Rajaji

The last days of the year 1931, in the Central Jail at Vellore. A
number of freedom fighters were imprisoned there. Some of them were
sitting under a tree in the open yard. As they were chatting, a lean man,
wearing dark glasses, and trying to tighten the dhoti he was wearing,
walked across the courtyard. The men who were squatting under the
tree stood up respectfully.

"Who is that?" one of them asked.

"You don’t know? He is Rajaji, the man who is worthy of being our
Governor General" replied Professor N.G. Ranga, who happened to be
there.

About seventeen years later, Rajaji did become India's Governor

General.

The fifteenth of August 1947.The shackles of India's political

slavery were at lasting broken. The country became independent. The
determined fight under leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and
Nehru forced the British to quit India. For a few months, Lord
Mountbatten was the last British Governor General. He was to return to
England in June 1948.

An Indian had to take over as the Governor General.

'The Post of the Governor General of free India is really a very

high one. Who can worthily fill it? This was the question every where. All
eyes turned to Rajaji. Rajaji became free India's first Indian Governor
General.

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 Rajaji

He held the reins of administration for some twenty months and

proclaimed India a Republic on January 26, 1950.

Rajaji was a great patriot, an unequalled statesman, a great social

reformer, an able administrator, a popular writer, freedom fighter, an
intimate associate of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the makers of modern
India, a great leader of the Gandhian era and the founder of the
Swatantra Party.

Rajaji's real name was Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. People

affectionately called him Rajaji.

How the family got the name of Chakravarti is an interesting story.

In Sanskrit, 'Chakravarti' means the King of Kings. Once when an
ancestor of Rajaji was bathing in the river near their village, he saw a
dead body come floating down the river. Fearing that if left so to float,
vultures would only eat up the body, he pulled it out of the river and
cremated it. But later, it became known that the dead body was that of a
Harijan, considered by Hindus as an outcast. Hence the Brahmins of the
village expelled him. One day he had to perform an annual ceremony in
memory of a dead ancestor. Such days are very sacred to Brahmins.
But no Brahmins would agree to go to his house and partake of the
ritualistic meal. Rajaji's ancestor was in great grief and anguish. Just
then a person came along and said he was a Brahmin; he said he would
perform the worship in that house and partake of the meal. As he was
about to leave, he blessed the householder saying "Nallan Chakravarti"
meaning a good Emperor. Then he vanished. The people who were
they’re thought he was no ordinary mortal, but a super human being.
From then on this family got the name of Chakravarti family. So goes
the story.

Rajaji was born on December 8, 1878 in Thorapalli Village near

Hosur in Salem District of Tamilnadu. His mother was Shringaramma.
His father Chakravarti lyengar was not only the village munsiff but also a
great scholar in the Vedas, Puranas, and other Sanskrit lore. Rajaji
completed his primary education in his native village and then joined the
District Board High School at Hosur. Later he passed the B.A. degree
examination from the Central College in Bangalore and secured a Law
Degree in Madras.

When he was studying in the Law College in Madras, an

interesting incident happened.

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Swami Vivekananda visited Madras. He was put in the very hostel

where Rajagopalachari was staying. Going round the rooms of the
students in the hostel, he entered Raja- gopalachari's room. He saw on
the wall a picture of Lord Krishna. He asked, "Why is Lord Sri Krishna
blue in hue?" Raja- gopalachari, still a student, answered: "Sir, the sea
is limitless. So is the sky. And both are blue. God is also boundless. And
so His hue is also blue."

Swami Vivekananda was overjoyed. He said the young boy would

rise to eminence and would become very famous.

It was in Salem that Rajaji began independent practice as a

lawyer. He was just twenty years old. He came to be known as an
expert in conducting criminal cases. He was so skilful that he won even
very complicated cases quite easily.

Soon Rajaii became very famous as an advocate in Salem. He

was the very first person there to own a car. When he was twenty, he
married Alamelu Mangammal.

When he was just twenty-one, he conducted very difficult cases

independently. His knowledge of law, his intelligence and his
fearlessness brought him great fame and wealth in a short time.

