715 No need to wonder about Mr. Pranab Mukherjee's ways, श्री प्रणब मुखर्जी महोदय के किताब पर आश्चर्य चकित होने के जरूरत नहीं है, శ్రీ ప్రణబ్ ముఖర్జీ గారు అత్యవసర స్థితిని గురించి వ్రాయలేదని ఆశ్చర్యపోవాల్సిన పని లేదు. తన రొట్టెకు ఎక్కడ వెన్న వ్రాసి ఉంటుందో, శ్రీవారికి బాగా తెలుసు.

Last time we wrote about Mr. Kuldip Nayar's article was in our blog post No. 662 dated 7th Feb. 2016. (Click to go to 662) . The context at that time was a jAtara called IFR 2016, a 10 billion Rupees extravaganza of Joint Demonstrations by Navies of various countries. We recalled the following quote of Mr. Kuldip Nayar at that time:

"...I recall his phone call to the Statesman when I was resident editor, requesting me to have tea at his house. He held no government office then. We three, including his wife, sat on the floor and sipped tea.... They had very little furniture and no servant.... His wife was a struggling dancer seeking to gain recognition. When he requested me to give her publicity, I realised why he had invited me. I met the same Mukherjee some years later during Emergency. His house exuded opulence...the sitting room was cluttered with stylish furniture, plush carpets and sparkling silver. He was then commerce minister. ..."

Now, the same Shri Kuldip Nayar wrote a review of the book "The Turbulent Years", penned by the President of India, the same Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, whom Mr. Nayar found raising himself from "dining on floor" to stylish furniture, plush carpets, and sparkling silver.

Here is the link for the benefit of those Readers who wish to have a look at the full review: (Click to go to theCitizen.in)

Mr. Kuldip Nayar has forgotten the fact that this bourgeoisie country cannot produce giants in honesty and virtuosity. The essence of Indian politics is a person will have to stick himself on to his chair inseparably with "glue". Our Hindutva fanatics do not accept, but the hard and harsh reality is, India has been constantly in servitude, for the last 5000 years. First, the Nation was subdued by invading / migrating Aryans of both the brands of North European, and South European varieties, followed by Greeks and Kushanus, Huns and Sakas, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Moghuls, Persians, Portueguese, Dutch, French, and ultimately English. In every instance of India's defeat, it was the Leaders of INdia, who let down the Nation, because of their disunity, selfishness, and love of luxuries.

How can Mr. Kuldip Nayar, expect Mr. Pranab Mukherjee to be an exception? Mr. Nayar may be remembering only the 1975-1977, 1980-1984 periods, when Mr. Sanjay Gandhi ruled the roust. Though Mr. Pranab Mukherjee opposed Mr. Rajeev Gandhi for sometime, it was only a half-hearted attempt. Till he got his "ghar-vApsi (Comeback to home)", Mr. Mukherjee might not have slept, or could not have rested. He continued his servitude to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, as a Man Friday to head Committees for postponing decisions, and allowing problems to rot, till they culminate to an irreparable crises.

One quote from the Review of Mr. Kuldip Nayar is worth remembering:

"...The President should know that Sanjay destroyed the institutions and imposed his personal rule in a democratic polity. Although he had not won even a municipal election, Sanjay administered the country, a job entrusted to Indira Gandhi when the nation returned her to power.

Mukherjee was the Commerce Minister in her cabinet. Still he was at the beck and call of Sanjay Gandhi. Mukherjee should have explained in his memoirs why he was at the end of Sanjay’s telephonic call. Was it the lure of office or did he fear detention without trial?

I, for one, went straight to the index to locate the chapter on the emergency. To my horror, I found that the word beginning with ‘E’ was missing. I thought that the Emergency must have been discussed under some other head. But I was disappointed to find that Mukherjee preferred to skip the traumatic experience the nation underwent for almost 22 months. ..."

Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, praising Sanjay Gandhi (younger son of Late Indira Gandhi), not discussing the Emergency Years of 1975-1977, not discussing the de facto rule years of Sanjay Gandhi, are in typical alignment to the normal traits of a Congress Leader, moving in the Royal gynesia (antah purams) of Nehru Dynasty. ON the other hand, had he described all those miserable years, then Readers would have burst their bellies with unstoppable laughter and disdain, for Mr. Mukherjee's waiting too long, to disclose them.

Reason for publishing the book while still being the President: This may be my figment of imagination, for which I apologise to Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and my Readers :-- Probably because it will be easy to sell the copies to Public Libraries, and University Libraries all over India. Else, if the book is written after Mr. Mukherjee steps down, the unsold books may accumulate dust.

Mr. Mukherjee, our beloved and highly honored President knows, which side of his bread loaf is amply buttered.

To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.