Pro-Democracy Burmese Must Not Forget George Fernandes
By Nava Thakuria
21 September, 2010
Countercurrents.org
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 was
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.
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. And
during the meeting, almost all speakers, including a number of
parliamentarians from our neighbouring countries addressed him as
‘Uncle George’.
Seasoned politicians, representatives of civil society groups, eminent
editor-journalists of India and a large number of Burmese exiles from
around the word attended the convention. The former Indian President R
Venkatraman also addressed the gathering. Amazingly, every one paid
their heartiest respect to Uncle George and expressed their solidarity
to his relentless mission for restoring democracy in Burma.
But recently I got shock when 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, popular among 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 ompleting 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 party leaflet.
Another important feature of his personality was his commitment for
democracy in 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 pay
utmost respect to him in last days. I am also convinced that the
pro-democracy Burmese communities, living in exile, would not forget
the great personality, who toiled for all the initiatives for
restoration of democracy in the military ruled Burma.
