<p>He had an eventful career as a Union law minister for long and kept himself busy. He found time to author three books on law. Two more books will be released soon.<br />Bhardwaj is highly articulate when it comes to expressing his thoughts. He has no hesitation in admitting that he is a controversial man. He spoke to <em>Asha Krishnaswamy of Deccan Herald.</em> Excerpts:<br /><br />You were busy as Union law minister till May this year. Now being confined to Raj Bhavan do you feel isolated?<br />I used to work for 18 hours a day. Now I am not that busy. A handful of files comes to me and I attend to them immediately. But I know how to keep myself busy. I have begun writing.<br />It is said that you could not make it to the Union cabinet this time as you have fallen out of grace of the Gandhi family...<br />I am a self-made man. My association with the Gandhi family goes back to Indira Gandhi’s time. I share a special bond with that family, which nobody knows. I had counselled Indira, Rajiv and Sanjay. Without the blessings of the Gandhi family I would not have been here. I will be in politics as long as the Gandhi family needs me. If they decide not to continue me, then I will pick my black coat. I and my wife will continue our practice in court. But now, for me, politics is almost over. I am in a non-political office. I will do my best. I will meet professors, judges, advcoates and journalists. The doors of Raj Bhavan are open to the public. I don’t meet any Congress leaders on a personal basis. I want to maintain neutrality.<br /><br /><em>Then why are you not in the ministry?</em><br /><br />I was told that the Gandhi family wanted to utilise my services here. I hesitated to accept the post because of my temperament. But I could not disobey the PM and the Congress president. May be, the party did not accommodate me fearing that I may create controversy. It is a fact that I am a controversial man.<br />I was a successful law minister. I was responsible for establishing world class law schools in India. But some people had prejudice against me because I was a successful minister. Even today I am saleable in courts.<br /><br /><em>Would you like to be identified as a pro-active governor?</em><br /><br />No. My role is limited. I will go by the Constitution. I will work within my limits.<br /><br /><em>As a chancellor, how do you assess the state universities?</em><br /><br />Mysore university is performing very well. And, every university in the state should be of that standard. I have decided to restore the authority of vice-chancellors. Only merit should matter while selecting VCs. Every VC should be appointed by an experts’ committee. I will not allow the government to intervene in appointments. Don’t you think improper appointments will affect the quality of education?<br /><br /><em>As a law minister you were identified as a performer...</em><br /><br />Yes. I will be a performer even as governor. But now I have a different responsibility. There is a government headed by a chief minister here. I am nominated by the President of India. My role is to ensure that the government functions according to the Constitution. I have an advisory role to play on certain matters. And, I will do that amply.<br />We need to take life as it comes. I will try to create work for myself. Many educational institutions keep calling me for their functions. I would like to get associated with programmes which aim at spreading education. So this ceremonial life of a governor will not satisfy me. Because I used to work for 18 hours a day. And, of the 18 hours now I sleep more (laughs).<br /><br /><em>In the last two months, did you ever get an opportunity to advice the <br />government?</em><br /><br />Yes. There were tense moments on certain occasions over law and order and I did talk to the government. I have conveyed my opinion in appropriate terms.<br /><br /><em>Raj Bhavan is a colonial inheritance. Do we need to spend tax payers’ money to meet the expenses of a governor for his extravagance?</em><br /><br />Raj Bhavan may be a colonial building. But governor is part of the Constitution. In a federal structure like ours, a governor has an important role to play in maintaining the unity of the country. The founding fathers of our Constitution must have well thought out the role of a governor. I feel that today Raj Bhavan has an important role to play. But my requirement is minimal. All I and my wife (Prafulata, an advocate) require is just a single room to live.<br /><br /><em>Still, a governor’s post is dubbed as a retirement post for a politician. Do you still foresee any role to play in politics?</em><br /><br />Nobody can become an ex-politician by being in a political party. Somebody has to be appointed for the post — it could be a retired police officer or a retired IAS officer. I have been appointed for a full five year term at the pleasure of the President. Then how can it be a retirement for me?</p>
