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K. R. Narayanan



K. R. Narayanan with the U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
K. R. Narayanan with the U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

As Narayanan's tenure neared its end, various sections of public opinion looked forward to a second term of his Presidency. The NDA had a slender majority in the electoral college. Narayanan offered to be a consensus candidate. The Opposition parties (including the Congress, the Left Front, Janata Dal (Secular), and various regional parties) supported a second term for him, and Sonia Gandhi met him to request his candidature; Vajpayee then met Narayanan, informed him that there was no consensus within the NDA on the question, and advised against his candidature. The NDA then proposed to elevate the Vice-President Krishan Kant as a consensus; this drew support from the Opposition and an agreement to this effect was conveyed by Vajpayee's representative to the Congress. However, within a day, the NDA unable to reach an internal consensus, decided to propose another candidate Dr.P. C. Alexander. Alexander's candidature drew disapproval of the Opposition parties. The Opposition parties approached Narayanan and renewed their request to seek a second term. The NDA then put forth a third candidate Abdul Kalam as their official choice, without seeking consensus; one opposition party (the Samajwadi Party under Mulayam Singh Yadav) dissipated the unity of the Opposition by supporting this proposal. Narayanan opted himself out from a contest at this point.[43][44]

When asked about these events later,[8] Narayanan accused the BJP of scuttling a second term of his Presidency. He stated that the BJP had tried to implement an insidious agenda spread across several sectors seeking to subvert the secular ideals of the nation; he made particular reference to the efforts by Murli Manohar Joshi (the then HRD minister) to secure the reins of education to the cause of spreading the Hindutva ideology of the BJP, and to the illegitimate attempts to secure important appointments in various sectors for supporters of this ideology; he had intervened in these matters within the bounds permitted by democratic and constitutional norms, but the BJP had resented his actions.

In his farewell address to the nation[45] (24 July 2002), K. R. Narayanan set his hopes for social action and progress on the service of the nation by its youth. He reflected on his varied experiences of the essential goodness and wisdom of the Indian people, recalling how he had grown up in Uzhavoor among adherents of several religions, how religious tolerance and harmony had prevailed, how upper-caste Hindus and well-off Christians had helped him in his early studies, and how upper-caste Hindus as well as Christians and Muslims had worked together enthusiastically for his election campaigns in Ottapalam. He said that the credibility and endurance of India's unity and democracy are founded on its tradition of tolerance, and spoke of the need for Hindus, who form the majority, to express the traditional spirit of their religion.

Reflecting on his Presidency, K. R. Narayanan said:[8]

As the President of India, I had lots of experiences that were full of pain and helplessness. There were occasions when I could do nothing for people and for the nation. These experiences have pained me a lot. They have depressed me a lot. I have agonised because of the limitations of power. Power and the helplessness surrounding it are a peculiar tragedy, in fact.

[

Subsequent life

After his retirement as President, K. R. Narayanan, along with his wife Usha, lived his remaining years in a modest bungalow (34, Prithviraj Road) in Delhi.

K. R. Narayanan with Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir at the World Social Forum 2004; Mumbai, 21 January 2004.
K. R. Narayanan with Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir at the World Social Forum 2004; Mumbai, 21 January 2004.

At the World Social Forum (WSF) in Mumbai (21 January 2004), he lent his support to the alternative globalisation movement. Addressing the forum at its concluding session, he praised the WSF for demanding freedom in its most comprehensive form, and was happy that people had assembled under an important idea, rather than for narrow political ends; after reflecting on corporations displacing governments in various countries, and on how Mahatma Gandhi had fought British colonisers non-violently with the strength of the masses, he predicted that vocal masses the world over would successfully fight by non-violent means the capturing of the world's resources by a few corporations in the name of globalisation. He urged the people to struggle against power corporates and militarism and fight those aspects of globalisation which were against the interests of the people; he hailed people's power as a renascent factor of international politics.

K. R. Narayanan dedicated (15 February 2005) his tharavaadu at Uzhavoor to the Santhigiri ashram in Pothencode for the purpose of establishing the Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru research centre for Siddha and Ayurveda.[46] This turned out to be his last return to Uzhavoor.

K. R. Narayanan died on 9 November 2005 at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi, after being briefly ill with pneumonia and consequent renal failure. His body was consigned to the flames with full state honours at sunset the following day; the last rites were performed by his nephew Dr. P. V. Ramachandran, at Ekta sthal on the banks of the River Yamuna (adjacent to Shanti van, the memorial of his mentor Jawaharlal Nehru).

