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For one Delhi evening, poetry over politics: The Indian Express
New Delhi, Aug 28: In the cynical world of realpolitik in New Delhi, maybe it`s poetry that can ensure this unprecedented alignment. Four former Prime Ministers-all bitter rivals at one time or another-have got together to host an evening in honour of their fifth compatriot.
New Delhi, Aug 28: In the cynical world of realpolitik in New Delhi, maybe it’s poetry that can ensure this unprecedented alignment. Four former Prime Ministers—all bitter rivals at one time or another—have got together to host an evening in honour of their fifth compatriot.
Chandra Shekhar, P V Narasimha Rao, I K Gujral, and H D Deve Gowda have sent out invitations jointly signed by them for an evening of poetry by V P Singh.
President A P J Abdul Kalam has accepted to be the chief guest. Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the who’s who of Delhi’s political, bureacratic, literary and media world will be there at the Balayogi Auditorium in the new Library building of Parliament tomorrow evening.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Gujral said: ‘‘V P Singh is about to start his chemotherapy. We felt it was a good idea for people to see another dimension of his life and creativity for he is a remarkable poet and painter. Also, people have only seen politicians quarrel with each other...they need to see we can get together on something that is worthwhile.’’ V P Singh will read his poetry in Hindi and in English. Some of Singh’s English poems, written more recently, were first published in The Indian Express.
One of his recent ones, Mujh se khato khitaab mat karo ab bando, mera pata badalne wala hai (‘‘Do not correspond with me now, friends, my address is going to change soon’’) is reflective of his current mood.
Besides Singh, some of the other former PMs are also likely to read their poems. If Chandra Shekhar reads out his piece, Gujral his couplets and Deve Gowda his lines in Kannada that he is believed to have written, it may make for a special evening. Kalam is anyway given to poetry and may feel inspired to join in.
In a way, the coming together of the former PMs—now christened paanch pyare—shows the long way Indian democracy has come. For, it was Chandra Shekhar who toppled Singh’s government in November 1990, and replaced him as PM.
The St Kitts controversy, with which Narasimha Rao was supposedly associated, led to tremendous bitterness between V P Singh and Rajiv Gandhi. Had Rajiv and V P Singh not fallen out in 1987, the history of India might have been very different.
Though four of these five PMs have met several times in the past, this is the first time Rao has associated with them. When approached, Rao apparently did not hesitate for a second, to be co-host.
At the meeting called at Chandra Shekhar’s residence three weeks ago, to plan the event, Rao is believed to have remarked that so far the country knew only one facet of Singh’s personality, and that was of a politician and a good administrator. But, ‘‘Is sae bhi barhi khoobi hai Vishwanath ki aur woh hai ki woh itne achhe poet aur painter hain,’’ he is believed to have said.
The former PMs have taken personal interest in the organisation. Chandra Shekhar who said that he joined in ‘‘immediately after I was asked,’’ wrote to the Prime Minister and the Deputy PM, Gujral to the President and the Vice President. Deve Gowda was to meet Sonia Gandhi personally and invite her. Vajpayee and Advani are not able to come because they are slated to be in Srinagar.
President A P J Abdul Kalam has accepted to be the chief guest. Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the who’s who of Delhi’s political, bureacratic, literary and media world will be there at the Balayogi Auditorium in the new Library building of Parliament tomorrow evening.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Gujral said: ‘‘V P Singh is about to start his chemotherapy. We felt it was a good idea for people to see another dimension of his life and creativity for he is a remarkable poet and painter. Also, people have only seen politicians quarrel with each other...they need to see we can get together on something that is worthwhile.’’ V P Singh will read his poetry in Hindi and in English. Some of Singh’s English poems, written more recently, were first published in The Indian Express.
One of his recent ones, Mujh se khato khitaab mat karo ab bando, mera pata badalne wala hai (‘‘Do not correspond with me now, friends, my address is going to change soon’’) is reflective of his current mood.
Besides Singh, some of the other former PMs are also likely to read their poems. If Chandra Shekhar reads out his piece, Gujral his couplets and Deve Gowda his lines in Kannada that he is believed to have written, it may make for a special evening. Kalam is anyway given to poetry and may feel inspired to join in.
In a way, the coming together of the former PMs—now christened paanch pyare—shows the long way Indian democracy has come. For, it was Chandra Shekhar who toppled Singh’s government in November 1990, and replaced him as PM.
The St Kitts controversy, with which Narasimha Rao was supposedly associated, led to tremendous bitterness between V P Singh and Rajiv Gandhi. Had Rajiv and V P Singh not fallen out in 1987, the history of India might have been very different.
Though four of these five PMs have met several times in the past, this is the first time Rao has associated with them. When approached, Rao apparently did not hesitate for a second, to be co-host.
At the meeting called at Chandra Shekhar’s residence three weeks ago, to plan the event, Rao is believed to have remarked that so far the country knew only one facet of Singh’s personality, and that was of a politician and a good administrator. But, ‘‘Is sae bhi barhi khoobi hai Vishwanath ki aur woh hai ki woh itne achhe poet aur painter hain,’’ he is believed to have said.
The former PMs have taken personal interest in the organisation. Chandra Shekhar who said that he joined in ‘‘immediately after I was asked,’’ wrote to the Prime Minister and the Deputy PM, Gujral to the President and the Vice President. Deve Gowda was to meet Sonia Gandhi personally and invite her. Vajpayee and Advani are not able to come because they are slated to be in Srinagar.