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Obituary
A farewell to be remembered
George Fernandes in handcuffs raising his hand in defiance became one of the most enduring
images of the Emergency era, remembers GOPAL MISRA
GEORGE FERNANDES
3 June 1930 to 29 January 2019
eorge Fernandes rep- political assertion in the caste-ridden It could have been the reason, that
resented India’s much- Bihar politics. the self-acclaimed UP socialists, who
discussed contemporary He successfully represented Muzaf- successfully enjoyed power were not
history of nearly half-a- farpur in the Lok Sabha, though having present on the Thursday afternoon, Jan-
G century, mid-60s till the no caste-base or religious following. uary 31, when his flower-decked green
dawn of the 21st. century. He was on Maybe, his firebrand socialism could army cortege arrived at the Lodhi Road
the forefront to challenge the much- not really influence UP socialists, who electric crematorium.
dreaded Emergency era 1975-77, wit- talked about socialism, but never hesi- The floral wreath on behalf of Presi-
nessed the rise and decline of one-party tated to harvest political mileage in the dent Ram Nath Kovind was accompa-
rule, rejected the social engineering for name of castes. nied by the last post bugle to pay hom-
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