Just then, the Government had prosecuted a patriot by name

Varadarajulu Naidu; the charge was that he had spoken against the
Government. Rajagopalachari was the advocate for Varadarajulu Naidu.
Whenever Rajaji stood up to speak, the judge would say "Please sit
down." Next day, at the very outset Rajaji stood up and made a
submission: "I have great respect for the Honorable Judge. But if like a
teacher in a classroom, Your Honor always asks me to sit down, I shall
not be able to discharge my duty; and it will not add to the dignity of this
court." The Judge apologized to Rajaji. Finally, on the basis of Rajaji's
arguments, Varadarajulu Naidu was acquitted.

Rajaji believed that the individual was part of society and must
make his contribution to social life. In 1917 he becamePresident of the
Municipal Council in Salem. No sooner, did he become President than
the work of the local body got a new impetus. He started adult education
classes and also night schools for factory workers. Schools for Harijans
were also opened. Rajaji appointed a committee to prepare a glossary
(list of difficult words) in Tamil so those science subjects could be taught

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in that language. He also drew up a plan for the supply of water to

Harijans. A Master plan for the development of Salem was also
formulated.

Rajaji did much to better the lot of the Harijans. When he admitted
Harijan students into a hostel, even some elders whom he respected
very much opposed him. But Rajaji did not relent or retreat.

Even from his student days, Rajaji was interested in politics.

During those days he had the good fortune of being guided by great
men like Chidambaram Pillai and Subrahmanya Bharati. He came under
the influence of leaders who were trying to awaken the Indian people
from slavery. Annie Besant, Bala Gangadhara Tilak and others began to
appreciate Rajaji. That Rajaji entered the political arena was not
surprising. In 1916, the Government of India arrested Annie Besant.
When the train carrying her came to Salem, people gathered in a large
numbers to see her. But the authorities would not permit it. Then the
people squatted on the rail track. The Collector of Salem called in the
police and was about to order them to open fire. Rajaji talked to him,
argued, and guaranteed that the people would be orderly and
nonviolent. Then the gathering offered garlands to Annie Besant and
showed its gratitude. Rajaji later argued on behalf of Annie Besant in
the law court, and she was released.

In South Africa, the Government and the Whites were treating

non-White population like dirt under their feet. Gandhiji put up a
tremendous struggle against that. It was on account of the Satyagraha
conducted there that Gandhi’s extraordinary quality of leadership came
to the limelight. When Gandhiji returned to India, Rajaji also accepted
his leadership.

Rajaji suggested to the then Editor of The Hindu, Kasturi Ranga

Iyengar, that Gandhiji be invited to Madras. An invitation was
accordingly sent to Gandhiji. When Gandhiji came, he stayed in Rajaji's
house. For sometime Gandhiji could not make out that it was Rajaji who
had invited him and that he was in Rajaji's house. The way Rajaji
conducted himself, Gandhiji thought that he too was a guest!

Rajaji held that the removal of Untouchability was very important.

He admitted Harijans to the "Gandhi Ashram" which he founded. His
cook was a washerman.

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Once it happened that a Harijan devotee entered a temple. He

had religious ash-marks on his forehead and arms and was singing
hymns. Some fanatics prosecuted him in a court of law. Reading about
it in the newspapers, Rajaji was pained. He took up his case in the court
and argued on his behalf.

In those days Harijans were not allowed to enter temples. Rajaji

tried very hard to see that a bill removing this disability was passed in
the Madras and Central Legislatures. But he did not succeed. Rajaji was
the first to work for legislation for the removal of Untouchability. He had
to face intense opposition and many obstacles. But he was undaunted.

Rajaji never cared for caste restrictions. He gave his daughter

Lakshmi in marriage to Gandhi’s son Devadas.

Rajaji's political life had a strange course. He was the General

Secretary of the Indian National Congress in 1921-22. For two decades
from 1922, he continued as a working committee member. He became
a frontline leader of the Congress, and was a confidant of Gandhiji. His
extraordinary genius was well known to all. He participated in various
Satyagraha movements and was imprisoned fivetimes. When Gandhiji
began the salt Satyagraha, Rajaji led a procession from Tiruchirapalli to
Vedaranya and began making salt on the seashore. They were all
arrested by Government and sent to prison.

