Sheila Dikshit was soft-spoken but firm when it came to decision-making
I met her for the first time at her residence in Nizamuddin. The year was 1998 and I tried to articulate the demands of the All India Confederation SC/ST Organisations.
I presented a copy of the fortnightly, Voice of Buddha, which had details about five anti-reservation orders issued by the department of personnel and training in 1997. She heard me and patted me, saying that uphill tasks were yet to come, so she advised me to be prepared.
Soon after that meeting, Sheila Dikshit became the chief minister of Delhi but there was no change in her behaviour. I kept meeting her on and off with regards to various kinds of issues. Dikshit was very meticulous when it came to people management. Her team would always note down the numbers of people who called for an appointment and made it a point to call back with her response.
She used to meet people very regularly at her residence. She was very soft-spoken and accessible as a political leader. Such was her simplicity and accessibility that she once attended a family function of mine only on the basis of a card I sent. Normally, people of her stature need people to go and present invites personally.
When she became the CM for the first time, Delhi had barely had the infrastructure that a capital city should have. There were hardly any flyovers. Existing roads were crumbling and the quality of the education being provided in schools was pathetic.
She was undaunted by the task at hand. She was very innovative and ensured people’s participation in government schemes. Dikshit also encouraged RWAs to come forward. Delhi owes its metro network to her. She was instrumental in taking many initiatives and there is no exaggeration in saying that she was ahead of many other chief ministers.
Delhi was the first state in India to go for CNG vehicles in order to fight the scourge of pollution and save the environment. The involvement of RWAs helped in ensuring the benefits of government schemes such as pensions reached the right people. Not just the elderly, Dikshit ensured widows and destitutes too received the benefits of government schemes.
She pushed for community participation in various aspects of life. One such initiative was Awaaz Uthao. The programme worked for the benefit of women and children.
As the chief minister, Dikshit paid special attention to child rights.
Her public relations were impeccable too. Delhi’s administrative structure is such that the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) has more administrative powers than the chief minister. Despite this, she had a smooth-sailing working relationship with all L-Gs. It wasn’t just the L-Gs, Dikshit has smooth working relations with other officers and employees too.
Dikshit worked out Delhi’s power disruptions so efficiently that today the state has an uninterrupted power supply.
She was soft-spoken but when it came to decision-making, she was firm and pragmatic. If anyone wanted to build undue pressure, she was quick to rebuff. Her popularity made many envious — not just outside but also within the party.
Delhi is a metropolitan, people here are more educated and aware of their rights. By the virtue of being the capital city, Delhi is always under a microscopic watch; hence it’s not a joke for someone to remain the CM for 15 years. This, however, proves beyond doubt that she was a leader of extraordinary calibre and political acumen.
A month ago, I met her at her residence. During the discussion, she advised me to exercise caution in whatever I do. She went on to say that my life was more important than hers.
I insisted the nation needed her but she reiterated the thought. I was stunned to hear it, it touched me. I had several rounds of discussion with Sheila Dikshit Ji's close comrade, Kiran Walia, but she never grew tired of praising her and narrating the stories of her long-term association.
I can safely say that her passing away is not only a loss for the Congress but also the nation. The vacuum created by her demise will never be filled.
Also read: Delhi's Aunty No. 1: Why Sheila Dikshit and Delhi were made for each other