Rajni Tai: A woman
with Jijabai spirit
From Our Special Correspondent

At the age of 70, Smt. Rajni Tai Upasane continues her political journey from Sangh to Jana Sangh and then to Bharatiya Janata Party and inspires millions of party workers to come forward to work for the party and the country. Besides spiritual inclination, she puts great emphasis on social values in politics as it is much more important for her. In her courage one can see the spirit of Jijabai. When Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975, police raided her house and arrested all her three sons-- Shri Jagdish Upasane, Shri Sacchidananda Upasane and Shri Girish Upasane. But, Smt. Rajni Tai Upasane did not beg forgiveness nor did she cry. Calmly, she let the police do what they wanted.

When the Police threatened to arrest her, she replied, "It would be better as that would provide her an opportunity to stay with her sons in jail as she did in her home and mother will not be separated from her three sons." All three sons remained in jail during Emergency but Rajni Tai did not compromise with her principles and exposed herself to danger fighting against the Government on the ideology of Sangh and Jana Sangh.

The house of Tai became hub of agitators during Emergency. Tai used to visit jail to serve food in lunch boxes to MISA detenus. Food was just an excuse to reach the interned workers and pass on messages and pamphlets. Even now when Tai narrates the story, the expression of anger against the Emergency is apparently visible on her face.

She said that she was surprised at finding a woman in the person of Mrs. Indira Gandhi as a cruel dictator. Indiraji was the Prime Minister and daughter of Jawaharlalji, She had been a minister in the cabinet of Shastriji. Above all, she was a woman and only affection and nothing else can be expected from a woman and a mother. Rajni Tai continues to be a strong opponent of every kind of oppression that was unleashed during Emergency.

A BJP leader from Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Smt. Rajni Tai believes that difficult times are the real test of a karyakarta and infuses in him the sense of maturity in thought and behaviour. Persons without this quality are always to deviate from their path. She is worried because of falling standards in politics. She believes that politics is not a fashion. Politics is one of the means to undertake social work. In the changing context, she feels that without passing through a phase of struggle, without serving the society it is not karyakartas but self-servers who are joining politics. Karyakartas never think in terms of loss and profit while karmacharies do. Such people cannot make a political party or run it. A political party's foundation is the total devotion and dedication of karyakartas.

When Emergency was lifted in 1977, Shri Kusabhau Thakre visited her place and asked about her experiences during the Emergency. In the meantime, Janata Party was formed and in the assembly elections held later, she was nominated to contest on Janta Party ticket. She became the first woman MLA of Madhya Pradesh. In 1980 assembly elections Shri Kusabhau Thakre offered her the assembly ticket again but she refused to contest because of family reasons. She was concerned about the career of her sons and gave priority to her role as a mother.

Today she is proud of her three sons. Her elder son is Associate Editor in India Today magazine. Second son is Chairman in Chhattisgarh government (holding the status of a cabinet minister) and the third son is running a good business of his own. All her daughters and daughter-in-laws are serving as swyamimsevikas.

Smt. Rajni Tai exhorts people, especially women, to come forward and involve themselves in social work. The aim of politics should be to take out pain and suffering from the society. Now a days women lack awareness and consciousness about the people and their problems. On the issue of women reservation, Rajni Tai says, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Smt. Indira Gandhi or she herself or many other women like her are not the product of reservation. She said that she was not against reservation but enhancement of awareness and consciousness in them and infusing nationalism as more important. As a focal point in the family, a woman plays an important role in keeping the family united. Asked whether she was demoralised during Emergency, she said, "I have learnt 'patience' from my parents, husband and Sangh in my life. So, when police were taking my sons to jail, I was praying to God to bless me with strength and patience."

Tai basically belongs to Amrawati in Maharastra. Her family believes work is worship. Her husband runs an STD-PCO booth and is still dedicated to his work. Her eyes got wet when the name of Shri Kusabhau Thakre and Shri Moreshwar Rao Gadre were mentioned. She said that they did not run a party; they run a family. If someone failed to attend a meeting, they would telephone the person to enquire whether everything was fine in the family. “Were you alright? OK. I am coming to your place”, they would say. These days, more than ever there is a need for morality social contact and having a sense of compassion as displayed by these great men.