A Persistent Fighter for Causes

Cliches of condolence apart, what the death of Sri Rajagopalacharyar means to the public is the riddance for wielders of State power of a source of salutary criticism they had to put up with these 25 years. Not that they feared him, or took his criticism seriously for action. But, they could not close their ears to his voice, He had a nuisance value; it was something for the public that there was one who could annoy persons in authority and was a thorn on their path.

The power of Sri Rajagopalacharyar’s criticism carne from the two previous layers of his career in politics. Starting as Agitator, he proved a first-rate Administrator before developing into a Critic. As agitator, his career was marked by steadfastness and courage and moral idealism. As administrator, he showed extraordinary gifts for efficiency, originality and initiative.

After Independence, came the opportunity for him to show his capacity to assert himself in good causes and hold principle above bureaucracy. The prestige thus built up and based on his inside knowledge of the administration sustained him in his capacity as critic of Government. So was his criticism not only the voice of truth based upon practical knowledge, but it was also sounded with a clarity and a courage which were unique. Such a voice could not possibly go ignored by any Government that cared for decency in its relations with the public.

Another source of his prestige was the width of his learning and the height of his intellect. Easily, he was the topmost man among politicians for familiarity with the great classics of both English and allied languages, on the one side and Tamil, Sanskrit and folklore of India, on the other. He could make any subject clear and simple to the average citizen. His Radio talk, for example, on Taxation and Public Finance, when, as Chief Minister of Madras, he had to announce the issue of War Loan Bonds, is a model of clarity, brevity and scientific accuracy. He could separate the essential points of a subject from the jungle of popular notions and vague ideologies and present the central point which, if decided aright, would resolve the entire problem. The distinctive service he rendered was thus an intellectual service.

Rajaji was a persistent fighter for causes in which he believed. But he was never less than himself. The late Mr V. S. Srinivasa Sastri and Rajaji met practically every evening on the beach in Madras with some other friends. They met only to discuss political questions and differ...were poles apart sometimes. But if either of the two did not come, the other went to search for the missing friend. Such was the regard either paid to the other; and politics apart, there were no dearer friends. This is an aspect of character for the younger generation to lay to heart.

Rajaji’s knowledge was prodigious. He was a great student of English literature and the masters–Thackeray, Tennyson, Goldsmith, Dickens, were among his household Gods. He also read widely of contemporary writers. The present writer has personal knowledge of Rajaji’s first-hand acquaintance with contemporary writers. Rajaji was a great student of both the Bible and Shakespeare and his speeches were often interlarded by Shakespearean passages. Rajaji was deeply read in Tamil literature also – the Prabandhas, etc. His interest in Kannada was also keen. An incident: In Bangalore, there was a party in the Palace held for some 400-500 guests. Among them was a modest man, Sri M. Rama Rao of Subodha, who had just brought out an edition of Purandaradasa’s songs. He gave a copy of the book to Rajaji. Rajaji took the book and remarked at once in Kannada: Santeyalli Kasturi T andiralla! [You have brought Kasturi (musk) to a fair (shandy).]

Rajaji was a supreme strategist. He knew his men and was a shrewd judge of character. At a public meeting, for instance, where he presided, he selected not only the speakers but also the order of their speaking. In handling men, he would make remarks which would impel them to do their respective parts of their own accord. This shrewdness is a thing which many could not understand and therefore misjudged him. It was not easy to understand the workings of his mind. That is why he was called names by the superficial and the hasty. His strategy worked most often.

In private life, he was gentle, kindly and full of pure affection. He could laugh himself and make others laugh by the wittiness of his talk. It is affection that earned him friends in many quarters. The present writer may perhaps take the liberty of saying that he was lucky enough to receive Rajaji’s affection in a measure that moves him to tears.

–Courtesy: Public Affairs, published by the

Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs, Bangalore