In 1978 Nanaji Deshmukh, then a major power in the Morarji Desai government, quit politics to work full time as a social worker. His Deen Dayal Uphadyay Research Institute has sponsored many innovative welfare schemes focussing mainly on the uplift of 500 villages in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh. Recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the 84-year-old Nanaji, in an interview with COOMI KAPOOR, says that his aim in Parliament will be to educate MPs on the role they should be playing in constructive development at the grassroots level rather than agitational politics. Excerpts:You left politics 22 years ago, aren't you returning in a way by accepting the Rajya Sabha nomination?Excuse me, I am not coming back to politics. Politics involves two things, elections and securing power. I have come as a person nominated by the Rashtrapathiji for doing some constructive social work. I told them I can only accept the nomination if I maintain my non-political character. I want to place before MPswhat they should be doing.What should MPs be doing?The whole trouble is that whatever development process has been adopted for more than 50 years has not really developed the people. The development process has created disparity in society and more and more unemployment.Do you object to the economic policies of the government?Definitely. Not just the economic policies - even the social, educational and health policies.Are you against economic liberalisation?Liberalisation is not going to help the poorest people in India. Those who formulate the policy do not understand the reality of the country. All the resources on which economic development depends, whether it is agricultural produce or industrial raw material, is available only in the villages and not the big cities. But thanks to the government's policies all those in the villages who are young, slightly educated, capable or wealthy move to the cities. The only people who remain are old people and women who areincapable of utilising modern technologies which are necessary to boost production. Our yield per acre is very low. The very people who should be at the forefront of modernising the villages are migrating to the cities.Do you feel the BJP has let down its supporters by dumping its swadeshi platform once it came to power?Please excuse me, I am not speaking of any political party. It is the government. It is not the government at present only but all governments since Independence which are doing the same thing. Political parties make slogans like `garibi hatao' to win elections, but this can't help development. Nobody really encourages people to stand on their own feet. When you go to the villages people have become accustomed to demand ``what are you going to do for us?''. The initiative for development has to come from the people.Are you against government subsidies and hand-outs?Subsidies will never help in development. It is only the big farmers who benefit and 76 per cent ofyour area under cultivation is tilled by small farmers who have uneconomic holdings who produce mainly for themselves. All political parties have big farmers. They are implementing the most modern technology because of which the ground water level keeps going down. The government policy should be directed to recharging water resources. Instead of subsidies, a good irrigation policy should be formulated.Is our education policy also on the wrong track?The teachers are the only persons who are in contact with the new generations, but they are seen only as paid servants and their mentality is also that ``if we don't get more pay we go on strike''. The new generation is not being educated for the development of the country, it is being educated just to earn money.The concept of cooperation has been forgotten even in our highest body, Parliament, which does not believe in cooperation for the betterment of the people. When ordinary people see parliamentarians fighting among themselves, they feelthat is the way of democracy. Real democracy is not just fighting elections, it is when people have a say in their education, economy and development at the ground level.Many of your former party colleagues are now in key positions. Surely they could have ushered in a change in government thinking.I left politics 22 years ago when the BJP was not even in existence. I left in 1978 as a Janata Party member, my former colleagues include among others, George Fernandes and Chandra Shekhar and not just those in the BJP.How did you join the Jana Sangh?In 1950 Shyama Prasad Mookherjee resigned from Nehru's cabinet and approached the chief of the RSS for starting a new party. I was in the RSS, just an ordinary worker, and I joined the Jana Sangh in 1951 along with Balraj Madhok and Sunder Singh Bhandari. Atalji joined a little later when Dr Mukherjee decided to start a satyagraha in Kashmir. Bhandari was in charge of Rajasthan and Lalji (L.K. Advani) was just assisting him. In thebeginning, I looked after UP and then Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and Assam as well. In 1965, I was made all India general secretary and later organising secretary.You were known not just as the great organiser but also the fund collector. How did you become close to Bombay's leading business families like the Tatas and the Wadias?I was made in charge of the 1967 elections by my party. There was no money. I went to K.M. Munshi with whom I had close relations and who had just joined the Swatantra Party. At first, he protested that he was in a different party but then he introduced me to Dharamsibhai Khatau. Through Munshi and Khatau, I came in touch with industrialists like J.R.D. Tata. Normally it would not have been possible for a person like me to enter their homes, but over the years close relations developed.What do you think about the nexus between politicians and businessmen today?In my days they never expected anything in return from me. They never thought I am going to come topower. Today, I think they are controlling politics much more than before.
