Outside the grimy world of politics, anyone who ever came across Ram Vilas Paswan will find it difficult to control his emotion on hearing of his passing away at a Delhi hospital on Thursday evening. His demise is truly the end of an era both in Bihar and national politics.
Seventy-four-year-old Paswan had undergone heart surgery on Saturday. His son Chirag posted this emotive tweet to announce the passing away of his father.
“Papa... Now you are not in this world but I know you are always with me wherever you are. Miss you Papa,” read his post.
He will be missed not only by his family but by thousands of those who would be forever indebted to his kindness and helpful outreach.
His journey from a small village in Khagaria to the Lutyens’ Delhi and from a near destitute struggler to a powerful voice of the Dalits in Indian politics can make a captivating story. Paswan achieved more than many in the Indian politics — an eight-time MP and Union Minister for decades — but his true legacy will be the memory he leaves behind of being a thorough gentleman, a caring guardian, and someone who respected and nurtured a personal relationship like a few did in today’s cut throat world of politics.
Paswan trusted people so much that he discussed with them even the biggest decision of his life. I remember him visiting my house in Patna when he was the Union Telecom Minister and expressing his dilemma about continuing in the Cabinet in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots. It was on that day, then and there, he took the call to walk out of the Government.
Which other politician would have discussed such massive political decisions with a State-level correspondent?
Paswan may have all the guts to pursue a political career, but when it came to personal relationships he would always be there for you. Unlike the new breed of politicians, who stop taking your calls the day they become “something”, he would always be available for any professional help or social calls.
Paswan was known for reading the political climate more than anyone else. A few weeks before the 2014 general elections, I met him at a lunch hosted by late member of Parliament DP Tripathi. There Paswan hinted to me about his big step and asked me to see him the next day. Till then no one suspected that Paswan could go back to the BJP fold once again.
Somehow the news leaked out and he left his home and became traceless to avoid being approached by the Congress leaders. Once he made up his mind he will not let anyone change it. The rest is history.
“Always remember that only a dog that hesitates while crossing the road is run over. The one who is decisive always escapes,” was one of his favourite quotes.
Paswan loved his food. I forget the name of loads of fried river fish he would carry with him in the chopper when he went campaigning. It would be a regular feature of his lunch. Pakoda was one of his favourite snacks which I savoured with him last time I visited his residence a few months ago.
As Telecom Minister he appointed hundreds of his party men as members of the telephone advisory committee. Those were the days when people didn’t have mobile and the landline was such a privilege for a small-time party worker. It was in Patna’s Chanakya hotel that one day I told him that he should curtail the number of beneficiaries lest a scandal broke out. He smiled and said, “These are the people who carry my flags and toil for me. I’ve no existence without them. Why should I not reward them in whatever way possible?”
It was this quality — his ability to care for his workers, his cadres, his family, his friends, his near and dear ones — that made him such a rare personality in Indian politics.
The last few times I met Paswan I could sense he was aware of the approaching end. I could see that in his eyes, in his voice, in his gesture. In his decision making, he saw it coming and that’s why he passed on his party’s mantle to Chirag.
I last talked to Paswan on August 1 when he called me in the evening to tell me about his decision to link UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand to one nation one ration card scheme. He was so upbeat about the programme. Where can one find such a humble soul who would open up even on phone with a journalist?
The discussion veered to Bihar politics, too. He was clear in his mind that Chirag should carry on the way he wants. He told me that some senior BJP leaders had visited him to discuss the upcoming State Assembly elections, but he had asked them to now do business with his son. The man who was described as “mausam vaigyanik” for his astute political sense, was surely aware that time was running out for him.
There have not been any elections in Bihar in more than four decades when Paswan was not a player on the ground. Will his death also impact the outcome of the Bihar Assembly polls? The answer to this the million-dollar question would decide who will be the king and who will be the kingmaker of Bihar on November 10.
