38. An Ideal Political Administrator (L. P. Singh)

I saw Y. B. Chavan off and one even before he became Home Minister in 1966, and quite closely during the periods of acute tension with Pakistan on the Cutch border in April-May, 1965, and the conflict with Pakistan some months later.  I was struck by his cool determination and quite self-confidence, without, the least trace of chauvinism or bravado.  There were occasions during both periods when he firmly and even sharply brushed aside in a few telling words even the faintest indication of wavering in certain professional or other quarters.  Here, I felt was leadership of rare quality.

Chavan accompanied Prime Minister Shastri to Tashkent, and as Home Secretary, concerned also with Kashmir affairs, I went as one of the official members of the delegation.  During our stay at Tashkent for over a week, I had many opportunities to talk to Chavan and to get to know him well.  His balanced judgement, steady vision and deep understanding of international affairs were an evidence throughout.  But one also discovered his warm humanity, catholicity and sense of humour.  However, it was on our return to Delhi that I saw the best of Chavan.  There was an impression in Delhi that it was on the advice of the Foreign Minister, Sardar Swaran Singh, with his sensitivity to international opinion, in the light particularly of a UN Resolution, that the Prime Minister had entered into the agreement providing for both Pakistan and India going back to the 5th August line.  This involved India vacating the strategically important Hajipur area and it was thought that the Prime Minister had agreed to this against the opposition of Chavan, the Defence Minister, subordinating national security to exigencies of international politics.  Sharing these impressions, a Minister, apparently unhappy with the agreement, asked Chavan what his stand had been, expecting that Chavan would express his reservations about the wisdom of the agreement.  

Chavan answered in a single sentence: he had given Shastri hundred per cent support at Tashkent and now that Shastri was dead he gave one hundred fifty per cent support to the agreement.  Not the sort of forthright affirmation of an honourable sentiment and loyalty to a dead leader one hears in politics !

There is usually an interval between a new Minister taking charge of a Ministery and the Secretary of the Ministry establishing a good working relationship, and rapport with him.  But from the first day Chavan assumed office there was mutual knowledge and understanding.  This was useful in the circumstances in which he had succeeded Gulzari Lal Nanda, with agitation for a constitutional ban on cow slaughter in full swing and a rebellion brewing in the Delhi Police.  He dealt with the police rebellion with great restraint and delicacy. He faced about two thousand policemen demonstrating at the gate of his residence and tried to persuade them to go back to the lines.  When their response was more undisciplined behaviour, Chavan did not lose his temper or patience.  An Army unit was available, but he preferred to have the rebellious men just arrested by members of the Border Security and the Central Reserve Police forces.  Thus, intervention of the Army or use of force was avoided and the situation was brought under control through legal processes.  The anti-cow slaughter agitation too was handled by Chavan with firmness in adherence to secular principles, but with tactical flexibility.  For instance, there was a well calculated recourse to flexibility.  When M. S. Aney, already in his eighties, threatened to go on a fast unless the Shankaracharya of Puri was brought back from Pondichery where he had been detained.  Chavan decided to have him flown back to the Puri Math, where the Shankaracharya ended his long fast after some days, in incredibly good health !