This year witnessed the demise of two lady stalwarts of Indian Politics from National Capital. July 20th was Sheila Dixit ji at the age of 81 and 6th August was Sushma Swaraj at the age of 67. Both were opponents in politics but friends in personal life. The relationship between Delhi's only two female chief ministers was complicated yet amicable.
Sheila Dikshit was married to IAS officer Vinod Dikshit, son of independence activist and former West Bengal governor- Uma Shankar Dikshit. Sheila was handpicked by Rajiv Gandhi, though Earlier, in the early 1970s, she was chairperson of the Young Women's Association. She represented India at United Nations Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984–1989). She also served as a Union Minister during 1986–1989, first as the minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs and later as a minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office. In Uttar Pradesh, she and her 82 colleagues were jailed in August 1990 for 23 days by the state government when she led a movement against the atrocities being committed against women. Dikshit became Chief Minister of Delhi in 1998, a position she held until 2013. She was one of the longest-serving chief ministers of Delhi, as well as the longest-serving female chief minister of any Indian state, serving for a period of 15 years from 1998 to 2013. she was sworn in as Governor of Kerala on 11 March 2014. However, she resigned on 25 August 2014. She had been declared a chief ministerial candidate for the Indian National Congress in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election; however she later withdrew. She was appointed as president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee on 10 January 2019.
Shushma Swaraj, Supreme court Lawyer was born on 14 February 1953 to a Prominent RSS member Hardev Sharma in Haryana. During the times of the Emergency, on 13 July 1975, Sushma Swaraj married Swaraj Kaushal, a peer and fellow advocate at the Supreme Court of India. The Emergency movement brought together the couple, who then teamed up for the defence of the socialist leader George Fernandes In 1977, she became the youngest ever Cabinet Minister in the Government of Haryana at 25 years of age. In 1979, she became State President of Janata Party, Haryana State at the young age of 27. Sushma Swaraj was the first female Spokesperson of a national political party in India. Swaraj fought the 1996 Lok Sabha elections against Sonia Gandhi from Bellary in Karnataka. "I lost the battle but won the war" were her words after she lost to the Congress leader.
She has many firsts to her credit as BJP's first female Chief Minister, In October 1998 she resigned from the Union Cabinet to take over as the first female Chief Minister of Delhi. Swaraj resigned from the position in December the same year., She was also general secretary, Spokesperson, Leader of Opposition and Minister of External Affairs. She is the Indian Parliament's first and the only female MP honoured with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award. She has contested 11 direct elections from four states. She has served as the President of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan in Haryana for four years.
A great orator, she undermined using foul language and believed messages can be conveyed with Decency and Persistence; and is the need of hour for good democracy to sustain.
For Indian’s in distress across the world, she was Mother India who was just a tweet away. Sushma Swaraj leaves a legacy of an easily-accessible politician who helped the Indians abroad in distress with her quick response on Twitter to requests for help when she was the foreign minister. She redefine the functions of foreign ministry and raised the bar. A group of nurses who were working at a hospital in Tikrit, an Iraqi town near Mosul, Iraq were rescued from the captivity of terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, it is believed Sushmaji got a call asking for support after mid night and she coordinated things immediately. Time was not a constraint, and there were no office hours for her.
Could not imagine her not being in Politics. On not contesting election in 2019 due to health reason, her husband said ‘There came a time when even Milkha stopped running’, Sushma Swaraj's husband when she didn't contest polls’.Perhaps the sweetest thing he said was, "Madam I am running behind you for the last 46 years. I am no longer a 19-year-old. Please, I am also running out of breath. Thank you." Swaraj Kaushal, was her rock, he broke down at her funeral. She was mountain of strength, for her family. In a big departure from tradition, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri Swaraj performed the last rites of her mother.
Seems there was no life for her without politics, and her last tweet was:
प्रधान मंत्री जी - आपका हार्दिक अभिनन्दन. मैं अपने जीवन में इस दिन को देखने की प्रतीक्षा कर रही थी. @narendramodi ji - Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime.; on Article 370 and then she breathed her last.
She is perhaps most famous for living upto Vajpayee's doctrine of winning the people's hearts.Very brilliant, very bright, very alert, executed lot of confidence, her mind and brain was healthy, but her body was tired.
Some Tweets and messages which speaks volumes on Sushma’s death were:
President Ram Nath Kovind: Extremely shocked to hear of the passing of Smt Sushma Swaraj. The country has lost a much loved leader who epitomised dignity, courage & integrity in public life. Ever willing to help others, she will always be remembered for her service to the people of India.
