Seasoned politician abled administrator & emancipator of downtrodden
(BD Sharma, Political commentator and former Director of Himachal Pradesh Information & Public Relation Department. Along with six time chief minister Virbhadra he has worked with four Chief ministers as Director of HPI&PRD and press secretary to CM )
His wit still loom large though he left for his heavenly abode one year ago. Yes, I am talking about late Virbhadra Singh, who remained Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for six terms and whose death anniversary falls today. Why I am saying so there is a strong reason. Social and print medias is agog with rich tributes by the people from different walks of life to their beloved leader by rising above political and other considerations. The memoires shared by a senior bureaucrat of the State cadre who retired as Secretary to the Government of India ,speaks volume, what type of leader Virbhadha Singh was and what was his thought for the betterment of the State and its people. Not only this I met hundreds of congress leaders, congress men and his other well wishers who have congregated in Shimla today to pay their respect to the departed leaders. These include former Ministers, MLAs, former MLAs and other who have come from various parts of the State especially on this occasion. This shows how popular he was and his popularity is still there. My memories also go one year back when there was a bee line of people to pay the last respect to Virbhadra Singh who waited for hours together from Shimla to Rampur where his mortal remains were consigned to flames. The huge gathering was not locally but different parts of the State. Today gathering give an impression that he is still alive in the mind and heart of the people of the State and will remain so far a long time
No doubt, Virbhadhra Singh was a leader of qualities of head and heart. He was a seasoned politician, an able administrator and above all an emancipator of the poor and downtrodden. During my long association with him in the service, I have never found anyone, who might have gone disappointed once he has reached him. His functioning as a Chief Minister was as commoner and he was open to all since morning to late night. I have seen myself tears coming from his eyes while listening to the vows of the sufferers. People still remember him lovingly. They repent and say that it is difficult to find a leader like Raja Sahib means Virbhadhra Singh as they use to call him so. In fact; he was not a Raja but a fakir in the eyes of the people. Om Shanti.
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
