NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

The Rediff Special/ Sushma Swaraj on Geeta Mukherjee

'She was a very fine human being'

Sushma Swaraj

Geeta Mukherjee was a woman of substance. As a parliamentarian she fought for the cause of the poor and downtrodden. As a woman leader she fought for the empowerment of the women. She was a leader with conviction. As a colleague she was very affectionate. And as a person, she was a very fine human being.

I had known her for several years before I came in contact with her when I entered Lok Sabha in 1996. Being a member of the Rajya Sabha I used to meet her often in the corridors of Parliament house. But after I became member of the lower house, I got the opportunity to know her as a person, colleague and parliamentarian.

When the women reservation bill as introduced in the parliament she became emotional. She would literally go from seat to seat pleading with leaders of various political parties to pass the bill. She was the chairperson of the standing committee that was looking (into the matter). But if she said something she would mean it.

At times she would go beyond her brief and would threaten to resign if we did not agree with her. Once she spoke on the women reservation issue in the house and she made a beautiful speech which I still remember vividly as if she spoke it only a couple of hours ago.

Once I had an opportunity to visit Doordarshan along with her. Some of employees of Doordarshan complained about the quality of food being served in the canteen. She was so moved that she told me, 'Sushma we have to do something about it. Because we, as parliamentarians, get good food while those who report the proceedings did not get quality food.'

As a person she was very simple. She would not care about her turn-out. Wearing a Hawaii chappal she would come to the House in a synthetic saree. Whenever I asked her why she did not care about the colour scheme of her clothes, she would tell me, 'Sushma, you are in the right and all these things are meant for you. I have passed my time to care about such things.'

Whenever I met her in the house I would say, Geetaji, lal salaam. She, in turn, would repeat the words. But I told her once that she that I say Lal salaam so that she could tell me Jai Shri Ram. She would just smile. She knew that I was teasing her.

There is a general impression that the communists do not believe in God. She once told met that when her husband was nearing his end, she sat by his side and recited Bhagwat Geeta. So she had faith in God.

The last time I met her was in the corridor of the medical centre. She was carrying her tiffin with her. As usual, I asked her, 'What is this, Geetaji, what is there in it? Do (two) chapatis and sabji?'

She just smiled but say nothing. Once I asked her to give me her food and she was taken aback. You will eat my food, she asked me.

Never ever had party ideology come between her and myself. Wherever she met me she would give me a big affectionate hug and say Sushma, turn to hamara hai. When I learnt of her death I could not believe it. Only a day before she had been asking my husband how I was doing. And here she was, lying still on her bed. I paid my last respects to the departed soul before the body was flown to Calcutta for the last rites.

She has gone forever. But I will cherish the moments I spent with her for a long time.

(As told to Onkar Singh)

The Rediff Specials

Tell us what you think of this feature