Pranab Mukherjee “Shocked beyond words & distressed at passing away of Sushma Swaraj. An astute parliamentarian, an effective orator&an excellent humane leader, she'll forever be remembered & missed. Hers was a story of hard work to heights!”
Narendra Modi A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people.
A "remarkable leader" with a "compassionate side" who not only played a key role in bettering India's ties with various nations, but also "helped fellow Indians in distress in any part of the world"
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram: Deeply saddened that Sushma Swaraj ji has passed away. She served her party and the country with loyalty, devotion and distinction. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.
The Indian Parliament has lost one of its most fiery orators. You wouldn’t see a women who carried herself as impeccably as Sushma Swaraj did. Her compassion and love for fellow human beings was most evident in her tenure as External Affairs Minister – Something that won her accolades even from the opposite ends of the political spectrum. People will remember her very fondly, especially those who were witness to her noble deeds, sometimes even going out of her way to get things done.
Sushma Swaraj shared her condolences for BJP minister Mange Ram who passed away on July 21, 2019. A Twitter user left a nasty comment Irfan Khan on this thread wrote, "Aap ki bhi boht yaad ayegi ek din #SheilaDixit Ji ki tarah AmmA :(" Sushma Swaraj who is known for her witty responses on Twitter was quick to reply. The minister wrote, "Is bhawana ke liye apko mera agrim dhanyawad. I thank you in anticipation for this kind thought."
SONIAJI and Sushmajis are the two most powerful and senior women in Indian politics, but Sushma Swaraj and Sonia Gandhi have always had a rocky relationship. And although they come from two ends of the political spectrum, a few of their run-ins have been personal as well.
With a big bindi on the forehead, sindoor (red vermilion powder) in the parting of her hairline and photo-ops celebrating various festivals dressed the seeds of the battle between the “Indian beti" and the “foreign bahu"—daughter of India versus Italian daughter-in-law, widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. —were sown.
"If after 60 years of independence, we coronate another foreigner for the top job then it would have meant that 100 crore people were incapable... It would be hurting the sensibility of people. This was my purpose of fighting the Bellary elections and it was a mission for me. In Bellary, I lost the battle, but won the war," Sushma Swaraj was quoted by Economic Times.
Sushma Swaraj had threatened to don a white saree, shave off her head, sleep on the floor and eat only chickpeas if Sonia Gandhi were to be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India. Later when asked about the comment, she said she was unapologetic and said she would still do the same if Sonia Gandhi became the PM.
With the Bahu making the ultimate Indian woman's sacrifice, the entire game changed. Whether it was an emotional decision or a calculated one, we can only speculate.
Swaraj’s ask mumma" speech —taunting Sonia Gandhi’s son Rahul Gandhi—and Sonia calling Swaraj “maahir" (expert) in theatrics, it seems as if the work of the last five years has been undone. “I think they both are acting out a new kind of morality play, a Punch and Judy show, if you must, as there is no quality of communication," It seems there was political rivalry with no personal animosity.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on August 7 described former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj as a superb orator, great parliamentarian and a lady of "extraordinary gifts" "Sushma Swaraj was a lady of extraordinary gifts, her courage, determination, dedication and ability manifest in every position she held."
"Above all, it was her warm personal qualities that brought a special lustre to her years in public and political life," the United Progressive Alliance chairperson added.
"Sushma ji was a superb orator, a great parliamentarian and had a rare gift for friendship that won her affection and admiration across the political spectrum,"
With her empathy and compassion, she gave Indian diplomacy a human face as she reached out to help every Indian citizen in distress, Gandhi said.
"The same courage and grit that was a hallmark of Sushma-ji's political life, she showed in her personal life as well, as she faced her serious ailments with incredible fortitude," she said.
The Congress leader said Swaraj left "far too young" as she had so much more to contribute to national life. "That makes her death even more tragic," she said.
Expressing grief to her husband and daughter Bansuri, the UPA chairperson termed it a "cruel loss" for them.
"You must draw solace from the fact that Sushma-ji lived a life of honour, filled with achievement and contributions to the country she loved; respected and admired by all Indians," Gandhi said.
"And she went as she had lived - active and engaged till the very end." Sushma Swaraj demise: 'I feel her loss greatly', says Sonia Gandhi to Swaraj's family.
Theirs too could have been a political rivalry with no personal animosity. There is an interesting writing on Soniaji by ST here:
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/sonia-gandhi-a-novice-in-politics-who-mastered-the-art-shashi-tharoor
We all do feel the loss of people when they are not around. The most who feel are Immediate family members. All three are great ladies destined to play important parts in Indian politics.
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