Institutional and Non-institutional Pillars of Indian Democracy
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556119863555 |
| Date | 01 June 2019 |
| Published date | 01 June 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Document |
Institutional and Non-
institutional Pillars of
Indian Democracy
Harekrushna Mahatab
Memorial Lecture, Cuttack,
Odisha, Saturday,
22 December 2018
Abhishek Manu Singhvi1
Memorial lectures are occasions for inspiration, for emulation, for illumination,
for precept and practice and for idealism, all fused in the memory of the illustrious
person whom the memorial lecture commemorates. Even a casual glance at the
life history of Harekrushna Mahatab yields the impression of a person who strode
the national and state landscapes like a colossus. The true definition of a
renaissance man is a person who is a master of many Muses. The renaissance age
celebrated multifacetedness and versatility, when persons and talents were not
cribbed, confined or cramped within narrow walls of specialisation. Renaissance
literally means rebirth. Another word for it is a polymath, viz. a person who is an
expert, repeat expert, in a wide range of different subjects and areas of knowledge.
Leonardo da Vinci was the archetypal one, famed as an artist, mathematician,
inventor, writer, etc.; the list goes on. He was a figure who did not see disciplines
as a chequerboard of independent black and white tiles, but a vibrant palette of
colours ready to be combined harmoniously and gracefully. Interestingly, the
fastest growing and most influential fields of contemporary research—such as
global sustainability or bioinformatics—straddle, distort and even disregard
traditional disciplinary boundaries. We need multispecialised lateral thinkers who
can connect the dots in unexpected ways. We need contemporary Leonardos.
Document
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
65(2) 554–583, 2019
© 2019 IIPA
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DOI: 10.1177/0019556119863555
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Views are personal.
1 The author is a Third Term Senior MP; Former Additional Solicitor General; Former Chairman,
Parliamentary Standing Committee; Senior Advocate, Supreme Court; National Spokesperson,
Congress Party.
Corresponding author:
Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Third Term Senior MP, Former Additional Solicitor General; Former
Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee; Senior Advocate, Supreme Court; National
Spokesperson, Congress Party.
E-mail: drams59@gmail.com
Singhvi 555
We need 21st century polymaths, not monomaths. The Renaissance thrived by
connecting the past, present and future.
Harekrushna Mahatab was clearly such a renaissance man. The range of his
achievements and the brilliant glow of his mind is reflected in the bewildering
diversity of his achievements and in the tenacity of his endeavours. Imagine a three-
time Chief Minister of Odisha, for a total of 13 years. Imagine being among the
select few to serve as Chief Minister both before and after Independence of India
(1946–1950). Imagine being the Chief Minister after being Governor of Bombay
province (1956–1961) and yet again imagine being the first non-Congress Chief
Minister in his third stint (1967–1971).
Such persons have indefatigable energy spewing out of every pore in the body.
From translating the Valmiki Ramayana in Oriya to writing the history of Odisha
to winning Sahitya Academic Awards to fiercely practicing journalism, to starting
a weekly magazine Prajatantra in 1923, his talents turned whatever he touched
into gold.
But perhaps faith had in store for him additionally what it had for no other,
accolading him with the title of Iron Man of Odisha. To be equated in his State
with the status of the Sardar is something which all would covet but none could
have. To be recognised as the amalgamator of the princely states of Odisha with
the Indian Union is a privilege, which none could even dream of. To be conferred
with the title of Utkal Kesari (the lion of Orissa) and find a place in the Central
Hall of Parliament reflects the contours of the giant figure whose memory I
consecrate today.
That he was a young overachiever is clear from his Presidentship of Odisha
Pradesh Congress Committee at the age of 31, Chief Ministership at the age of
47, Central Cabinet Ministership at the age of 51 and Bombay Governorship at
the age of 56. I pay my respectful homage to him and consider it my good fortune
not only to be asked to speak in the memory of this great son of India but also
to be associated with his family through my Parliamentary colleague and friend,
Bhartruhari Mahatab.
Introductory: India’s Uniqueness
A threshold question, naturally arising, is why this title for this memorial lecture?
First, because the person in whose memory it is being delivered was clearly someone
who understood the spirit of democracy and the importance of its institutional
pillars. Second, if I may say so, this understanding of the essential nuts and bolts of
democracy has also been reflected in the conduct of the organiser of this lecture, an
illustrious son of an illustrious father. Third, and even more important, we must
sometimes state and underline the obvious so that we do not take the latter for
granted. These pillars may be self-evident but should never be taken for granted.
Fourth, and most important (and I am certainly open to questioning on this and
would be happiest if proved wrong), many of these fundamental institutional pillars
of Indian democracy, and much more significantly, several of its non-institutional
pillars, have been, in different degrees, threatened, diluted, assaulted and weakened
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