Remembering Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.-She narrowly missed the chance to become President of India

Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Remembering Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.-She narrowly missed the chance to become President of India.By our enlightened reader R.N.Malik. Today falls the 124th Birth Anniversary of Vijay Lakshmi Pandit who was a renowned freedom fighter, diplomat and political leader and critic of Indira Gandhi,s policies.She went to jail thrice during the Freedom Movement of India and her total stay in jail was 31 months. But her Sanskrit scholar and Barrister husband Ranjit Pandit remained around nine years in jails during the same period. At times, both were in jail. Ranjit was in Lucknow jail in 1944. He had an attack of heart, pleurisy and pneumonia and was released by jail authorities when he was nearing his end and died few weeks after release. It was a big setback in her life. Coupled with this, brother of Ranjit manipulated things in a way that Mrs Pandit was deprived of all her share in property.

She had three daughters to bring up. Her brother Jawaharlal was also in jail. Still she mustered up courage to visit Sanfransisco and started delivering lectures about need of granting Independence for India. Her versatility and eloquence attracted large number of Indians and others. Her popularity soared very high. There was a conference in Francesco in April 1945. Indian delegation sent by government consisted of Sir Firoze Khan Noon and Ramaswami Mudaliar.But the audience there insisted that only Mrs Pandit would represent India. Next year, a similar conference was held in Newyork and this time, Lord Wavel sent her to represent India. This is how she became voice of India in entire America and Europe.At home, she was elected as the member of the Constituent Assembly in 1946. She became President of U.N.General Assembly in 1953, a great honour for any Indian. She also organised the women of India and was responsible for enacting a law for legal right for women in the inheritance property of her husband.

She also became the Head of U.N. Human Rights Commission. In a way, she prepared the ground for nascent India to play a leading role for in the decolonisation Movement and other international affairs. Recognising her international image and diplomatic skills, Jawaharlal rightly appointed her the Indian Ambassador for Russia. Thereafter, she became Ambassador for America, Spain and High Commisioner in England and Ireland. When she met Churchill in England, he admitted,”We have killed your husband,” But she coolly replied that destiny willed that way. Chuchill was dumbstuck to hear this answer.She also remained the Governor of Maharastra in 1964 for two yrs. Earlier, she was elected as member of Provincial Assembly of UP from Kanpur in 1937 elections and became a Minister for Public Health and Local Self Government Ministeries and conducted herself with great dignity and aplomb.

Later she became the critic of policies of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and retired from active political life and started living in Dehradoon.. She canvassed for Janta Party in 1977 elections. Again, she narrowly missed the chance to become the President of India. She died in December 1990.
R.N.Malik