Arun Jaitley: A Politician and a Gentleman
Arun Jaitley, who passed away on August 24 at the age of 66 after a prolonged illness, led a life most unordinary. From a fairly ordinary, middle-class beginning-his first chamber being his father's office in Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk area-Jaitley rose to the highest echelons of Executive office. What made the political ascent even more remarkable was that he was never a 'mass leader' nor, like many of his peers in government, did he rise through the ranks of his party's ideological parent-the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His influence and power only grew with time. Whether it was while the BJP had L.K. Advani at the helm or the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo, Jaitley was indispensable. He had an uncanny ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and parties. He was the only one in
