T N Seshan (1932-2019)The passing on of Mr T N Seshan marks the tip of a wonderful period of resurgence of democracy about three many years in the past. The very point out of his title was sufficient to place the worry of God within the hearts of recalcitrant politicians within the first half of the nineties, and respect within the coronary heart of each Indian ever since.
I’ve no hesitation in saying that every one of his successor CECs basked in his glory, although we all the time carried the burden of being in contrast with him on a regular basis.
I labored below him as observer a number of occasions. He as soon as despatched me to Danapur in Bihar, which was Lalu Prasad Yadav’s constituency. On one other event, I used to be deputed to Mylapore the place Jayalalithaa lived (and the place Mr Seshan too, had his home). He was having a working battle with each of them, which made my robust job doubly tough.
I recall the Bihar election in 1996, after I was posted as an observer. Mr Seshan concluded his briefing with these reassuring phrases: “Don’t fear. Nothing will occur — besides a bomb in your face and a bullet by means of your abdomen!” Certain sufficient, I noticed two bomb explosions a couple of yards away. Happily I returned with my abdomen unpunctured!
The awe and worry he evoked in us bordered on terror. No person He invoked worry in recalcitrant politicians’ hearts, respect in each Indian had the heart to argue with him, to not communicate of falling foul of him. But, behind a troublesome exterior he had a delicate coronary heart.
As soon as I used to be posted as observer within the Maoist space of Jharkhand. I had simply acquired up from a slipped disc, and couldn’t have stood the unhealthy roads within the tribal belt. Within the briefing he had referred to as, I gathered the braveness to request a change of my posting to an city constituency due to my medical situation. Very sweetly, he ordered that I be exempted altogether.
Former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan addresses a gathering. (Specific archive photograph)After I grew to become the CEC myself, I went to his home in Chennai to hunt his blessings. He was extraordinarily affectionate, and requested his extraordinarily light spouse to offer me some current. She introduced a couple of issues from which I picked up a sandalwood Ganesh, a memento I’ve cherished.
A couple of months in the past, I revealed a e book titled The Nice March of Democracy: Seven A long time of India’s Elections. It carries a chapter written by Mr Seshan concerning the issues he confronted to show issues round within the electoral system. Apparently, it additionally carries a chapter on Mr Seshan by a French professor, Christophe Jaffrelot.
I’m blissful I devoted the e book to 2 legends, Mr Sukumar Sen, the primary CEC, and Mr TN Seshan, who took the Fee to new heights of authority, credibility and visibility.
I pray we get to see one other Seshan in my lifetime.
(The author is former Chief Election Commissioner of India)
source https://cvrnewsdirect.com/he-put-fear-of-god-in-recalcitrant-politicians-was-respected-by-all-good-bye-mr-seshan/
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