Homage to CR at city meeting

Summary

This Times of India report dated 4 January 1973 covers a Bombay meeting organised by the Common Man’s Platform to commemorate C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), who had died recently. Speakers from different political parties described Rajaji as one of the architects of modern India and honoured his public service, political independence, and contribution to democratic opposition.

The tributes emphasise Rajaji’s intellectual integrity and his role as a bridge between political generations. N. Dandekar recalled Rajaji’s administrative practice of ensuring that final government decisions were communicated through the civil service rather than issued arbitrarily by individual ministers. Other speakers praised his willingness to criticise without malice, his defence of opposition politics, and his ability to give dissent a respected place in Indian public life.

Key points

• A Bombay city meeting commemorated C. Rajagopalachari shortly after his death.
• The Common Man’s Platform organised the meeting, which brought together leaders from different political parties.
• Speakers portrayed Rajaji as a major architect of independent India and a link between older and newer political generations.
• N. Dandekar recalled Rajaji’s emphasis on orderly administrative decision-making through the civil service.
• The report highlights Rajaji’s intellectual integrity and his practice of criticising individuals or parties without malice.
• Speakers credited Rajaji with giving respectability to political opposition and representing dissent in Indian politics.