Murli Deora, Congress leader and former Union minister for petroleum who passed away last week in Mumbai after prolonged illness, has left behind many legacies. But I would like to think that foremost amongst them are the old fashioned ones of loyalty, bipartisanship and service to others.
His funeral, which I attended at Mumbai's Chandan Wadi crematorium, was, in many ways, illustrative of all three qualities.
For one, the presence of the entire Gandhi family underlined how profoundly Deora had subscribed to steadfastness and reliability. They had flown down to Mumbai the moment they were informed of Deora's death, had gone straight to the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee headquarters to pay their respects, then made their way to the Deora residence to condole with Deora's wife, Hema, and then to the crematorium where they sat in respectful silence till the end.
In an era of cynicism and political opportunism, Deora had remained a Congress member all his life. Often his personal views had militated against that of the party. He was pro-business and pro-US, for instance, even while the party under Indira Gandhi showed a decidedly socialist and Soviet tilt. But that did not stop him from stepping forward when Indira faced some of her darkest and most challenging times. Where others had jumped ship, Deora had remained steadfast.
Many may criticise the object of his loyalty, but none can fault his reliability and sincerity. He remained loyal not only to Indira but also to her son, Rajiv, and then his widow, Sonia. That kind of loyalty must have played a substantial part in the Gandhi family's unprecedented show of respect and genuine grief.
The funeral was emblematic of Deora's bipartisanship. Not only were many from other political parties gathered there stoically under the hot afternoon sun, but even rivals of his own party who had fought bitterly with him - not to forget both the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, sons of Deora's dear friend, Dhirubhai.
To command that sort of affection and respect, regardless of what side you're on or which ideology you subscribe to, recalls the 13th century poet Jalaluddin Rumi's wise words, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, /There is a field. I'll meet you there".
Not only did this show of bipartisanship ennoble the funeral, but also the events around it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to express his sorrow and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley penned a moving piece on Deora, giving the impression that the daily push and shove of party politics had taken a pause to respect a man who had lived beyond such divisions.
Deora, of course, was no saint. Many will point out his flaws and limitations and they too must be heard.
But one of the greatest tributes to him, according to me, was the fact that in the same row as the Gandhis, a few seats from where they sat, was a really old and lost-looking senior citizen who had obviously braved many journeys to make it in time for the occasion.
That he had been welcomed in, afforded respect and dignity by the authorities and was there out of gratitude for the way that the politician must have touched his life at some stage, was as great a tribute to the man as the presence of the country's best and brightest.
A fine legacy indeed.
His funeral, which I attended at Mumbai's Chandan Wadi crematorium, was, in many ways, illustrative of all three qualities.
For one, the presence of the entire Gandhi family underlined how profoundly Deora had subscribed to steadfastness and reliability. They had flown down to Mumbai the moment they were informed of Deora's death, had gone straight to the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee headquarters to pay their respects, then made their way to the Deora residence to condole with Deora's wife, Hema, and then to the crematorium where they sat in respectful silence till the end.
In an era of cynicism and political opportunism, Deora had remained a Congress member all his life. Often his personal views had militated against that of the party. He was pro-business and pro-US, for instance, even while the party under Indira Gandhi showed a decidedly socialist and Soviet tilt. But that did not stop him from stepping forward when Indira faced some of her darkest and most challenging times. Where others had jumped ship, Deora had remained steadfast.
Many may criticise the object of his loyalty, but none can fault his reliability and sincerity. He remained loyal not only to Indira but also to her son, Rajiv, and then his widow, Sonia. That kind of loyalty must have played a substantial part in the Gandhi family's unprecedented show of respect and genuine grief.
The funeral was emblematic of Deora's bipartisanship. Not only were many from other political parties gathered there stoically under the hot afternoon sun, but even rivals of his own party who had fought bitterly with him - not to forget both the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, sons of Deora's dear friend, Dhirubhai.
To command that sort of affection and respect, regardless of what side you're on or which ideology you subscribe to, recalls the 13th century poet Jalaluddin Rumi's wise words, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, /There is a field. I'll meet you there".
Not only did this show of bipartisanship ennoble the funeral, but also the events around it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to express his sorrow and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley penned a moving piece on Deora, giving the impression that the daily push and shove of party politics had taken a pause to respect a man who had lived beyond such divisions.
Deora, of course, was no saint. Many will point out his flaws and limitations and they too must be heard.
But one of the greatest tributes to him, according to me, was the fact that in the same row as the Gandhis, a few seats from where they sat, was a really old and lost-looking senior citizen who had obviously braved many journeys to make it in time for the occasion.
That he had been welcomed in, afforded respect and dignity by the authorities and was there out of gratitude for the way that the politician must have touched his life at some stage, was as great a tribute to the man as the presence of the country's best and brightest.
A fine legacy indeed.
Malavika Sangghvi is a Mumbai-based writer malavikasmumbai@gmail.com