Trail Blazers

 

 

Dhirubhai Ambani

Sutanu Guru

The year is 1986. Raptors and sharks are circling around his new found empire for the kill. A bear cartel is hammering down the share price of his company in a ruthless display of effrontery. The Indian Express has launched a campaign against him and his activities that threaten a scandal a day. In the midst of all this brouhaha, the legendary Dhirubhai Ambani suffers a paralytic attack that almost ends up crippling him. Hacks and assorted pundits start writing off Ambani and Reliance as meteors that were destined to climax in an explosive end. None of them knew the mettle of Dhirubhai, arguably the greatest entrepreneur spawned by India in the 20th century. Sure, there was G D Birla, who had the grit and the chutzpah to beat even British companies when the British ruled India. Of course, there was J R D Tata, who married corporate social responsibility with shrewd and aggressive business strategies that created a beautiful symphony. But really, even these two titans fade and are relegated to the corner, if the achievements of Dhirubhai Ambani are compared with their historical record.

Everybody knows how Ambani hailed from a humble background in Gujarat, of how he worked in a petrol pump in a West Asian country and how he had to surmount formidable odds to launch one of the most famous (sometimes notorious) corporate houses of the country. What many Indians don’t know is the remarkable ability of the man to think, plan and strategise at least 20 years ahead of his time. When Indian entrepreneurs and business houses were dreaming of starting a quarter million tonne petrochemical plant, Ambani had already chalked out plans to launch the largest, oil, petroleum and petrochemicals company in the world. When businessmen were thinking of attracting a lakh or so subscribers after mobile telephony was privatised in 1995, Ambani had already envisaged plans to net 100 million subscribers. If that is not having a vision, then there can be no better definition ever of such a word. Truly his passing has left in its wake the biggest legacy for India, a legacy that has ensured that this nation is spawning entrepreneurs from every corner of the country. Ambani lives on, and in, every dream...

DID YOU KNOW?

When India was struggling to come out of the shell of Nehruvian Socialism, he was the man who taught us how to do so. An icon of an India which did not mind bypassing morality, as long as it brought food, he remains a topic of endless discussion.

Sutanu Guru is the Managing Editor of The Sunday Indian Arun Shourie

Sharad Gupta

He has often been described in extremes – crusader, mud-slinger, courter of controversy, hard-headed, Goenka’s bulldog, dreamer, missionary, biased upper-caste Hindu, bloodhound and so on. Seriously, none of these adjectives truly fit the pioneer of investigative journalism in India, who often shifted gears in his life – from an economist to an academician to a bureaucrat to a journalist to a politician, and then back to writing books. His first exposé was buying ‘Kamala’, to prove women were still being sold in India. He later dug out the cornering of money by the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Abdul Rehman Antulay in the name of a private trust run by Indira Gandhi, forcing Antulay’s resignation. His campaigns against Emergency, Bofors kickbacks, Mandal Commission, Reliance Industries and former Deputy PM Devi Lal have been legendary. Most of his books have raised storms. A Magsaysay and Padma Bhushan awardee, Shourie never cared for edifices, howsoever high and mighty, he always relished demolishing them. He never cared for the fallout, while candidly airing his views – be on the Punjab turmoil triggered by Bhindranwale, the Shah Bano case, Dr BR Ambedkar or on the reservation issue, besides criticising the legal, constitutional and parliamentary framework of the country. A soft-spoken man, the actions of Shourie are diametrically opposite the same.

DID YOU KNOW?

Like Napoleon, Arun Shourie too is considered a man who murdered the very revolution he was the progenitor of. He started journalism of scoops in the country, but ended up being a cynic. He gave birth to a school of journalism where conclusions are drawn first and then evidence is gathered to support them.

Sharad Gupta is the Executive Editor of The Sunday Indian Dr K B Hedgewar

R Balashankar on the first Sarsanghchalak of the RSS

O ne of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had a clear vision about the destiny of independent India. He was in the thick of the freedom movement and when he founded the RSS in 1925, the country was immersed in winning freedom. There was no blueprint before the leadership to rebuild the nation in harmony with its religio-cultural moorings. Dr Hedgewar masterminded the organisational technique, ideological construct, social awareness and framework to execute these ideas for a renascent India. He is the inspiration for the largest organisational network in the country, attracting the youth of India and the RSS has encompassed every sphere of national life. The alternative political pole in the country (the other being the UPA), is anchored to this ideology. Dr Hedgewar’s concerns for India were not only existential, but to equip India to play the stellar role for preserving universal brotherhood and peace. He was an original thinker, a pioneer and born leader. His relevance lies in the practicality of his idea and the Sangh is the only organisation growing in India.

