August 8, 2022
Jawhar Sircar’s farewell speech in the Rajya Sabha for the Vice President of India
Sir, I thank you for this opportunity and I am reminded that exactly five years ago, you were gracious enough to
preside over my farewell at a time when there was a lot of palpable tension about my departure from Government. I saw the degree of pettiness that I thought I would never live to see, but you rose above that pettiness to say
very gracious words. They are inscribed in my heart and that is the impression I have carried one who rises above pettiness and is known to be gracious. I followed your knowledgeable interventions and speeches and that is one thing that I bemoan. I often feel that I am wasting my time because the quality of debate in the House is not packed with that degree of knowledge any more for various reasons. I have not been able to communicate in the last one year or so because much of it went in disruptions and I am not comfortable with disruptive politics. I understand and support the need for protest. Protest is an essential ingredient of democracy but there are Members who are more comfortable with it that side, but I am not comfortable. I shall remember your fairness … : I shall remember your fairness both as a Minister– I have had the good fortune of having fair Ministers like you, Mr. Jaitley and Mr. Javadekar–and in the Chair. But, fairness comes with a certain degree of brutality. It is inevitable. I would only say that 73 is not an age to retire. There are temptations and many of allurements of retirement at an early age
come from the people around you with intentions, good or otherwise. But, having said that, I would still say that you will continue to hold your head high and continue to contribute, and though the woods are lovely, dark and
deep, there are miles to go before you sleep, and miles to go before you sleep. Thank you, Sir.