<p>He had an eventful career as a Union law minister for long and kept himself busy. He found time to author three books on law. Two more books will be released soon.<br />Bhardwaj is highly articulate when it comes to expressing his thoughts. He has no hesitation in admitting that he is a controversial man. He spoke to <em>Asha Krishnaswamy of Deccan Herald.</em> Excerpts:<br /><br />You were busy as Union law minister till May this year. Now being confined to Raj Bhavan do you feel isolated?<br />I used to work for 18 hours a day. Now I am not that busy. A handful of files comes to me and I attend to them immediately. But I know how to keep myself busy. I have begun writing.<br />It is said that you could not make it to the Union cabinet this time as you have fallen out of grace of the Gandhi family...<br />I am a self-made man. My association with the Gandhi family goes back to Indira Gandhi’s time. I share a special bond with that family, which nobody knows. I had counselled Indira, Rajiv and Sanjay. Without the blessings of the Gandhi family I would not have been here. I will be in politics as long as the Gandhi family needs me. If they decide not to continue me, then I will pick my black coat. I and my wife will continue our practice in court. But now, for me, politics is almost over. I am in a non-political office. I will do my best. I will meet professors, judges, advcoates and journalists. The doors of Raj Bhavan are open to the public. I don’t meet any Congress leaders on a personal basis. I want to maintain neutrality.<br /><br /><em>Then why are you not in the ministry?</em><br /><br />I was told that the Gandhi family wanted to utilise my services here. I hesitated to accept the post because of my temperament. But I could not disobey the PM and the Congress president. May be, the party did not accommodate me fearing that I may create controversy. It is a fact that I am a controversial man.<br />I was a successful law minister. I was responsible for establishing world class law schools in India. But some people had prejudice against me because I was a successful minister. Even today I am saleable in courts.<br /><br /><em>Would you like to be identified as a pro-active governor?</em><br /><br />No. My role is limited. I will go by the Constitution. I will work within my limits.<br /><br /><em>As a chancellor, how do you assess the state universities?</em><br /><br />Mysore university is performing very well. And, every university in the state should be of that standard. I have decided to restore the authority of vice-chancellors. Only merit should matter while selecting VCs. Every VC should be appointed by an experts’ committee. I will not allow the government to intervene in appointments. Don’t you think improper appointments will affect the quality of education?<br /><br /><em>As a law minister you were identified as a performer...</em><br /><br />Yes. I will be a performer even as governor. But now I have a different responsibility. There is a government headed by a chief minister here. I am nominated by the President of India. My role is to ensure that the government functions according to the Constitution. I have an advisory role to play on certain matters. And, I will do that amply.<br />We need to take life as it comes. I will try to create work for myself. Many educational institutions keep calling me for their functions. I would like to get associated with programmes which aim at spreading education. So this ceremonial life of a governor will not satisfy me. Because I used to work for 18 hours a day. And, of the 18 hours now I sleep more (laughs).<br /><br /><em>In the last two months, did you ever get an opportunity to advice the <br />government?</em><br /><br />Yes. There were tense moments on certain occasions over law and order and I did talk to the government. I have conveyed my opinion in appropriate terms.<br /><br /><em>Raj Bhavan is a colonial inheritance. Do we need to spend tax payers’ money to meet the expenses of a governor for his extravagance?</em><br /><br />Raj Bhavan may be a colonial building. But governor is part of the Constitution. In a federal structure like ours, a governor has an important role to play in maintaining the unity of the country. The founding fathers of our Constitution must have well thought out the role of a governor. I feel that today Raj Bhavan has an important role to play. But my requirement is minimal. All I and my wife (Prafulata, an advocate) require is just a single room to live.<br /><br /><em>Still, a governor’s post is dubbed as a retirement post for a politician. Do you still foresee any role to play in politics?</em><br /><br />Nobody can become an ex-politician by being in a political party. Somebody has to be appointed for the post — it could be a retired police officer or a retired IAS officer. I have been appointed for a full five year term at the pleasure of the President. Then how can it be a retirement for me?</p>
