jinnah once proclaimed that “either we shall have a divided India or a destroyed India”.  But Jinnah was a one-off phenomenon.

        The political integration of independent India was no less complicated than India attaining freedom. At the time of independence, the Indian Union had 12 states. This formidable task of political integration was completed by Sardar Vallabhai Patel who too belonged to Gujarat. As the first Home Minister Patel played a key role in the integration of the princely states into the Indian federation. This achievement formed the cornerstone of Patel’s popularity in the post-independence era. He began to be known as the ‘iron man of India’ and the man who united India. In this regard, he was also likened to Otto Von Bismarck who unified the many German states in 1871.

    Under the plan of 3 June, more than 565 princely states were given the option of joining either India or Pakistan or choosing independence. Indian nationalists and large segments of the public feared that if these states did not accede, most of the people and territory would remain fragmented. The Congress as well as, senior British officials, considered, Patel the best man for the task of achieving the annexation of the princely states by the Indian dominion. Gandhi once said to Patel, “The problem of the States is so difficult that you alone can solve it.” Patel persuaded the princes of 565 states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian Republic, especially in the presence of the growing opposition from their subjects. Stressing that the princes would need to accede to India in good faith, he set a deadline of 15 August 1947 for them to sign the instrument of accession document. All other states except Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad did not fall into his basket immediately. For Junagadh, Patel had to use the Indian Army for the final takeover. The same methodology was adopted for Hyderabad too.

     Hari Singh acceded to India in return for the Indian military being airlifted to Kashmir, to engage with Pakistani-supported forces. The result we all know.

    The construction of Somnath Temple was also started by Patel as Deputy Prime Minister of India, after receiving approval for reconstruction from Mahatma Gandhi.

    After the passing away of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, there was a gap of almost seven decades before Articles 370 and 35A was abrogated. On 5 August 2019, the Union Government revoked the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 through a Presidential Order and made the entire Constitution of India applicable to the state. This implied that Article 35A was abolished. This heavy lifting of the contentious constitutional malady was again done by two daredevil Gujaratis—Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his deputy Amit Shah, the Home Minister with pin-point precision and against stiff resistance from local and national opposition parties of J&K and India respectively, left-liberals, hostile neighbours and even some superpowers. Further, the state of J&K was divided into the eponymous union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. But why weren’t these ‘do-or-die’ (Mahatma Gandhi’s slogan) legislations, not taken up, by earlier governments and leaders when they were so crucial for India? Was India in procrastination under the Congress regime that ruled India for a fair amount of decades after independence? The abrogation of articles 370 & 35A required political guts despite the thumping majority in the parliament because it had international ramifications. But Modi and Shah have an appetite for big things.

    The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya became a reality, again during the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The spark of Hindutva lit by LK Advani during the Rath Yatra became the guiding flame of Hindus during the reign of Modi and Shah. Going further, the CAA is a reality now where the BJP has reiterated their commitment to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of the Northeast, the Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians who are trying to escape persecution from India’s neighbouring countries and they will be given citizenship in India.

    The intent of this article is only to highlight the brand image of a few Gujarati leaders and politicians, who have dealt with contentious issues and it is certainly not to disparage leaders from any other party or state. We need to introspect before the coming Lok-Sabha polls as to what sort of leadership we want in our country. Do we want the same firebrand leadership of Narendra Bhai Modi or a subdued leadership of other parties as we have seen in the past? The choice is yours. But under all circumstances, we should avoid another Jinnah in India.

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Written by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 18. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT 25.2.24; 19. THE OVERCOATS OF NIKOLAI GOGOL AND RUSKIN BOND 10.3.24; 20. THE ETHNIC COLOURS OF HOLI 24.3.24

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;

(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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WOULD L.K. #ADVANI LIKE TO CONTINUE AS #BHISHMA #PITAMAH OF #BJP?

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In the epic Mahabharat, Bhishma or Bhishma Pitahmah was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu who was blessed with a wish- long life (more precisely the boon of Ichcha  mrityu) and had sworn to serve the ruling Kuru king and grand uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. An unparalleled archer and warrior, he once fought his own guru the mighty Parusrama and defeated him. He also handed down the Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhistir when he was on his death bed of arrows in the battle field of Kurukshetra.

The epic of Mahabharat has twice been shown, in two very long spanning, super hit TV serials, and many of us are aware that when the first one was aired, normally on Sunday mornings, trains were made to stop, by passengers for watching the serial. And so, not much needs to be explained and told about the life and character of mighty Bhishma Pitamah.

Bhishma means He of the terrible oath, referring to his vow of lifelong celibacy. Originally named Devavratha, he became known as Bhishma after he took the Bhishma pratigya (terrible oath) the vow of lifelong celibacy, and of service to whomever sat on the throne of his father (the throne of Hastinapur) and had he not taken this vow, he perhaps would have fought from the Pandava’s side.

And in today’s context BJP refers LKA (LK Advani) as their Bhishma Pitamah, more on the cadence of Hindu mythology. But, at times I wonder if LKA would even agree, if asked to play this larger than life role that ends on a bed of arrows, unless this also has been imposed on him as his forced retirement of sorts.

