Babulal Gaur
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A brief biography
Kumar Shakti Shekhar, August 21, 2019: The Times of India
When Nehru hailed Babulal Gaur for donning R S S cap
Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur will be remembered for according due respect to political rivals besides his own party workers.
Because of maintaining cordial relations with political opponents, Babulal Gaur was sometimes criticised within the BJP. Gaur was sometimes mocked within his party as being head of senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's 'B-team in the BJP'.
However, Babulal Gaur used to shrug off the criticisms and would go a step ahead and praise India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Ironically, Pt Nehru is being criticised by senior BJP leaders for several decisions, including on partition and Kashmir.
But Gaur used to praise Pt Nehru and he also had an interesting tale to tell about his meeting with Pt Nehru once.
Before becoming an MLA for the first time from Govindpura constituency of Bhopal, Gaur was a worker in BHEL.
Interestingly, besides being the state secretary of Congress' trade union wing INTUC, Gaur was also an R S S volunteer.
In 1954-55, he had gone to Raipur to take part in INTUC's meeting in R S S uniform. Pt Nehru was the chief guest and Gaur was standing behind him.
A Congress member asked Babulal Gaur to take off his R S S cap. Pt Nehru heard the conversation and he asked Gaur what the issue was.
On hearing, Pt Nehru told Gaur to keep wearing it. " Topi acchi lag rahi hai (The cap is looking good)," Pt Nehru said.
Singing paeans on Pt Nehru, Babulal Gaur had narrated this incident to this reporter with pride about six years ago.
Babulal Gaur went on to create a record of sorts by continuously remaining an MLA for 44 years till 2018 and winning the Govindpura seat for 10 consecutive elections, the last one being in 2013.
A healthy man till he fell ill early this month, Babulal Gaur attributed his health to yoga, service to the cows and reading of the Gita.
He gave credit for his electoral victories for remaining in touch with the voters instead of his party leaders.
He succeeded Uma Bharti as a chief minister in August 2004 and was Shivraj Singh Chouhan's predecessor till November 2005. Although he was replaced by Chouhan, Babulal Gaur continued as a cabinet minister before being dropped in June 2016.
Babulal Gaur wished to contest the 2018 Madhya Pradesh assembly election for the 11th consecutive term. However, the state leadership wanted him to retire and field someone else.
But Gaur was adamant. He was ready to relinquish his seat only if his daughter-in-law Krishna Gaur, who was Bhopal mayor, was fielded from Govindpura. But the BJP's state leadership was not relenting.
"Some BJP leaders were conspiring against me and trying to have me retired from politics. But it was the last thing I wanted to happen. After all, I have won 10 consecutive assembly elections. Why should I abdicate my right?" he had said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest at the BJP's 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' (party workers' rally) at Bhopal on September 25, 2018.
After his speech, Modi met everyone on the dais and, turning towards Gaur and shaking hands with him, said, "Ek baar aur, Babulal Gaur (Babulal Gaur once more)."
Gaur responded by chanting " Jai ho".
This episode sent a message to the top party leaders who gave the assembly ticket to Gaur's daughter-in-law who won the election.
