In all meetings, big or small, he would ensure that the Party Unit President was seated on the dais. He paid attention even to details like starting the office on time and maintaining accounts properly. Everyone who came in contact with him was not only highly impressed but also became his ardent follower.

A Saint Politician
By Narayan Prasad Gupta

From the day Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded, we received marga-darshan from Pandit Deendayalji in all the National Conventions till the last.

I came in close contact with him when I was made the Secretary (Organisation) of Mahakaushal area and sent to Jabalpur from Bhopal. At that time Panditji decided to visit every district centre of Madhya Pradesh. In spite of a his busy schedule he would always spare time to be present at the Sangh shakha. His sublime presence, simple life and impressive grasp of the subject energised every karyakarta. He said what he did and did what he said. There was never a conflict between his words and his actions. His voice spread the fragrance of the Mother India’s rich soil and touched the heart of every listener.
Everybody’s welfare was always on Panditji’s mind and heart. He used his intellect and foresight to work out ways and means to serve the poor. He was pure in his heart and entertained no malice towards anyone. While on tour he always met every karyakarta with warmth and affection. If he noticed any shortcoming in a programme, he never pointed it out publicly it at that very time but instead offered gentle words of advice at the time of his departure.

People’s problems agitated his mind. Once such incident occurred in Jabalpur during his tour of Mahakaushal. The facilities for providing transport to leaders were not good those days. When an old jeep reached the railway station to receive him, he got into it without any complaint. On our way back through the crowded city streets, we saw a long line of restless people waiting to purchase kerosene oil in the sweltering heat. Panditji asked the driver to stop. He walked up to the shop and started listening to people’s complaints and problems. They were surprised to see a well-known national leader amongst them and soon a large crowd gathered.

As he resumed his journey back, Panditji started enquiring about my activities and activity of the organisation. By asking me about the extent of Jana Sangh’s presence in Jabalpur, he was trying to estimate the level of the organisation’s effectiveness. He was satisfied only after I assured him that we had started a movement to enlighten the administration about problems being faced by people due to scarcity of kerosene.

In all meetings, big or small, he would ensure that the Party Unit President was seated on the dais. He paid attention even to details like starting the office on time and maintaining accounts properly. Everyone who came in contact with him was not only highly impressed but also became his ardent follower.

He was at the peak of his glory at the National Convention at Kalicut. There was no trace of arrogance in him even though he had occupied numerous high posts. Even his opponents accepted his sterling qualities. He was a saintly politician with a wealth of extraordinary abilities. He had no enemies at all.

His untimely death not only orphaned Bharatiya Jana Sangh but also deprived the nation of an ideal politician.

The only consolation is that Jana Sangh and, later, Bharatiya Janata Party, was able to recover from this unexpected loss and today lakhs of karyakartas are moving towards their goals by drawing inspiration from his principle of Integral Humanism.

(The writer is a former Rajya Sabha MP)