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Former Union Minister Najma Heptullah, who was also the Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha wrote his autobiography In Search of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines In which he recounts the key events and moments of his decades-long political journey, he writes about his life “based on truth, real events and people”.
Heptullah first entered the Upper House of Parliament as a Congress MP in 1980 and later became a Rajya Sabha MP by the BJP in 2004. Heptullah also served as the Governor of the now conflict-torn Manipur between 2016 and 2021 and as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia.
Relationship with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
“I did not get a chance to discuss the Emergency with her (former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi), but I felt that she deeply regretted it,” writes Heptulla. Quoting Gandhi, Heptulla says: “I was the Prime Minister, but I did not know the nuances of running a country.”
In a chapter on Indira’s India, the former MP writes that Gandhi told her how people she trusted – from her trusted bureaucrats and advisers to Bengali politicians and friends – tried to control her. “When he started to break free from their shackles, and start making his own decisions, they wanted to teach him a lesson. Their patronage politics led to his downfall,” says Heptullah.
“She came back, of course, but I was always amazed at how she had changed. This time, she was tough, clever, ruthless and adept at using power,” writes Heptullah.
How Narendra Modi helped the Bohras
Heptulla says she had a “very friendly relationship” with Modi. About the 2002 Godhra riots, she writes “Journalists were criticizing Modi for maintaining a studied silence during the first week of violence”. “I told reporters how Modi had helped the Bohra Muslim community during the communal riots. The Bohras formed a peaceful trading community among the Muslims. I had a good relationship with them as my husband belonged to the community. The head of the community called me and told me that there is a large community of Bohras in Gujarat. And they did not take part in any rioting activities. He called Modi and said about the Bohras: ‘Please protect them.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry, I will.’ And he did. In the 2002 elections, the Bohra community supported the BJP and especially Narendra Modi,” she writes.
Sonia Gandhi and the “New” Congress Culture
About Sonia Gandhi, with whom Heptulla had a strained relationship, Heptulla says that Sonia “trusted very few people” and “she didn’t trust me”.
“We were dealing with more than just deep distrust. We distanced ourselves from Sonia Gandhi and could not communicate with her. It was a sharp and serious departure from the earlier Congress culture,” he wrote. “Indira Gandhi kept an open house. She was accessible to rank and file members.”
“When Sonia (Sitaram) decided to take over the leadership of the party from Kesari, there was great apprehension within the party. Concerns were expressed about her readiness and suitability for the post due to her lack of experience, her Italian heritage, and her limited fluency in Hindi. Ghulam Nabi Azad and I We worked tirelessly to convince the party leadership and workers that she was indeed ready and capable of being an effective leader,” writes Heptullah.
On leaving the Congress and joining the BJP, Heptulla says: “I became so disillusioned with the Congress leadership that I started drifting away. Atal ji was always very friendly and sympathetic. One day, when I was feeling particularly sad about something, he ‘ Come. Come and join our party.’
Contribution of BJP
About the BJP, Heptullah wrote that “while Hindutva is a major aspect of the BJP’s message, it is not the only thing that defines the party”. “The contribution of the party is beyond this single story. Elections are not won on messaging alone; Factors such as growth, job creation and infrastructure investment are important,” he wrote.
Manmohan Singh was not given his due
Heptulla says former prime minister Manmohan Singh “has not been given his due by the Congress”. “I did not work with Manmohan Singh when he was Prime Minister, but I always felt that, like Narasimha Rao, he was not given his due by the Congress. A very calm and decent man, he sat by my side as Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2004,” she writes.
Maulana Azad was proved right
About his uncle Maulana Azad, Heptullah says, “Maulana Azad was against partition because he believed that you cannot divide people who are connected geographically, economically, linguistically and culturally. In the twentieth century many countries were formed on the basis of religion and politics but none were peaceful. No. The making of Bangladesh proved him right – shared history and life experience was greater than religious and political polarization.
Recommendations about the Manipur conflict
The former governor of Manipur said she feels “disappointed and saddened” by the unrest gripping the state today. “My only recommendation is to discourage violence first and then encourage dialogue and build trust between different communities. It is not easy but necessary, because violence cannot go on. I deeply hope that the beautiful people of Ratna Bhumika find peace soon. And, perhaps, remember my time with them with a smile and a smile,” writes Heptullah.