Mohammed Hamid Ansari has been a critic of United States' foreign policy and has monopolised the debate over West Asia in New Delhi's seminar circuit since last few years. Today, the 70 year old diplomat is United Progressive Alliance's nominee for the post of the Vice President.
A golf player and cricket buff, Ansari has been a successful career diplomat. He has been India's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He was also India's permanent representative at the United Nations.
Currently, he is chairman of National Commission on Minorities.
After his retirement, he has been articulate in expressing his Left-of-the-Centre views, criticising US foreign policy in West Asia, particularly Iran. He has edited a book titled Iran Today -- Twenty Years After the Islamic Revolution.
It is no surprise why Left parties have chosen to impose him on the UPA as the consensual candidate.
When Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced in front of television cameras that 'all of us have come to unanimous understanding that Mohammed Hamid Ansari will be our candidate,' there was a mixed feeling amongst his friends, peer group and politicians.
Many of the regulars at New Delhi's India International Centre were jealous or felt that Ansari was 'damn lucky.' Some felt that his nomination is Left parties' 'tokenism' towards Muslim community quite similar to Congress tradition.
Congress has always lifted those Muslim leaders in political arena who do not have mass appeal or who are not courageously voicing problems of the Muslims. Rather, a prominent television news channel kept flashing that CPI-M has played a 'Muslim card.'
However, those who know Ansari or have met him even once are aware that Ansari is a first rate Indian bureaucrat and quite an amenable talker in seminars. His diplomatic thinking is deeply dipped into national ethos, and he is a very likable and elite human.
Ansari received sophisticated education, too. Born in Calcutta in 1937, Ansari studied at Shimla's St Edwards High School and St Xavier's College in Kolkata and Aligarh Muslim University.
But many realist politicians and experts think that is not enough.
On Friday, even, Lalu Prasad Yadav was reluctant in accepting Left party's choice.
They have a point, also:
- In case of certain emergency, Ansari will have to act as President.
According to Indian Constitution, 'Under Article 65, the Vice-President acts as President in the event of a vacancy occurring due to death, resignation or removal of the President, or otherwise. When the President is unable to act owing to his absence, illness or any other cause, the Vice-President discharges the President's functions for a temporary period until the President resumes his duties.' - As we know, the Vice President has a dual duty, as he is also the chairman of Rajya Sabha. Indian parliamentary system basically follows the British parliamentary system but in case of Vice President, Constitution-makers of India decided to adopt the American system. It provided that like the US Vice President, India's Vice President will preside over the Upper House and act as President in certain contingencies.
Thus, Ansari will have to conduct the House and manage dozens of parties and their leaders ranging from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.
A Rajya Sabha member from a regional party told rediff.com, "Sauve Ansari must stand up to seasoned politicians who are more powerful and more well-known than him."
Kuldip Nayar, senior journalist and former member of Rajya Sabha, was surprised and disappointed by the nomination of Ansari.
He said Ansari is a very good Indian, but he was disappointed by the politics of Congress and Left parties.
"President and Vice President -- both the offices have been brought down to fit the small size people they (Congress and Left parties) have chosen."
This naturally casts an enormous burden of responsibility on Ansari.
Many of Ansari's friends cast doubts for his ability to manage the Rajya Sabha, but nobody denies that 'he is a diplomat to the nail' and quite crafty in navigating through difficult issues by either maintaining status quo or remaining non-committal.
There are fair chances that he will rise to occasion.
From 2000 to 2002, he was heading Aligarh University, but very few students really know much about his comprehensive thinking on Hindutva stream of thoughts in society or on demolition of Babri Masjid.
Since long, particularly Muslim community, leaders have been feeling that he has been 'an establishment man.'
A former AMU student and a former sympathiser of Students Islamic Movement of India told rediff.com, "Sir was a brilliant speaker. His English speeches were flawless but he will never give any opinion on sensitive issues in plain terms like yes or no. Actually, he does not have a typical Muslim image he just happens to be a Muslim. He is not well-connected with aam adami (common man) of Muslim community. They do not know him."
Ansari's student and fan, adds, "However, I remember once he told us that Muslims should take example of Jews who have struggled in an exemplary way after the Holocaust. They have carved out the nation and fought tooth and nail to get recognition. He said we should learn from history of struggle of Jews."
G Parthasarathi, former diplomat and Ansari's partner in morning walk says, "Obviously, I am delighted. I would talk about him as an Indian only."
However, people who are feeling disturbed by the series of allegations against President-elect Pratibha Patil will have a sigh of relief because Ansari is a stark contrast.
Gajendra Singh, former diplomat and a batch mate of Ansari told rediff.com, "He is man of integrity. He is quite straight forward. With most parties wanting a scandal-free and non-controversial Muslim candidate, I had written to him thrice in the last month that he had a very good chance. He is also excellent in management. He was chief of protocol for five years, without any mishaps."
Ansari is an officer of 1961 batch of Indian Foreign Service.
Kamal Farooqui, member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board is among Ansari's admirers.
"Ansari is an upper caste Sunni Muslim. There are thousands of Ansaris who are weavers of India since centuries. But Hamidji family belongs to other elite Ansaris," he says.
It's believed that the US will be bit upset owing to his critical outlook towards US policies in Iraq and the US attitude towards Iran. He was critical of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when India voted along with West against Iran. But, Left parties might have accepted him precisely for that reason.
However, Ansari's friend and diplomat says, "Americans will see it as the part of politics of India."
It is interesting to note that the UPA's short list of vice presidential candidates had historian Irfan Habib, former diplomat Abid Hussein, Haryana Governor A R Kidwai, educationalist Mushirul Hasan amongst many others.
But, Ansari's position on international politics has tilted the Left parties' decision in his favour. Although they have divergent views, Dr Singh knows Ansari well at a personal level.
Ansari, who is also a recipient of Padmashree award, is on the distinguished invitees' list at the Prime Minister's Office at important dinners at Hyderabad House when foreign dignitaries visit India.
On August 10, Ansari will be pitted against the UNPA's vice-presidential candidate Rasheed Masood, a diehard politician.
Many politicians and analysts strongly believe that induction of retired bureaucrats and diplomats on the Constitutional post is quite objectionable because the decision is undermining people's democracy.
Politicians, who struggle whole life time to reach to the top, are pushed to sidelines by such appointments. It also undermines those community leaders who bear hardships along with people and people's issues.
