K Natwar Singh: Recalling a great son of Mother India

By K Natwar Singh

What is the criterion for calling someone a great man? Isaiah Berlin, the Oxford philosopher-historian’s definition is in my judgement ideal. Berlin wrote, “To call someone a great man is to claim that he has intentionally taken a large step, one far beyond the normal capacities of men, in satisfying, or materially affecting, central human interests…. Permanently and radically alters the outlook and values of a significant body of human beings.” I cannot claim intimacy. I knew Vajpayee ji for over four decades. He had an engaging personality, verbal spontaneity, sense of humour, literary talent and a first rate political judgement, was free of pomposity and was approachable, an orator of the highest calibre and a skilful, disarming superb parliamentarian. I had first met him in the early 1970s. I was ambassador to Poland. He had come to Warsaw as a member of a parliamentary delegation.

Unlike most of his colleagues, he did not make outrageous demands. He was dignified and did not throw his weight around. I had a couple of worthwhile conversations with him, both about Poland and her relations with Soviet Union. I told him that Poland attached considerable importance to Indo-Polish relations, but had no independent foreign policy. The foreign policy of the East European countries, was dictated by Moscow. However, in private the Poles were not overfond of the Soviets. Atalji left a good impression on me and his Polish hosts.



He was for a short period external affairs minister in Morarji Desai’s rickety government. During his tenure he visited Lusaka, capital of Zambia. I took him to meet President Kaunda, who overdid his praise of the Indian High Commissioner. Shri Vajpayee did not share the enthusiasm of the Zambian President. On leaving the President’s residence, I asked the driver to drop the external affairs minister at his hotel. He said to me in Hindi, “Aap mujhe apne ghar nahin le jaayenge (Will you not take me to your house)?” I said no, not after the way your government has been treating me.

“Natwar Singh is Indira Gandhi’s man, etc.” From London I had been abruptly posted to Zambia. My monthly reports to the ministry were filed, not read. Vajpayee ji insisted, “I want to meet your wife. Your mother-in-law asked me to see her.” It was not the cell phone age. I telephoned my wife from the reception desk telling her to prepare lunch. For half an hour we sat in Vajpayee ji’s suite. The lunch was not a success.

I did not let my diplomatic guard down. I was formal, stiff and mostly silent. He enjoyed the meal, chatted with my wife, talked about her mother. When I finally got back to Delhi in 1982 after my Islamabad posting, I saw him from time to time. He was critical of our Pakistan policy in particular. He asked about President Zia. “Why did he hang Bhutto?” I enlightened him – “Zia was asmall and vengeful man.”


After a minor but open tiff we got on very well. This was at an all-party meeting on Iraq in Parliament House (probably 2001). The Congress was represented by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and myself. The PM held forth on the merits of his Iraq policy. I politely contradicted him. Uncharacteristically, he retorted, “Natwar Singh ji ko aadat hai hamari policy ko criticise karne ki (has a habit of criticising us).” I could have replied but restrained myself. Three days later there was a meeting at 7, Race Course Road. I was present. After the meeting, as I was leaving the room, a man ran after me, “PM is calling you, Sir.” When we met, the great man won me over for life. I give the English translation of what he said – “The other day I said to you more than I should. Please do not take it to heart.”


Here is large-hearted greatness for you. His passing away ends an era. He was an exceptional statesman.


(The author is a former external affairs minister)