Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away on Thursday morning. He was 60. Born in Ujjain but educated in Gujarat, Dave had worked hard to build the image of an environmentalist and a thinker after a good launch into party politics, courtesy Uma Bharti. Besides his acumen as a political manager, his amiability and ability to organise big cultural and environmental events kept him in good books of all BJP chief ministers of the state. With the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) taking over at the Centre, he was trusted by the prime minister to be the chairman of the crucial select committee on Coal Mines (Special Provision) Bill, 2015, and the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill, 2015.
Dave joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and worked for conservation of the Narmada River. He had not been keeping well for the last few months. Polite, contained in his words and a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) man at heart and in mind, Dave had been chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as minister in charge of the environment ministry in July last year. He had replaced Prakash Javadekar, who had been promoted to the rank of Cabinet minister in charge of the human resource development ministry. A three-time Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, Dave was a contrast to his more confidant and vocal predecessor. A self-proclaimed environmentalist, much better recognised as an organiser of grand events in his home state, Dave preferred to stay off the media grid as a minister, unless the turn of events required otherwise. The nature of business at the environment ministry, however, did produce such events often.
Upon becoming the environment minister, he indicated his continued loyalties by publicly batting for interlinking of the Ken-Betwa rivers, even before it had got statutory expert clearances. The linkage, located in Madhya Pradesh, is also Uma Bharti’s pet project. And, like his predecessor at the ministry, he quickly adapted to constantly hyphenating development (read, project clearances) with environmental protection at every given opportunity, staying tightly aligned with the vision of the prime minister in particular and the NDA government in general.
As a minister, he lacked lustre but was industrious – a trait that the current dispensation would have only valued. But, it is hard to judge his performance as a minister in charge of protecting the environment for six reasons. One, the NDA government’s overriding desire for ease of business gave him little wiggle room to showcase any ‘green’ credentials. Two, he had a rather short tenure. Three, the ministry has always been closely monitored, instructed and guided by the Prime Minister’s Office under the NDA government. Four, several of the substantial (and often controversial) changes that the NDA sought in environment regulations for ease of business had either been set in place or already initiated during Javadekar’s frenetic tenure. Five, with NDA focusing the ministry’s energy on ease of business, the courts have increasingly been seen as the focal point of environmental action. Six, he came in at a time when the hoopla around the Paris Climate Change summit had simmered down, the pressures on India over its role in the agreement had eased, and the combat had shifted to low-key battles about crucial but not headline-grabbing details. Perhaps one of most critical changes to the environmental regulations that Dave was overseeing at the time of his demise was the ordered alteration and dilution of the coastal protection regime.
Another legend who left us is Reema Lagoo, Known for playing mother’s roles in blockbusters such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Aashiqui, Saajan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Vaastav, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Hum Saath Saath Hain, Reema Lagoo had also done extensive work on television including Shrimaan Shrimati and Tu Tu Main Main. In fact, the actor was doing a show made by Mahesh Bhatt, Naamkaran, at present. She played a negative character on the show, which was a far cry from the mother’s roles that defined her film career.
Born Gurinder Bhadbhade, she was daughter of Marathi stage actress Mandakini Bhadbhade. While her acting prowess were noted even when she was a student in Pune, she started acting on stage after completing school. She soon started acting in Hindi and Marathi film. She gained prominence once she started doing mother’s roles in Hindi films; the first of such character roles was as the mother of Juhi Chawla in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. In fact, after playing Salman Khan’s mother’s roles in multiple blockbusters, many thought of her as his real-life mother! Another of her famous role was as Sanjay Dutt’s mother in Vaastav who kills her son. Reema Lagoo won four Filmfare awards in the supporting actress category. She was married to Marathi actor Vivek Lagoo, the couple separated later. The couple has a daughter, Mrunmayee, together who is also an actress.
My tributes to two great personalities who made difference to their respective fields.
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