Author's Preface
Suresh Bahadur Singh 
Journalist,Jansatta
The Chandra Shekhar that I knew was a statesman with immense foresight, a sensitive leader of the masses, an unparalleled parliamentarian,most importantly, a simple and straightforward human being with a deep sense of righteousness.
His speeches in the Lok Sabha never betrayed the statesman and the leader in him. In fact, in Parliament, he always remained an extension of what he was outside it and it is because of this that he attained a stature that few others before him had attained and it is doubtful whether anyone after him will attain.
Chandra Shekhar was an eloquent speaker. His speech may not have been laced with metaphors and adjectives but they had a searing quality that exposed the truth of a situation.
This compilation of his speeches is an attempt to relive those moments.
In the late seventies and early eighties, I had the opportunity of spending considerable time with Chandra Shekhar during his visits to Lucknow. I was a student in the Lucknow University and a group of us would spend hours in the office of the Samajwadi Janata Party, listening to Chandra Shekhar.
He would discuss international, national and even local issues with equal ease. This has been reflected in his speeches in the Lok Sabha.
Whether it was the limits of the bureaucracy, international ramification of over-dependence on super powers, the then emerging dangers in Punjab, the Kashmir issue, relations with neighbours,unemployment in the country or the dignity of parliament - we heard it all from him in Parliament and also in the afternoon sessions in Lucknow.
When Chandra Shekhar spoke, he always spoke with conviction.Never ever did I see him making those ‘off-the record’ comments— what he said, he stood by it.
His speeches in Parliament also reflect his relationships with various leaders. He owned up friendships even with those whom he ideologically opposed. His disagreements were on issues, not with individuals and his wrongs and rights were never based on his likes and dislikes. This was what made Chandra Shekhar unique and an outstanding personality in Indian politics.
-Suresh Bahadur Singh
Journalist,
Jansatta Dated 06.04.2016
