I met him first time after his election to the Lok Sabha as young leader from Gujarat. He was hesitant to introduce himself though he had read for years my column in newspapers. He knew me by reputation and also from what he had heard from other politicians. But we soon became friends and continued our family ties for four decades.

He came to lime light after the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi chose him to be his parliamentary secretary. Since then he was offered a berth in the council of ministers, thrice by Rajiv Gandhi and twice by Narsimha Rao but he preferred not to accept it. He explained his logic in simple terms.” Vijaybhai, everyone around you will believe you are reeking in corruption as the minister even if your work in perfect honesty. If I can serve with honesty and more effectively without the ministerial berth why inite stains on your reputation?


I still remember his agony when he talked to me in his small farm in Piramal, a small village in Bharuch district across the river. I came to know hen that he had sold a part of his farm to sustain himself and family in Delhi . He had no other income and refused to extend his palm for any assistance from anyone to maintain his family.

He explained his life policy in few words in giving me reasons why he had resigned from the states, teachers training scheme .He said on his recommendation only two candidate are admitted but every year 150 aspirants come with high hopes. You end up making enemies of 148 disappointed souls and two beneficiaries rush to others to seek more favours.. He disliked the system of privileges to members of parliament to recommend any out of turn privilege. Why anyone should have such privileges and favour their friends while others have to struggle? It was the time when several members ere accused of taking money for recommending out of turn phone connections. After Ahmedbhai led the way the government ended the system of privileges to members of parliament.

He had proved his abilities by serving the party for the past thirty five years. He did not hesitate to quit he post in the party over his harp differences. I still remember his quitting his position over insistence of the officer in the Congress president office over receiving cash donations to the party. The Officer insisted that donors be directed to deliver cash of donations to his office while Patel should sign the receipt only. Ahmedbhai refused to accept the directive and sign without actual verification. Sonia Gandhi accept the point made to her and directed her officer to desist from usurping authority in her name. The officer was relegated to work of attending to correspondence in her office. Ahmed Patel was assigned the higher position and became her political advisor.I am fortunate enough to have been first hand witness in his family his insisting that the family members adhere to fundamental values in life. It does not matter what others think about us but we have to path of honesty and moral values in life. He was careful enough to ensure that his children had friends who also adhered to similar values.

Rajiv Gandhi paid fuller attention to what he had to say. But he did not adhere to his advice and suffered. He was also ever ready to quit his post in the party when he came under pressure to act against his conscience. I have never heard his raised voice to disapprove any one or their wrong action though such behaviour of others were an ordeals for him. He often asked me how can anyone stoop to behave in this fashion? Our arguments were unending though I could recognize his pain.

He was not disturbed by stories, speculations and gossips in outer political world. His argument was when not well wishers would stoop down to such low levels as they cannot find anything that can besmirch your reputation. Your strength should be your conscience. He often argued that world views you in their mirror. They believe everyone will behave as similarly s they would have. They can be unconscious to their inner voice. I cannot as I will have to answer my Allah on the D day. I am yet to see any other politicians so much god fearing.

Normally it is said in consoling the family. Let his soul in peace. I know him as god fearing politician as no other of his kind. But he was restless worker .One day in argument we were having,, his son Faisal also joined. Papa you have every evening till let night reserved for your favorite pass time, your party affairs ass others cannot proceed without you. You do not have time to spare for us. Vijay uncle is right. We should have you. So let us go out. But I have never seen him take a break for himself or his family even for a day. Hi first response on seeing me was to express his apologies for not visiting my home and meeting my grandchildren. Het he had undertaken responsibility of marriage of my daughter and son to leave nothing to chance.

In 6 decades I have seen final departure of many friends in politics but none shocked me from my roots as his departure did.