DID YOU KNOW?

In an era when Brahmins despised even speaking to so-called lower-caste Hindus, he established an organisation where they dined together without making a fuss. An open admirer of the tactics of Hitler and Mussolini, he not only modelled RSS around Hitler’s Youth, but also nurtured it with generous doses of anti-Muslim rhetoric.

R Balashankar is the Editor of Organiser Begum Akhtar

Ghulam Sadiq Khan on the mistress of ghazals

Akhtaribai Faizabadi was the name of the genius who gained popularity later as Begum Akhtar. Born in a prestigious family of courtesans, she was trained by the likes of Ustad Imdad Khan, Ata Muhammad Khan, Abdul Wahid Khan and finally, she became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan saheb. Begum Akhtar became synonymous with ghazal singing, despite introducing a completely new genre. She had her share of controversies, the most prominent being that she hailed from a family of courtesans. She acted in films in an era when it was considered outrageous for girls to do so. She got married to Barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, who barred her from acting in cinema. Meanwhile, stories about her open-mindedness and bohemian lifestyle started circulating in the art circles. She openly flaunted her love for wine and cigarettes. Her alleged relationship with an aristocrat of Rampur was the talk of the town.

DID YOU KNOW?

She taught the world how ghazals are sung in a Mehfil. A lone woman in what was otherwise a man’s domain, she broke every possible taboo. A woman with her own share of controversies, she taught the middle class women what it was to lead a bohemian way of life, smoking, drinking et al!

Khan saheb is a noted Hindustani vocalist T N Seshan

Subramanian Swamy

TN Seshan was a deceptive and strange man. He was a megalomaniac. I made him the Chief Election Commissioner when I was the Union Law Minister in Prime Minister Chandrashekhar’s government in 1990-91, despite the apprehensions expressed by Rajiv Gandhi about Seshan. Having made him the CEC, I initiated the electoral reforms, as the Election Commission was under the Law Ministry and all those reforms, i.e. the issuing of voter identity cards, ensuring free and fair elections et al, were initiated by me (as Law Minister) and the Ministry, but he took all the credit. After spewing venom on all politicians and declaring that he would have politicians for breakfast, Seshan wanted a ticket to contest elections and compromised with almost all political parties. He finally contested on a ticket from the Congress against L K Advani from the Gandhinagar constituency. Due to his hankering after power, the “so-called” electoral reforms initiated by him came under suspicion. Now that nobody goes near him, his self-righteous proclamations are not carried anywhere as he has lost his credibility totally. This is Seshan, the so-called electoral reformer for you.

DID YOU KNOW?

He is the man who changed the way democracy functions in India. Such was his influence that it took time for riggers elections to understand that Seshan was a man and not a ‘law’ that governed the election process. Without him, voting rights would have remained a luxury for the downtrodden. To a large extent, he is credited with the task of cleaning up the electoral process in India.

Subramanian Swamy is the President, Janata Party K L Sehgal

Kunal Ganjawala on the real Devdas

Sehgal ji was one of the greatest singers and actors. He influenced personalities like Mukesh ji, Lata ji, Kishore Kumar ji and Rafi ji and therefore, he is known as the ‘Legend of Legends’. Although he is believed to have not undergone any formal training, still his music has been able to influence actors, singers, artists and music lovers. I think he’s most vividly remembered for his movie ‘Devdas’, in which he played the role of a drunkard. Even though other versions of the movie have been made, still Sehgal ji is the one who’s remembered as the actual Devdas. He’s recalled for the way he led his life, which was completely liberated from rules and regulations. Also, being a renowned poet, he is often known as the Ghazal King, because of his passion for Urdu poems, which he brilliantly fused with music. Even now, some of his famous songs like ‘Jab dil hi toot gaya, hum jee ke kya karenge’ and ‘Dukh ke din ab beetat nahin’ are heard with fondness by all connoisseurs of music.

