Sardar Parkash Singh Badal (1927-2023): Tallest Leader Of Punjab Since Independence

Sardar Parkash Singh Badal passed away last night at a hospital in Mohali at the age of 95. 

In him, we saw a man who was synonymous with Punjab's evolving politics of seven decades.

Badal Sr. was very much a leader who emerged from the grassroots. 

His first ever electoral success saw him become the village sarpanch, taking the baton that his father, Raghuraj Singh, handed over. 

Subsequently, a man who wanted to enter civil services gripped the political path like none. As part of various agitations, Badal over the decades was among the leading figures of Shiromani Akali Dal, and got elected as member of legislative assembly (MLA) multiple times. 

Though he had been elected on a Congress ticket in 1955, in later years he always said that Congress should never be trusted.

Badal was the youngest Chief Minister in India when elected in 1970. Even as the Chief minister of Punjab during the Emergency, he and the Akali Dal in association with the then Jan Sangh, had bitterly opposed the Emergency, something they paid the price for with a dismissal eventually. 

Subsequently, he was made Agriculture Minister at the Centre, following Indira Gandhi's rout of 1977, though the government didn't last long. 

In this period we also saw the Akali Dal pass the controversial Anandpur Sahib Resolution. 

Following this phase, in the Eighties, Punjab was gripped by a vicious cycle of violence where Akali Dal and Congress both had a role to play. 

However, this phase saw Badal standing mostly at the side, which to date earned him brickbats from extremist Panthics. 

However, there was a greater sense of pragmatism in Badal's vision, who had started to talk of strong states and strong regional parties. This also reflected in the latter phase of his politics, where Akali Dal (Badal) was seen to be trying to present itself as a party of Punjabis, and not just a Panthic party. 

Sardar Parkash Singh Badal became Chief Minister of Punjab five times, though each time it was with the support of other parties, mostly Jan Sangh and then the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, that did not stop him from trying to increase his party’s footprint, even testing waters in neighbouring Haryana and in Delhi. 

Yet, with age, he was increasingly dependent on his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was even elevated to Deputy CM post in the senior Badal's last term, keeping BJP's requests aside. 

Several populist schemes like Atta Dal scheme, pension for women, and free electricity to farmers were his brainchild. These schemes saw great resonance in other states as well, and no party has been able to fiddle with them without consequences despite the huge fiscal burden they caused. 

It is often alleged today that many of the schemes that the present Aam Aadmi Party government have claimed to roll out essentially rest on the architecture built by the senior Badal's governments.

In the later years, Akali Dal saw many breakups, with Badal's faction gaining dominance. However, the issue of promoting dynastic politics continued to be a weak point for the senior Badal, not just within his own family but also with other families. 

This had become a fundamental problem for many Akalis of the past, who had seen the party as one that provided equal opportunity and followed the Sikh principle of equality. This is attributed to be the cause for the party's eventual downfall by many critics. 

Figure of Respect Across the Political Spectrum

Parkash Singh Badal will be remembered by many political parties and their leaders across the board. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held him in extremely high regard, even comparing him with Nelson Mandela for having spent about two decades in jail for participating in various agitations. 

Having worked as the BJP prabhari for Punjab and in close proximity with Badal, PM Modi has always held him in high regard. Two days of national mourning have been declared by the Centre on the occasion of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal's death. 

Badal's actions often were the reason for this hard-earned respect. 

Once the Congress-led opposition was protesting in front of the Chief Minister's bungalow, and to their surprise, Badal arranged a shamiana and water and other soft drinks outside the house, even welcoming them. 

Despite political opposition, Badal ensured that families never fell apart, maintaining cordial relationships across the spectrum. 

Manish Tewari, the current Lok Sabha MP from Anandpur Sahib, has recalled the brief congratulatory message he got from Badal, who then sent his own people to provide security to Tewari till security cover was officially granted and put in place.

In personal life, Badal was highly regarded as a principled man who stuck to family values. Visitors to his house would remark how even his grandchildren would show their regard and respect to all elders. Despite having spent much time in jail, it was this value system that kept him connected to his family.

Overall, it would be fair to say that Badal led a wholesome life. His family and friends would deeply miss him. While his politics could be a subject of much discussion, it would be fair to say that Sardar Parkash Singh Badal was the tallest leader that Punjab produced in post-independent India, whose name became synonymous with Punjab's political landscape. May he be granted Mukti by Akal Purakh.