When, for the first time, the Congress participated in the elections,
Rajaji became the Chief Minister of the then Madras Province. But he
resigned from the Congress in 1942. The Muslim League under Jinnah
put forth the demand for Pakistan. It insisted that grouping together
Muslim majority provinces and dividing India into two should create a
separate nation. In the early stages the Congress opposed the demand.
But Rajaji said that it was better to accept the demand for Pakistan.
Many Congressmen criticized Rajaji very harshly. Rajaji left
theCongress. But the same Congress agreed to the demand for
Pakistan in 1946!

Rajaji again joined the Congress in 1945. He became a Minister

when Jawaharlal Nehru formed a Government on the eve of
independence. The state of West Bengal had certain serious problems.

Rajaji became the Governor of that State in 1947. When Lord

Mountbatten returned to England, Rajaji became the Governor General

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occupying the highest position in free India. Later, he was Home

Minister in the Central Government. By then he was 72 years old, and
he needed rest. He gave up the Ministership and returned to Madras
and the world of letters. He began a study of the Ramayana.

A little later, when the Congress Party in Madras again urged him
to take up the leadership, he said, "No. I am old, and I do not want any
power or responsibility." But finally he had to agree and in 1952, at the
age of 75 years, he became the Chief Minister. He infused a new
dynamism into the Congress before retiring. But he became disgusted
with the way the country's affairs were going on. He felt that in the
havoc created by the control-licence -raj, corruption became rampant
and the nation's life was in a shambles. It became clear that if there
were no strong opposition party in a democracy, it would only be a
travesty of democracy. So, the 82-year-old hero founded a new party
called "The Swatantra Party". It was the main opposition party in the Lok
Sabha till 1969.

Rajaji hated sloth- even when he was kept in prison, he converted

it into a school. He gave of his knowledge to his co-prisoners. He would
recount the stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to them. Not
only did he seriously study many a book in prison, but he wrote some
books too. It was in prison that he wrote his book on the ancient Greek
philosopher, Socrates. It became a famous work.

Many a time when there were quarrels between the prisoners and
the officials of the goal and the situation became tense, Rajaji would
step in as peacemaker. So even the prison officials had greataffection
and regard towards Rajaji.

A feeling has grown that politics means competition and hatred.

But the way Rajaji conducted himself in politics was remark- able.The
well-known leader Satyamurty and Rajaji belonged to opposite groups
in politics. Still when Rajaji was giving up the Presidentship of the
provincial congress committee, he tried hard to see that Satyamurty was
greatly surprised by knowing this thing. He freely praised Rajaji and
said, "I never knew that Rajaji had a heart of gold!"

Satyamurty was the only leader who had not courted arrest even
sometime after Gandhiji began the Non Co-operation Movement in
1930. All other leaders of Madras were in goal. Rajaji went straight to
Satyamurty, though he was his political opponent. He told him, "All other

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leaders of Madras have gone to goal. It is a question of the prestige of

Madras. So you must also participate in the Satyagraha now."
Satyamurty agreed. Both of them picketed before a shop selling foreign
cloth and courted arrest. That was the first stretch of prison life to
Satyamurty.

Rajaji lived in an utterly simple way throughout his life. He had

inherited property. Within a couple of years after enrolment as a lawyer,
he was earning two to three thousand rupees a month. But he lived a
very simple life. He never left the path of virtue. His life was dedicated to
righteousness. He was like Bhishma in righteousness, and in statecraft
like Chanakya.

Rajaji always wore Khadi. He firmly believed in the need to use

Khadi and Swadeshi articles. Even when he was in prison, he used to
spin for a few hours every day. As for his clothes, he wore a dhoti, a
jubba (a loose, long shirt) and a shawl on his shoulders. That was all.
And he wore dark glasses. He had to wear them always because of
some eye ailment. Someone once asked him about it. Rajaji
humorously said, "When I meet anybody, I must look at him well and
know about him. But he should not see in my eyes what I think of him.
So I wear these dark glasses."

There were three prominent traits in Rajaji. The first was

fearlessness. Never would he refrain from saying or doing what he
thought was correct because it might displease someone or it might be
unpopular or those in power mightbecome angry. When he was yet very
young, he was an admirer of a Swamiji by name Sahajananda, who was
a Harijan. When the Swamiji came to Salem, Rajaji and his friends
arranged a dinner for him. Some orthodox persons became wild with
anger at this, and they ex-communicated Rajaji and his friends. The
priests would not go to their Houses to officiate at religious functions.
But Rajaji remained undaunted by any of these things. When he went to
Bombay in 1941, he had to face a black-flag demonstration against him.
Some threw stones at him in the public meeting. But Rajaji did make his
speech. In just a few minutes, there was calm and the people listened to
him.

