In his meeting with Indira Gandhi, Chandrashekhar had said, I will try to make Congress socialist.
Later, especially the youth interested in politics made beard an important part of their personality along with khadi kurta-pajama. But in this matter, Young Turk Chandrashekhar, who became his role model, had some other reason for starting to keep a beard. During his studies at Allahabad University, Chandrashekhar had gone to Jaipur with a friend. I was not in the habit of shaving myself. In Hindu hostel, the barber used to shave every day for one and a half rupees for a month. No salon found near hotel in Jaipur. Found many barbers on the way. But there are barbers sitting on bricks at every corner. I didn’t feel like getting a shave from him. Didn’t shave even on the second day.
After two days I thought that the intention was to bring socialism. What can you do if you are troubled by your beard? Gave up shaving. Then this beard became a part of Chandrashekhar’s personality throughout his life. Read stories related to Chandrashekhar on the occasion of his birthday.
Joined Congress after expulsion from Prasopa
Due to his support of Ashok Mehta, Chandrashekhar was expelled from Praja Samajwadi Party in 1964. Mehta had accepted the post of Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission while in Prasopa. Also led a parliamentary delegation to the United Nations. The party expelled him. Chandrashekhar was a member of Rajya Sabha in those days. He resigned from the National Executive in support of Mehta.
Former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar. Photo: Getty Images
Over the next few days, his distance from the party leadership increased, which became the reason for his departure from the party. After this Chandrashekhar joined Congress. Indrakumar Gujral, Gurupad Swami and Ashok Mehta were close to Indira Gandhi at that time. It was these people who introduced Chandrashekhar to Indira. Soon, along with them, Chandrashekhar also had an evening meeting with Indira Gandhi and a series of political discussions started.
…then I will try to break Congress!
Chandrashekhar remained blunt and blunt throughout his political career. While expressing his views, he never worried about political gains and losses. Indira had asked him in a meeting, do you consider Congress as socialist? The answer was, I don’t agree. But people say so.
This incident is recorded in Chandrashekhar’s autobiography “Life as lived”. Indira had asked in response that then why did you come to Congress? Chandrashekhar asked, do you want the correct answer? Indira said, yes I want this. Chandrashekhar had said in reply, “I worked with full capacity and honesty for 13 years in the Praja Socialist Party. Tried to take the party on the path of socialism with full devotion. But after working for a long time, I felt that the organization was stagnating. The party has become frustrated. It is not growing. Now nothing is going to happen here. Then I thought that Congress is a big party.”
Indira Gandhi. Photo: Getty Images
Let’s take a look in this. Do something. “Indira’s next question was, but what do you want to do after coming here? I will try to make the Congress socialist. And if it does not become socialist, then I will try to break it. Because until it is not broken, no one or politics will come to the country. First of all, I will try to make it socialist. But if it does not become so, then there will be no other way except breaking it.”
Indira did not expect such a reply. She said, I am asking you questions and you are giving me this kind of answer? Chandrashekhar was in bad shape. If you are asking a question then I will give you the answer. Indira’s next question was, what do you mean by breaking the party? What will happen with this? Chandrashekhar did not stop. Said, see Congress has become a banyan tree. No other plant will grow in its extended shade. No plant can grow under this banyan tree. Therefore, until this party is not broken, no revolutionary change will take place. This was the new introduction of the astonished Indira to Chandrashekhar.
Congress broke, Chandrashekhar supported Indira
Just five years after Indira’s conversation with Chandrashekhar, the historic split of the Congress took place in 1969. After Shastri’s death Indira had become the Prime Minister. The pressure from the syndicate of elderly leaders with the help of which she came to power was troubling her. For liberation, he decided to take the government on the pro-poor socialist path that Chandrashekhar had mentioned to him.
There was no place for personal opposition in Chandrashekhar’s politics. Photo: Getty Images
This was the time when he nationalized 14 private banks. Privilegers and titles of former kings were snatched away. After the announcement of the name of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the party’s official candidate for the post of President, when he had expressed his desire to resign, Chandrashekhar had told him not to resign but to fight. Later V.V. Giri was supported by Indira. Chandrashekhar had openly promoted Giri.
Political opposition but not personal hatred
There was no place for personal opposition in Chandrashekhar’s politics. During the split of Congress, he fought openly against Morarji Desai and the leaders of the syndicate. Even inside the Parliament, he kept cornering Morarji when he was the Finance Minister. But the news of Morarji’s fast unto death worried Chandrashekhar. In 1974, Navnirman movement of students was going on in Gujarat. The agitators were adamant for the dismissal of Chiman Bhai Patel’s government from the state. Morarji was with these students.
On March 12, 1975, he started a fast unto death with this demand. Indira Gandhi was adamant. Morarji was not ready to retreat. Chandrashekhar, who always opposed Morarji during his tenure in Congress, tried to convince Morarji. Said that if anything happens to you, the condition of the country will become very bad. His answer was that if God wants to take me in this way, then I will go like this.
Chandrashekhar was aware of his stubborn nature. Chandrashekhar again went to meet Indira Gandhi. Told them that Morarji would sacrifice his life but would not break the fast. Warned that then the situation in the country will not be controlled. After this Indira Gandhi relented and said that she will see.
Far away from Indira, sent to jail
Young Turk Chandrashekhar was concerned about the danger of the youth-student movement spreading first in Gujarat and then in North India along with Bihar. The leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan had increased its flame considerably. Chandrashekhar wanted to avoid the conflict between Indira and JP. It was feared that if this happened, the country would suffer huge losses.
He wrote to JP, “The people who are coming with you have nothing to do with the total revolution. They are with you only so that they can get a share in power politics.” At the same time he wrote to Indira, “The communists are provoking you. If there is a conflict between AAP and JP, the country will suffer huge losses. There is no difference between you and them regarding ideals and principles.
In a separate public statement, Chandrashekhar had said that the country needs the moral authority of JP and the state power of Indira Gandhi. Combining both can be good for the country. Otherwise clouds of danger are looming. In the month of June 1975, Inder Kumar Gujral was telling his friend Chandrashekhar that now there should be a compromise between AAP and Indira Gandhi. In response, Chandrashekhar was saying, “There is no question of compromise. We are walking on two paths. It is a compulsion for Indira Gandhi to do this. After a few days, you will read the news that I died after being crushed by a truck or went to jail.”
On June 25, at 3.30 pm, a police vehicle reached Gandhi Shanti Pratishthan. JP was woken up. Then they were taken to Parliament police station in a police car. Chandrashekhar was in a taxi behind.
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