THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
Former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh who is popularly known as VP Singh or VP would have turned 95 today. He was born on June 25th, 1931 at Manda, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. He passed away in November 2008 and yet his fans, admirers and followers remember him despite the fact there is no organized group of them yet wherever they are they remember him. While India rarely honored this man of vision, a large number of his former colleagues would be remembering Jai Prakash Naraian and his ‘sampurn kranti’ on this day when Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on India. Both JP and VP have been instrumental in overthrowing the Congress governments democratically but while JP is much ‘venerated’ by Indian Brahmanical elite, VP is despised by them because his decisions had far-reaching impact on Indian polity that hugely empowered Dalits, Adivasis and Backward Communities. It is the fact that the revolution brought out by V P Singh has overshadowed any other thing in India and parties who were critical of his judgements and decisions are today following the same. Rights of the OBCs are now part of India political mainstream while no political party can afford ignoring Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Dalits. VP Singh’s contribution in strengthening their heritage and mainstreaming them further is the biggest one in Indian polity. People might call him Mandal Massiah but the fact is it was the Ambedkarite movement that got strengthened and widened during this phase.
Historical facts some times are referred to only those references which are available in government or party archives but what about those who remain with people. Many time, such information remains with individuals and is consigned in the old papers of his house only be ‘discovered’ by family years later to be only thrown away mostly.
I have been a frequent visitor to Ambedkar Center in London and the main visionary behind this is Mr. Chakravarty Gautam or simply Gautam ji, an active member of Ambedkarite Buddhist fraternity in UK since 1967 when he migrated there from Vyara in district Tapi, Gujarat. Prior to Ambedkar House at 10, Henry Road, which was bought by government of Maharashtra a few years back, Ambedkar Center at Southall was the most sought-after place that Ambedkarite from all over the world, would visit. This was perhaps the first center in the name of Baba Saheb Ambedkar in the West and it played a huge role in bringing together Ambedkarites from different part of the world. I got the opportunity to stay at the Ambedkar Center and speak to Gautam ji and his vast experience in strengthening Ambedkarism in UK and other parts of the world. Gautam ji rarely speak about himself despite the facts that most of the Ambedkarite who visit UK and Ambedkar Center are actually known to him or come from his direct contact. During a conversation, he shared with me photographs and other details of leaders visiting Ambedkar Center. I got deeply interested while seeing a huge number of them with former Prime Minister V P Singh and Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. I had been requesting Gautam ji to share with me those important moments when these things happened and what were his impression about them. So, this article is based on my conversation with Chakravarty Gautam related to his association with V P Singh and the impression he got about him.
Chakravarty Gautam hailed from an extremely poor family yet dreamt big. His friend invited him to UK where initially he tried to enroll at various institutions including London University but could not complete his education because of lack of resources. In the meanwhile, he got married and his wife hailed from Gujarati community in Africa. The business trait in being Gujarati was natural in them so they ventured into leather business and started a Shoe shop in 1972. He is an ardent Ambedkarite and influenced by Buddhism before coming to UK. Gautam ji actually embraced Buddhism along with many other Indians in 1973 and Deeksha was performed by Ven Bhante Saddhatissa, who was also part of the Deeksha giving monks at the historic Deeksha ceremony undertaken by Baba Saheb Ambedkar along with millions of others in Nagpur on Ashoka Vijayadashmi day, October 14th, 1956.
Afterwards, Gautam ji has been very active in strengthening the Ambedkarite-Buddhist movement in UK and has been a pillar of Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations (FABO) as well as Ambedkar Missions in UK.
The period when VP Singh became prime minister became a fertile ground for the growth of Ambedkarite movement world over and UK was not an exception. Gautam ji says that ‘between 1989-1992 Ambedkarite wanted to organise grand events for Dr Ambedkar birthday Centenary celebrations. Ambedkarites launched a committee in Parliament in UK. Our colleague from Ambedkar Mission, Bedford such as Dhanpat Rattu, Channan Chahal, Arun Kumar were very active. Mr H L Virdi Saheb was the president. Like him many other people too contributed a lot. We wanted to build Ambedkar Center. We took four years. This was huge. We thought it is time now to do some solid work. We decided to have our Ambedkar Center here in this Southall, which is little India near Heathrow airport, London. In 1993, we bought the land. It was in very bad shape. People used to think that we were mad and never believed that we could do something. We worked very hard. It took 4 years to fully complete it. Finally, it was inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner, Dr L M Singhvi on April 14th, 1996. The movement in UK was growing and we all were working very hard.’
Most of the people in India remember former Prime Minister V P Singh as the one who opened access to levers of power of the Union Government but a fact often ignored widely by authors is about V P Singh critical role in strengthening empowerment of Dalits particularly his positive engagement with the Ambedkarites world over. His government declared Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s birthday as a National Holiday, conferred Bharat Ratna to Dr Ambedkar along with Nelson Mandela and placed Dr Ambedkar’s portrait inside the Parliament. The government also formed ‘Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee’ which had a huge list of members and invitees. Prime Minister of India was its ex-officio chairperson and the committee has a wider representation of Ambedkarites including Bhagwan Das, L R Balley, N G Uke, V T Rajshekar. Chakravarty Gautam’s name too was included in it. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has actually started widening his reach with the Ambedkarite movement world over and hence the engagement and bondage became stronger. Ram Vilas Paswan was the most powerful supporter of the Mandal report and Prime Minister V P Singh. Yes, there was another competing man in the ministry that time, Sharad Yadav but he was more ambitious with playing drawing room politics. But it is a fact that both Ram Vilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav were the two most powerful minister in VP’s cabinet. Those were the days they enjoyed their power the most and subsequently both became minister in different ministries but the ‘aura’ disappeared. Ram Vilas Paswan, however, remained closed to VP Singh and they mutually respected each other.
