Inside Track

Speaking for himselfAtal Behari Vajpayee is undeniably one of the country's best orators, but since he became Prime Minister, Vajpayee se...

Speaking for himself

Atal Behari Vajpayee is undeniably one of the country8217;s best orators, but since he became Prime Minister, Vajpayee seems to have lost his magical touch with his audiences. Vajpayee8217;s Independence Day address, which should have been his moment of crowning glory, was rather lack-lustre. At times he slurred over the words as he read out his text from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

The fault lies partly in the PM8217;s speech writers, whoever they may be. Their stilted bureaucratic language is simply not in tune with Vajpayee8217;s flamboyant style. Take, for example, the prepared text for Vajpayee8217;s speech in Mauritius last fortnight. It read like a school child8217;s essay 8212; 8220;I am requested to be back home tomorrow, yet I would never have forgiven myself if I had not come here after coming to your neighbourhood.8221;

In Mauritius when the PM tossed aside the prepared text and spoke extempore in Hindi, however, he had the audience on its feet roaring with approval. Vajpayee referred to thefive nuclear powers as 8220;mahabhoots8221;, a Hindi phrase for which there is no adequate English translation. Raising his hands, he spoke dramatically of the Indian nuclear tests creating a 8220;dhamaka8221; around the world.

In South Africa some of his audience, though of Indian origin, did not know Hindi, but they could still follow the drift of his remarks. In Oman, similarly, he struck an instant rapport with those he met at a public gathering.

It is customary for world leaders to address even international conferences in their native language; simultaneous translation is always on hand. But for some reason Indian politicians feel it is a point of honour to demonstrate their knowledge of the Queen8217;s English even if they are more eloquent and at ease with the national language. What Vajpayee really needs is not so much a new speech writer, as the freedom to speak extempore, and from his heart.

Mole hill to mountain

Few countries at the NAM summit would have given a second thought toNelson Mandela8217;s fleeting reference to Kashmir in his inaugural address 8212; coming as it did in the context of a catalogue of conflict zones all around the globe 8212; if the Indian delegation had not created such a hue and cry.

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The South African media for one simply could not understand what all the fuss was all about. It seemed to make sound common sense for India to underplay the Kashmir reference, which put in perspective could be deemed as quite innocuous. Instead, our diplomats insisted on interpreting it in its most sinister light and focussed world attention on it.

Many in the Indian media party accompanying the PM would not have gone out of the way to highlight Mandela8217;s Kashmir reference in their news reports back home, but for the fact that the Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath in his press briefing that day endorsed the view that Mandela8217;s remark was indeed an affront to India. If Indian diplomacy did not score a self goal by unnecessarily attracting attention to the Kashmir reference, it wasbecause the South Africans apologised verbally. However, there was no mention of the promised clarification in Mandela8217;s speech at NAM8217;s conclusion as the Indian Government expected.

MEA8217;s game plans

Ever since the announcement of the posting of the Secretary West Lalit Mansingh as our next High Commissioner in London, it has been generally presumed that the way has been paved for Shekhar Dasgupta, our envoy in Brussels, to take over as Foreign Secretary in November when K. Raghunath is due to retire.

Normally, a Foreign Secretary is groomed for the job by working for few years prior to his appointment in South Block, but Dasgupta still remains in Brussels. In fact, when Dasgupta visited the Capital some time back, none of his superiors mentioned his possible elevation.

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Could it be that there is a move afoot to grant another extension to Raghunath. The retiring and academic Raghunath is an ideal foil for the PM8217;s Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra who likes to call the shots in the MEA anddoes not want a strong-minded Foreign Secretary to cross his path.

Incidentally, if Mishra wants to undercut Jaswant Singh, who he views as a threat to his total domination of the Foreign Office, surely it should not be at the expense of national interest. Just when Singh was in the US negotiating with Strobe Talbott, Mishra gave a TV interview emphasising that India would not be signing the CTBT in a hurry, effectively scuttling Singh8217;s chances of a speedy settlement with the US.

Terms of endearment

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi8217;s letters to the Prime Minister are not only getting frequent, but the form of address is getting increasingly cordial. Earlier the letters used to begin with an impersonal, 8220;Dear PM8221;. Now they start 8220;Respected Prime Minister Vajpayee Saheb8221; 8212; though Saheb is not a term used in Tamil Nadu. Even the warm regards at the end is hand-written, not typed. Jayalalitha, please take note.