Remembering Arun Jaitleyji
- Humble reminiscences of a Great Soul
—
Amba Charan Vashishth
When I came to
BJP’s mouthpiece Kamal Sandesh (English
fortnightly) 14 years back, some ordinary
karyakartas made me understand thatShriArunJaitley is very arrogant. He doesn’t
recognize people. He doesn’t accept even Namaste from people. Later, I had the
privilege of having interviewed him for the fortnightly.
Gujarat assembly elections were round
the corner and ShriJaitley was the election incharge there. So I needed his
interview about the situation in the State and BJP’s strategy and chances in
the election. I told some people that I have to interview him again for the
fortnightly. I said he knows me and I will have no difficulty. But they still warned
me.
In those very days, unfortunately, the
senior BJP leader Shri J. P Mathur died. His funeral was to take place sometime
later. So ShriJaitleyalongwith 3-4 more BJP leaders was returning to his office
in 9, Ashok Road. Under the wrong impression instilled in my mind by others I greetedShriJaitleywith
a “namaskaar’ to which he responded very nicely. I said, “Sir, I’m AmbaCharan”.
On this he instantly said, “Why do you tell me your name? I know you well.”
I felt sorry for believing what others
had said about him. In the course of time, impressions ingrained in me by some
proved to be false. I found him very polite who encouraged karyakartas to rise.
On another occasion I sought an
appointment with him for another interview. He asked me to come the next day at
3.00 PM. As I was going to enter his office, I found Jaitleyji coming out. He
said, “Sorry, I have to go to some senior leader who had called him”.
“It’s all right”, I said, “I will come
tomorrow”.
Then he asked me, “Can’t it be in the
car?”
I said, “No problem. It can be done in
the car also.”
“Then come”. He made me sit with him.
He was so clear and at ease in replying to my questions that I got greatly
proud. My more than 10 question interview was over in about 30 minutes.
About 7-8 years back he was BJP’s
election incharge for Punjab assembly elections. I was in his room for another
interview. In the meantime his associate O. P. Sharma (now MLA in Delhi
assembly for the second time) came in and said some BJP people from Punjab had
been waiting to see him. On this he burst into anger. “These people have met me
5/6 times earlier. What do they want? They don’t bother about my health. I am
not going to meet anybody”, he said emphatically.
As a good associate, Sharma calmly
said, “Sir, you kindly meet them for a minute and they will go back happy and
satisfied that they had met you.”
Jaitlyji relented. He said, “Send all
one by one.”
As OP
Sharma went to call visitors, I said, “Sir, you seem to be not well. I will
come tomorrow or dayafter.”
“No, no. You wait”, Jaitleyji said. “I
will dispose them off in minutes”.
In 10-15 minutes Jaitleyji disposed of
50-60 persons. As a person entered, he immediately said, “Your name is under
consideration….There is much opposition to you in the area…..You’ll get the
ticket…and so on.”
Later, he made me put my questions. Very
calmly he answered my questions. I was free in just another 15 minutes.
I am, by nature, not used to bothering
senior leaders calling on them for a Namaste and no work. This was true with
Jaitleyji too. I had not met him for about more than a year. ShriJaitley was
then Leader of Opposition in RajyaSabha. ShriPrabhatJha, RajyaSabhaMP was also
incharge of Literature and Publication Cell while I was the National Convener
of this Cell. ShriJha once met him. ShriJaitleyji was so kind to enquire about
me from ShriJha about me. I was just a small fry. Jhaji told him that I was
very much there in Kamal Sandeshand the Cell.
Jhaji told me of ShriJaitley enquiring
about me. He advised me to meet ShriJaitley. I told Jhaji that I have no
politics to discuss with him. Therefore, I will certainly go, meet him and
record an interview with him. I sought time and he gave it immediately. For
having an interview I took along two of my colleagues in Kamal Sandesh.
When I told him that I have also brought two of my colleagues with me, he
immediately called them in. He enquired from them which place they belonged,
what were they doing in the magazine and enquired whether they had any problem.
He gladly had a photograph with all of us.
After he became Finance Minister in
Modiji’s cabinet, I had no formal meeting but just chance meetings in various
functions.
Jaitelyji had
a multi-faceted personality. He was to-the-point on every occasion. He was very
clear in his opinion. He had no time whiling away his time for nothing. He was
articulate and brief. His answers to questions in interviews and while
addressing press conferences were quick and sharp. Never did he ask me to
change a word or sentence from the interview he gave. He was so sharp and clear
in his mind that whatever he said once was not to be changed.
Shri Jaitleyji was a priceless jewel in
politics, a par excellent lawyer, a lover of sports and cricket, an exceptional
orator and chum of the media. As a party
spokesperson, he was a doyen of the media. After formal press briefings, he
would come down the dais and sit with media persons to have an informal chat
with them.
His void will for long be felt by
politicians, media, legal fraternity, and the common karyakarta and people.
God may give peace to the departed
soul! ***
The
writer had been the National Convenor of the BJP’s Literature and Publication
Cell.
(Courtesy: Uday India weekly)