Ambedkarite associated with Ambedkar Mission, Bedford, Mr Arun Kumar, says that during the Dr Ambedkar birth Centenary in 1991, we were raising the profile of Dr Ambedkar by writing to print media, TV and Radio. 1989, under the auspices of FABO UK, Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee was formed not just to celebrate Dr Ambedkar birth anniversary but also to raise his profile and work to eradicate discrimination whether it is based on race, colour, religion, gender or caste. Functions at the London School of Economics, Gray’s Inn, Royal Common Wealth Hall, India House, both Houses of the British Parliament and many other prominent places were arranged and secured a wide coverage in the media. One of the functions was attended by the daughter of Lord Mountbatten of Burma. Four volumes of souvenirs were produced covering Dr Ambedkar’s various aspects of work. Exhibitions and talks were arranged at a number of libraries in the UK. Late V.P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India was also invited. The stage was set for future programmes.’
V P Singh informed people that he was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma in 1998. That apart, he had been battling the illness and kidney complications too and therefore he decided to keep away from politics but he ‘discovered’ different ways of engagement including painting, poetry and participating in social movements. Interestingly, V P used to be very active during his dialysis and he would invite scholars, activists, intellectuals for interaction. For several years he had been a regular visitor to London for treatment purposes and it is here he developed a deep bond with Chakravarty Gautam and other Ambedkarites. Gautam ji fondly remembers V P Singh and shared with me many photographs that VP Singh participated in different event during his various visits to UK. In fact, Gautam ji became the point of contact for V P Singh whenever he visited London, mostly coming for his treatment. Interestingly, Gautam ji was awarded the Bhim Ratna Centenary Award in 1991 by V P Singh in London.
Gautam Chakravarty says V P Singh was extremely honest, very humble and sensitive person who ensured that any one coming to meet him is treated well. There was no ego in him as he always wanted to ensure that his visit to any place create least troubles for those who wanted to meet him. In fact, Indian High Commission in UK started organising events every year on Ambedkar Jayanti but it is L M Singhvi and his tenure who is respected widely by the Ambedkarites in UK for his engagement with them. He would participate in Ambedkar Jayanti programme and also interact with different groups of people such as Muslims, Sikhs as well as Buddhists. While interacting with venerable Bhantes, VP remained like an ordinary follower and once he also offered ‘Bhojan danam’ to Bikkhus on a Buddha Purnima day.
V P Singh engagements were not limited to participations in events but also developing deeper bonds with individuals. Gautam ji narrated that many political leaders actually visited UK but VP was absolutely different. Anyone coming from India would engage in big purchases and carry huge baggage, call colleagues, seek special favours but VP was extremely limited in his needs. He would not accept any gift and would want to pay for it. Gautam ji narrated an incident that he purchased a very expansive shoe from Italy and wanted to give a gift but he politely declined and would accept it only if would pay for it. He won’t carry big bags or disturb any one for his work. Mostly, Indian politicians are fond of big ‘rallies’ in India but in UK and elsewhere they don’t find it so many with bigger egos won’t like to visit it when you have to keep your security outside and meet the people on an equal basis. V P Singh had the strength and courage to sit in gatherings or individuals one to one without expecting large number, says Gautam Chakravarty.
The one quality that Gautam ji liked about V P Singh, who he always remembered as ‘Saheb’, was his non indulgence with any kind of criticism or backbiting against any one which is a favourite for many. He says, Saheb was very careful about what he speak and would listen to people more than lecturing them. He was a great listener, a very rare thing for a politician of that level who are habitual of speaking beyond their given time too. He never spoke ill towards anyone and he found him ready to accept a different view point. He was also a great photographer and would some time guide people about photography.
V P Singh’s painting and poetry have been appreciated by critique. Gautam ji shared with me of what he terms as ‘precious gift’ from Saheb, his book of poetry named, ‘ ek tukda dharati, ek tukda akash’ which is duly signed by him on April 17th, 1999 as ‘Gautam ji ko sahsneh”. Gautam ji reads the first page of the book which is basically dedicated to his wife Sita Singh’. It says, ‘Sita ko, jo mere ‘jindabad’ aur ‘murdabad’ me na abaad rahi na barbad’.
Gautam ji feel leaders like V P Singh are great in true sense who never impose their greatness and never intimidate others by their presence. VP was down to earth and very respectful to all he spoke. He never needed special things and can sit and sleep at any place which was comfortable for him. Once, Gautam ji called him for an appointment to which he got the reply that he does not need any appointment with him and can visit him any time. His simplicity was actually his great strength along with his honesty. He rarely got angry with any one and created least trouble for anyone. Saheb truly was a big man, says Chakravarty Gautam, it is difficult to be like him but his life is a shining example how despite being born in a big family he never liked to be called as ‘Raja Saheb’ and remain humble and grounded. V P Singh was a genius in true sense who till his death remained committed to the cause of the most marginalised people in India and never compromised on his principles, says Chakravarty Gautam.