DID YOU KNOW?

When India was yearning for freedom, he became the demigod of escapists. Blessed with a silken voice, he taught youngsters how to lament for love. Though frowned upon, his style of ‘nasal singing’ became an inspiration for singers of the calibre of Rafi, Kishore and Mukesh in their formative years. After surviving years of alcoholism, which had affected his health and singing, he died at a young age. By the time he died, he had already become a legend. K. Ganjawala is a playback singer Rajesh Khanna

Sanjay Chhel on the Kaka of stardom

Rajesh Khanna is truly one of a kind. An extremely sweet person, he is very co-operative and a real superstar. Over the years, I’ve met many superstars, but Rajesh ji is a class apart. Most superstars are very manipulative and do their work in a very business like manner. Rajesh ji is different. He’s a very emotional person, who was innocent enough to be unable to handle the stardom he had earned. There’s a lot of originality about this person and he was able to develop a unique style of acting. He was one of those actors who could instantly connect with the audience. Although people got bored of his acting after some time, the charm that he possessed still remains, and each time you meet him, you can always feel it. I met him at a time when there were a lot of controversies surrounding him and his stardom was fading in the 80s. It was quite apparent that he had been hurt. He is a true romantic, with romanticism embedded in his eyes. He carries himself with a lot of dignity and he is not someone with whom you can mess around. Over all, he is like the ‘Aakhri Mughal’, whose acting style cannot be replicated.

DID YOU KNOW?

When India was devoid of superstars, he filled the vacuum. His arrival marked a phase where actors started dominating the script and characters they portrayed. Though a favourite with girls, he remained controversial because of his non-conformist lifestyle. Nevertheless, he shall always be remembered as a style icon.

Sanjay Chhel is a filmmaker Guru Dutt

Sudhir Mishra on the anti-Nehruvian filmmaker

Guru Dutt is perhaps the only non-Nehruvian filmmaker of his times. I would say this because of his film ‘Pyaasa’. In the movie, there’s this line in which it seems as if Guru Dutt and Sahir Ludhianvi are asking Nehru a question: “Jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo kahaan hai?” Other filmmakers of that time, like Raj Kapoor and Bimal Roy, were Nehruvian film-makers, in the sense that even though they were critical of the social structures of that time, they still believed that change was possible within the ideology of the ruling Congress. Guru Dutt rejected that. According to him, there is no place for the social outcast in modern India. In ‘Pyaasa’, the same tragedy recurred for the poet and prostitute. His other films like ‘Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam’ portrayed this conventional style of popular filmmaking.

DID YOU KNOW?

When India was being pulled in a thousand directions, he had the guts to denounce every ‘ism’. A director and actor par excellence, he represented India that lived on the edge. In an era where intellectuals were a rare species, he had the courage to separate patriotism from jingoism.

Sudhir Mishra is a filmmaker Raj Kapoor

Ritu Nanda on India’s global showman

I am very proud and privileged to have been born as a daughter of Raj Kapoor. He is one of the filmmakers who has made major contributions to Hindi cinema. He did not make films for drawing room conversations. He made films to entertain the millions of cinema buffs in the country. His films are a fine blend of romanticism, music, script and fine cinematography. He rose above the ranks of the mediocre and understood the psyche of the masses. “Thank God, I am not bookish and not literate,” said he once. Many commented about the manner he portrayed women in his films. I would state that he empowered women through his films. Nowadays, cinema is technologically more advanced. Papa was really a genius. He still speaks to us through his films. Perhaps young filmmakers can learn something from him.

DID YOU KNOW?

Victor Fleming and Frank Kapra rolled in one, Raj Kapoor was the one and only showman of India. A poster boy of Nehruvian socialism, his movies were about the fledgeling Indian nation and its teething problems. He taught the world how the medium of cinema can be an initiator of Track II diplomacy.