His daughter, Chitra (Indian ambassador to Turkey), on behalf of her mother (Usha), sister (Amrita), and the rest of his family, expressed her appreciation for the outpouring of grief from all over the country and abroad; she added that K. R. Narayanan would be remembered for his great love for the nation and for his immense moral strength and courage.

Four siblings, K. R. Gowri, K. R. Bhargavi, K. R. Bharathi, and K. R. Bhaskaran, survived him; two elder brothers had died when Narayanan was in his twenties. His elder sister Gowri (a homoeopath, who remained unmarried) and his younger brother Bhaskaran (a teacher, also unmarried) had been living in Uzhavoor. Villagers of Uzhavoor marched silently to the tharavaadu of K. R. Narayanan and paid him reverent homage.

From the sidelines of society

About his life and its message,[47] K. R. Narayanan said:

I see and understand both the symbolic as well as the substantive elements of my life. Sometimes I visualise it as a journey of an individual from a remote village on the sidelines of society to the hub of social standing. But at the same time I also realise that my life encapsulates the ability of the democratic system to accommodate and empower marginalised sections of society.

[

Notes

  1. ^ Manmohan Singh: Condolence message. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  2. ^ a b c Interview with K. R. Narayanan on Independence day, 15 Aug. 1998; by N. Ram, Editor, Frontline ["K. R. Narayanan in conversation with N. Ram", The Hindu, 10 Nov. 2005. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006].
  3. ^ K. R. Narayanan's interview with M. K. Gandhi, 10 Apr. 1945; given in full in H. Y. Sharada Prasad: "How an interview with Gandhi was spiked", The Asian Age, n.d. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  4. ^ LSE counts K. R. Narayanan among its distinguished alumni; his portrait has been unveiled and placed in a position of honour; B. R. Ambedkar is the only other Indian to have been similarly honoured. (Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.)
  5. ^ Some of his experiences as a Tata fellow are recounted here. (Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.)
  6. ^ Gopalkrishna Gandhi: "A remarkable life-story", Frontline 22 (24), 5-18 Nov. 2005. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  7. ^ Haresh Pandya: "K. R. Narayanan: Indian president from downtrodden caste", The Guardian, 29 Nov. 2005. Retrieved 6 Mar. 2006.
  8. ^ a b c d e f P. T. Thomas: "Interview with K. R. Narayanan", Maanavasamskruthi 1 (8), February 2005, in Malayalam. English translation of part of the interview, at CHRO web page: Part I; Part II. Additional translation of question on his relationship with the Left front in "Narayanan criticises Vajpayee for Gujarat riots", The Hindu, 10 Nov. 2005. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  9. ^ His speech at Peking University while on a state visit, briefly describes his vision of relations between India and China. (Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.) Narayanan spoke Chinese, and had a scholarly knowledge of Chinese culture and history, particularly the cultural exchanges between the two countries. His visit as President eased tensions that had developed with China after the Pokhran nuclear tests.
  10. ^ His banquet speech welcoming Bill Clinton to Rashtrapati Bhavan briefly describes his vision of relations between India and the USA. (Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.)
  11. ^ Results of Presidential poll, 17 Jul. 1997. Archived Aug. 1997.
  12. ^ Diwanji, Amberish K. (1997). The importance of a dalit President. Rediff. Retrieved on 2006-05-02.
  13. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Inaugural address, 25 Jul. 1997. Archived Aug. 1997.
  14. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Address on the golden jubilee of Indian independence, 15 Aug. 1997. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  15. ^ I. K. Gujral: Address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red fort on the golden jubilee of Indian independence, 15 Aug. 1997. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  16. ^ a b Sukumar Muralidharan: "A role for the President", Frontline 15 (5), 7-20 Mar. 1998. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  17. ^ a b Sukumar Muralidharan: "A presidential intervention", Frontline 18 (3), 3-16 Feb. 2001. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  18. ^ a b c d e K. R. Narayanan: Address to the nation on the golden jubilee of the Republic, 26 Jan. 2000. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  19. ^ V. Venkatesan: "A wake-up call", Frontline 17 (3), 5-18 Feb. 2000. Retrieved 17 Mar. 2006.
  20. ^ Ammu Joseph: "Areas of darkness", Humanscape, April 2000
  21. ^ P. Sainath:"Iron in the soul, decay in the brain", Frontline 17 (3), 5-18 Feb. 2000. Retrieved 17 Mar. 2006.
  22. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Address to parliament on the golden jubilee of the Republic, 26 Jan. 2000. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  23. ^ a b K. R. Narayanan: Address on Republic day, 26 Jan. 2001. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  24. ^ Sukumar Muralidharan, V. Venkatesan: "A presidential intervention", Frontline 17 (3), 5 - 18 Feb. 2000. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  25. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the dissolution of the eleventh Lok Sabha, 4 Dec, 1997. Archived Jan. 1998.
  26. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the appointment of the Prime minister, 15 Mar. 1998. Archived Feb. 1999.
  27. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the dissolution of the twelfth Lok Sabha, 26 Apr. 1999. Archived Feb. 2001.
  28. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Rashtrapati Bhavan communique concerning the appointment of the Prime minister, 11 Oct. 1999. Archived Oct. 2000
  29. ^ Venkitesh Ramakrishnan, Praveen Swami: "A crisis defused", Frontline 14 (22), 1-14 Nov. 1997. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  30. ^ Praveen Swami, Sudha Mahalingam: "The BJP's Bihar fiasco", Frontline 15 (21), 10-23 Oct. 1998. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  31. ^ V. Venkatesan: "Political echoes", Frontline 16 (15), 17-30 Jul. 1999. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  32. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Speech while inaugurating the new complex of the Kerala Legislature, 22 May 1998. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  33. ^ a b K. R. Narayanan: Message on the first World convention of the Dalit international organisation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 Oct. 1998. Archived Jun. 2006.
  34. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Address on Republic day, 26 Jan. 2002. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  35. ^ Bhopal declaration. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  36. ^ V. K. Madhavan Kutty: "Behind the leak", Frontline 16 (3), 30 Jan. - 12 Feb. 1999. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  37. ^ Sukumar Muralidharan: "Wanted intervention, phoney controversy", Frontline 16 (3), 30 Jan. - 12 Feb. 1999. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  38. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Letter on the murder of Graham Staines and his two minor sons, 24 Jan. 1999. Archived Oct. 1999.
  39. ^ President stays away from Holi celebrations, 28 Mar. 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.
  40. ^ Press release on the President meeting with victims of Gujarat violence, 27 Apr. 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.
  41. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Message to the nation on Gujarat violence, 29 Apr. 2002. Archived Aug. 2002.
  42. ^ "Constitution limited my powers: Narayanan", The Hindu, 3 Mar. 2005. Retrieved Mar. 2006.
  43. ^ Purnima S. Tripathi, Sukumar Muralidharan: "Elusive consensus", Frontline 19 (12), 8-21 Jun. 2002. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  44. ^ V. Venkatesan: "The political dynamics", Frontline 19 (13), 22 Jun.-5 Jul. 2002. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  45. ^ K. R. Narayanan: Farewell address to the nation, 24 Jul. 2002. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  46. ^ Manmohan Singh: Speech on the dedication of K. R. Narayanan's tharavaadu for establishing a research centre in Indian medicine (Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru research centre for Siddha and Ayurveda), 15 Feb. 2005. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.
  47. ^ Venkitesh Ramakrishnan: "Citizen President", Frontline 22 (24), 5-18 Nov. 2005. Retrieved 24 Feb. 2006.

