Pro-Democracy Burmese must not forget George Fernandes
I met the great trade unionist turned politician George Fernandes for the first time in the convention. I remember the former Indian Defense minister signed each and every invitation card to the convention.
IT WAS a grand Burma Convention held in New Delhi six years back and the prime mover of the event was a dynamic Indian political leader with socialist background, George Fernandes. The convention received wide coverage in the media and made a significant impact on the Indian civil society groups and its outlook towards the pro-democracy movement of Burma under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. But recently I got a shock when i had the opportunity to see George Fernandes. Stricken with Alzheimer's disease, expressionless and much enfeebled, the eighty crossed politician is but a shadow of his former firebrand self. Once a powerful trade unionist and political leader, tremendously popular among the working class, and even smong the soldiers, George Fernandes has been dragged into an unwanted controversy for his custody. His wife, who was otherwise not with him for a decade suddenly emerged as his sole caretaker and started preventing his brothers and long time politician friend Jaya Jaitely
to meet the leader. “George Fernandes was born on June 3, 1930 at Mangalore in Karnataka. After completing his early education in Mangalore, he came to a seminary near Bangalore. Of course, George did not prefer the preaching and even rebelled against the authorities. Then, he moved to Bombay (Mumbai) and finally emerged as a winning candidate (Samyukta Socialist party) in the 1967 election. Later he come out as the Union minister for Industries, Railways and Defence time to time,” stated in a leaflet. Another important feature of his personality was his commitment to the democratic movement in our neighbouring Burma. A New Delhi based Burmese exile declared, “George Fernandes was an absolute supporter of the pro-democracy movement of Burma and his official residence gave shelter to many Burmese democracy activists including underground exile leaders. A huge picture of 1991 Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi was put in the wall of his residence and nobody could miss a glimpse of it.” I am no way judgmental, who should get the authority to look after the great leader during his last days, but of course would like to appeal to all the relative and well wishers of George Fernandes, to payutmost respect to him in last days. I am also convinced that the pro-democracy Burmese community would not forget the great personality, who toiled for all the initiatives for restoration of democracy in their land.
to meet the leader. “George Fernandes was born on June 3, 1930 at Mangalore in Karnataka. After completing his early education in Mangalore, he came to a seminary near Bangalore. Of course, George did not prefer the preaching and even rebelled against the authorities. Then, he moved to Bombay (Mumbai) and finally emerged as a winning candidate (Samyukta Socialist party) in the 1967 election. Later he come out as the Union minister for Industries, Railways and Defence time to time,” stated in a leaflet. Another important feature of his personality was his commitment to the democratic movement in our neighbouring Burma. A New Delhi based Burmese exile declared, “George Fernandes was an absolute supporter of the pro-democracy movement of Burma and his official residence gave shelter to many Burmese democracy activists including underground exile leaders. A huge picture of 1991 Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi was put in the wall of his residence and nobody could miss a glimpse of it.” I am no way judgmental, who should get the authority to look after the great leader during his last days, but of course would like to appeal to all the relative and well wishers of George Fernandes, to payutmost respect to him in last days. I am also convinced that the pro-democracy Burmese community would not forget the great personality, who toiled for all the initiatives for restoration of democracy in their land.
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