Zail Singh Quotes (18 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

Zail Singh: 18 quotes1 like

Famous Zail Singh Quotes

“His humble origins as well his family’s background of being artisans of previous generations meant that he grew up with a healthy respect for work done with one’s hands. He learned to stitch clothes, crush stones, plough fields, lay roads and dig wells, understanding the needs and aspirations of the common man like few others have done in childhood.”

Zail Singh

Source: First among equals President of India, p. 69.

“I asked Rajiv to be frank. I had no love for office or power. I could walk out any time. I was like a sojourner in an inn.”

Zail Singh

When there were rumours that there were proposals under consideration by Rajiv Gandhi and his cronies to either send him back to Punjab as Chief Minister or Impeach him as President, in: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“At one stage, Venkataraman had agreed to become prime minister but he never told me this directly…. Once the news of his being in touch with the dissidents was leaked out, he was offered the presidency and that was the end of it.”

Zail Singh

On being asked if R. Venkataraman showed any interest in becoming prime minister. In: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure".

“No one actually brought me any money. But there were many commitments made…Chandraswami said he knows some Sultan. He wanted me to contest for the second time. Somehow, this fellow had a dislike for Rajiv perhaps because Rajiv refused to encourage him.”

Zail Singh

When it was rumored that he was thinking of contesting for Presidential election for a second term. In: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“All I could do was to ask the prime minister of the country not to allow the blood of innocents be spilled for the crime committed by two misguided security men.”

Zail Singh

When Indira Gandhi was assassinated and riots broke out in Delhi and other parts of the country, his pleas to control the situation did not result in positive response from Rajiv Gandhi.
Source: K.R. Sundar Rajan "Presidential Years:Zail Singh's posthumous defence of his controversial tenure."

“The imperative need of the hour is to visualize the grave dangers not only to our cherished political and social system, but to the very foundation of our values, if there is not greater discipline in national life…Undoubtedly, the nation has registered progress, especially during the last two or three years, but we must accelerate the pace and increase the momentum. We need vigour and the will to rekindle the moral timbre to channelize our energies for constructive purposes. We must eschew communal frenzy…”

Zail Singh

His first speech on assuming charge as President of India, p. 170.
Presidents of India, 1950-2003

Zail Singh Quotes about personality

“His entire personality commanded respect by its example of self-reliance and resolute determination, enabling him to carve a solid reputation for himself in public life.”

Zail Singh

Source: First among equals President of India, p. 70.

“I am not in the habit of making forecasts; but when I do I am usually right. I forecast that he will be the most popular President that India had so far. He is first Sikh, the first Punjabi, and the first person belonging to the backward classes to occupy Rashtrapathi Bhavan.”

Zail Singh

Khushwant Singh in: Janak Raj Jai "Presidents of India 1950-2003", p. 169.

“A veteran of the Indian independence movement against Britain, he was personally popular for his earthy humor and political skills.”

Zail Singh

Sanjoy Hazarika, in: Zail Singh, 78, First Sikh To Hold India's Presidency http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/26/obituaries/zail-singh-78-first-sikh-to-hold-india-s-presidency.html, The New York Times, 26 December 1994.