jaswant

Let us face it. I have never met Jaswant Singh. Not even when he came to Lahore. Those were emotional days and the Lahore yatra was shrouded by the twin specters of nuclearization and Kargil. I, being a mere student, could not infiltrate the big crowds of the protesters and the security apparatus. But even in those days and later in my slow progress as a journalist we used to admire his mastery of diplomatic language, his poetic license with English language and yes we used to wish for a Foreign Minister with the equal guts. Perhaps it was the same appreciation that led me to record in one of my columns published in a national daily ages ago that Jaswant Singh would be the best candidate to succeed Atal Jee. But then may be I am cursed. People I see as the best hopes for India’s secularism end up being marginalized. Yes I like Natwar Singh and Digvijay Singh too and see how they have been scapegoated.
But if India does not respect those who appear to me its best does not mean that I necessarily wrong or the subjects of my appreciation are any less likable. Certainly not. I think time and again Jawant Singh has proven that despite being a bit aggressive towards Pakistan he is a statesman rather than just a politician. He is among those who are seriously trying to find solutions for the Indian people. I believe that his recent book on Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam M. A. Jinnah is just another serious attempt to harmonize his people with the reality of his neighboring Pakistan. I have not read it yet but am really looking forward to finding this tome on our bookshelves. Let us hope that unlike Modi’s Gujarat this book is not banned here. Ideas should be treated just like ideas and not security threats.
I therefore really saddened by his expulsion from his party. It is sickening to realize that his party refuses to read the writing on the wall and ad nauseam tries to Modi-fy or Gujarati-fy the entire country despite the clear popular verdict. While the people of  Gujarat might have chosen to live in perpetual fear, it is clear that the rest of India has changed beyond BJP’s imagination. The Indian people now want leaders who understand their economy, believe in secularism and want to live and harmony with their neighbors. That is why Manmohan Singh was brought back to power with such roaring majority. If you don’t believe me try reading his interviews during the final days of the campaign and you will know how he portrayed chances of peace with Pakistan over Kashmir a near success. Our Indian friends often forget that no matter how troubled Pakistan is a reality. I do not care for which ideology it was born, all I care is that it is my home and I love it. If India only recognizes this fact the result may usher in an era of peace and tranquility. Likewise if BJP grasps the fact that its own future lies in secularism not in the Sangh Pariwar’s idiosyncrasies it might be able to re-emerge as a lasting political power. Otherwise I predict that Jaswant is just the first of imminent brain drain and the resulting fall in the party’s stature.
I can bet that the trigger happy leadership was so keen to shoot from the hip that it did not even care to read the book. Jaswant Singh may well be a writer of poetic sweep but he being a politician is after all also a pragmatist. How could he write anything so alien to his country’s ethos besides respecting the spirit of free inquiry. For heaven’s sake India is supposed to be the world’s biggest democracy and not a tin pot reductionist theocracy. India’s second biggest party should hence be able to see reason and apologizing from Mr Singh readmit him and give him his due. As for the book, I reserve my judgment until I have read it cover  to cover with the only hope that I will find delightful prose in it. And I leave you with Anjum Niaz’s lovely interview with Jaswant Singh. All you have to do is to follow the link:

http://www.jaswantsingh-mp.com/interview/jinnah_jaswant.html

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