Jathedar Talwandi: A true blue Akali and a Badal baiter

JALANDHAR: Veteran Akali leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi earned the sobriquet of "Loh Purush" for his habit of taking firm stands on issues close to the people's hearts. It was because of this perhaps that he was the second Akali leader in independent India to be honoured by party workers by taking out a procession with him astride an elephant. It is another thing that later in his political career he began reconciling to political contradictions.The procession was taken out in 1978, when Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Talwandi adopted the Anandpur Sahib resolution -- which advocates greater powers for states -- at its Ludhiana conference.
He was a true blue Akali. His father Jathedar Chhanga Singh, too was a well known SGPC member, known for his magnanimity. He even got a part of his land registered in the name of late Giani Kartar Singh to enable him to contest election in 1940s. Talwandi was among the few leaders who remained the president of SAD as well as of SGPC. In fact, he was a quintessential Akali Jathedar, who remained in jails during various morchas, led agitations, and had loads of the fighter spirit.
At one point of time, the troika of Badal, (late Gurcharan Singh) Tohra and Talwandi dominated Akali Dal, but Talwandi was also known for his strong opposition to Badal. He and Tohra presented a memo to the Akal Takht Jathedar after two years of Badal's 1977 regime, levelling allegations of corruption and for working against the tenets of Akali Dal. It is another thing that the duo had also played a crucial role in making Badal CM in 1977 after bringing him back from Delhi where he had become agriculture minister in the Janta government.
Gurtej Singh, a former IAS officer of Punjab recalled a crucial meeting to forge unity between the Badal and Talwandi. "After they fell out and the Indira Gandhi regime dismissed the Badal government, there was fear among Akalis that the Congress would come to power. A meeting was arranged at my residence in Chandigarh at night between Talwandi and Badal, and the former's main complaint was that the Badal's government campaigned to malign his image, and asked Badal to contradict the malicious propaganda, but the latter did not budge and the unity efforts failed."
This love-hate relationship continued, and Talwandi steadfastly opposed Badal on several occasions. But in the last decade when Badal outmanoeuvred all his rivals within the party, Talwandi had to reconcile himself to the situation.
Remembering the man who had the guts to call a spade a spade, former SGPC secretary general Manjit Singh Calcutta said, "He was outspoken and remained firm on whatever he promised, unlike the doublespeak that is the trademark of some politicians."
Meanwhile, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa also expressed sorrow over the demise of veteran Akali leader. People's Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh Badal said, "Jathedar Talwandi was known as the 'Loh Pursh' for his strong views, assertiveness and total dedication to the cause of the Panth."
In his condolence message, Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Capt Amarinder Singh said, "Talwandi, unlike many others, had selflessly served the Panth without exploiting his position and power for personal or pecuniary benefits."