HARISH RAWAT: THE GREATEST ‘UTTARAKHANDI’ POLITICIAN OF OUR TIMES

Mukesh Devrari

The tiny state of Uttarakhand has produced many great politicians in the past who have played an important role in the politics of Congress Party. The legacy of great Uttarakhandi leaders starts with Govind Ballabh Pant, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, Murli Manohar Joshi, Narayan Dutt Tiwari and Yogi Adityanath and perhaps ends with Harish Rawat.

Harish Rawat is the only politician who satisfies masses intellectually while remaining extraordinarily connected to the people, culture and their customs. He is the one who can debate on a national television channel on contentious issues and can also patiently hear villagers who visit his house for seeking help almost every day in large number. Even his opponents suggest that no one understands the state of Uttarakhand better than Harish Rawat.

He is perhaps the most suitable candidate to rule the state. He is our public intellectual who understands the pitfalls of national politics and fully aware of Uttarakhand’s geographical challenges and aspirations of people living in remote parts of the state. He is also one of the most hardworking politicians who work day and night.   

Many of his admirers claim that BJP’s Trivendra Singh Rawat could remain as CM so far because Harish Rawat chose not to shake his chair too much. He prefers TSR over other leaders who might not be as subdued and grounded as the current Chief Minister is. Except some of the shameful incidents of personal arrogance on the public platform on petty issues, BJP Chief Minister is almost invisible in the state.  

Recently TSR has taken a symbolic decision to declare Gairsain as the summer capital, apart from this there is nothing to recall about his legacy of three and a half years. In the first half of 2021, assembly elections will be held. It is highly likely that government in Uttarakhand will change due to the mishandling of Corona pandemic, economic downturn and invisible state government. Although people are fiercely expressing their loyalty to Prime Minister Modi, who has escaped untarnished even after failing miserably in tackling the economy.

In Uttarakhand, no other politician can match Harish Rawat’s stature and simplicity. He is single-handedly trying to keep Congress alive in the state. Although he is working on his own plank and there is hardly any coordination with the PCC President Pritam Singh, who is also powerful and hardly dependent on anyone to win elections in his constituency. Pritam Singh has been elected consistently to the legislative assembly which his father also represented for the long period of time. Now he is grooming his son to replace him. Although he is not as active as previous PCC President Kishore Upadhyay.

The short tenure as Chief Minister, which was given to Harish Rawat by removing Vijay Bahuguna, is also becoming his curse. His party colleagues opposed him tooth and nail & finally revolted against him. They joined BJP and went on to win the assembly elections. The liquor scam also badly hit Harda's image, as he is popularly called in the media. Despite all these limiting factors his name evinces interest, respect and sense of amazement due to his political perseverance. Recent examples of his sharp observations and narratives. Recently a journalist posed a question to him, “is it an achievement that people of Uttarakhand produced a great leader like you or it is their greatest failure”.  

“There are no doubt people in Uttarakhand sow trees but as those trees grow and spread their roots, the people also continuously shake them. What to say about people here”, he complained. “The history of the region has been replete with the stories of people turning their back on their leaders at the most crucial moment of political life. You can stand in shade only if you will allow the trees to grow after planting them”, he added.

(Author: Mukesh Devrari)