Himachal: Yashwant Singh Parmar, the pradesh progenitor — and the parent

The book charts and chronicles the intertwined journeys of a state and a statesman. As Himachal Pradesh took shape from hill states being merged into one to being a “Type C” state to being a Union Territory to being a full-fledged state from 1948 to 1971, a leader emerged who integrated various hill states into one unit and stood like a rock against its merger with Punjab even when his own party favoured it.

Parmar ruled the state as chief minister for 18 long years from 1952 to 1956 and then from 1963 to 1977. When he stepped down in 1977, he did it with “a great sense of achievement”. Here’s his report card in his own words: “Integration of 31 hill states into Himachal Pradesh was an achievement in itself. Also, the integration of all hill areas of Punjab with Himachal was no mean achievement. I achieved the dream of life when full statehood was conferred on Himachal Pradesh in 1971.”

Considering the paucity of available biographical material on him and that the writer had no occasion of knowing and understanding him from close quarters, the book is a remarkable effort in piecing together political journey of Parmar, the first chief minister and architect of Himachal Pradesh. Described in detail with dates and festooned with facts and figures, however, it becomes boring at places with a plain narration of political events of the hill state.

The politician gives way to the person and the parent that Parmar was in Dr Attri’s second book, Dr Y S Parmar: Mass Leader, An Apostle of Honesty and Integrity (Sarla Publications). It is a collection of letters written by him to his son Luv Parmar.

There is a fascinating foreword by the BJP’s former chief minister Shanta Kumar, his political adversary, who admits that “even after serving as the first chief minister of Himachal and as the state chief of Congress, he led a life without controversies. No opposition leader could accuse him of impropriety. He was above nepotism. He tried to develop every region of Himachal equally, without bias. It is hard to be active in politics for long time and be completely free of blemishes, and for this achievement, he must be praised”.

Kumar continues his praise of Parmar: “He practised politics with the highest standards, and this is the reason why politics in Himachal remained pristine for a long time…. Dr Parmar was a sensitive person, and he had a generous heart.”

Now imagine a powerful politician saying no to his son simply because he does not have spare money. Parmar wrote: “I remember you need a pair of cricket boots. I do not have spare money just now. As soon as I can spare I shall send you a pair.” Dr Attri rightly notes “this is a great lesson in parenting for today’s parents who fulfil their children’s demands instantly”.

In other letters, Parmar tells his son to pay proper attention to his studies, be sincere in doing his assigned work, be particular about paying his bank loan, not to get involved in illegal activities, and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Himachal Pradesh. He expresses his liking for local dishes of Sirmaur, makes known his dislike for the employees’ behaviour, gives an account of inspection of government facilities, voices his joy of attending a seminar in Bombay (now Mumbai), discusses the pressure to form ministry, raises his concern about agricultural activities, describes his tour of Andhra Pradesh to study the crop of grapes, and shares his experience of elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Except for repetition of content in chapters 6 and 14, the book has a nice collection of Parmar’s letters that seek to keep the spirits high — of both the son and the reader.