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Grace thy name is Arun Jaitley



I remember meeting Arun Jaitley in 2013. Elections were around the corner,  BJP had yet to decide on its Prime Ministerial candidate and the Congress was seeking a third term. It was a day when the Congress had termed RSS and BJP as outfits supporting Hindu terror.

A small group of social media activists, bloggers and authors were invited to a closed-door meeting with Arun Jaitley. There was no agenda, idea was to take inputs and questions over tea and coffee

The most popular question was - 'Who would be the Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014?'. People were anxious that the BJP remained unsure of its leader for 2014. Next was corruption, inflation and the issue of Hindu terrorism.

While answering all these questions, Arun ji never mentioned individuals. He always focussed on the issue and provided us with all perspectives before sharing his recommendation. For me, it was very unusual for a politician to show so much composure and grace.

Politicians often change color during off the record conversations. Not Arun ji - he remained his dignified self when in the Rajya Sabha or over informal chats with social media activists. There was no shrill rhetoric for cheap applause. Grace, dignity, and composure were not just for the camera or for public consumption. These are values that Arun ji lived by.

While many in the room were disappointed with no shrill commentary, I left inspired. A day after Arun ji passed away, the headlines in the Times of India read - 'Sharp Mind with a Big Heart'. It was a fitting tribute to Aruni ji. I would add - if grace and dignity had another name, it would be called Arun Jaitley. 

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