Men and Mountains

“The Conference is over. The concord must endure.” With these words, almost Biblical in their pithy simplicity, Indira Gandhi announced in Vigyan Bhavan on March 12 the end of the Seventh Summit of the Nonaligned countries.
It was a moving moment, the new milepost in the long journey of millions upon millions from continents far and near, who have broken the fetters of colonial bondage and are striving for a better world to live in.

A star-studded conclave comprising the majority of mankind, and commanding two-thirds of the membership of the United Nations, the Nonaligned Summit inevitably represented a cross-section of humanity and can hardly be put into the straitjacket of a single or similar outlook, no question of an ideological monolith nor a uniform political pattern: Kings and Presidents, Prime Ministers and Martial Law Administrators, leaders representing millions or reigning over vast chunks of territory or tiny islands or principalities. At one end is the Republic of India with its population of over sixtyeight crores, and at the other end, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principle with a population of 84 thousand. One could see the Socialist camp represented by Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea and South Yemen, and the heavily pro-West adherents of free-market economy represented by Singapore and Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and Kenya.

The one common feature that binds them together is that they have all come out of the tutelage of colonialism or are still battling for the right of an independent existence. It has been a fascinating experience to watch this kaleidoscope of differing and even opposing political, economic and ideological patterns converging in this seat of an ancient civilisation which has steadfastly sustained the principle of unity-in-diversity.

In this glittering array, who have emerged as the cynosure of all eyes, who have been the most conspicuous, one way or the other? Evaluation of personalities by their performance is not an easy job. However, it is not difficult to discern the towering ones among the giants, just as there are the ugly and the ungainly.
Irrespective of political proclivities, observers at the Summit would have no difficulty in voting Fidel Castro as the most attractive of all the guests. Barring the host, Indira Gandhi, who topped them all in charm, grace and stamina, Castro carried the most distinguished demeanour in the entire gathering. With his legendary beard, the olive-green fatigues, the tall gait but gentle eyes showing signs of weariness Fidel rose above all petty controversies, and many among those who would not subscribe to his politics paid handsome tributes to his undoubted qualities of leadership.

Another personality who could capture with ease the affection and admiration of one and all was Yasser Arafat. Despite his sartorial militancy, Yasser’s oration reminded one of a poet, a marvelous imagination—monosyllabic words coming out gently and softly out of his pouting mouth. There was pathos in his voice when he referred to old friends, the freedom-fighters of yesterday now presiding over power in their respective countries: for, he, the leader of his people, is barred from his homeland. It was Arafat who coined the apt phrase that Indira Gandhi would provide the locomotive for the nonaligned for the next three years.

There was Sekou Toure, President of Guinea, very much of an aged personality; such a contrast to the sprightly figure that we had seen when he first came here on the morrow of the independence of his country. Another leader on whom the scars of age could be noticed was Forbes Burnham, President of Guyana; despite his beard growing grey, there was no difficulty in recognising him when he spoke with his mellifluous diction, the same resonance that kept us spell-bound when he visited our country in the company of Cheddi Jagan, to campaign for the independence of his island-homeland.

Polish and sophistication mark the personality of Kenneth Kaunda and Milton Obote, while the personification of ancient wisdom, a sort of Gandhian touch could be discerned in Julius Nyerere, who spoke little but thought more. Mozambique’s Samora Machel belongs to the same genre but the brunt of the apartheid next door has taken its toil as his furrowed brow would bear out. Mauritius Prime Minister Aneerood Jugnauth represented the new generation among the non-aligned, while the young men with boyish visage are our two royal neighbours—Birendra of Nepal and Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhuttan.

Among our other neighours, personality-wise, Sri Lanka’s Jayewardene could be matched in flamboyance by Pakistan’s General Ziaul Haq; his discordant reference to Kashmir notwith-standing, he put in a heroic public-relations exercise. Bangladesh’s General Ershad could hardly make an impact and one could not help feeling how Sheikh Mujib would have been in his elements rubbing shoulders with the great and the mighty.

With all the slings and arrows directed at him, Afghanistan’s Sultan Keshtmand gave the impression of solidity. Egypt’s Mubarak was neat but projected a calculatedly low-key presence, while Lebanon’s handsome Amin Gemayel spoke with finesse. Zimbabwe’s Mugabe had embar-rassing moments in his press conference over his squabble at home with Joshua Nkomo. Indira Gandhi’s feeling reference to Sam Nujomo and the imprisoned Nelson Mandela touched many a heart.

Two leaders from island-countries caught the limelight. Spyros Kyprianos of Cyprus came in his own right, but Maurice Bishop brought out that the proximity to the Pentagon has sharpened defiance even in the tiny Grenada—showing the temper of the times, which came into full view with Nicaragua’s Commandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra.

One can wander along this picturesque gallery. The only case of unmitigated ugliness was provided by Singapore’s twin—Deputy Premier Rajaratnam and Foreign Minister Dhanabalam—who ranted and ranted until they tired them-selves out into oblivion. A loss indeed for their mentors in the West.
A misfit indeed this in a fraternity whose proud tradition was set two decades ago by men of granite, to whose memory Indira Gandhi paid her moving tribute in words which shall long be remembered: “Jawaharlal Nehru and Ahmet Soekarno of reawakened Asia, Gamel Abdel Nasser of the resurgent Arab world, Josip Broz Tito from independent Europe, Kwame Nkrumah from Africa astir. Indomitable fighters all, their message was one of struggle and sacrifice. They dared and suffered, they won and built. They inspired people, and in turn were inspired by the people. Only so, can freedom be attained and strengthened.”

These were the men who moved mountains, whose memory gripped one even today as one came into the wide open arena, out of the beautifully bedecked Vigyan Bhavan.

[First published in The Telegraph; reproduced, with acknowledgement, in Mainstream (March 19, 1983)]