Javelin throw was his favourite sport. Veteran politician Rishang Keishing, the only living member of India’s first Lok Sabha, remembers the moment he stood on the podium to receive the first prize for javelin throw, representing Calcutta University at a sports meet in the late 1940s. “Governor General Chakravarti Rajagopalachari gave me the prize,” says the nonagenarian.
Keishing has represented the Congress most of his political life. He was chief minister of Manipur four times and a Rajya Sabha member when he retired from politics in 2014. He now lives in Imphal, with his wife, 89-year-old Khatingla.
A Naga, Keishing was a school teacher in Ukhrul district, Manipur, before he entered politics. He strongly believed that if Nagaland could be granted statehood, Manipur was eligible, too. In 1949, he led a demonstration demanding statehood for Manipur at Calcutta University. In 1952, he entered the first Lok Sabha on a Socialist Party of India ticket, defeating a Congress candidate. “I never thought I would win,” says Keishing. “I won because the people supported my movement.” Says senior Congress leader O.B. Singh: “In spite of being a Naga, he loved Manipur more than Nagaland.”
In 2002, he was felicitated in Parliament for completing 50 years as MP and for being a member of India’s first Lok Sabha. Keishing has interacted with every Indian prime minister except Narendra Modi, whom he met before he became PM. He believes Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s best prime minister. Who was second best? “Difficult to say, but if you pushed me, I would have to say Narasimha Rao,” says Keishing, sitting on a couch in his living room. Old photographs line the walls of the room. “He had the brilliance of Nehru and the maturity to take on burning issues,” he says.
Keishing fondly recalls an interaction he had with Nehru more than 65 years ago. A Manipuri student who had got admission into a university in England had no money for his plane ticket. “I was then in the opposition, but approached Nehruji to explain the boy’s plight,” recalls Keishing. “He immediately sanctioned money for his travel and studies. The boy later joined the Indian Foreign Service. Nehru was such a big man. But he didn’t have an ego. He would mix with everyone, even the opposition members, and was extremely accessible.”
Keishing was one of the first politicians to voice concern about Naga insurgency, but he also had a good relationship with militant Naga leader Angami Zapu Phizo. “I decided to discuss the matter first with the prime minister as I realised the situation could get out of hand,” says Keishing. “I planned to approach Nehruji in the corridors of Parliament rather than seek an appointment. He used to walk very fast and it was difficult even for a Naga like me to catch up with him. But I managed to do it. I called him from behind and told him that Phizo wanted to meet him. Hearing this, Nehru turned to me and said, ‘You are a handful of Nagas but you are a bunch of bigots.’” Nehru also called Keishing an agent of Phizo.
Keishing was furious that Nehru was deriding his community. “Sir, you are losing your temper and accusing me of being an agent of Phizo!” said Keishing, angrily. “You will feel the repercussions one day.” Keishing then stomped off. Nehru, realising his mistake, rushed to Keishing and pulled him back by his shirt. “Why are you so angry?” asked Nehru, calmly. “Okay, let them first meet the home minister and then, if required, I will meet them.” Sadly, the issue never got resolved and, today, insurgent Naga groups are considered among the deadliest in the world. Keishing believes that if Nehru had lived longer, he would have resolved the issue. “Of course, he would not have accepted sovereignty for them,” says Keishing.
His entry into the Congress was dramatic. In 1964, Nehru was to speak in Parliament on the Chinese incursion and India’s defence preparedness. “Socialist leaders had planned to protest if Nehru spoke in English,” says Keishing. “I could not tolerate that. I thought the country should be united. Instead of doing what I was asked to do, I went up to the speaker Hukum Singh and requested him to arrange a separate seat for me in the Lok Sabha.” After the session, Keishing went up to Nehru and told him: “At this hour of crisis, I would love to join the Congress.” Nehru gladly accepted him and asked the Manipur unit to draft him in. In 1975, he became a member of the state cabinet and with the support of Indira Gandhi, he became chief minister in 1980.
Keishing says the Modi government should not be dictated by RSS ideology. “The BJP cannot force people to celebrate [Atal Bihari] Vajpayee’s birthday and ignore Christmas,” he says. “Even Vajpayee would not have approved. I was a good friend of Vajpayee and teamed up with him to attack Nehru in Parliament. I am sorry that the BJP today is using only Vajpayee’s name, but not his ideology. India is a secular state. If Modi wants to unite the northeast with India, he should be secular first, because the northeast is more secular than other parts of the country.”
Even at 97, Keishing is on militants’ hit lists. His house in Mantripukhri has a ring of security men, and visitors are frisked before they pass through metal detectors at the entrance. Inside, cops are dozing in the courtyard as the man they are designated to protect barely makes an appearance, except for his morning walks. Keishing spends his time reading books and newspapers and dedicates some time to the Rishang Keishing Foundation for Management of Tribal Affairs. He is particular about meal timings, loves tea, which he takes at 3pm, and is in bed by 8pm. He believes it was a disciplined life that made him successful. In fact, Indira Gandhi called him the fittest politician in the northeast.
Only four of the six children—four sons and two daughters—of Keishing and Khatingla are alive today. A daughter lives in Singapore and three sons live in Manipur. Two are businessmen. The third, Victor Keishing, is parliamentary secretary in the state government. All are actively involved in the foundation.
Regarding sovereignty for the Nagas, Keishing believes the country should never be divided. “I am a Naga, but still say that there should never be a compromise on the sovereignty of India,” he says. “The Naga state could be given autonomy, but within India’s Constitution. I am ashamed of people who want to break our country.”