Ritu Nanda is Raj Kapoor’s daughter Potti Sriramulu

Born into an orthodox Telugu family in Madras in 1901, Potti Sriramulu, after the demise of his wife, joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram when he was 25. He became an ardent Gandhian and was one of the 79 disciples who participated in the Salt Satyagraha. He sat on a fast-unto-death in 1946, demanding the opening up of temples in the Madras province for Harijans. Noticing his grit and determination, Gandhiji remarked: “India would have attained independence long back, if it had a few stalwarts like him.” After Independence, when the demand for separate linguistic states grew to a crescendo, the Union Government was opposed to the idea. Demanding a separate state for the Telugu-speaking people, Sriramulu started his fast-unto-death in Madras on 19 October, 1952. After 58 days, Sriramulu died on 16th December, 1952. Within three days, Jawaharlal Nehru announced the formation of the new State, Andhra Pradesh. DID YOU KNOW?

Although a social engineer par excellence, he unintentionally opened a Pandora’s Box of linguistic division.

EVKS Elangovan is Union Minister of State, Textiles Periyar EVR Naicker

Cho S Ramaswamy on the firebrand Dravidian leader

He was without doubt an Indian by birth, because he had settled on its land. He did not want independence from India. He had even petitioned the British not to grant freedom to Tamil Nadu, even if India would become independent. He wanted Tamil Nadu to continue under British rule. He had asked Mohammad Ali Jinnah to also agitate for one more partition, a separate Dravidistan, comprising the southern Indian states. On social issues, he said that marriage was a chain which enslaved women and they should not marry at all. Women should be free to have sex like one chooses a hotel of one’s own choice for food. This is a perverted view and certainly cannot be hailed as a revolutionary statement. His Dravidian movement was not for the oppressed classes, but for the non-Brahmin upper castes. This is why the political outfits of the movement never bagged the Dalit votes, but only the votes of non-Brahmin, non-Dalit upper castes. He called the Tamil language a “barbarian language” and wanted his followers to not learn Tamil at all. He never had a sizeable following and that was the reason he never dared to contest any election.

DID YOU KNOW?

Famous for his stinging remarks, he is said to have spared no one. He is credited with making a force out of the scattered Dravidian and Dalit groups. With his never-say-die attitude, he made the world accept the fact that there is an India south of Vindhyas too.

Cho Ramaswamy is a political commentator and columnist Devika Rani

Kalpana Lajmi on why Devika isn’t controversial

She was a dynamic personality, a great visionary and one of the leading heroines of her times. She married Himanshu Rai, who was a producer and actor. They founded the Bombay Talkies, which was based on a western concept. Years after her husband’s death, she married one of the noted Russian painters of that time, Svetoslav Roerich, and they started to lead a very quiet and peaceful life in the hills. She eventually settled with Roerich in Bangalore. Interestingly,, while her first husband was a great intellectual and visionary, even Roerich was a very creative person. Devika hailed from a very distinguished family background and is the grandniece of the Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Even her culture and values were associated with the background from which she hailed. She’s acted in some brilliant films and boldly portrayed some roles, at a time when women in Indian cinema were looked down upon. Rather than employing the word ‘controversial’, I would state that she was a very elegant and dignified woman.

DID YOU KNOW?

When Indians confused ‘Victorian Morality’ with the Indian ethos, she was the wedge that unsuccessfully tried to separate them. For the first time, sexuality of the middle class came out of the closet. Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar became a hit pair, which ironically started after she eloped with a hero of her film. Her husband chose to forgive her and upon returning, he teamed her up with Ashok Kumar, who worked as a laboratory assistant in Bombay Talkies. Famous for her on-screen kisses, her boldness was the reason behind the clauses for film censorship.

