However, she resigned on 8 September 2021 for no obvious rhyme or reason; she had by then completed only two of her five-year term as the Governor. Later in the UP state general elections, she was elected as an MLA hoping to be made a minister with an important portfolio to boot. But alas her dream remained just a dream. From the exalted stature of the Governor of a state, she is today just one of the 403 MLAs in UP. What a fall in political fortune for “our Baby Rani”.
Army General takes charge
Thus the appointment of Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM as the eighth Governor of the State on 9 September 2021 came as a big relief. A much decorated officer, Gen. Singh had superannuated from the Army on 31 January 2016. During his nearly four decades of service, he had held the prestigious appointments of Adjutant General and Corps Commander of Strategic XV Corps that overlooks the Line of Control in Kashmir. As the Additional Director General of Military Operations, he had also handled China’s operational and military-strategic issues. Additionally, Gen. Singh had represented the Indian Army at the numerous talks with China in respect of the disputed border cases. In the course of his distinguished military career, Gen. Singh has had the opportunity of twice visiting Pakistan, as also Myanmar.
Just within 10 months of his tenure as the State’s eighth Governor, Gen. Singh has gained much popularity particularly among his co-religionists and Punjabi brethren. He is equally popular both among the elite and the hoi polloi too. Incidentally, I was among the first few Dehra Dun residents who have had the unique privilege of meeting Gen. Singh when I presented him my two Books. That was on 21 September last year. In his very first letter expressing his pleasure at meeting me, he had written, “Your wisdom, depth and intellect are deeply endearing. It would be a pleasure interacting with you in the coming times.” He had also generously sent me special birthday greetings together with a cake that was specially delivered at my residence on 8th October morning by a constable from Hathibarkala Police Post. I was then simply overwhelmed by his magnanimity.
Unfortunately and inexplicably, a sudden coldness seems to have now descended on the Raj Bhawan vis-à-vis poor me. For the past few weeks, my mails and phone calls to the Governor himself and his ADCs have remained unanswered. Once a cherished guest, I seem to have all of a sudden become a persona non grata at the Raj Bhawan. All of this saddens me much.
