Recently I finished reading the book “Half Lion”. The book
is about the story of how PV Narasimha Rao (PVNR or PV) transformed India. The
book was an eye-opener for me in many ways. Before I get to that part, let me clarify
few things.
Before I read the book, I had known very less about PV. Just
few images from my childhood days in DD channel of the former prime minister
who hardly made any impact in media. One remembers a smug faced man, with bald
head, miniature stature, hardly anything charismatic about him that would make
him stand apart. In fact, I thought there is anything impressive about him. All
that changed after I read the book:
His is the only minority government which completed its
tenure of 5 years fully. Minority governments before and after him had hardly
survived more than a year. He had minority representation in the Parliament,
had his own party members plotting against him and yet he went on to lay a path
for India which had played a big role in taking India, where it is today. Here
are some of the greatest achievements of his premiership:
We all know Manmohan Singh as the brain behind
liberalization which brought the wave of growth and prosperity in India.
However, few know that PV is the actual architect of bring in reforms which
liberalized the economy, eased the licence raj and imposed restrictions in free
trade with other countries. He succeeded in convincing his own party members in
voting for the reforms who didn’t want to liberalize Indian economy believing
we were selling ourselves to foreign interest.
He is vilified for his role in Babri Masjid demolition and
is considered party to the plot. However, the reality is different. His only
mistake was to trust the ruling government in UP that they will protect the mosque,
(and who eventually had plotted to demolish the mosque). He had even tried
back-channels to speak to VHP, BJP leaders to ensure no damage won’t happen to
mosque, however selfish interest had backstabbed him.
When he was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, he brought
in land reforms which hurt him as well, since he owned hundreds of acres of
land himself in his native village. Yet his belief in having social justice for
the land workers, made him push land redistribution reforms (paradoxically, he
was replaced as a CM for this very action, because of the landlord lobby).
PM Modi has become famous for visiting foreign countries and
wooing investors to invest in India. PV started the initial trend of inviting
investors over to India, and marketed India’s potential to the world. Until
then, the world saw India as a socialist place which had its doors closed to
external world. His pro-foreign policy has been furthered by subsequent
governments.
Paradoxically, one of PV’s key actions which backfired
against him is this decision to arrest corrupt politicians in the Hawala money
case. His own party members were indicted in the case, due to which he lost his
own supporters in his party. So much so, for taking actions against offenders,
morally right decisions, yet a huge political mistake.
Being the first Non-Nehru lineage person to become the Congress
President, he did more than required of him. And for all his contributions to
India, he stands vilified by his own party men, abandoned during his final days
(his body wasn’t allowed to be kept in Congress headquarters as is the norm and
he didn’t have his memorial in Delhi, so to prevent him being seen as an
all-India leader).
The best part of PV was he had the ability to play the timid
mouse, a wily fox or a courageous lion as the situation demanded. His life
offers insights for anyone interested in strategy, and outwitting competitors,
may it be political or business. I usually don’t support any political leaders,
since this generation leaders are hardly inspiring except a few. Yet, after
reading the book, I felt that he hadn’t got his fair share of praise and
recognition which he deserved.
This blog is meant as a tribute to the man who as an
individual was sincere and placed country interest above himself and achieved
so much despite having so little power unlike his predecessors. He truly was
one of India’s greatest Prime Minister.
P.S: I loved the author Vinay Sitapati’s writing style. It
was lucid and easy to comprehend. A narrative writing which balanced concepts
and conversations, the book was a fun read.
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