June 28 marks the birth anniversary of PV Narasimha Rao, often referred to as ‘Father of Indian Economic Reforms’. He is one of the notable prime ministers of India who has laid the foundation for strong economic growth. He held the PMO from June 1991 to May 1996, when his government undertook landmark policy decisions which spurred India’s tryst with economic liberalisation. He is also remembered for enacting India’s ‘Look East’ policy, which refers to rebooting of ties with South-East Asia. Rao is also referred to as ‘Chanakya’ for his ability to steer economic and political legislation through the parliament at a time when he headed a minority government.
PV Narasimha Rao was the first person outside the Nehru-Gandhi family from the Congress to serve as the Prime Minister. He planned for his retirement in 1991. But the assassination of the Congress President Rajiv Gandhi persuaded him to make a comeback. In spite of his achievements, the Indian electorate voted out Rao’s government in 1996 general elections. After the defeat, Sonia asked Rao to step down as Congress Party President and replaced him by Sitaram Kesri.
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On December 9, 2004, Rao suffered a heart attack and 14 days later passed away at the age of 83. The Free Press Journal's article dated December 24, 2004, writes ‘Rao’s isolation ends only in death’. The article reads, “In life, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao preferred solitude and cherished his privacy, but his sprawling bungalow here Thursday teemed with people who came to pay respect to the distinguished scholar. “He spent most of his time after demitting office working on his four personal computers, which he used even shortly before being hospitalised," RK Khandekar, Rao’s personal secretary of 20 years, told IANS. "He was happy with the isolated life and computers," Khandekar said while pointing out death had dissolved the isolation Rao, 83, had imposed upon himself. The former prime minister rarely invited or spent time with family members at his government bungalow at 9, Motilal Nehru Marg, leave alone his political friends.
The article also mentions how Congress has neglected Rao after his death. It writes, “Scores of Congress leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi, visited Rao' house to pay homage to the man who helped transform India's economy in the 1990s, but was cast aside by the party after the Congress under him was defeated in the 1996 general election. Ironically, the mortal remains of the man who instituted austerity measures during his reign as the prime minister during 1991-96, was bought home in an old ambulance of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).”
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According to a report filed by The Tribune India on 26 December 2004, the shocking pictures of Rao’s half-burnt body was beamed on Telugu television channels. The article reads, “Television pictures of a half-burnt body of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao stirred into action his family and government officials who rushed to the funeral site and revived the funeral pyre around midnight. The shocking pictures of Rao’s half-burnt bones, skull and other parts of the body were beamed on Telugu television channels around 11 pm Saturday. Quoting eyewitnesses, the TV reports highlighted how the authorities had shown disrespect to a former prime minister by not arranging enough firewood for his funeral.”
Shockingly Rao’s body was denied entry at the Congress headquarters, the entrance gate was tightly shut. He was denied a final resting in Delhi. Narasimha Rao who held many positions – Prime Minister, Chief Minister and Congress President – was given a shameful treatment by his own party. Rao passed away the Congress party was in power at the Centre.
Fact: The samadhi of Sanjay Gandhi, who never held a public office, is built next to Shanti Van – samadhi of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s funeral
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades. He was elected to the Lok Sabha ten times, and twice to the Rajya Sabha. In 2014, after BJP government came in the power, the administration declared December 25, Vajpayee’s birthday, as Good Governance Day. The manner in which the Narendra Modi led BJP government conducted Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s funeral is something that cannot be missed. Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, at the age of 93. He was given a state funeral in New Delhi and not all former prime ministers who died received this honour. Only three prime ministers in India passed away while they headed the government - Jawaharlal Nehru (1964), Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966) and Indira Gandhi (1984).
On August 17, 2018, Vajpayee’s tri-colour wrapped body was taken to the BJP headquarters where party workers paid their tributes. His mortal remains were taken in a procession at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal near Raj Ghat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, several Union ministers, BJP chief ministers of a number of states and senior party leaders walked a five-km stretch. Later, his body was cremated with full state honours.
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Two days later, Vajpayee’s ashes were immersed in the Ganga and 100 sacred rivers across the country. The ceremony at the Haridwar was attended by Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat among others.
Read Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s obituary published in The Free Press Journal on August 17, 2008.
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A look at the two funerals clearly differentiates the manner in which both the political parties’, the BJP and the Congress, approach to power. The BJP clearly knows how to pay tributes to their departed leader.