Kalpana Lajmi is a filmmaker Sonia Gandhi

Arindam Chaudhuri

An Italian girl of normal stature and origins meets the son of the world’s leading female political leader, and that too of one of the greatest and largest nations of the world. Sparks fly and soon they are in love. Anybody would’ve fallen in love with Rajiv Gandhi, not only because of his background, but due to his innocent looks and a clean and hearty smile. I don’t really think there was anything controversial about it (barring, of course, the narrow outlook of a section of Indians, who still think that a love marriage, that too with a foreigner, is a crime). Despite being married to the virtual prince of India, given the general feudal mentality of Indians, there was nothing controversial either about Sonia settling down to a normal life and keeping Rajiv outside the purview of India’s political system or about allowing his younger brother Sanjay to become the heir apparent. The loving wife and caring family man always wanted a normal love-filled life. Sonia allowed Rajiv to settle down as a pilot with Indian Airlines and even this wasn’t controversial. The peace that they dreamt of came crashing down one fateful morning, when Indira Gandhi, Rajiv’s mother and the then Prime Minister of India, got assassinated by her bodyguards. All hell broke loose in India. Though the current Presidential favourite, Pranab Mukherjee was the senior most leader in the Congress, the party, realising the potential in the sympathy wave generated due to the feudal mentality of Indians, begged Rajiv to take over the reins. Despite their mutual reluctance to be a part of Indian politics, Sonia’s eventual consent was not controversial by any yardstick. Her giving up the wearing of skirts and other European attire, and the donning of the Indian national dress was not controversial too. Nor was the manner in which she stood by Rajiv with her sweet dimpled smile, always providing him the much needed support in the murky world of Indian politics. The smile, sadly, was not to last long, as like his mother, Rajiv was assassinated by a suicide bomber. With the Indian political system having taken the lives of her mother-in-law and husband, Sonia was left shattered, with two little children and a nation full of people whom she had no reason to trust any more. There was no controversy in her tears and sacrifice. She must have rued the moment she had relented in allowing Rajiv to take the plunge in Indian politics, and all for a nation that was not hers by origin. Pressure was built on her to take up the job of Rajiv, but she was determined and refused to bite the bait. She let Narasimha Rao become the next Prime Minister, while she nurtured her wounds and children into adulthood. Controversy had no reason to become her middle name yet. The Congress lost the elections and the party came begging to her for support. With her children having grown up and keen to be a part of the political system – living for which their great-grandfather risked his life, and grandmother and father sacrificed their lives, they allowed their mother to accept the party’s request. The party was miraculously turned around and won the mandate of the nation. But naturally, the party wanted Sonia to become the Prime Minister. A woman of foreign origin becoming India’s Prime Minister?!? Who cares if her patriotism and sacrifice for this country are unquestionable? In a nation where the Hindutvawadis and their ludicrous moral policing are now a force to reckon with, we would rather have a dacoit, crook, scamster, rapist or an attempt-to-murder accused be the Prime Minister or deciding force on who the PM will be, but not Sonia! That’s how controversy became the middle name of the lady who always yearned for a love-filled peaceful life with her husband and children, far away from the grime of Indian politics. She took a conscious risk of letting her husband eventually sacrifice his life for the nation, trying to make it progressive and corruption-free. Till the Congress allows Rahul to replace her as the head of the party, controversy will continue to dog Sonia and shall always be a part of her life, because the party can’t do without a Gandhi, and Rahul still has some time to go. Sonia surely is one of the hundred most controversial people of India, but the bigger issue is who is responsible for that!

DID YOU KNOW?

Love her or hate her, you can’t ignore her. In an era where issues dominate personalities, she revived the personality cult. Blending sycophancy with democracy, she perhaps is more ‘Indian’ than many of us!

Arindam Chaudhuri is the Editor-in-chief of The Sunday Indian Kapil Dev

Madan Lal on the Last Mohican

Kapil was one of those cricketers who changed the face of Indian cricket. He has achieved a lot in his life. We played considerable cricket with each other and it was a delightful to watch him on the field. He was a terrific bowler and came at a time when India’s spin trio was at its zenith. Those were the times when the imagination of a genuine fast bowler from India was unthinkable. He surpassed many records of cricket. He was quite aggressive in his attitude, and that was reflected in his play. Even as a batsman, his achievements talk a lot. Kapil was an outstanding all-rounder. We do not have a quality all-rounder, as we do not give enough opportunities to players. If we really want to produce another Kapil in India, we should change our attitude of frequently changing youngsters in the team. In the 1983 world cup, he led India to victory, which was quite unthinkable in those days. It was a notable triumph. I still remember when he caught Vivian Richards off my ball, which was a masterpiece. When I entered cricket, he was slightly on a downhill. However, being a true warrior, he overcame his lean patch quickly. He faced a lot of difficult phases in his life even after that, and I must say that he has faced those moments bravely.

DID YOU KNOW?

