The Hindu Business Line : Banatwala: Cast in the classical mould

Ghulam Mohammed Banatwala was perhaps the last of parliamentarians cast in the classical mould. He loved and admired Mohammed Ali Jinnah and dressed immaculately and spoke impeccable English.

Reporter’s delight

In Parliament he fashioned his speech after the Westminster style and always spoke in a measured tone, raising and lowering his voice to consummate effect. His flawless choice of epithet and idiom was a learning experience to his listeners.

He was reporter’s delight, always providing the colourful quote. One did not hear him speak either Urdu or Hindi during his seven terms, representing Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency in Muslim-majority Mallapuram district in Kerala.

minority rights

Ironically, without knowing a word of Malayalam, he represented Kerala for 22 years in Parliament. Obviously that did not take away his popularity among his voters, who reposed faith in him time and again. Banatwala did not disappoint them either. He always spoke passionately for the cause of Muslim minority. He made out a strong case for the community’s increased inclusion in police, defence and general government services.

His speeches on the controversial Shah Bano issue were famous for his passionate espousal of the rights and privileges of the minority community. He took up the cause of Muslims on other issues such as the demolition of the Babri Masjid and minority rights, including personal law.

He spoke against the salient features of the Supreme Court judgment on the Shah Bano case and even introduced a private member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha through which he sought to correctly interpret Muslim Personal Law in the matter of providing alimony to divorced Muslim women beyond the iddat period. Later, the Rajiv Gandhi government brought in the controversial Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, incorporating some of Banatwala’s suggestions. He regarded the Act as a personal triumph.

Respecting religions

After his speeches on the floor of the House, he often spoke to journalists in the corridors and tried to explain his points of view. He once remarked, “I am no doubt a religious man, but I have no quarrel with other religions. I trust all religious-minded people but not the so-called rationalists who disown God.”

While on his subject, it was difficult to stop him till he made his point. Though a disciplinarian and stickler for parliamentary rules, he could be brutally frank with the presiding officers if he thought they were not being fair to him. Once waxing eloquent on a particular issue, he had exceeded his allotted time. With the time for the lunch break already gone, the rest of the House was restless. “Mr Banatwala, if you like you can come to my chamber later and give your views,” interjected the Chair. To which the irrepressible Banatwala retorted, “Sir, I have been elected to this august chamber (Lok Sabha) and not to the Speaker’s chamber.”

(The author, a former Deputy Editor, PTI, is a New Delhi-based freelance writer.)