The experiences bestowed by Kanchi-Mahaswami — Part 12:Friend or Enemy? Decision is yours, Indira
(A humble translation of the original article by Sri S.Gurumurthy , as it had appeared in Thuglak Tamil Magazine) —
https://www.thuglak.com/thuglak/main.php?x=curissue/ninaithu_paarkiraen_18_11_2020.php
Ramnath, who was a member of constituent assembly, was also an intimate friend of Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru’s only daughter is Indira. Her husband is Feroze Gandhi. In 1952, Nehru desired that Feroze, who was residing in Lucknow should move to Delhi.Goenka appointed him as the Managing Director of Indian Express group. From this, one can understand the closeness between Goenka & Nehru’s family. Feroze Gandhi’s original name is Feroze Ghandy. Because of his affection for Mahatma Gandhi, he changes his surname. Therefore, Indira Gandhi changed to Indira Gandhi (read postscript) Due to that change, the political direction of this country got changed and led to the downfall of Congress in the dynastic abyss.
A friend, who turned Foe — Introduction
From the 1950s, Indira had a healthy relationship with Goenka and that turned sour at the end of 1960s and she considered him as his enemy No 1. Goenka has narrated to me about that change from multiple angles. From that, we can very well understand the character of Indira. In 1969, She became a sworn enemy of Goenka and started crushing Indian express newspaper, even before Emergency. During Emergency, she threatened to arrest Goenka and his family under the draconian MISA and tried to swallow Indian Express newspaper. Then, I was also aware of the torture heaped upon Goenka and Express group.
Had their friendship continued, Indira would not have committed many mistakes. Goenka would not have pawned him to fight against Indira first and later, against Rajeev. Their first battle started in 1969. It ended with the declaration of Emergency that brought the whole country under an authoritarian rule. Finally, Indira lost her power in 1977. The first battle’s beginning started in 1969 , against the backdrop of Congress getting split and in a meeting between Goenka-Indira
Nehru-Goenka, Feroze-Indira
Indira was Nehru’s favourite daughter. After Independence, Nehru involved her as his assistant in the office and introduced her to Governmental authorities, members of Party and at the International level too. There was no doubt that she was groomed as his successor. Indira was forced to stay at Delhi to help Nehru. But, Feroze who was elected to parliament from RaeBareli constituency in 1952, was staying at Lucknow. Therefore, Indira was forced to shuttle between the two places. When Nehru had desired to have Feroze located in Delhi permanently, Goenka had helped him. In fact, he was instrumental in their re-union at Delhi and live under one roof, permanently.
In 1966, Goenka was also instrumental in making Indira as the Prime Minister. In 1965, after Nehru’s death, Lal Bahadur Sastri became the PM. He had an untimely death on 11th Jan 1966 at midnight (after signing the peace accord with Pakistan in Russia) at Tashkent. After hearing the news, when Kamaraj requested for Goenka’s help to go to Delhi, Goenka had rented the Airplane of “The Hindu” newspaper. They flew to Delhi in the morning. Then, Kamaraj was the All India head of Congress party. The entire responsibility was on his head. During the journey to Delhi, Kamaraj generally use to be a stoic person under all trying circumstances, was in a state of shock/disbelief after hearing Shastri’s death. To break the silence, Goenka asked the exhausted Kamaraj, “After Shastri, who would be the next PM”?. Kamaraj maintained silence. Goenka further prodded him, “How about Morarji?”. The silence continued and then Kamaraj replied after a while, “Crazy guy”.
Goenka further asked, “Why don’t you become the PM”? Kamaraj had replied,” People had requested last time itself. I don’t English or Hindi. Moreover, qualification is required; hence, it won’t happen”. Ok, What next, asked Goenka. Kamaraj again replied, “After speaking to all in Delhi, a clarity might come”. In Delhi, Kamaraj had consulted all senior party leaders. They all were unanimous in support Indira as the next PM (Later, they regretted for taking that decision). Indira connected the two events — bringing Kamaraj to Delhi and in-turn Kamaraj discussing with senior party leaders and assumed that Goenka was responsible for her elevation as PM. She thanked him profusely. On the other hand, based on the same assumption, Morarji did not talk to Goenka for many years. Even after telling them he was not at all involved in the decision making, both (Indira & Morarji) did not believe him. The rosy picture of Jan 1966 turned upside-down to red in Nov, 1966.
1969 (anti-national) Congress Split
Lakhs of freedom fighters with their great sacrifices helped the Congress party to grow. It stood for Nationalism, Unity, Plurality and for her own selfish sake, Indira split the congress party with the help of governmental authority. She had split the same party that helped her to become PM and back-stabbed & insulted the leaders like Kamaraj, who helped in anointing her. She promoted all the petty leaders, who were opposing such tall leaders and helped to split the original Congress. That split was responsible for all the problems that are plaguing us today — dynastic rule, corruption, extremism.
