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| Inder Kumar Gujral, who has died aged 92, was briefly prime minister of India (1997-98) and twice foreign minister (1989-90, 1996-97). He was never what is known in India as a mass leader. For most of his political career he was a member of the upper house whose members are chosen by an electoral college not elected by voters. | Inder Kumar Gujral, who has died aged 92, was briefly prime minister of India (1997-98) and twice foreign minister (1989-90, 1996-97). He was never what is known in India as a mass leader. For most of his political career he was a member of the upper house whose members are chosen by an electoral college not elected by voters. |
| But Gujral was a skilful parliamentarian who had an uncanny grasp of the manoeuvrings within the different parties. This, coupled with charm, persuasiveness and an ability to get on with politicians of all parties, made him a formidable force in political crises. Although his periods in office were brief and the governments of the time chronically unstable, he made a fundamental change in India's foreign policy. | But Gujral was a skilful parliamentarian who had an uncanny grasp of the manoeuvrings within the different parties. This, coupled with charm, persuasiveness and an ability to get on with politicians of all parties, made him a formidable force in political crises. Although his periods in office were brief and the governments of the time chronically unstable, he made a fundamental change in India's foreign policy. |
| Gujral started his political career in his birthplace, Jhelum, which is now in the Pakistani province of Punjab, where he was imprisoned during the movement for freedom from the British in 1930-31. As a student he became a member of the Communist party. His father was prominent in the struggle against British rule and his home was often visited by leaders of the freedom movement including Jawaharlal Nehru who became independent India's first prime minister. Gujral was imprisoned again, during the second world war, for involvement in the freedom movement. | Gujral started his political career in his birthplace, Jhelum, which is now in the Pakistani province of Punjab, where he was imprisoned during the movement for freedom from the British in 1930-31. As a student he became a member of the Communist party. His father was prominent in the struggle against British rule and his home was often visited by leaders of the freedom movement including Jawaharlal Nehru who became independent India's first prime minister. Gujral was imprisoned again, during the second world war, for involvement in the freedom movement. |
| At partition in 1947 he settled in Delhi. A chance meeting with Indira Gandhi led to a close friendship and his membership of the upper house of parliament. That gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his political skills. After the death of the prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965, Gujral was among those who persuaded Gandhi to stand for the leadership of the Congress party and worked hard for her success. Gandhi became prime minister in 1966. | At partition in 1947 he settled in Delhi. A chance meeting with Indira Gandhi led to a close friendship and his membership of the upper house of parliament. That gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his political skills. After the death of the prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965, Gujral was among those who persuaded Gandhi to stand for the leadership of the Congress party and worked hard for her success. Gandhi became prime minister in 1966. |
| In 1969, when Gandhi's leadership was challenged by the old guard and she split Congress, Gujral played an invaluable role in winning support for her faction. So well informed was he about the intentions of MPs that it was said of him: "He always knew which way the camel would lie down." This old Urdu saying was particularly applicable to Gujral who had a deep love of Urdu poetry. | In 1969, when Gandhi's leadership was challenged by the old guard and she split Congress, Gujral played an invaluable role in winning support for her faction. So well informed was he about the intentions of MPs that it was said of him: "He always knew which way the camel would lie down." This old Urdu saying was particularly applicable to Gujral who had a deep love of Urdu poetry. |
| Gujral was information and broadcasting minister in 1975 when Gandhi declared a state of emergency after a judge found her guilty on a minor charge of electoral malpractice and the opposition demanded her resignation. She suspended many civil rights. Her abrasive younger son Sanjay, who held no constitutional position but enjoyed almost unlimited power, gave orders to Gujral about press censorship. Although renowned for his mild manners, Gujral rebuked him, saying he would only speak to the prime minister. Immediately, Gujral was moved out of that ministry. The next year he was sent to Moscow as India's ambassador. | Gujral was information and broadcasting minister in 1975 when Gandhi declared a state of emergency after a judge found her guilty on a minor charge of electoral malpractice and the opposition demanded her resignation. She suspended many civil rights. Her abrasive younger son Sanjay, who held no constitutional position but enjoyed almost unlimited power, gave orders to Gujral about press censorship. Although renowned for his mild manners, Gujral rebuked him, saying he would only speak to the prime minister. Immediately, Gujral was moved out of that ministry. The next year he was sent to Moscow as India's ambassador. |