For logically speaking, if BJP positions LKA as its Bhishma Pitamah; then Bhishma Pitamah is surely in the company of Giriraj Singh a BJP leader and a minister who is a misogynist and a serial offender of the kind.

And Giriraj Singh rattles the soul of Rajiv Gandhi, when he insults Sonia Gandhi. His reeking comments about women remind in some ways of the misdeeds of Duryodhana and Dushashana, and the episode of disrobing Draupadi and he further goes to insult Nigerian women who happen to be dark; not realising that in some ways he is insulting Goddess Kali and also Hidimba who happens to be Vir Ghatotkacha’s mother and wife of Bhim who also was dark and from the Asur clan and therefore in every possible manner insulting Indian women. And in all of this the present day Bhishma Pitamah (LKA) helpessly keeps silent.  So then why would he remain the Bhishma Pitamah of BJP?

Further Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharta was stuck to the wrong throne where he had no powers to govern, and neither had the choice to move away, even if he wanted, on account of his pratigya, but what about LKA who is not bound by any pratigya? So should he stay on, even if the party degenerates morally?

Until now, LKA has stayed on with BJP, nursing his recent political bruises and insults, but what happens when the population of people like Giriraj increase and the throne itself comes under fire; for he is apparently not stuck to any pratigya; and then will he still stay on as Bhishma Pitamah or move away? For let’s not forget LKA started the famous ‘Rath Yatra’ that led to BJPs victory in the Lok Sabha polls; and that exhibits he still might be a man with convictions and fire in the belly.

And for Giriraj Singh who happens to be a father of a daughter and a believer in Hindu mythology, needs to regularly remind himself that we have many Goddess, who appear in many colours including black. And, the exemplary example of male God could be of Lord Shiva who turned blue because he drank all the poison that came out of Samudra Manthan. And, so India is not colour allergic, maybe Giriraj Singh is.

And BJP should be careful while using mythological titles such as ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ for patriarchs such as LKA, especially when it has colour allergics and misogynist leaders like Giriraj Singh. The latest caution point being L.K. Advani deviating from the tradition of delivering his customary speech which he did over the last 35 years in the recent BJP National Executive meet. Perhaps, he is smelling the coffee.

NO PLACE FOR FAILURE, IN CHANGING INDIA: INDIAN MEDIA & SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES JOKE AND RIDICULE 44 YEAR OLD SON OF THE SOIL RAHUL GANDHI WHO COULDN’T MEET UP WITH SUCCESS

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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Ever since the stormy news of Rahul Gandhi’s sabbatical for ‘personal introspection’ during the ensuing budget session came in. Both the media and the social networking sites in India have hounded him to cruel smithereens. A parallel of which one cannot remember, at least in the recent past.

When, other, light and more decent ‘critical’ phrases could have been used to put him down. Double-meaning expressions like ‘missing in action’ (MIA) were continuously aired by certain TV channels, knowingly or unknowingly.

‘MIA is a casualty classification assigned to armed services personnel and other combatants who are reported missing during wartime. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or even deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave has been positively identified.’ And, so the usage of MIA was in bad taste and a clear case of media going overboard.

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And that brings us to the moot point. Is the youth of this country (as reflected in social networking sites) which is sixty five percent of the Indian population, getting intolerant to failures. That they won’t even spare a person around, their own age group. While this is a welcome sign and also an insignia of progress. It is also a double edge sword. For, in times to come Indian youth with lack of opportunities and explosion of population will surely witness failures in every family, and will every family then treat their loved ones in the manner they have treated Rahul Gandhi, over the last couple of days. For let us not forget he is still part of the great Indian family.

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Most blame Rahul Gandhi for ditching the Congress party at the crucial Budget session. There are other reports that say he is set to bid adieu to politics. Some say he is unable to have his way with the old guard and therefore beating a tactical retreat.

And we all know, with all the effort put in by him he could not win a single election for his party, in the near past. Many of his own party men are blaming him for the state in which Congress is today. When most of them are either, arm chair politicians, lawyers or inconsequential statesmen. But there are certain other points also to be considered before we rip this man completely.

Rahul Gandhi signals a new kind of India. Where, a politician may leave the turf and decide to do something else. Which may be worth his while and worth his salt, during his lifetime. And that should be taken in the stride; and not be indecently reported by the media. For one will see more politicians behaving in this fashion in times to come. So, give the loser his due.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘I don’t dream for success in what I do. I only dream to do something worthwhile.’ This is a very powerful statement in today’s context and more so in Rahul Gandhi’s context. So whether you lose or win keep moving. As there is no intrinsic insult in moving away from politics. For politics is only heart burning and time consuming mistress for some. Perhaps, Narendra Modi could have nudged the media to be a little more relenting towards Rahul Gandhi this time, more so when the youth of India looks up to him.

Let us not forget in the emerging India there won’t be any fixed route to politics. For it won’t be necessary to remain a politician all your life. For one could also be a politician like Kiran Bedi who excels in one field and takes away Satish Upadhyay’s due. Or be a tornado like Arvind Kejriwal to take Delhi by storm.

But coming back to Rahul. At least he goes on leave all by himself. Whereas, some like LK Advani and MM Joshi are sent on leave. So which is better? And, India shouldn’t forget its great culture of being humane to all. Irrespective of a winner or a loser.

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