Today’s generation never attempted to understand the details about Congress party before the split. That Congress was soaked in the spirit of Nationalism. There was no dynastic rule. All types of thoughts were accommodated. Caste politics did not find its room there.
Kamaraj in Tamilnadu, K.Shankar in Kerala, Hanumanthappa in Karnataka, Sanjeeva Reddy in Andhra (belonged to backward classes) rose up naturally, without any clamour for social justice and became CMs of their respective state, based on their talent, hard work etc. Both the nation and nationalism were two sides of the same coin. When such Congress party was ruling, its own members were playing the role of opposition too. All India Congress committee that had 1000+ people as its members was constantly scrutinizing the mistakes & failures of their Govt. Newspaper headlines like Attack on finance, agriculture and railway ministers were a recurring theme of the day. After Indira captured the party, the inner party democracy had its slow death. The party surrendered itself to the Govt and later, it became slave to one family.
In 1969, People like Kamaraj, Sanjeeva Reddy, Nijalingappa, Morarji Desai (without any authority) on one side and on the other side, Indira with all her minions. The party got split into two, vertically. Because of the presence of senior leaders, Indira felt that she could not manage the party/govt in the way she wanted, started the shake-up of them from the party. Behind the split, there were Soviet influenced anti-national communists like Nurul Hasan, Mohan Kumaramangalam joined the congress. Why? Their goal was to split the constitution by being inside (Working a Democratic Institution: The Indian Experience Granville Austin. Oxford University Press. https://docu.tips/documents/granville-austin-5c1313740572e). Indira Gandhi took the help of anti-nationalistic parties like communists, DMK and finished the political career of the senior leaders, more or less. Goenka understood the consequences of the split and tried to prevent it, earned the wrath & enmity of Indira.
Explosive Goenka, Indira who became his enemy
In 1969, Goenka was not a member of the party, when it got split. He resigned from Congress In 1966, when it refused to stop cow-slaugther. He did not stand to gain or lose, if the Congress stayed united or not. In his opinion, the nation would be the loser; Hence, he met Indira to prevent the split.
Goenka summarized the long-drawn meeting between him & Indira as follows: Since, he was close to Nehru family from 1950s and being instrumental in getting Indira elected as PM, he took the liberty and requested Indira. “ It is difficult to build a reputed org like Congress that embraces people from all classes; But it is easy to destroy it. Due to split, anti-national forces would penetrate into the org. It would promote anti-national forces. United Congress is essential for this country. The rivalry between you and the senior leaders is not good for the country. Both camp should yield and find an amicable solution. For that to happen, you have to give your consent. Kindly, do not split the party.
Indira Gandhi did not relent. She got angry, “Goenka, Are you my friend or enemy?”. Either, you can be my friend or enemy but cannot be neutral. You decide, thundered Indira. Seeing her lust for power, Goenka was totally annoyed and raised his voice, “I came to you for the sake of this country. Indira ji, not to seek your friendship or antagonize. You decide, whether I am your friend or enemy. The choice is yours” and left that place hurriedly. Then started, the do-or-die battle between Goenka — Indira.
Postscript:
How did the name changed from ‘Indira Ghandy (actual name) to ‘Indira Gandhi’?
Indira’s husband is Feroze Gandhi. His family name is not “Gandhi” but “Ghandy”. If he had not changed his surname, what would have been the consequences? Indira’s name would have been Indira Ghandy and the other names would have stayed as Rajeev Ghandy, Sonia Ghandy, Rahul Ghandy & Priyanka Vadra Ghandy. Without the famous surname ‘Gandhi’, they would not have continued the dynastic rule. Famous Swedish author Bertil Falk wrote in his book “Feroze, The forgotten Gandhi”, ‘Feroze was born in a parsi family to his parents Jahangir Ghandy-Rathimai Ghandy and had his name as “Feroze Jahangir Ghandy” in the certificate. His birth-date was 12-Sep-1912 (https://zeenews.india.com/india/dna-exclusive-biggest-surname-deception-exposed-on-gandhi-jayanti-check-how-ghandy-became-gandhi-2314184.html)
Further historian Ramachandra Guha elaborates : Being a parsi by birth, Initially, Feroze was writing his surname as “Ghandy’. After joining the freedom struggle, out of his love for Mahatma Gandhi, he changed his surname to “Gandhi” (Guha, Ramachandra(2011), India after Gandhi: The history of the World’s largest Democracy. Pan Macmillan.p33.footnote 2(Chapter 14)