| During the 1980s Gujral also fell out with Gandhi's older son Rajiv, by then prime minister, and he joined a party called the Janata Dal, a coalition of small parties opposed to Congress. When that party formed an unstable government after the 1989 general election, Gujral became foreign minister. In that brief spell he started to develop what came to be known as the Gujral Doctrine. | During the 1980s Gujral also fell out with Gandhi's older son Rajiv, by then prime minister, and he joined a party called the Janata Dal, a coalition of small parties opposed to Congress. When that party formed an unstable government after the 1989 general election, Gujral became foreign minister. In that brief spell he started to develop what came to be known as the Gujral Doctrine. |
| At its heart was the highly significant recognition that India must treat its neighbours more generously, and in particular no longer insist on reciprocal measures. This policy was developed further when, in 1996, another highly unstable government was formed and Gujral became first foreign minister and then prime minister. An important immediate gain of the new doctrine was the resolution of the longstanding dispute with Bangladesh over the sharing of the Ganges water. Gujral's skill as a politician was demonstrated when he won support for the agreement from the communist chief minister of West Bengal. It was the state most affected by the agreement and had consistently blocked earlier proposed settlements. | At its heart was the highly significant recognition that India must treat its neighbours more generously, and in particular no longer insist on reciprocal measures. This policy was developed further when, in 1996, another highly unstable government was formed and Gujral became first foreign minister and then prime minister. An important immediate gain of the new doctrine was the resolution of the longstanding dispute with Bangladesh over the sharing of the Ganges water. Gujral's skill as a politician was demonstrated when he won support for the agreement from the communist chief minister of West Bengal. It was the state most affected by the agreement and had consistently blocked earlier proposed settlements. |
| As prime minister, Gujral extended his doctrine to Pakistan. He held a historic meeting with the Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif at which they agreed that the two countries must keep talking. The agreement was sealed with words from an Urdu poet: "May our conversation never end, may one thing lead to another." In spite of events that could well have permanently derailed the conversation, it still continues and there have been positive results. | As prime minister, Gujral extended his doctrine to Pakistan. He held a historic meeting with the Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif at which they agreed that the two countries must keep talking. The agreement was sealed with words from an Urdu poet: "May our conversation never end, may one thing lead to another." In spite of events that could well have permanently derailed the conversation, it still continues and there have been positive results. |
| On one occasion when he was prime minister, the usually emollient Gujral lost his cool. On a visit to Pakistan, just before visiting India, the British foreign minister, Robin Cook, suggested that Britain might mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. When questioned about this by Egyptian intellectuals, Gujral described Britain as "a third-rate power nursing delusions of the grandeur of its past". | On one occasion when he was prime minister, the usually emollient Gujral lost his cool. On a visit to Pakistan, just before visiting India, the British foreign minister, Robin Cook, suggested that Britain might mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. When questioned about this by Egyptian intellectuals, Gujral described Britain as "a third-rate power nursing delusions of the grandeur of its past". |
| Sadly for Gujral even his skills could not persuade Congress to continue supporting his government so it collapsed in November 1997 after he had only been in office eight months. He continued for just over three months as interim prime minister. In his later years, Gujral played no role in politics, but was highly respected. | Sadly for Gujral even his skills could not persuade Congress to continue supporting his government so it collapsed in November 1997 after he had only been in office eight months. He continued for just over three months as interim prime minister. In his later years, Gujral played no role in politics, but was highly respected. |
| His wife, Sheila, died in 2011. He is survived by his sons, Naresh and Vishal, and his brother Satish. | His wife, Sheila, died in 2011. He is survived by his sons, Naresh and Vishal, and his brother Satish. |
| • Inder Kumar Gujral, politician, born 4 December 1919; died 30 November 2012 | • Inder Kumar Gujral, politician, born 4 December 1919; died 30 November 2012 |
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