One of the greatest tragedies for the disciplines of history and political science in India is the fact that we have less biographies about the people we study about. What we have are (a) hagiographies that are uncritical and hero-worshipping in their content and bizarre in their prose, (b) good and quality biographies focusing only about few individuals like Gandhi and Nehru, and (c) biographies written only with the intent of defaming any individual or for propaganda. Seldom we come across good biographies about relatively forgotten individuals who had a huge impact on public life, and whose ideas would still resonate in contemporary times. One such a key figure in Indian politics, who is certainly most eccentric (ranking only after Gandhi) and played an important role in pre and post colonial Indian politics, and about whom we still lack an authoritarian account is Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularity known as Rajaji.
Rajaji is both a conservative and innovator, two qualities often pitted against each other. May be because of this, he could take extremely radical decisions throughout his public life and kept himself relevant in the Indian politics till his end. He is also distinctively witty individual. Recently I have come across a December 1978 issue of Bhavan’s Journal at Book Worm, located in Church Street, Bangalore. This issue is dedicated for commemorating Rajaji’s centenary. One section of this issue contains short snippets about Rajaji written by many prominent individuals who knew him personally. These snippets brings out several facets of Rajaji’s genial and humorous personality. In the below, I present some of my favourites among them:
(1)
It was during Cold War day. Rajaji was delivering an enjoyable talk at a Rotary Club meeting held in Calcutta, attended by, among others, American and Russian Envoys. In the concluding sentence, he said, “May the Oil of America and the Caustic Soda of Russia unite and produce a soap to cleanse this dirty world!”.
After this remark, envoys from both the countries gave a standing ovation and shook hands with each other warmly.
(2)
One fine morning, Rajaji received a letter written in Hindi from Gandhiji in which the latter had emphasised his decision to conduct his future correspondence with Rajaji only in Hindi. Without delay, Rajaji wrote a letter to Gandhiji in Tamil! Eventually, Gandhiji agreed to go back to English for corresponding with Rajaji.
(3)
Rajaji was once travelling by train on a hot afternoon. He was in the first class, There was one other passenger in the same carriage. This was an Englishman. He was perspiring badly. After they had travelled some distance, he said to Rajaji, “It is a very hot afternoon”. “Not hot enough”, replied Rajaji.
“Not hot enough? What do you mean?”
“Not hot enough”, said Rajaji smiling, “to keep you gentlemen out of the country”.
(4)
Once there was a stand-off between Nehru and Rajaji over accepting some departmental recommendations. Good humouredly, Prime Minister Nehru said, “You see, Rajaji, the majority is with me”. Rajaji grinned and said, “Yes, Jawaharlal, the majority is with you, but logic is with me”. The Prime Minister laughed and despite the majority support, accepted Rajaji’s views.
(5)
While inaugurating the Swatantra Party formally at Bombay in August 1959, Rajaji at the end of his speech, invoked the blessings of God on his party. Commenting on this, Nehru said at a Press Conference in Delhi a few days later: “They have even made God a senior partner of the Party. They are here not dealing with politics and economics but with stratosphere, with the Almighty presiding over their destinies”. Pat came the reply from Rajaji to this observation: “As for his taunts about partnership with God, the Prime Minister has stumbled on a cardinal religions doctrine of the Divine presence in trying to mock at us”.
(6)
Monica Felton: What about the statement of some rishis that there are occasions when it is right to tell an untruth?
Rajaji: But only in rare and special cases. To act in that principle is like studying the penal code and following only the exceptions.
I really wish someone somewhere is right now working towards writing a sincere biography of Rajaji.
rishvanth.com 
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