Giant-killer' to 'striking George', how Fernandes went on to defend India

'Giant-killer' to 'striking George', how Fernandes went on to defend India Former defence minister George Fernandes, aged 88, passed away today after a prolonged battle with various illnesses including Alzheirmer's Disease, leaving behind a rich legacy of contributions

Current Affairs: A firebrand trade unionist and socialist, George Fernandes belonged to a rare bunch of political leaders who rose above caste, religious and regional identities to leave an indelible mark on Indian politics.

Born in Mangalore in a Christian family in 1930, he was a staunch antiCongress leader. His tie-up with the BJP in mid 1990s was crucial in ending the saffron party's isolation in alliance politics as many 'secular' parties followed his cue and propelled it to power twice under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership.

His underground crusade against the Emergency catapulted him among the leading opposition figures. A photograph of Fernandes, with his shock of unkempt hair, raising a manacled hand in defiance remains one of the most enduring images of those times.

Like lakhs of hopefuls, George Fernandes had come to Bombay (now, Mumbai) aged barely 19 looking for a job and spent many nights on the mean streets, fighting roaches and rodents, but never complaining, oldtimers reminisced.

‘George the Giant-killer’ Unlike Oliver Twist, he never "asked for more" but went on to earn it the hard way with his own skills, talent and leadership traits, learning everything en route - even 10 languages!

He eventually became "George the Giant-killer" when he vanquished the then 'Uncrowned King of Bombay' the veteran Congress leader S K Patil in...read more

→News Source:BS/Business Standard←