M. L. Fotedar has left us

 

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In the demise of Shri Makhan Lal Fotedar, on September 28 last, the last important icon of the Indira Rajiv era has passed into history. He was a problem solver, pragmatic manager and sagacious politician. During his politically active years he was the country's king-maker. In the selection and election of the President of the country, of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of states and of the Union Cabinet he played an important and decisive role. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had so much trust and faith in him that they would not take any important decision without consulting him. On his part, he remained committed and dutiful to four generations of the Gandhi family and to the Congress ideology Indira ji trusted him to look after and safeguard the interest of the party and the family even after she was no more. Just four days before her tragic assassination, on October 31, 1984, Fotedar ji, accompanied Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to Kashmir. There, as if she had a premonition that she would not live long, she told Fotedarji "Take care of my family after I am no more." She and Fotedar ji, both, believed in destiny Indira ji had written in her will: "In the event that my son Rajiv Gandhi is unable to perform the duties of the Executor of this Will, due to circumstances beyond his control, his wife Sonia Gandhi will be the Executor of the Will." That is what happened. He was one of the signatories to Indira ji's Will. Indira ji had also, confided in Fotedar that Sonia Gandhi's stars were strong and she should accompany Rajiv ji wherever he went. Rajiv and his wife followed her advice diligently and Sonia Gandhi always. accompanied Rajiv Gandhi on his tours. Unfortunately during his visit to Chennai on election campaign, Sonia could not accompany him. She was feeling fatigued and weak. Rajiv ji was assassinated by a human bomb at Sriperambadur, near Chennai, on May 21, 1991.

Fotedar ji stood up for his principles even if the results were likely to go against him. During his stint as a member of the J&K cabinet, he was offered the Ministry of Public Works Department. He declined the offer and told the Chief Minister that two of his brothers were contractors in the P W D projects. He opted for a lesser important portfolio. When he was the Union Health. Minister, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao wanted polio vaccines to be used for fighting the ailment. Fotedar ji said no to the proposal on the plea that oral drops. were cheap and easy to be given. Fotedar ji proved correct and the oral system has attained permanency in India and many other countries. Fotedar ji piloted a legislation which debarred members, having more than two children, from contesting elections. Rao thought it was aimed at him as he had nine children. Fotedar ji had to explain to him that the legislation was not with a retrospective effect. This legislation never became the law due to PV's apprehensions.

In 1992, Fotedar ji informed Rao that attempts were in the making to demolish Babri Masjid and Rao should talk to RSS leaders to find an amicable solution of the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. Rao took no action and the structure was demolished. Then, Fotedar ji told Rao in front of the whole cabinet that he must own the moral responsibility for what had happened in Ayodhya and resign as Prime Minister When Rao did not do so, Fotedar ji resigned from the Union Council of Ministers.

Fotedar was a symbol of Kashmiri culture and tradition. He preached and practised service, sacrifice, simplicity and humility. He did not allow his kin to be swayed away by the wrong practices of the western civilization. During his heyday, besides the top politicians and administrators, commoners, too, used to come to him to seek solutions to their problems. He used to help them and at the time of their departure from his office he used to accompany them till the outer gate to wish them bye-bye.

When he was studying law, negotiations started about his marriage. His would-be in-laws invited him for an interview. The girl, who was supposed to marry him, rejected him with the words: This kurta-pajama wala simple fellow does not deserve to me my life partner.

The father of that girl, Pandit Shiv Ji Tickoo, a man of prescience, could fathom that Fotedar contained the propensity of undertaking important functions. He, immediately, decided that Fotedar ji would be married to his younger daughter. That was done and Fotedar ji was married to 13-year-old Uma.

Fotedar ji continued Kashmiri traditions. He was a person with a spiritual bent of mind and respected all religions. Every year, he used to have Devi puja during Navaratras, culminating in hawan on Ram Navmi. Sanskrit and Vedic scholar Prem Nath Shastri used to be brought from the valley to be the chief guruji at the VITAST function. After Prem Nath Shastri ji We organise demise his son, Omkar Nath Shastri’s Ghazals and/ ji, continued the tradition.

In 1983, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came to Fotedar ji's residence to hand over her presents to the two daughters of Fotedar ji and his niece whose marriage ceremony was being solemnised. The marriage functions were solemnised in a simple, traditional Kashmiri way. He believed in simplicity and detested pomp and show.

In the series of political geniuses that Kashmir had produced, Fotedar ji is, probably, the last Kashmiri stalwart to shine on the national firmament. He worked silently for the betterment of the Kashmiri people and remained their voice in the quagmire of national politics.

In the passing away of Shri M.L. Fotedar, an important link in the legacy of the Congress Party and Kashmir is gone.

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Courtesy: Jagannath Dhar  Koshur Samachar 2017, October