Of Governors, their controversies and great humility - Guv O N Shrivastava married a Naga but was a 'Ganesh Bhakt'
New Delhi
During our interaction, he just happened to tell me -"My daughter sent me this small statue of Lord Ganesha, and He gives me inspiration and peace".
Frankly, I was taken aback. Shy, I was, but I took the risk of asking him - "Sir, as you are married to madam, I thought you would not be so religious. She being a Naga".
A senior former cop and a man of vast experience, he understood my question - whether he still followed Hinduism despite marrying a Naga Christian.
Shrivastava smiled towards me, perhaps trying to give me advice - not to get so personal with a Governor ! But he said mildly - "Kya baat karte ho (What are you talking)".
My respect for him increased manifold. But he himself used to ask even small family matters - whether my hospitalised sister in Kolkata is back in her hostel. Some people at the top still can maintain humility and simplicity. That's the touchstone of a virtuous man.
I visited Bhopal more than once in recent years, but sadly could not manage time to pay my gratitude to him.
The 1993 assembly elections went on under Loknath Mishra as the Governor.
The then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao visited Dimapur on Feb 4, 1993 and addressed
an election rally. In effect, that rally and the manner it went on had left S C Jamir red-faced
and his differences with NPCC chief Chingwang Konyak enhanced further.
Chingwang asked Hokishe Sema to deliver the welcome address and Jamir was slated for a Vote of Thanks.
But after Hokishe delivered his speech, it was PM Rao's turn. He addressed the rally and held Hokishe by shoulders and waved hands towards the crowd and thus the function ended without Jamir getting his chance to speak.
Talking to a select group of journalists (I was lucky to be among them), PM Rao said his government had no problems to lift the ban on NSCN.
Eastern Clarion, Jorhat paper 1993
He said the government's decision would depend on the "underground group's activities".
"All problems can be solved through dialogue," said Narasimha Rao - certainly often a man of few words.
The 1993 assembly polls went on under the influence of guns.
Hokishe lost to Independent candidate Vikishe Sema in Dimapur I, Chingwang lost to P Enyie Konyak of NPC.
Needless to say, Jamir had influences practically everywhere.
The November 19, 1992 assassination attempt on him in Delhi left Jamir an angry tiger and injured.
He fought the polls fiercely. Less talk about the election that year in Mokokchung town (Jamir returned from here)
- it is better.
Jamir's chosen man K Therie defeated Thenucho in Pfutsero, I K Sema (another Jamir rival and Congress nominee)
lost to his cousin.
"I will handle...." Jamir was heard telling someone over the phone in the Secretariat complex as he walked in with his
cowboy hat a day after the counting of ballots.
The CEO that year was Lalhuma. He later became Financial Commissioner. Central officials
deputed as EC observers were in an extraordinary hurry to fly out of Dimapur after the polls.
One of them even told us, "We need to go back fast, my daughter is leaving for abroad tomorrow".
Nevertheless, Governor Mishra as convention addressed the opening session of the new House.
During the debate on Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address, flamboyant regionalist Huska Sumi of NPC
said, "Who knows, his Excellency may not be happy to see some of us in this Assembly".
In fact, during President's Rule, one advisor to Governor Mishra got into some controversy after there was
a 'theft case' of a considerable amount of cash from his house.
Mishra was relieved of his responsibility in Nagaland and came in, Lt. Gen.(Retd) V. K. Nayar.
He took charge on October 2, 1993.
Nayar had served as GOC at Jakhama and gradually differences surfaced between him and
Chief Minister Jamir.
Nayar was also a little moody type and someone who could not be predicted. We met him at Chumukedima police
complex once. Interacting with me, he said, "Jamir has a mandate as there are 36 Congress members with him".
Naturally, I did the story. The pro-Congress newspaper 'Nagaland Times' highlighted it on page-1.
Somehow, the Governor was furious and complained that I had misquoted him. He told Raj Bhavan staffers in presence
of All India Radio officers that he had the power to 'get me picked up'.
Fortunately both the officials - Madam Viya Sekhose and B B Sharma - knew me as I used to often work
(on contract) for AIR, Kohima too.
They tried to reason with him saying - "Dev also works for a government organisation like AIR, He does
not have any bad intention".
Some Congress ministers later said, "The Governor was unhappy as your story appeared pro-Jamir".
And, I was stunned a little as my colleagues in 'Nagaland Times' including Editor S K Dutta and his coterie
knew me as a hardcore anti-Jamir scribe.
There were other problems between the Governor and Jamir presumably. On the political front, Jamir started
lobbying with Delhi to replace him.
One Saturday afternoon, DIPR officials from Kohima rushed to Dimapur. I was stationed at Dimapur those days
and so we were invited to Jamir's Half Nagarjan House.
To a question, Jamir told us that day, "Governors keep coming and going. It is a constitutional post
and an office of dignity". Hints were clear, Nayar sahab would be packing off.
Incidentally, it was in this press conference, Jamir had said - "Bangladeshis are increasing like rabbits".
Actually, he countered Congress chief minister Hiteshwar Saikia's statement that there 'was no Bangladeshi
citizen in Assam'.
Lt Gen Nayar was replaced by Oudh Narayan Shrivastava, a former IGP who had served in Nagaland in the 1970s.
Interestingly, Shrivastava was a thorough gentleman and had a genuine concern for people he met. The 'apnapan'.
He even used to enquire "whether you are trying to move out of Nagaland. I can recommend you
Bhopal. It's a lovely place".
Shrivastava had married a Naga (Zopianga's daughter - sister of IAS officer Banu Z Jamir).
Once, for his role as Manipur Governor, I wrote a critical article and used one line -
"Didi dekh, tera pati Congress-I banta jae (Hey sister, please see, your husband is
behaving like a Congressman)". It was based on a popular Hindi song.
Governor Shrivastava later said he read the piece (in a Dimapur-based
daily), but he did not allow such things to come in between.
On one occasion, I was sort of shocked and really embarrassed myself.
(Concluded)
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment