A gentleman, an artist, a poet, and a politician. It may seem to be a contradiction, but former Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala was all these.
[File] Surjit Singh Barnala | PTI
The 91-year-old Akali leader, who passed away in Chandigarh on Saturday, was a rare liberal among the deep blue turban sporting Sikh politicians. His tenure as chief minister of a terror-affected state, heading a splinter group of the Akali Dal, was challenging on many fronts.
Barnala ordered the state police to enter the Golden Temple to clean it of pro-Khalistani elements. They were flushed out, but he paid a price. He was declared a " tankhai" by the Akal Takhat which directed him to atone by doing seva at different gurudwaras. He dusted pilgrims' footwear, cleaned used utensils, in all humility.
He endeared himself to the people of Tamil Nadu where he was Governor. As he showed his latest painting to visitors from Punjab, his eyes would brighten as he asked them how it was, in Tamil.
