With the quality of debate, perspective and opposition on the decline — for once, the nuanced and righteous tenor of Gopalkrishna Gandhi was a brief whiff of fresh air that added the much-needed gravitas and alternative thought to the still-air of political opposition, a celebratory feature of thriving democracy that must always be sought.Irrespective of the political calculus that determines the winning candidature, both Jaswant Singh and Gopalkrishna Gandhi lost the election but were certainly not "defeated” in the larger context of the "idea of India”. This "compelling” element usually takes the form of a race, religion, gender or some other undeniable socio-economic dimension. Between the two, they have written over 20 books.Our constitutional posts are the vanguard of apolitical and constitutional propriety that requires a deep maturity, searing conscience and intellectual independence from the clutches of partisan politics - herei, both Jaswant and Gopalkrishna were eminently qualified.In 2012, cavalry "officer and a gentleman” Jaswant Singh, as the NDA nominee, lost out to the UPA’s Hamid Ansari, a former diplomat. If one is a non-political "Gandhi”, the other was arguably the most "secular” figure from his party - both represented the fading profundities of liberality, inclusivity and genteelness that has almost vanished from the political mainstream of today.Jaswant Singh’s book on Mohammed Ali Jinnah was ostensibly his undoing the first time, whereas Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s insistence on terming the death penalty as a medieval concept that had outlived its time, was misconstrued as unpatriotic, given the Yaqub Memon case (ignoring a similar plea by him for Kulbhushan Jadhav). The Indian political system has a Machevilian impulse that ensures the "numerically-lesser” political coalition attempts to embarrass the "numerically-greater” political coalition by proposing a more "compelling” candidate. Interestingly, neither of these two insisted on the politically-kosher flagstaff of their naturally-expected bearings to make their respective cases. They fought on principles, ideas and wistful philosophies that are the essential oxygen of democracy - often contrarian, always enriching, and certainly never unpatriotic. Then, in an expected equestrian flourish, he insisted against the futility of the contest when he insisted he was "not being put out to pasture”. While Gopalkrishna Gandhi was no party cardholder and had achieved the rare distinction of getting endorsed by both the Trinamul Congress and the Communist parties in recognition of his impeccable conduct as a governor of West Bengal, Jaswant Singh was the perennial oddity within his own ranks for having staunchly independent views (with a book aptly titled The Audacity of Opinion). However, the stately and intellectual queries posited and initiated by both "defeated” allowed the critical expression and venting of the proverbial "other voice”.The writer is a retired lieutenant-general and a former lieutenant-governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry.Sadly, Jaswant Singh’s health has stalled the erudite man from contributing to public discourse, but "citizen candidate” Gopalkrishna Gandhi must continue to add to the perspectives of the "argumentative Indian” - the toxicity of a stalled or snubbed intellectual culture does not befit a 5,000-year-old civilisation. Rajagopalachari as his maternal grandfather) figure in any posturing for suitability. In such cases, while the electoral results are a foregone conclusion (except for some embarrassing cross-voting), the collateral opportunity to reiterate, reaffirm and celebrate the essentialities of the composite and profound "idea of India” is invaluable in the face of brute numbers. Yet, both were consumed by the prevailing winds of neo-nationalism when their intellectual enquiries and postulations were misread (or perhaps, never read!) as unpatriotic.Today India is deeply polarised, fractured and an increasingly fragmented polity with an ongoing "consolidation of the fragmented”. For the second time in a row, the losing vice-presidential candidate, albeit from different parties, dignified, upheld and embellished the vibrant (but threatened) democratic instincts of a wounded nation, that frequently goes numb in the face of cold electoral maths and the hubris of the political class. The last election ushered in a government with a thumping majority, albeit with 31 per cent of the popular vote across the nation in its favour, signaling the sensitivity of recognising and respecting the 69 per cent who may have a contrarian view of governance and national imperatives. The dignity and poise in gracefully congratulating the suly elected vice-president only added to their individual lustre and halo. "Major” Jaswant Singh, an irrepressibly proud soldier, never invoked or stoked his military credentials to titillate the fire of hyper-nationalism; and neither did the unmatchable gene pool of Gopalkrishna Gandhi (with Mahatma Gandhi as his paternal grandfather and C

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The couple has always been showering love at each other by posting romantic pictures of themselves on social media.Earlier, on Ira's birthday, Mishaal wrote in a post, "Happy birthday babe.Many social media users thought that Ira might have had a breakup with her boyfriend. . But the intense hashtags which Ira used in her caption have caught everyone's attention.just about 140 million hours of content.. But still, there is no confirmation about her current relationship status.” 🥳 happy birthday babe.You’re simple.ira) on Aug 21, 2019 at 10:02pm PDTIn the picture, Mishaal can be seen holding Ira tightly from the back. For my birthday I want to binge watch Netflix together. Ira Khan with Mishaal Kripalani. You’re simple. You get happy with a birthday post." Everything will be okay.

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The transport minister has asked the department to look into the matter, the official said."Various unions and their office bearers were satisfied with the discussions and assurance. Mr Rai has assured the unions that wide publicity will be given by his department to prevent attachment of autos and taxis with "unauthorised app-based companies”.The leaders of auto and taxi unions said the strike, which was scheduled to start from Monday, has been called off following assurances by the transport minister.

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