SO BE IT


Editor’s note, 16 June 2013

It’s very sad to learn that independent thinker, active Twitter user, blogger and former Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi B.Raman is no more.

In April 2011, we had published a piece on what happened to Mr. B.Raman, and more importantly how he reacted to it.

You know, when projected as someone inching closer to Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan quickly became defensive and started giving explanations attempting balancing act. And you know Maulana Vastanavi also first praised the Gujarat government and later when he was attacked for doing so, he backtracked and issued denial. In another example, Anna Hazare first praised the Modi government, but when others started attacking him for this, he too started sounding balancing tune. There are enough examples of such kinds. But Raman was different. I would remember his three words: So be it.

In 2011, Raman on his blog posted an article Assertion of youth power in support of Narendra Modi. His another article For India’s benefit, Modi bashers must be ignored was published on Rediff.Com around same time.

An as soon as his articles caught attraction of the readers, one particular small left-lib class started sending negative reactions.And how Shri Raman reacted to it? The title of his piece was ‘SO BE IT

Just some last points of his ‘SO BE IT‘ post:

7. It was this view which found strong expression in my latest article on him which appeared on April 15. I have been taken aback by the kind of negative reactions it has evoked among some sections of the so-called secularists. I respect the views of my critics and have carefully thought over them the whole of last night when I did not and could not sleep.

8. I have come to the conclusion that there is no reason why I should have any second-thoughts on my wisdom in writing the article. I stand by whatever I wrote in that article.

9. If, as a result, I become the bete noire of some sections of the so-called secularists, so be it.

10.If I become persona non grata in the world of the Indian media, so be it.

11.If I lose some precious friendships, so be it.

12.If I lose readership of my future articles, so be it. ( 16-4-11)

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While Amitabh Bachchan, Vastanvi, Hazare and many others were clarifying their position on Modi after attacked by a small vocal group, it was B.Raman who stood by his pen and reacted marvelously through his three words ‘so be it,’ that shall be remembered.

Whatever political development took place today could be answered with same three words: So be it.

You will be remembered Mr. Raman.