Najma Heptulla Reflects on Her Political Journey: From Indira's Open House to Sonia's Closed Doors

Introduction: Najma Heptulla Reflects on Her Political Journey

In her latest book, former minister Najma Heptulla offers a candid reflection on her political journey, contrasting the open accessibility of Indira Gandhi with the more guarded approach of Sonia Gandhi. Heptulla, who shared close ties with both Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of the Congress party.

Indira’s Open House

“Indira Gandhi used to keep an open house. She was accessible to the rank-and-file members and greeted every visitor who came to meet her every morning,” Heptulla writes, highlighting the stark difference between Indira and Sonia. She recalls how she could reach out to Indira anytime, providing her with ground-level insights.

Despite her continued association with the Congress party, Heptulla notes that Sonia Gandhi began to suspect she might join forces with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. “It was strange of her to think so. Sharad had specifically asked me not to leave, advising me to stay since I held the office of presiding officer,” she adds.

Sonia’s Distrust

Heptulla recounts how she reassured Sonia of her loyalty, even reminding her of her steadfast support for Indira when the former prime minister was out of power. However, Sonia’s trust was hard to earn. “Sonia trusted very few people, and I felt she did not trust me,” Heptulla writes. Ironically, while Sonia suspected Heptulla of aligning with Pawar, she herself eventually formed an alliance with him.

Heptulla vividly describes the efforts she and other senior Congress colleagues made to convince the party of Sonia’s leadership capabilities. “Ghulam Nabi Azad and I worked tirelessly to convince the party leadership and cadre that she was ready and capable of being an effective leader,” she writes. Despite her efforts, Heptulla felt Sonia’s mistrust stemmed from her close working relationship with Narasimha Rao.

Indira’s Resilience

In contrast to her strained relationship with Sonia, Heptulla praises Indira Gandhi’s resilience and leadership. She recalls a rain-soaked day in July 1977 when Indira, out of power, shared her struggles with betrayal and trust. “I was Prime Minister, but I did not know the nuances of running a country,” Indira confided, revealing how trusted advisors tried to control her.

Indira’s return to power in 1980 marked a transformation. “She came back tough, shrewd, ruthless, and skilled in the use of power,” Heptulla writes. Reflecting on the Emergency, Heptulla believes Indira was a victim of poor advice and judgment, though she never discussed it directly with her.

Memories of Rajiv

Heptulla also shares fond memories of Rajiv Gandhi, particularly during the Bofors scandal in 1987. Rajiv valued her suggestions and humorously dismissed calls to suspend opposition MPs. “Rajiv said, ‘Congress members ask me to throw you out.’ I replied, ‘Okay, throw me out, no problem.’ With his characteristic good humor, he said, ‘No, no, I don’t want to. I will tell them Najma has become too fat. I can’t throw her out.’ We both burst out laughing,” she writes.

Conclusion: A Journey of Loyalty and Resilience

Najma Heptulla’s reflections offer a poignant look at her political journey, marked by loyalty, resilience, and the complexities of trust within the Congress party. Her candid accounts of interactions with Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, contrasted with her experiences with Sonia, provide valuable insights into the dynamics of Indian politics.