Indian PM: A man for all seasons

Indian PM: A man for all seasons

By Mehru Jaffer

JAKARTA (JP): Even after half a century of participation in
public life, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, 76,
admits that he is unable to distinguish today between the
Kauravas and the Pandavas of the world.

Using symbolically the names of the two ruling families who go
to war with each other in the Mahabharata -- the ancient Indian
epic, Kaurava Kaun Kaun Pandava (Who is Kaurava Who is Pandava)
is only one of the many poems where the poet prime minister
bemoans the increasing absence of ethics and morality in present
day politics.

Whatever critics and admirers may have to say about Vajpayee's
political views, both agree that the prime minister is honest to
the core. Many may not love the man but none can deny that
Vajpayee indeed is the moderate, liberal face of the Hindu
nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is admired for
constantly putting up a fight within the BJP itself to control
Hindu radicals that forever try to hijack his more broad based
agenda.

Leader of an alliance of over 20 parties, Vajpayee is
respected for being a consensus builder. He did anger many within
the country and raised fears around the world when he ordered
nuclear blasts in India in May 1998 but he is also admired for
his humble bus ride to Lahore, the cultural capital of
neighboring Pakistan in the hope of rapprochement.

Vajpayee first stretched his hand of friendship to his Muslim
neighbors in Pakistan when he was foreign minister in 1977 and
claims Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Pakistan's greatest poets as one of his
favorite writers. India has an on going problem with Pakistan
over Jammu and Kashmir that started half a century ago and is
responsible for draining much of its diplomatic energy apart from
the tragedy it involves on the ground.

Born in a high caste family of Brahmins, Vajpayee has spent a
lifetime trying to rise above communal politics and fighting
caste prejudices. A student of political science, he was jailed
by the British for anti-colonial activities. After independence
in 1947, he earned his living working as a journalist and as a
social worker. He won a seat in parliament in 1957.

While still young, Vajpayee became known for his fiery
speeches that were able to arouse great emotions among his
audience. His purpose in life remains to pursue a secular,
inclusive, integrative agenda and to make sure that India remains
a home to all communities, not more to some and less to others.
Most precious to him is the diversity and unity of his country
and its democratic system.

After all if it were not for its vibrant democracy how could
the son of an ordinary village teacher like himself rise to the
highest office in the country?

His favorite color is blue, that stands for the loftiness of
the heavens and the depth of the seas. He loves to retreat now
and again preferably into the mountains even as he believes that
height is never enough if it is not accompanied by expanse. One
of the many famous sayings of the elderly Indian leader is never
to let himself reach so high that he is unable to bend down to
embrace another human being.

But what makes senior journalist Khushwant Singh like most
about Vajpayee is the fact that he represents an end to the days
of dynasties in India. Vajpayee is a bachelor and does not misuse
what belongs to the country to the advantage of his family,
especially his children.

In the absence of children, Vajpayee, the first Indian prime
minister to visit Indonesia in 14 years, is able to shower all
his attention on other loves instead like reading, writing,
films, music and pottering around in the kitchen.

And considering that his favorite food is fish and Chinese
cuisine, Vajpayee, who arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday and will
be heading home on Sunday, is surely in for more than one feast
in Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world
famous for dishing out one of the meanest bowls of noodle soup
outside of China.