Vajpayee’s Hanuman, Jaswant Singh helped restore India-US relations

Jaswant Singh would go down in history as a key leader who helped in repairing the India-US relations, as also laying the foundation of a nuclear India’s foreign policy. A man of great sophistication and learning, he was one of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s most trusted lieutenants. It is not surprising that he served with distinction as the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet.

 According to his son, Manvendra, his father was Vajpayee’s Hanuman, a trouble shooter and a loyalist. He and the erstwhile Prime Minister shared a close bond and often discussed poetry and prose after office hours. He also gave valuable advice in matters of the state which Vajpayee valued.

 Jaswant Singh had built an excellent rapport with many top US functionaries and thus helped them understand the region from the Indian perspective. A former Army officer who gave up his career to join the Jana Sangh, he was also subsequently in L.K. Advani’s circle of friends. When Advani faced public criticism following his visit to the mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Pakistan, Jaswant stood by his side and defended his action. Four years later, he fell out with the BJP hierarchy when he himself praised Jinnah in a book where he was critical of Jawaharlal Nehru, holding him responsible for India’s Partition. His regret was that Advani chose to remain silent at that time.

 Proud of his roots, Jaswant played a prominent role in politics of his home state, Rajasthan. He enjoyed a close rapport with Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and was a proud Rajput himself. Being a founder member of the BJP he was elected four times to the Lok Sabha (including Darjeeling) and five times to the Rajya Sabha. Due to serious differences with the central leadership, he was denied the ticket in 2014 and unsuccessfully contested for the Lok Sabha as an independent. Soon after that he fell in his house and was unwell for the past six years. 

Jaswant was always fielded by Vajpayee when a complex situation arose and in his baritone voice, he would provide very informed answers on critical questions that were asked in Parliament. He faced a lot of flak when he escorted terrorists released in the wake of IC-814 plane hijacking to Kandahar to get the Indian hostages released. He was fond of good life and would often host parties.

 A product of Mayo College, he became very close to the Jodhpur royal family. It was at that stage that Sardar Angre, a confidant of Vijaya Raje Scindia introduced him to Vajpayee, an association which grew stronger with each passing day. Journalists who covered the Vajpayee era would recall that along with Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Pramod Mahajan and Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh was one of the pillars of the government. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of important leaders have expressed grief over his passing away. A loss both for the party, the state and the country. Rest in Peace.