On his 84th birthday
NarayanDutt Tiwari-The symbol of meekness
Mr.Narayan Dutt Tiwari, a political wizard enters the 84th year of his super-active political life. He was sworn as Governor of Andhra Pradesh on 22 August, 2007. Earlier he was the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal, a post which did not suit his tall stature. But his long cherished desire and will to serve the people of Uttarakhand made him to relinquish the glamorous life of National Politics and join the State Politics.
Tewari was a brilliant student since his childhood. He passed his High School Examination in 1938 with distinction. With the cooperation of his relatives he joined Intermediate Classes in Nainital. In 1939 he wrote the first patriotic poem of his life. In fact this reflected his political inklings. It will be pertinent to mention here that his father Purna Nand Tiwari who was in Government service resigned at the call of Mahatma Gandhi and chose the path of Patriotism. Naturally ND Tiwari inherited the traits of patriotism from his father.
Tiwari participated in ‘Bhjarat Chhoro’ Andolan at an early age of 17. For the first time, he went to Jail along with his father on 19.12.1942 and passed the Intermediate examination from the Jail. He was in Jail for 15 months. Tiwari’s entry into the political arena started at the age of 14. I think it must be a record in world politics that a person started his political career at such a small age and reached the unprecedented heights in Politics. Whatsoever Tiwari got in his life, he got by dint of his continuous hard work, courage, faith and self-help and above all his meekness. He lost his mother at the small age of 8 years. His economic condition was very poor. He got his education mainly through Scholarship. He continuously struggled throughout. He has been a Karm Yogi through out his life. While in Uttarakhand he used to work for 18 hours a day.
In 1944, after coming out of Jail, he went to Allahabad for higher studies where he had the opportunity to be in touch of the National Level Leaders. In 1947, he was elected the President of Allahabad Students Union. He also participated in different Trade Union movements. He continued his studies while he was in active politics and he passed M.A. in International Politics in 1948.
It is said that when Tiwari started from his village Padampuri (Bhimtal) for Allahabad, for higher studies he had only thirty rupees in his pocket. At Allahabad he earned while he learned. It can be understood how difficult it would have been to settle, earn a living, getting higher studies and to participate in National Level politics, at a place like Allahabad with practically no resources at his disposal. .
In 1948, after independence, when the Socialists parted company with the Congress he joined the Socialist Party. In 1952 the first Vidhan Sabha elections were held under the Constitution of the Indian Republic. He won the MLA seat on Socialist Party ticket at the age of 27. During Nehru Era, when Gobind Ballabh Pant, was also a great leader of National stature, it was impossible for a non-congressman to win an election. But inspite of all the odds, Tiwari won the election. It was a startling victory. In UP Vidhan Sabha, Tiwari could quickly make a respectable place for himself, due to his intelligence, meekness eloquent speech and sweet temper.
In 1954, he married Dr. Sushila. In 1957 he was re-elected as MLA and became the Deputy Leader of Opposition. Latter he joined the Congress Party. In 1965, he was appointed as the Convenor of State Youth Congress by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. He went to Russia as a representative of the Youth Congress. In 1969, he was again elected from Kashipur and was appointed Minister for Planning, Labour and Panchayat Raj in Chandra Bahnu Gupta Ministry. Congress had a division during this period. In 1970, Congress and the Kranti Dal formed a coalition Government and he became the Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Government. In 1971, he was a Minister in Kamlapati Tripathi Ministry. In 1974, he was again elected from Kashipur and in 1976 he became the Chief Minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh. He got the opportunity to become the Chief Minister of UP four times. In 1980 he became a Member of Parliament from Nainital and was appointed planning and Labour Minister. Latter he worked in different Ministries in the Central Government, i.e. Planning, Labour, Industry, Petroleum, Natural Gas and foreign affairs, as a Cabinet Minister. Thus he remained in top Central Government Ministries for many years.
His advice to young people was, never indulge in groupism and use spare time in the Vidhan Sabha Library. This will enhance knowledge. Once the Chief Minister’s Secretary put an application before him. Tiwari dictated necessary orders. The Secretary submitted the orders for Tiwari’s signature. He pre-fixed the work ‘please’ before the order and said that ‘meekness is a virtue which everyone should emulate’ you loose nothing in being meek. Once a Lady MLA asked Tiwari humourously ‘Apko Kavi gussa ata hai’? Tiwari replied yes, ‘Mujhe jab gussa ata hai to ansoo ki do bood baha deta hoon’. Yes as an ordinary human being I do also get angry, but I roll out my anger in the shape of a few drops of tears.
Prior to 1954, I used to live in Bhowali with my parents. I used to see Tiwari, in red cap, holding frequent corner meetings at Chanfi, Khutani, Bhimtal, Maharagoan, Bhowali and other places. He used to have such 4-5 corner meetings. Even during those days, he could attract very good crowd due to his influential and eloquent speeches. He has been putting continuous hard work for 18 hours a day even during the period he was the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.
About Tiwari now it is said that he wants to come to active politics once again. It is understood that he wants fight the coming Lok Sabha elections from Nainital. Time only will tell whether he comes to active politics once again or not. (D.N.Barola)
