Late Vasant Sathe: A legendary visionary and a maverick

 

 

AMONG the great sons of Mother India, who, by virtue of their devotion and unending dedication, catered to its developmental cause in actualising the Constitutional doctrine of a genuine and bonafide ‘Welfare State’, Vasant Sathe stands tall as an unerasable-in-nature and irrevocable-in-character benchmark. Be it the domain of ideological commitment, creative and consistent politics, original and innovative thinking process, contributive writing and catering to the cause of arts and culture, he stands out as a benchmark in a unique class of his own and incomparable style.

 

A lawyer by training and a trade unionist of passion and commitment, Sathe began his political career as a member of the Socialist Party since its early days in 1948 and joined the Indian National Congress later. His working style was based on the Cardinal doctrine he upheld all his life -- ‘Free, Frank, Fearless, First’. He lived this truly and fearlessly. In early 1980s, he spearheaded the unique move to bring colour television (TV) sets to India. He faced criticism in the context propagated by his detractors -- how could a country that had failed to provide potable clean water to its habitants, afford to squander its resources for an esoteric luxury, which could not be a priority. However, his determination made the black and white TV sets vanish from the scene and colour TV broadcasts became an order of the day. The 1982 Asian Games is etched in collective memory of all concerned.

 

The coverage of 1983 Cricket World Cup victory not only lingers on, but also fondly cherished till date by all citizens independent of change of generations since then. His contribution to the cause of Indian democracy has to be put in golden letters. His Parliamentary career began from 1972 when he won the election from Akola constituency in Maharashtra. Since then, he never looked back till his uncalled-for defeats in 1991 and 1996 Parliamentary elections from Wardha constituency. Notwithstanding the same, his passionate, forceful, well-researched and appropriately documented speeches in Parliament reflected subtlety, clarity, conviction, self-determinism and sincere upholding of the democratic values.

 

With malice towards none, he was able to upgrade himself from the status of a politician to a real Statesman of worth and substance. His conduct emphasised the difference between a politician and a statesman -- A politician is bothered about exclusively the next election, and a statesman is committedly bothered about the next generation. He lived this difference all his life and became exemplary. Normally, the line advocated by seat of power is blindly upheld by all concerned as a compromised non-self-respecting hypocrisy. Sathe stood as a contrast to this all-pervasive phenomenon. In early 1990s, he openly and forcefully criticised Mandal Commission and publicly offered his services as a lawyer to argue against the same in the court of law, bringing out his passionate commitment to the views he upheld.

 

His forthrightness was visible in his open support of Richard Attenborough’s movie ‘Gandhi’ when several key people held that a ‘foreigner’ was bound to twist the tale regarding Mahatma Gandhi, which would be a preposition of questionable taste, including possibility of marginalisation of the Father of the Nation. He held considered opinion that perhaps, only a foreigner would be neutral and dispassionate about Gandhi to bring out things with truthful and neutral perspective. His arguments on the floor of the Parliament on this count stand out as a treatise of worth and value. Sathe’s contribution as Union Minister of India with wide-ranging portfolios, including Information and Broadcasting in 1980, Chemicals and Fertilisers in 1982, Steel, Mines and Coal in 1985, Energy in 1986, and Communications from 1988 to 1989 was sterling and depicted his expertise, deft handling, and immaculate stewardship that made him a genuine confidante of Indira Gandhi till she breathed her last. His services rendered as the Chairman of Indo-Japan Study Committee (1992-95) served as a bedrock of meaningful, cogent and credible Indo-Japanese relations, the fruits of which are being plucked till date and may be in future. His tenure as President of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in 1993 is remembered with fondness, appreciation and unending gratitude till date.

 

His participation as an Indian representative at UNESCO, the World Peace Congress and the Inter-Parliamentary Union stands deeply inscribed as guide-stone for sustenance of democratic ethos across the globe. His all-round personality has left an indelible mark on the sands of time. Yet, what immortalises him is his creative contribution in the form of books he authored on wide-ranging themes and subjects of national consequence and global relevance. His books ‘Towards Social Revolution-A Case for Economic Democracy’ (1985), ‘Restructuring of Public Sector in India’ (1989), ‘National Government Agenda for a New India’ (1991), ‘Two Swords in One Scabbard- A Case for Presidential Form of Democracy’ (1989), ‘Tax Without Tears-For Economic Independence and National Integration’ (1989), ‘The Challenge of Change-Key Issues for Developing Society’ (1989), ‘India to be a Global Power’ and ‘Memoirs of a Rationalist (2005)’ are encyclopedia of developmental ethos for invocation of a genuine Constitutionally mandated ‘Welfare State’. Late Vasant Sathe’s contribution can be described endlessly. On 5th of March, when centenary celebrations of this legendary maverick’s birth would be observed, drawing inspiration from his purposeful life full of passion will be the befitting respectful remembrance. (The author is Pro Chancellor, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University).