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A Selfless Stalwart
OBITUARY:
JAG PRAVESH CHANDRA (1916-2001)
By Madan Lal Khurana
Jag
Pravesh Chandra was my political rival for the past 36 years. But more
than that, he was my param hitaishi (symapathetic) friend and guide.
I was elected as a member of the interim metropolitan council in October
1966 while he was elected chairman of the council. People should learn
from him how to make friends despite political differences and live up
to friendship. He used to respect the opposition and accept our suggestions
when he was in power and when in opposition, he used to give us his invaluable
advice on various matters of importance, even at the cost of annoying
his own partymen.
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FACT
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* Born
in Lahore in 1916
* Migrated to India in 1947
* Elected to Delhi's metropolitan council in 1952
* Worked as Cheif Executive Councillor in Delhi from 1983 -1989
* Became Leader of Opposition in the first Delhi Assembly in 1993
* Honoured with Best Legislator Award in 1995
* Honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1999
* Was senior vice president of Delhi state Congress committee till
his death on February 21, 2002
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I can cite
here two examples of the spirit of co-operation between two of us despite
being on different sides of the political divide. The first incident relates
to his tenure as chief executive councillor of Delhi when a major clash
erupted between owners and workers of the Delhi Cloth Mill. The Congress
high command had apparently directed then lieutenant governor Romesh Bhandari
to help out the mill owners. But Jag Praveshji was not ready to sacrifice
the rights of mill workers. He defied the Congress leadership and convened
a special session of the metropolitan council to help out the workers.
I, as leader of the Opposition, appreciated his courage and empathy for
the downtrodden even at the risk of his expulsion from his party.
Another incident related to the allotment of premises for industrial units
in the Jhandewalan flatted factory compex in 1980 when Jag Praveshji was
CEC and I was the leader of the Opposition. A section of Congress leaders
had prepared a list of their favourites whom they wanted these premises
to be alloted to. I chanced upon copy of that list. I informed Jag Praveshji
of the designs of his colleagues and he promptly cancelled all such allotments.
The allotment was later done through lottery.
Though both of us were born in West Punjab (now in Pakistan) - I was born
at Lyallpur and he in Lahore - and both of us faced the similar trauma
of migration, we came to know of each other once I shifted from Allahabad
to Delhi in 1962. He was already a metropolitan councillor here while
I was trying to start my political career in Delhi. Though I was a student
leader in Allahabad University, practising politics at the state level
was a completely new experience for me. We became fond of each other once
I too was elected to the metropolitan council in 1966. The better I knew
him, the more I started respecting him for his principles and dedication
to social service without expecting personal gains. I learnt quite a few
things about politics from Jag Praveshji, protection of the poor and downtrodden
being the foremost priority.
Jag Praveshji was a selfless man dedicated to the welfare of the people
of Delhi. He was a scholar and a great thinker. He wrote more than 20
books on various subjects and one of his books -How to Win Elections-
became very popular. He never used public office for personal benefits.
Throughout his life he stayed in a two-room flat alloted to him by the
Government after he migrated from Lahore where he owned a spacious bungalow.
He always used to worry about te burgeoning population of the Capital
and its impact on the environment.
He never faced any personal allegations nor did he level one against his
political rivals. He would promptly respond if a finger was pointed at
his conduct. Since he never had a personal vehicle, I provided him a government
car when I became chief minister in 1993. But his colleagues alleged that
by accepting a government car, he had been won over by the BJP. Jag Praveshji
immediately returned the car and once again resorted to public transport.
Before I resigned as chief minister, I once again urged him to accept
the car since it was very uncomfortable for him to use public transport
at such an old age. That was my last order as chief minister. Jag Praveshji
accepted the car, though reluctantly. The fact that he was honoured with
the Padma Bhushan by a BJP-led government speaks volumes about the amount
of respect he enjoyed among his political rivals too.
Jag Pravesh Chandra's death is not only Delhi's loss but also a personal
tragedy for me.
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