On my return to Delhi last night, I straight drove to 14 Motilal Nehru Marg and paid my homage to the most respected Dr. Manmohan Singh ji, who had passed on early morning.
Glowing tributes are pouring in from all over the world to the remarkable scholar Statesman for his huge contribution to India and the world and more so for his scholarship, dignity, humility and equanimity in all situations.
Whenever I send my longish DRK's Newsletters, Dr Manmohan Singh has been graciously acknowledging them-saying that he enjoyed reading some of them.
I thought I should share atleast two of my most memorable incidents with him more to his sense of compassion, humility, dignity and promptitude.
1) On 31st March 2010, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, I received award Padma Shri from the President of India.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted me with a warm handshake and smile. He said, "Mr Kaarthikeyan, heartiest congratulations". I thanked him and said, "Sir I am surprised to receive this recognition, unasked for".
He replied, "Mr Kaarthikeyan, the nation can never forget your amazing service. You risked your life while detecting and prosecuting successfully the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case against all threats and challenges. You protected the honour, prestige and security of the Nation. You will always be remembered by the nation".
I felt his kind words and warm handshake as more valuable than even the award I just received.
2) It was in September 2008, Padma Bhushan Dr S S Badrinath, Founder Sankara Nethralaya, the eminent Ophthalmologist came home with Mrs Badrinath and made a request to me – the Joint Secretary of the ministry of Health has directed him, Aravind Eye Hospital and similar charity eye hospitals to stop identifying visually challenged persons and restoring eyesight-and also not reimbursing crores of Rupees that they are entitled to for the surgeries already done as per the earlier approved scheme of removing blindness.
(When India attained independence every 5th blind person was supposed to be an Indian. The government authorised credible eye charity hospitals to undertake a survey, identify and restore eyesight and for each such case, a subsidy of Rs. 800 was offered. So credible hospitals like Sankara Nethralaya took up this challenge and performed thousands of such surgeries. Suddenly a Joint Secretary in the Health department asked them to suspend that scheme and also failed to reimburse the amount overdue to them).
It is at this stage, Dr Badrinath approached me telling that all though he is a Padma Bhushan awardee and a prominent Ophthalmologist, he has failed and hence sought my help.
Even though I told him I do not know what to do, I do not say no to any such request for a public cause. So I suggested to make a draft representation, which I received and forwarded to the PM and to many others in the state and Central governments, along with my own forwarding letter.
In my letter I asked why this noble scheme was suspended and whether there is a change in policy of eradication of blindness or shortage of funds.
While I wrote to 20 personalities in the government individually, I got the first response from the busiest of personalities – Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India within 15 days.
PM's letter read - "Dear Dr Kaarthikeyan, thank you for bringing this very important issue to my notice. The matter will be attended to immediately".
With Kind Regards,
Manmohan Singh
A couple of weeks later (I do not recall the exact date) there was a SPG Day Reception (it was held every year those days) I was also invited as usual.
At the reception at the SPG campus, I was in conversation with Mr MK Narayanan NSA, Mr TKA Nair, Principal Secretary to PM and Mr Sanjay Baru, Information Secretary to PM.
I told them about the PM's letter and asked how the busiest person in the nation could find time to personally respond to my letter.
Mr Sanjay Baru said "it is because the eye problem is very touchy for the PM as he himself suffered by reading under street lights. Also he knows you personally and knows you do not seek any personal favour".
At that point the PM as a SPG protectee came there. I greeted him and told him, "Sir, we were discussing only about your prompt and gracious reply to my letter on eradicating blindness".
PM responded, "OK then what happened". I took the opportunity to say "Sir after your gracious prompt response nothing more happened".
PM responded, "I am sorry nothing happened and asked Mr Nair to follow up the matter.
Within the next two weeks Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Dy Chairman Planning Commission contacted me and said that there was no shortage of funds and Member (Health) with get in touch with me.
Within the next two weeks the problem was solved, the arrears due to the hospitals were cleared and the order suspending the scheme was withdrawn.
Dr Badrinath wrote to me a letter of thanks.
So, whenever people complain that the governments do not respond and so they just give up, I have always quoted the response of the busiest PM himself and the people have a right to demand relief from the government.
I thought it is time that I share my own experience about the dignity, the efficiency and humility of one of our greatest leaders.
No comments:
Post a Comment