I wish G.P. were alive: Narayanan

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 7. Describing the first Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr. G. Parthasarathi, as a ``typical phenomenon of the Nehruvian era,'' the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, today said he was the best exponent of India's foreign policy.

Inaugurating the G. Parthasarathi Resource Centre (GPRC) of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), to mark his 88th birth anniversary here, Mr. Narayanan wished `G.P.' were alive today to assist the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in the summit talks with the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

``G.P.'s presence as a skilful negotiator would have been of invaluable assistance to Mr. Vajpayee,'' the President said, recalling his immense contribution in countless diplomatic missions.

Referring to the recent crisis in Manipur, Mr. Narayanan said that at this crucial juncture, G.P. was being remembered for his contribution in resolving the Mizo crisis through his insight and in-depth understanding of the issues of the northeast.

Stating that he owed a lot to G.P., Mr. Narayanan said the foreign policy expert led a life of amazing versatility and left an impact on everything he did - relations with other countries, his term as JNU Vice-Chancellor, and his close association with the ICSSR. ``And, as an individual, G.P. was one of the most refined and balanced persons of the century,'' he added.

The inaugural was followed by the G. Parthasarathi Memorial Lecture by the veteran diplomat and former member- secretary, Ministry of External Affairs' Policy Planning Committee, Prof. A. K. Damodaran, who said ``as a trusted lieutenant of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, G.P. was instrumental in chalking out strategy for many crucial issues, be it foreign or domestic... Track-II policy was another of his invaluable contributions.''

The ICSSR Chairman, Prof. M. L. Sondhi, said the main objectives behind inaugurating the GPRC were to provide access to high quality relevant information sources, including documents, objects and services in social sciences.

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