Thirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan, popularly known as T N Seshan, who passed away late Sunday due to old age related problems was given a tearful farewell on Monday at Basanth Nagar crematorium in Chennai by thousands of citizens who had gathered to bid au revoir.
The 1955 batch IAS officer breathed his last late Sunday night and had desired to be cremated at Chennai itself, where his wife too has the last resting place. Seshan who shot into international fame with his six year stint as Chief Election Commissioner was known for his no-nonsense approach to the job in his hands. After retirement from the post of CEC, Seshan used to tell the people that his final wish was to see the Government of India funding the election process in the country.
When he was appointed as the CEC, the general Election and Assembly Election in the country were manipulated and muzzled by mafia dons and anti social elements who threatened the voters with dire consequences if they do not vote for the candidates picked by the former. “Appavukku Charayam, Ammavukku Sari and namma verpalarkku vote” was the catchword of the political masters, Seshan used to tell. It meant, alcohol for the family head, sari for the women and vote for the candidate picked up by the local ruffian. But with Seshan assuming office in the Nirvachan Sadan things underwent a drastic change.
Both the DMK and the AIADMK shivered from head to toe at the mention of his name. But don’t be under the impression that it was as CEC he earned the reputation. That started long back, in 1960s when he worked as the district collector of Madurai which saw unprecedented riots as part of anti Hindi agitation. “My officers were beaten up by rioters in a village. Many government officials were set ablaze and were killed . I went to the village with a police force who cordoned off the area. I had a stick with me and ordered all the villagers to line up outside their houses. I told them if they do not reveal the names of the rioters responsible for the gruesome incident, I would beat them to pulp. The woman began to sing and the men spilled the beans,” Seshan had told in an interview.
He led various departments in the Government of Tamil Nadu during his tenure in the State. When drivers of the State Transport Corporation submitted a memorandum to him listing their grievances in driving the dilapidated buses, Seshan himself took to the wheels of the buses to get a first- hand experience of the difficulties faced by the employees and asked the government to replace the buses which was done in hours!
Delivering a lecture in Kochi in 1993 about the economic liberalization initiated by the then Narasimha Rao government, Seshan said there was nothing innovative in the opening up of the Indian economy. “This was what C.Rajagopalachari had told them in 1950 itself. But it fell in deaf ears as Rajaji (pet name of Rajagopalachari) had dark Salem skin. Since it has come from a fair skinned person, it has been accepted now. Let’s see whether they would be able to break the logjam and save the Indian economy,” Seshan had said.
The uniqueness of Seshan is that each person who had met him has a different story to tell.All good things only. Behind the façade of that roughness and arrogance (which people loved) there was a soft spoken Seshan too. He used to explain his name as Tough Nut Seshan!!Yet another titan has walked away to meet his maker.