Rajaji had unflinching faith in Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and

principles. He always followed them. He was also very close to Gandhiji.
When an association was started in Madras to explain to the people, the
philosophy behind Gandhi’s method of Satyagraha, Rajaji was chosen

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president of that body. Gandhiji was very happy when he heard of it.
Ofcourse, Rajaji was not a man to accept the ideas and views of others
without examining them. Gandhiji so even with the ideals preached it.

When the question of dividing the country arose, every Congress

leader opposed it. Still Rajaji supported the demand for Pakistan. He
kept aloof from the 'Quit India' movement started in 1942 to get the
country's independence from the British. He was the only leader who did
not take an active role in that movement. So he resigned from the
Congress in 1942. Some accuse him of being the cause for the rise of
Pakistan. He had to face the hostility of the people who thought that he
supported the creation of Pakistan. It became difficult for him to speak in
meetings. Quite a few leaders also criticized him harshly. But Rajaji
faced not only harsh words but also stones, and justified opinion.

At the time Rajaji started the Swatantra Party, the Congress Party
and Jawaharlal Nehru had tremendous influence in the country. But
Rajaji did build this opposition party. And till his last day, whenever he
felt that either the ruling party or very popular leader like Nehru was
making a mistake, he roundly condemned it.

During the Second World War (1939-45), when it seemed the

Japanese would bomb Madras in 1942, the Governor of Madras fled the
city. The people also started appealed to them. This is our country, not
of the British. They may run away. But in those days of run a teashop in
the Hindi Prachar Sabha Bhavan.

Secondly, Rajaji was an extraordinary genius. He was known for

his sharp intellect. He could grasp any subject easily. He could pinpoint
in a split-second the essence of any situation or problem. Because of
such clear thinking and sharp understanding, his speech was also
balanced, clear and to the point.

As an administrator he displayed dareness and a keen

intelligence.

He was the Chief Minister of Madras in 1937. Then he introduced

prohibition. This was being done for the very first time in India. But
prohibition meant loss of revenue to Government. So he introduced
Sales Tax for the first time. Many economists also welcomed the
measure.

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The farmers in our country were bowed and crippled by the weight
of debts. Every farmer’s family was in debt, and the every interest on it
was enough to ruin the family. A farmer was born as a debtor, and he
lived as a debtor and finally died in the same conditions. To remove this
pernicious evil, Rajaji brought in a new regulation. He banned the
charging of unreasonably high interest.

As Chief Minister of Madras, Rajaji had laid for himself a very high
code of conduct, others would have found it impossible to follow it. He
exercised great caution to see that he and his Ministers remained
untouched by corruption. He always went to the State Legislative
Assembly ready to answer any question or supplementary. He had
asked other ministers also to be similarly prepared.

In 1952, Rajaji again became the Chief Minister of Madras. He

removed all controls on foodgrains. Several Ministers at the Center and
also others thought that Rajaji had taken a wrong and hasty step. But
soon it was evident that what he did was right. So all over the country,
the controls on foodgrains were removed. Two years later he felt that
the educational system in the State should be radically changed. There
was great opposition to this. So he resigned.

The third important trait in Rajaji was his service-mindedness. He

had become quite rich while quite young. If he had continued as a
lawyer and had not entered politics, he could have been very wealthy.
He could have led a life of luxury. He gave up such a career for the sake
of the country. He went to goal five times. Another Congress leader,
Kaleswara Rao, has narrated how he became the Chief Minister of
Madras. Rajaji never wanted any position. Vallabha Bhai Patel himself
suggested that Rajaji should be the leader of the Party. "I do not want all
that," said Rajaji. He just would not listen. Kaleswara Rao became
angry. He said, "It is now your duty to lead the Party. If you do not wish
to do your duty, why are you here? You can go anywhere.Go to the
Himalayas. But this is not the place for you. Yes, please go away." Rao
was shouting in fury. Finally, with great effort, Patel had to persuade
Rajaji. As Governor General, he had held the highest position in the
country. Any one else in his position would have said, "I was the
Governor General of India. How can I accept a lower position?" But
Rajaji had no such thought. He became a Central Minister and later the
Chief Minister of a state. When he felt that his work was over, he
promptly laid down office. When he started the Swatantra
Party he was a very old man. He wanted no position for himself.

