I.K. Gujral, former prime minister, is dead

New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) Inder Kumar Gujral, who was India’s prime minister for 11 months in 1997-98, died in a Gurgaon hospital Friday, his family said. He was 93.

Gujral earlier served as the external affairs minister in two non-Congress governments, serving under prime ministers V.P. Singh and H.D. Deve Gowda.

He passed away at 3.27 p.m., Naresh Gujral, his son and a Rajya Sabha member from the Shiromani Akali Dal, told IANS.

Gujral was admitted to Medanta Medicity with a lung infection Nov 19 and was on ventilator. A team of nine senior consultants headed by Naresh Trehan kept a close watch on him.

On Monday, doctors said medicines were not showing much effect and his condition worsened. On Tuesday he fell unconscious and never gained consciousness thereafter.

He is survived by his two sons, Naresh, and Vishal Gujral, who was till recently a professor in the US, and three grandchildren. His younger brother is the famed artist and sculptor Satish Gujral.

His wife Sheila predeceased him in July 2011.

Since retiring from active politics in 1999, he wrote his autobiography “Matters of Discretion” (Hay House) and was an active figure in the strategic and literary circles.

He retained an abiding interest in Indian foreign policy and spoke widely about India’s place in the world and ties with its neighbours.

Gujral, known for his impeccable dressing and manners and his trademark goatee beard, will be remembered as the proponent of the Gujral Doctrine which advocated that India, being the larger neighbour, should do twice as more for its smaller neighbours for the sake of regional peace and prosperity.

IANS 2012-11-30 17:04:08