Swami Chaitanya Keerti
Generally, I am not so keen about meeting politicians, as I do not feel so much at ease in their presence. But it was a very different experience meeting with Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee the Prime Minister of India in the year 2000. I found him to be a simple human being with a large heart. It felt like meeting a friend. A Chinese calligrapher, Master Qiu Zhen Ping, who had come to Pune to exhibit his art and conduct his calligraphy workshops in the Osho Commune International, told me about the difficulties obtaining a visa for India. He wanted to come to India every year, specially Osho Commune, as he loved to teach calligraphy to the international groups in the commune. I wanted to help him also. He suggested me taking one of his calligraphy paintings to present it to the Prime Minister of India whenever I go to New Delhi. A few weeks later, I brought his painting to New Delhi and I kept wondering how to go to Mr. Vappayee and present the painting.
One day it happened that I went to see Shri Arun Shourie, an eminent journalist, to present him a new Osho book, as I knew that Shourie Ji's father loved reading Osho's books, and listen to Osho discourses. Shourie Ji welcomed me and said: Today there's some event at the PM house. I am going there. You are welcome to come with me.
I was delighted to accompany him and told him that I would like to present a beautiful Chinese calligraphy painting to the PM. After the event, I got an opportunity to go and meet Vajpayee Ji in his room. I showed him the painting and he loved it. I told him a little a bit about the artist and told him about his difficulties in obtaining a visa for India. Vajpayee Ji was intuitive and said: I would give a letter of appreciation for his art and this will help him get the visa for India. I gave my mailing address to the PM and a few days later, I was surprised that the letter of appreciation for Master Qiu Zhen Ping arrived at my address.
This is what I appreciate about Vajpayee Ji...He was a very sensitive human being. It is natural that his speeches in parliament and elsewhere have become memorable because his speeches originated from his heart. Though he had a very original and unique style of speaking, often laced with poetry, yet they were logical and rational. There was a balance between heart and mind, though sometimes there was more heart in them, without the dishonesty and cunningness of a politician. This is why he was adored by his political opponents also. Some of them have tried to imitate his style, but they have not succeeded, because an original is an original. He was a gifted orator par excellence. Someone has described his style: With his well-timed wit, and carefully-chosen words delivered with trademark long pauses, Vajpayee immediately connected with all those who came in contact with him -- the common man, politicians, bureaucrats, students and world leaders.
In the passing away of Shri Vajpayee Ji, India has lost a seasoned politician, who as a wonderful human being, a sage-like philosopher-poet, a wise statesman, who was in a romance with his motherland--India, that is Bharat. India needs more such benevolent leaders who can feel the heartbeat of the nation. I feel paying him a tribute with his own poem.
क्या खोया, क्या पाया जग में,
मिलते और बिछड़ते मग में,
मुझे किसी से नहीं शिकायत,
यद्यपि छला गया पग-पग में,
एक दृष्टि बीती पर डालें, यादों की पोटली टटोलें.
पृथ्वी लाखों वर्ष पुरानी,
जीवन एक अनन्त कहानी
पर तन की अपनी सीमाएं,
यद्यपि सौ शरदों की वाणी,
इतना काफी है अंतिम दस्तक पर खुद दरवाजा खोलें.
जन्म-मरण का अविरत फेरा,
जीवन बंजारों का डेरा,
आज यहां, कल कहां कूच है,
कौन जानता, किधर सवेरा,
अंधियारा आकाश असीमित, प्राणों के पंखों को तौलें.
अपने ही मन से कुछ बोलें.
क्या खोया, क्या पाया जग में,
मिलते और बिछड़ते मग में,
मुझे किसी से नहीं शिकायत,
यद्यपि छला गया पग-पग में,
एक दृष्टि बीती पर डालें, यादों की पोटली टटोलें.
पृथ्वी लाखों वर्ष पुरानी,
जीवन एक अनन्त कहानी
पर तन की अपनी सीमाएं,
यद्यपि सौ शरदों की वाणी,
इतना काफी है अंतिम दस्तक पर खुद दरवाजा खोलें.
जन्म-मरण का अविरत फेरा,
जीवन बंजारों का डेरा,
आज यहां, कल कहां कूच है,
कौन जानता, किधर सवेरा,
अंधियारा आकाश असीमित, प्राणों के पंखों को तौलें.
अपने ही मन से कुछ बोलें.