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Building up a new party meant hard work; he could expect no personal

gain. But he felt that in a democracy there should be a strong opposition
party. If there is no such party, the Government will become
irresponsible. So he started and nursed and built up the new party.

It was only once that Rajaji went outside India. Representing the
Gandhi Peace Foundation, he visited Britain and the United States of
America in 1961.

At that time, he was 83 years old. The old sage went out only to
utter a few words of wisdom. Powerful nations of the world were
competing among themselves; they wanted to make atom bombs and
even more destructive weapons. Rajaji was troubled. He thought that if
it went on, all mankinds would be destroyed. So he wished to warn that
even the mostpowerful nation must consider the welfare of humanity at
large. He went as the leader of a mission, which wanted to appeal, that
suicidal atomic experiments should stop. He talked to the then President
of the United States, John F.Kennedy, for forty-five minutes. Kennedy
later said that the discussion brought him the great influence of a pure
and gentle culture.

Rajaji was a very popular writer in Tamil and English, Some of his
books have a unique place in the world of letters. He has also translated
some Kannada stories into Tamil. He has written more than thirty books.
His books on the ancient Roman King Marcus Aurelius, on the
Bhagavad- Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Upanishads
are all very famous. Even a common man can read and understand his
writings. Rajaji said, "My books on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata
are my greatest service to my people." There is no exaggeration in it.
Their simple style is very attractive.

They are books, which every Indian should read and enjoy. By
translating the Ramayana and the Mahabharata into simple and
beautiful English, Rajaji has made it possible for the people of the
Western countries to read and enjoy these great epics of India. The
Mahabharata written in English by Rajaji is a textbook for Oriental
Studies in five American Universities and more than three lakh copies of
it have already been sold. Two lake copies of the Ramayana have been
sold. Rajaji spoke and wrote very simple language. He was a great
scholar, but his language was never pedantic. When people heard him
speak, they were amazed that difficult and profound ideas could be
expressed in such simple words. The same feeling comes when we

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read his books. Rajaji's stories have their own charm. He had a fine
sense of humor. Even while speaking in the legislature, according to the
situations he was telling some stories. He wrote many articles in the
"Swarajya". He dealt with every subject in the country's affairs. Any
article by him on any subject always presented a new angle. It would
make the readers think again. But the language was quite simple.

It was Rajaji who introduced teaching of Hindi compulsory in

Madras. But twenty years later Rajaji himself led the agitation against
Hindi. He felt strongly that in the eagerness to spread Hindi as the
national language, the regional languages should not be adversely
affected; their development should not be harmed.

Like many a great person, Rajaji also could foresee the future.
Even when he was in prison in 1921, he wrote in his diary; "Freedom
will come; but immediately thereafter or even for a long time it may not
bring the people happiness or a good government. As soon as freedom
comes, there will be a scramble for elected places; in its wake will come
corruption, injustice and the wickedness caused by money and an
inefficient administration. The life of the people will be like hell. Many will
feel that the older regime, which was comparatively more just, efficient
and honest, was better. What we get from our independence will be only
freedom from indignity andslavery. Our future lies in making our
youngsters good citizens by giving them from early days an education,
which is likely to create good conduct, righteousness and mutual love. If
that is not done, it is certain that they will be crushed under the
wickedness of injustice and wealth."

Many of Rajaji's ideas deserve serious consideration.

Rajaji had something interesting to say about celebrating

birthdays. He felt that in our country we went too far in the matter of
celebrating the birthdays of grown-up persons. Suppose we admire a
leader we celebrate every birthday of his-the fifty- second, the fifty-third,
the fifty-fourth and so on. Is this quite necessary? Suppose we celebrate
his 50th birthday, his 60th birthday, his 70th birthday and so on. We
shall be honoring him once in ten years. Is this not enough? It is
different with children. There is nothing wrong in observing it every year
for a little one. But there is certainly no propriety in observing the birth
anniversaries of our grown-up leaders every year as we may do for
children. We do go too far in declaring holidays. We seem to think that

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the best way to show respect for a great person or a great event is to
give up work on that day. The folly is self-evident.

