3 hours agoWriter: Rajesh Sahu
The story is from 1953. Ram Manohar Lohia was giving a speech in Pratapgarh. He said, “If the boy has to be taught swimming then he has to be left in the water. Always holding hands, he will never be able to learn to swim. Chandrashekhar got up in the middle of the speech and said, “You mentioned three points of swimming, a fourth point is also the nature of water. You didn’t discuss If the current of water is strong and the boy descends, he will be swept away. If the water is still and there is a crocodile in it, it will eat the boy.” Lohia remained unanswered.
In today’s 11th story of the character and story of politics, we will talk about those answers of Chandrashekhar, which show that he never compromised with the wrong. Fight for the right and live. The first thing to do was to join Congress.
Indira Gandhi was also on the train on which Chandrashekhar went to join Congress.
In his autobiography ‘Jeevan Jaisa Jiya’, Chandrashekhar writes, In 1964, I left the Praja Socialist Party. He went to Gujarat before joining Congress. There a meeting was held in Mahua area. The organizers of the meeting were Chhabildas Mehta and Yashwant Mehta. Indira Gandhi was also on the train I was on to attend this conference, but we met on the conference platform.
Indira Gandhi and Chandrashekhar met for the first time in Mahua, Gujarat.
A man on the stage pointed his finger at Chandrasekhar and said, “He is Chandrashekhar.” Indira replied, “I have heard the name a lot.” Chandrashekhar immediately said, “I too had heard your name a lot, but never got the opportunity to meet.” Both gave their respective speeches on stage and left after finishing the program. In those days Congress leaders used to sit in Mahua in the evening. One day Chandrashekhar also arrived.
Apart from Indira Gandhi, IK Gujral, Ashok Mehta, Gurupadaswamy were present there. Everyone was sitting on the lawn when Indira Gandhi asked me, “Do you consider Congress a socialist?”
Chandrashekhar said, “I do not believe that the Congress is a socialist institution, but people say so.”
Indira asked, “Then why did you join the Congress?”
“Do you want to know the correct answer?”
“Yes, that’s what I want.”
Chandrashekhar said, “I worked in Praja Socialist Party for 13 years with honesty and full capacity. After working for a long time, I came to know that the party has become frustrated. Now nothing is going to happen here. Then I thought, Congress will be bigger. It’s a party, let’s do something in it.”
Indira asked again, what do you want to do?
Chandrashekhar replied, I will try to make Congress socialist.
Indira said – if it is not made then?
Chandrashekhar gave a surprising answer. said, “I will try to break the Congress. Because till it is not broken, no new politics will come in the country. At first I will try to make it socialist, but if it is not made then there will be no way but to break it.” Indira was surprised to hear Chandrashekhar’s reply. She didn’t say anything, just kept looking.
Chandrashekhar told Indira Gandhi, I will try to make Congress a socialist, if I cannot make it, I will break it.
Like Indira Gandhi, Chandrashekhar also gave a stern reply to Ram Manohar Lohia. We will learn two incidents here. You have read the first incident at the top. Now let’s talk about the second one.
Asthma attack changed chief guest of Chandrashekhar’s conference
Ram Bahadur Rai writes in the book ‘Rahbari Ke Sawal’ based on Chandrashekhar’s interview, Chandrashekhar was to hold a conference at Dadri fair in Ballia. Acharya Narendra Dev was to go as the chief guest, but he got asthma. When Chandrashekhar reached his house in Allahabad, Lohia was sitting next to him. Acharya said, Chandrashekhar take them. He will speak at the conference.
Chandrashekhar and Lohia were shocked. Chandrashekhar was surprised because he did not know about Lohia, Lohia was upset because he had to go to Calcutta the very next day of the conference. Lohia suddenly said, “Oh, I have to go to Calcutta, how will I go there?” Chandrashekhar said, “You will reach Calcutta the next day.” Lohia said “But how?” Chandrashekhar said, “You will be taken from Ballia to Buxar by jeep from where you will get Punjab Mail.”
Chandrashekhar spoke about the jeep, but arranging the jeep at that time was a very difficult task. Secondly, the road from Ballia to Buxar was so bad that even a 100 km journey took 6 hours.
Chandrashekhar was an active youth leader of Ballia. He used to regularly organize programs of socialist leaders in his area.
Lohia got down from the train, then asked where is my jeep
Lohia reached Ballia two hours late on the scheduled date by train coming from the short line of Allahabad. As soon as I got down I asked, “Where is my jeep Chandrashekhar from which I want to go to Buxar?” Chandrashekhar said, “Hey you go to the program, the jeep will come.” There was tension on Lohia’s face. He said, “I don’t have a program yet?” Chandrashekhar said, it is not now, it is from 11 o’clock. When Lohia looked at the clock, it was 9 o’clock, he said, “How will I be able to get ready in two hours?” Chandrashekhar didn’t say anything.
When Lohia scolded, Chandrashekhar was uprooted.
Lohia stopped to get ready for Rai Bahadur Sudarshan Singh, a great man of Ballia. Had to go to the program at 11 o’clock. Chandrashekhar was waiting outside the house. Lohia came out and asked, where is my jeep, Chandrashekhar? Chandrashekhar replied, “Dr. Sahib, you need a jeep in the evening.” Lohia cringed. Said- You lie. You make programs by lying.
Chandrashekhar was silent, but Lohia was not taking the name of being silent. Chandrashekhar was upset and said, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia You are not the only mannequin of honesty, I did not call you. I had called Acharya. You came at his behest. You kindly take me away. Thank you for coming. Saying this Chandrashekhar started walking from there. Pointing to the other companion in the direction of the jeep, said, leave Lohia in Buxar.
After Chandrashekhar’s anger, Lohia did not return, but addressed four meetings.
Lohia did not go to Buxar, Chandrashekhar did not go to the rally
When Chandrashekhar went away, Lohia realized that the boy was not speaking wrong. He went to four meetings with the people. Made a great speech. The last speech took place in the youth conference of Dadri fair. People associated with the socialist movement were stunned by Lohia’s speech. At the time of farewell in the evening, Lohia asked Chandrashekhar, how was my speech? Chandrashekhar replied, Excuse me. I could not hear the speech. remained under the care of the people. Lohia didn’t say anything and left.
Chandrashekhar did not attend to the leaders. He used to speak in front of the biggest leaders that I will not say that I do not agree with you, but I will definitely say that you did not understand this point.
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