[

References

Presidential addresses and other documents
Miscellaneous speeches and writings
Other links concerning his life
Commentary by journalists
Obituaries and reminiscences
Biographies
  • Sita Ram Sharma: K. R. Narayanan: Just the President of India, Sublime Publications, 1998. ISBN 8185809232.
  • Darshan Singh: K. R. Narayanan: A journey from Uzhavoor to Raisina Hills, United Children's Movement, 1999.

[

Further reading

Books by K. R. Narayanan
  • Nehru and his vision, D. C. Books, Kottayam, 1999. ISBN 8126400390
  • India and America: essays in understanding, Second edition, Asia book corporation of America, 1998. ISBN 999764137X
  • Images and insights, D. C. Books, Kottayam.
  • Non-alignment in contemporary international relations (Joint authorship)
Speeches and writings by K. R. Narayanan
Commentary by journalists
Preceded by
A. K. Balan		 Representative in the Lok Sabha for Ottapalam
1984-1992		 Succeeded by
S. Sivaraman
Preceded by
Shankar Dayal Sharma		 Vice-President of India
August 21, 1992-July 24, 1997		 Succeeded by
Krishan Kant
Preceded by
Shankar Dayal Sharma		 President of India
July 25, 1997-July 25, 2002		 Succeeded by
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
v • d • e
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