स्व.तारकेश्वरी सिन्हा / Politician with grace

Her charm and oratory excelled that of today’s women politicians. Tarkeshwari Sinha was a freedom fighter, a firebrand student leader and a member of Jawaharlal Nehru’s council of ministers. A four-time MP representing the Barh constituency of Bihar, she was the only woman politician other than Indira Gandhi who was considered newsworthy in her time.Tarkeshwari was also the only woman politician from Bihar who was much ahead of her time. Well-read and articulate, she had charisma. She remembered thousands of Urdu couplets and these were delivered with extraordinary finesse and ease. In an era when film actresses were not introduced into politics, Sinha epitomized beauty and brains and charmed Parliament for 19 years.Poet-lyricist-director Gulzar, once discussing his film Aandhi, said the movie was supposed to be based on the life of Indira Gandhi, but that was only partially true. It was the first film on the modern Indian politician and, according to Gulzar, Indira Gandhi and, to a lesser extent, Tarkeshwari Sinha fitted the picture.During the turbulent years of 1969-71 Congress divide, Sinha sided with the Syndicate. It is an irony of fate that such a vibrant and progressive politician like her chose the company of old and obscurantist cronies like K. Kamraj and Morarji Desai and gradually faded into oblivion. Perhaps she chose this path because of Indira Gandhi’s deep-rooted dislike for her.She passed away at a ripe old age unsung and literally unreported. With her death, a link to the Nehruvian era and pre-Independence India has been snapped.She was known for her oratory in the parliament. In the later part of her life, luck did not favour her. When Congress was divided, she joined Congress 'O' alongwith Late Krishna kant Singh, Late Ram Vilas Sharma (my uncle), Late Shyam Nandan Mishra, etc., and before emergency, she joined Indira Gandhi's Congress 'R'. It was a known fact that Indira Gandhi never liked her. Luck did not favour her political moves after that. Leaders of her calibre must be remembered with respect & pride.