Yashwant Sinha releases Jaipal Reddy’s ‘Das Vichaardharaayen’

• It is Hindi translation of his book “Ten Philosophies”
• Tributes paid at Spoorti Sthal  

Hyderabad: Former Union Finanace and External Affairs Minister and Vice President of All India Trinamool Congress Yashwant Sinha said Jaipal Reddy would have been a pragmatic leader like him had he been alive today in spite of very discouraging circumstances. He was speaking at a webinar after releasing the Hindi translation of Jaipal Reddy’s book ‘Ten Philosophies’ organized by Jaipal Reddy Memorial Foundation on Wednesday evening. Sinha recalled the past when he, Jashwant Singh and Jaipla Reddy sat at Parliament Canteen having tea and discussed the subject that was being debated in the House. “We used to meet in the Central Hall in a very cordial atmosphere after a heated discussion in the House, I as a minister in Vajpayee government and he as a Congress leader,” recalled Yashwant Sinha.

The Hindi translation done by Ramesh Chandra Sharma, a Hindi lecturer, was named “Das Vichaardhaarayen.” Yashwant Sinha said Jaipal Reddy raised many issues and he was thorough with all the issues he raised. He was a well read man and his vocabulary was outstanding and members used to refer to their dictionaries to know the meaning of some rare phrases that Jaipal used to throw at will.

Earlier, Yogendra Yadav recalled his association with Jaipal Reddy. He said Reddy used to convey great message in a few words. He was witty, sharp, fast and  scholarly in Parliamentary debate or personal conversations. Meeting and hearing him was an education, Yogendra, president of Swarajya Party, said. Jaipal used to elevate the standard of debate. He was a socialist (samaajvaadi) at heart, Yadav said. Though Bertrand Russell was Reddy’s favorite philosopher, he quoted from many philosophers.    

Senior journalist Neerja Chowdhury said Jaipal Reddy was a rare breed of philosopher-politicians and he was against the theory of  power at any cost. Reddy was personification of grace when he was shifted from Petroleum ministry.  He was for multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-cultural India. He understood the political processing which helped him to deal with Mandal Commission recommendations during PV Singh’s tenure. As Janata Party spokesman Jaipal used to sit for two hours at Jantar Mantar, she said. She said she wished the book by Jaipal Reddy on philosophies would become part of curriculum in the universities. “We miss Jaipal Reddy today and the nation misses him,” she said.

Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot recalled strong bond of friendship between his father Rajesh Pilot and Jaipal Reddy. He said he used to call him ‘Reddy garu.’ He said Jaipal believed in convincing the people with argument rather than bulldozing. Whether he was in power, a minister or in opposition, there was no change in his demeanor, language or attitude, Sachin said. Before Shashi Tharoor came into Parliament it was Jaipal Reddy who made the members look up the dictionaries, he said.

Translator Sharma said he had to revise the script three times as it was very difficult to translated the condensed and highly sophisticated prose of Jaipal Reddy. Nidhi Verma of Reuter compered the programme. S Anand Reddy, son of late Jaipal Reddy, proposed vote of thanks in Hindi.

In the morning friends, admirers and Congress leaders paid homage to Jaipal Reddy at Spoorti Sthal at Necklace Road in Hyderabad.