Rajaji never sought fame. He did not attach any importance to it.
He knew that he was not exceptionally popular; he knew that quite often
those who agreed with his views were very few. Once somebody
mentioned this to him. Rajaji replied,"Our ancient sages did not give up
their firm belief in their ideals just because they did not have many
followers".

Some persons once went to Rajaji to discuss with him about the
celebration of Gandhi’s birth centenary. Rajaji said, "But we do not see
Gandhiji in the political, social or economic spheres in the country. In
this state of affairs you are thinking of celebrating the Gandhi birth
centenary. You are brave men!" There was a touch of humor, but the
pain in his mind was obvious.

Rajaji's interest in the affairs of the country and his concern for the
future always remained the same. They did not diminish a whit till the
very end of his long life. He was troubled deeply that people of the
country were not happy, that moral standards were going down in public
life and that persons in public life did not have even basic honesty.

This unequalled intellectual passed away on December 25, 1972.

He was then 94.

Rajaji received in his life both great honor and violent criticism. He
heard theharshest words of criticism from his owncolleagues. People
who could not understand him pelted stones at him. He withstood all
that. And he was the Governor General of India. He was also the
recipient of the highest award, the Bharata Ratna. Rajaji, who explained
the meaning of the Bhagavad- Gita in his books, had imbibed its
essence in his own life. Praise did not elate him; malicious words did not
upset him. So many people reproached him saying that he encouraged
the creation of Pakistan. Rajaji also did want an undivided India. But he
came to the conclusion that India could not get freedom unless Pakistan
was conceded to the Muslims. If some people want Pakistan, why keep
them with us by force? Let us give them what they want let them
experience the happiness or the misery or their new state. This is
political wisdom. So ran his thoughts. Gandhiji himself once said, "If I
had made over the leadership to Rajaji, I would not have had to see the

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bloodshed that occurred for the division of the country. He can see six
months ahead of me."

Rajaji did not get much happiness in his family life. When he was
just thirty-five his wife died. He was very young and also had a very
good income. Many relatives and friends told him that he should marry
again.

Rajaji, who had five children, said in his own humorous way, "If I
marry again, I would have to look after the sixth child along with the five
I have."

Rajaji was proud of India. He had studied deeply the history of

India, its literature and culture. His pride was rooted in this knowledge.
He always thought of the welfare of the country. He worked for it in
several ways. He practiced the teachings of Gandhiji. Gandhiji had told
his followers that it was not enough to fight against the British, their
sacred task included hard work for developing our motherland, Rajaji
always wore Khadi, and never failed to spin even in prison. He set up
and ran a Gandhi Ashram in a village called Pudupalayam. He supplied.
Spinning wheels and cottons not only to those in the Ashram but also to
people in the villages around. He made arrangements for the sale of the
yarn spun by the villagers. There was a school in the Ashram. Quite
often Rajaji was found teaching in the classes. His son, who was a
doctor, attended on the people in the Ashram and the villages nearby.
Rajaji periodically visited the villages. He arranged for the digging of
wells. He advised people to give up liquor. He started bee keeping in
the Ashram and taught people to earn money in this way. He was
convinced that the two great evils of Indian society were drinking and
Untouchability, so he fought against them tirelessly when he was in
power and later too. He was also responsible for starting over two
hundred co-operatives.

Rajaji was a child of Indian culture. At the same time he saw all
mankind as one family. It seemed to him that selfishness and foolish
notions of prestige blinded the powerful nations of the world. They were
madly making most modernized weapons of mass destruction. They
would plunge themselves and the whole of humanity in misery. Even in
extreme old age, Rajaji tried to prevent this.

Rajaji was grieved that freedom did not bring happiness and joy to
the people of India; he was unhappy that the greed for money and

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power was ruining national life. He was the center of a hundred

controversies. Different people may find this or that view of Rajaji
unacceptable. But there can be no difference of opinion that Rajaji was
the most brilliant leader of India in the twentieth century, and one who
spoke fearlessly for the weal of India and the World.

Author - Ananda D.Deshpande

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