The son of the soil went on to become ‘the son of turmoil’. Worshipped for leading India to victory in the World Cup, Dev was later lambasted for promoting regionalism in the team. Once accused (without basis) of match fixing, one vividly remembers him breakingdown on TV!

Madan Lal is a former cricketer Shah Bano

Tahir Mahmood on the woman who generated one of India’s biggest political controversies

Shah Bano wouldn’t have imagined how historic a figure she would become. It is of course, no thanks to her, but to communalists (because of her claim for alimony, supported by the Supreme Court). Since 1985-86, the votaries of sectarian politics have been using the story of a Shah Bano related ‘Constitutional Amendment’ to cudgel the minorities and to provoke the majority community, in search of petty political gains. Generously quoting the Constitution, certain fraudulent politicians have been referring to a so-called ‘Amendment’ – obviously imaginary – within the Indian Penal Code, and in some cases, even within some Indian Civil Code, to justify the vandalism displayed in the holy city of Ayodhya in December 1992, which resulted in the criminal destruction of a religio-historic monument. “Ayodhya was an answer to Shah Bano,” a lot of people have been heard saying. The argument is not only facile, but almost criminal.

DID YOU KNOW?

She unintentionally became the factor that split India along religious lines. When the BJP and other Hindutva forces were fighting for their survival, her alimony case became a lost cause reclaimed. She shall be remembered for changing the course of Indian politics, though quite unintentionally and without a deliberate political objective.

Tahir Mahmood is a constitutional expert Justice P N Bhagwati

K. Sunil on the father of PILs

If at all a Bharat Ratna should be conferred on anyone in the Indian judiciary, it should be Justice P N Bhagwati, the Father of Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Justice Bhagawati laid such a strong foundation for PILs, which today embraces all that concerns the citizens. It is such a Herculean task, which this luminary of the judiciary has achieved for the welfare of this country. What Justice Bhagawati initiated is currently the strongest pillar of Indian democracy. He is one of the activist judges who interpreted the fundamental rights so liberally that it brought many rights under the definition of personal liberty. Not only could the laws enacted by the Parliament or even through executive actions be called in question by the judiciary, they could be struck down as well, if not found appropriate. Environment issues, public health and order – all were given strong foundations. The Supreme Court furthered them with directions in the Hawala case, CNG, cleaning of cities, etc. It was Justice Bhagwati who was pained by a lethargic justice system and emphasised speedy justice.

DID YOU KNOW?

Justice P.N.Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of India, is hailed as a harbinger of public interest litigations in the Indian judiciary. What Justice Krishna Iyer propounded, was expanded by Justice Bhagawati, and now the progressive interpretations of the Supreme Court to fundamental and human rights have enhanced the ambit of this branch of law for public good and interest. Bhagawati’s name will be written in golden letters on the pillars of democracy.

K.Sunil is a Supreme Court Advocate Subhash Chandra Bose

G. Devarajan on the forgotten hero

It is unfortunate that no intensive study has been done so far about the political philosophy of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. One section of India’s so-called historians propagated that Netaji had been the supporter of fascists. Netaji has expressed his views on fascism at different times. In a speech delivered at the Tokyo University in 1944, Netaji criticised fascism and its various forms. During his stay in Germany in exile during the Second World War, Netaji never identified himself with Nazi politics or the Hitlerian concept of world domination. Netaji never supported the Nazi design of aggression against the Soviet Union. Even when he was an ally of Germany, Netaji never allowed the Azad Hind Radio in Berlin to be used for carrying on vile propaganda against Soviet Union. He declared very categorically that the post-independence reconstruction of India could be achieved only through socialistic means. Subhash was the first national leader to form a National Planning Committee in 1938. Even while he and the Indian National Army were vigorously engaged in the liberation struggle, he formed a separate reconstruction department. As an ardent believer in socialism and planned economy, it was thus Netaji who initiated the concept of Planning Commission.

DID YOU KNOW?

When he was alive, he triggered a major debate when he got cosy with the fascist forces. Today, when he is no more; the rumours around his death have equalled, if not surpassed, those of J. F. Kennedy. A man committed to his vision, Bose tried to make armed struggle popular.

G. Devarajan is National Secretary, All India Forward Block