The Firebrand Fernandes

Rinkumani Pathak

I don’t have the audacity to claim myself as an expert on emergency period, but it is one of the few things I have a keen interest in. Whenever I read about the draconian regime of Indira Gandhi, I am fascinated by the roles played by the crusaders against Indira’s emergency.In recent times, we have lost two stalwarts-Kuldip Nayar and George Fernandes who stood tall without retreating to dictatorship.

In recent times, we have lost two stalwarts-Kuldip Nayar and George Fernandes who stood tall without retreating to dictatorship. George Fernandes who was the poster boy of emergency period passed away on Tuesday. The firebrand leader had a tragic and lonely end. The life of Fernandes came to a halt after he became victim of Alzheimer. But he was the man who could bring the city of Mumbai to a complete halt by his call of Hartal in 60s. He paralysed the country with the 20 day nationwide railway strike in 1974. He was the man who defeated S. K. Patil, one of the top brass of Congress in 1967. Fernandes, who contested elections from prison in 1977 won the Muzaffarpur seat. I’ll always admire George Fernandes as a leader who possessed ‘Fish out of water’ attitude despite occupying several ministerial posts. He will remain one of my favorite leaders as Fernandes was one of the best-read politicians and a man of eloquence.

Appeared in Indian Express as a letter to the editor.