From his early childhood to the end of his political career, George Fernandes built on the politics of resistance based on his organisational skill and popular speeches. He will always capture the imagination of future generations

C EM Joad, British philosopher and former member with the Fabian Society, once said, “Socialism has lost its shape because everyone has wore it.” If we draw a sense from his statement, it is quite understandable and meaningful in the context of the Indian political scene and its new generation of socialist leadership. Perhaps George Fernandes, or George sahab as his peers called him, was one of the rare figures in India’s democratic scene, who wore the badge of “true socialism.” At a time when socialist leadership in India faces serious questions from dynastic politics, intellectual enquiry and popularity among the masses, the demise of Fernandes will create a vacuum, which is less likely to be filled in the near future. A true socialist, well respected in India and abroad, he will always capture the imagination of future generations of young leaders in India. His style of “firebrand politics”, based on the firm belief in united labour protests and outreach among masses, was certainly the most effective political tool that inspired many in India. From his early childhood to the end of his political career, due to health issues, Fernandes built on “politics of resistance” based on his organisational skill and popular speeches. His humility and lifestyle were certainly the key sources of his ability to connect with the masses.

Having born to a Catholic family based in Bangalore, he was disenchanted by the “priesthood of the Church” in his early 20s and soon shifted to Bombay to work with the labour taxi movement in the city. Inspired by great leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Fernandes remained the key guiding force and hope for the workers in a city that was turning towards a new industrial system. Once called “George, the Giant Killer,” he earned his popularity in national politics after he defeated the Congress heavyweight SK Patil from South Bombay. True to his belief in trade union activism and politics of resistance, even after turning a parliamentarian, he organised the most notable nationwide railway strike in India, which lasted for 20 days, under the banner of the All India Railway Federation, seeking wage revision which was ignored in the earlier three pay revisions post India’s independence.

With the declaration of the  Emergency in June 1975 by the Congress Government, he remained the most formidable challenge to the forces undermining the country’s democratic structure before being arrested a year later in Calcutta. Before this, he was consistently involved in mobilising supporters and conducting meetings with other political activists against the Emergency. Amid the news of him being secretly captured and arrested by the then government, many socialist leaders, including then British Prime Minister James Callaghan, former German Chancellor Willy Brand and Austrian head Bruno Kreisky, had warned the Indian Government of serious consequences in case they scented any plot of him being falsely killed or implicated. To this effect, Fernandes was taken to Tihar jail in Delhi. His popularity remained intact among the “anti-Congress constituency” given his resistance and struggle against the Emergency.

Elected in 1977 by a huge margin from the Muzaffarpur constituency in Bihar, that too while serving out a jail term, Fernandes had discovered a new phase of his politics with the Janata Dal movement. While Bombay remained the testing ground for his politics as a trade unionist, Bihar was the larger domain of his socialistic politics. As a Minister in the Janata Party Government, Fernandes was a key votary for developing swadeshi and indigenous industries, leading to the  exit of multi-nationals.

Despite his early reluctance to join the VP Singh Cabinet as Railway Minister, he remained the key force behind the formation of the Konkan Railway Corporation that will remain his tallest tribute to the nation and his personal recognition of his coastal roots and origins. He used his administrative skills and acumen to get an early clearance for this proposal and its execution by taking on board other socialist leaders like Ram Krishna Hegde and Madhu Dandavate.

Having parted ways with the dynastic politics of new-age socialist leaders of Bihar, he joined the ranks of the BJP led-NDA Government under the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and took over charge as India’s Defence Minister. The tenure was highlighted with the success of the second Pokhran nuclear teats and the  Kargil war of 1998. His many trips to Siachen glacier and flying in a MIG 21, which was dubbed as a “flying coffin” those days, drew respect and instilled confidence among our security forces. As a much involved and active Defence Minster, he was always approachable and it was easy to engage in a discussion with him on security issues.

Having faced questions on political probity, he resigned from the Vajpayee Cabinet and was later brought back when an inquiry commission could not find anything incriminating against him. Always averse to the idea of “ideological untouchability” in politics, once attending the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Golden Jubilee celebration in 1998 in Mumbai, he invoked  the idea of nationalism and social service in his speech.

Having grown up in the age of politics, which was based on fiery parliamentary speeches citing reasons and precedents, he used to maintain a great library, which did not have any book that he had not read. Having met him once on-board Sapt Kranti Express from Delhi to Muzaffarpur in 2006, I would remember George sahab as a man who was admired and revered for being grounded at all times, easily identifiable with his crumpled kurtas, uncombed hair and chappals. Yet he had an intellectual vigour and organisational skills to empower the masses, which elevated him from trade union leader to the Defence Minster. To quote Narendra Modi, “He was frank and fearless, forthright and farsighted, who represented the best of Indian leadership.”

(The writer holds a PhD in East Asian Studies, JNU and teaches at the University of Delhi)