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V.P. Singh was a unique personality. He never believed in the institutional niceties. Very few among us know that he lost his kidney because he sat on a hunger strike against the Bombay riots in 1993. It was an unusual sight as a former prime minister was sitting on a hunger strike. To save himself from going out to urinate, he stopped taking water and in turn lost his kidneys.
Born on 25th June 1931 in Rajput family, cared for the justice of the deprived sections; Brought the Mandal report hidden in the dust bin of Brahmin Secretariat of Delhi and implemented job reservation to the backward classes, that changed the political chemistry of Indian politics.
Gave equal respect to the States ruled by other parties; founded the Inter State Council; constituted the Cauvery Water Tribunal.
Declared in the Parliament that implementation of Mandal Report is the realization of the dreams of Periyar, Ambedkar and Lohia. He tried social engineering through reservations to OBCs that changed the country’s political course irreversibly. What V.P. Singh did by partially implementing the Mandal Commission? He okayed the demand of a vast majority of the OBCs voiced in the society through social and political organisations.
He was not in to party politics but the legacy that he developed is now in the power structures. Though born in the family of Raja Bhadur of the Northern feudal estate of Manda, V. P. Singh spent his active life post Prime Minister for the welfare of poor and farmers.
On 7th November 1990, our honourable former Prime Minister V.P. Singh had to step down sacrificing his government because of his bold decision to implement 27 per cent reservation in central govt. jobs for OBCs as recommended by the Mandal Commission report. This day should never be forgotten as it was the day when the BJP and its allies finally managed to rally enough support to topple V.P. Singh’s government. Neither should the boldest crusader for backward classes’ cause, V. P. Singh be forgotten.
The religious fundamentalists voted against his government on 7.11.1990. Though the status quoists could remove his Govt, as V.P. Singh told, the principles of social justice could not be stopped. Our revolutionary salute to this great leader of our times.
Tata Sivaiah,
Convener, OBC Student Force – Phule’s Caravan
V.P.SINGH ON SELF RESPECT
“Self-Respect is redundant in every human but remains dormant when it is put at stable. Self Respect emerges visibly when one person spits on the other, the Self Respect of the aggrieved gets awakened and it emerges in the form of anger. Implementation of the recommendations of Mandal Commission through reservation of backward class in central services is the manifestation of restoration of Self Respect of the socially enslaved. This restoration of Self-Respect requires some sort of price or sacrifice. The price I paid was Prime Ministership. Really I am happy about laying down the office of Prime Minister. Since it is the due and deserving price for the noble cause of representation of backward classes in the central services of the country. Self Respect is the urging force to acquire Social Justice.”
