Born to late Kulamani Kar and grandson of Bagmi Biswanath Kar, he was a prodigious child who took to his studies as a fish takes to water. Possessed with a brilliant academic record of excellence, he had his post-graduation in Political Science from the Allahabad University in 1962. It was at this university that he came in contact with the then Allahabad MP and former Prime Mnister lal Bahadur Shastri and became his blue-eyed boy till he passed away in 1966. Shastriji chided him, “If all the best brains of the country opt for IAS, who would govern this countryIJ”
This stentorian of Shastriji ignited Sarat Kumar Kar to relinquish the coveted career of IAS and choose a career in politics and public life. Shastriji recommended him to Biju Patnaik. Kar met Patnaik, then a veteran Congress leader, who became enamoured of him after listening to his awe-inspiring speeches and asked him always to accompany him during his tours of the State. Kar then became the Minister for Education and Culture in 1971 in the Biswanath Das Ministry. He was elected as a Janata Dal MP in 1977.
He was member of many committees including that of the External Affairs Ministry under AB Vajpayee. He was again a Minister (I&PR) under Biju Patnaik in 1990. He successfully fulfilled the task of a philosopher king when he assumed the mantle of Assembly Speaker and followed a British thinker who said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I shall defend unto my last your right to say so.” Kar was a precursor of many landmark judgements on the floor of the House like his glorious predecessor Pt Nilakantha Das. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury.
What prompted you to choose a career in public lifeIJ
When the country got independence, I was a mere lower primary student. I gave a speech in an assembly of freedom fighters, who opined that as a little one this boy in his speech reminded them Subhas Bose and even surpassed his speeches. This eulogised me. Besides, I always stood first in my class. I was also a sportsman and editor of school and college magazines. All the top ten Political Science PG students of the Allahabad University were selected either for IAS, IFS or IPS. Pyarimohan Mohapatra was first class first by being one mark ahead of me and RK Bhujabal, ex-Chief Secretary, was the seventh rank holder. I had occupied the second position. In 1961 when I was staying in Sir Sunderlal Hostel, it was very close to Anand Bhawan. We used to go to Nehru’s residence and meet Indira Gandhi. I was also very close to lalbahadur Shastri. Shastriji told me, If all the best brains and youth leaders like you go in for IAS then who will rule this countryIJ” His words awakened me. He further told me, “Since you cannot do politics here in north India, I have talked to our veteran Congress leader Bijubabu; report to him at once.” I met Bijubabu and he got enamoured of me when he heard my public speeches. Since then he took me with him wherever he went during his visits in the State and the country. This is how I chose a career in politics and public life against the will of my father and elder brother, who has wanted me to be in IAS.
Please tell us about your political career thereafterIJ
It was in 1967 that I was offered to contest for the Assembly on a Congress ticket. Congress leader Surendra Patnaik had joined with Dr HK Mahtab in the Jana Congress. Bijubabu wanted me to contest in place of Surendrababu, but I lost since the Congress was in a poor shape being opposed by the Swatantra Party, the Jharkhand outfit and by Dr Mahtab. I was the general secretary of the State Congress and moving round the State for inspiring Congressmen. The congress rank and file felt dejected. But since I was very close to Indiraji and Bijubabu, I was carrying out the organisational work Statewide and there was a gradual improvement in the Congress affairs. But unfortunately in New Delhi, Kamaraj, Nijalingppa and other senior leaders opposed Indira Gandhi, who removed all senior leaders including Bijubabu from the CWC and took Nandini Satpathy as a CWC member. Indiraji wanted me to be PCC president, but I humbly declined the offer in favour of Bijubabu, which she did not allow to happen. I stayed with Bijubabu. In 1971, there was the euphoria of the Bangladesh war and a strong wave in Indira Gandhi’s favour. She rode to power. Had I stayed with her, there would have been a Congress Ministry with myself as the CM in 1971. But we had broken away from the Congress and formed the Utkal Congress. We won a majority but were bound to have a coalition Ministry with the Swatantra and Jharkhand parties and invited senior leader Biswanath Das to be the CM. Unfortunately, the Ministry lasted for 14 months where I was the youngest Minister. Thereafter, Nandini Satpathy came and we opposed her tooth and nail, and 20 members along with Nilamani Routray withdrew and Nandini’s Government fell. There was again an election in 1974.
Tell your experiences during the EmergencyIJ
I had gone underground and met MPs confidentially to defeat the Ordinance in the House. I thought it was death of democracy. But soon Indiraji gathered intelligence and ending Emergency declared elections. All leaders of the country used to meet at the Aurangzeb Road residence of Biju Patnaik since Bijubabu was the coordinator. Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, AB Vajpayee and other veterans met Jayaprakash Narayan here and a party, Janata Party, came into being. Thereafter, everyone knows the results. The Congress was routed in the country except for the four southern States. Desai became the PM.
What was your personal relationship with Bijubabu and how did your chemistry with Naveenbabu suffer erosionIJ
Bijubabu was my friend, philosopher and guide. He had the catholicity of a Gandhiji, the daredevilry of a Subhas Bose, the vision and creative imagination of a Nehru, all rolled into one. I was the Assembly Speaker in 2000 with Naveenbabu as the CM. I had no vaulting ambition and wanted that the House ran smoothly. You know, even after Bijubabu’s death, I wanted Naveenbabu to fill up the vacuum. The senior leaders in the party could not understand my strategy since I wanted to keep the Congress at bay and wanted to help establish a Biju legacy. I had also contacted Devegowda to field Naveenji from Aska. As I had close links with Vajpayeeji, Joshiji and Advaniji, I prevailed upon them to make Naveen the president of a party named after Bijubabu should there be a Government in the State and a Government at the Centre with the BJD’s support. Joshiji bargained, “We will believe you if you come to the BJP and then we will support the idea of a BJD by Naveen. I convinced them and, accordingly, Naveenbabu became a Minister at the Centre. Probably, something happened somewhere as politics is often run by unscrupulous persons who campaigned against me for reasons best known to them. I was denied an Assembly ticket in the next elections, and there was no communication gap from the CM’s side. On the contrary, Sonia Gandhi personally invited me. Hence, I had to join the Congress. My association with the BJD might have suffered erosion, but my personal chemistry with Naveenji remains unaltered even today.
How have you combined politics with your creative writingsIJ
Amidst the career of a sick hurry and divided aims of a political life whatever little time I got I spent it for writing poetry. My published poetic works are Druta Bilambita, Manthan, Romanthan, Ananya and novels and articles, some of which have been translated into Hindi and English as well. ‘Manthan’ has bagged the PEN award being translated into Bengali.
What’s your message to the future generations of MlAs and MPsIJ
My message is clear. They should have their substantial means of livelihood before coming to politics. They should not depend on a political career to earn their bread and butter. They should obey their party commands but not at the cost of their conscience and should think themselves as the servants of the people with dedication.