Sushma Swaraj’s companion and famous lawyer Swaraj Kaushal, one of the loudest voices of Indian politics, passed away. On August 6, 2019, when Sushma Swaraj left this world, the entire country saw the picture of Swaraj Kaushal saluting his wife’s mortal remains. In that salute there was not the pain of a husband, but the pride of a friend. Today, after about 5 years, he also went to his ‘Sushma’. This is not just the news of one person leaving. This is the news of the end of that era, when two opposite ideas, two different personalities came together to form one whole.
This story begins in Chandigarh in the early 1970s. The Law Department of Panjab University became witness to this love story. Sushma Sharma had come from Ambala, Haryana. Hindi speaking, brought up in the values of Sanatan Dharma and RSS, big dot on the forehead and sharp in thoughts. On the other side was Swaraj Kaushal, a carefree young man, English speaking, supporter of socialist ideology and with modern thoughts. The worlds of both were different, but the debate brought them together. Sushma spoke fluent Hindi and Swaraj spoke English. Both of them often competed in debate competitions. Sometimes Sushma would win, sometimes Swaraj would win. In this game of winning and losing, it was not known when both of them won each other’s heart.
Sushma Swaraj once told in an interview, we both had different ideologies, but we both loved each other’s intelligence. He understood me and I understood him. During our college days, we had decided that we would travel the journey of life together.
The shadow of emergency and that ‘July’ wedding
Love had fallen in love, but the path to marriage was not easy. Sushma came from a very orthodox family. His father was a prominent member of the RSS and discipline at home was very strict. On the other hand, Swaraj Kaushal’s family and environment were completely different. In those times, it was considered a big rebellion for a Brahmin girl from Haryana to marry of her own choice, that too to a boy who was slightly different from her social structure.
- But both Sushma and Swaraj were lawyers. They presented arguments to their respective families instead of emotions. They explained to their parents that they complemented each other. Ultimately, the family had to bow down.
emergency wedding
The date was fixed… July 13, 1975. This was the period when Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency in the country. Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement was at its peak. Both Sushma and Swaraj were associated with the JP movement. Their marriage also did not take place in any royal ceremony, but in a very simple manner. It is said that along with the vows in their marriage, they had probably also sworn to protect the Constitution, because right after the marriage, both of them had fought the George Fernandes case.
The ‘name’ that became an identity
After marriage, Sushma Sharma changed her name to Sushma Swaraj. Usually women add their husband’s surname (Kaushal), but Sushma added her husband’s first name Swaraj to her name. This was a huge and modern step at that time. Swaraj Kaushal not only accepted this, but also supported Sushma in raising this name throughout her life.
When the husband became the wife’s strength
It is often seen in our society that a woman is behind a successful man. But the story of Swaraj Kaushal and Sushma was opposite. Swaraj Kaushal himself was a very successful person. At the age of 34, he became the country’s youngest Advocate General and then at the age of 37, the Governor of Mizoram. He was an expert on North-East affairs and was the architect of many peace agreements. But when Sushma Swaraj’s political stature started growing, Swaraj Kaushal retreated. He never let his achievements come in the way of Sushma’s shine.
Sushma Swaraj had emotionally said many times, my husband has contributed more to my success than me. When I was in Parliament or campaigning, he used to take care of his daughter Bansuri. He never let me get entangled in household responsibilities. If Swaraj had not been with me, I would not have been what I am today.
That sweet banter on Twitter
- The most beautiful glimpse of the chemistry of Sushma Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal was seen on social media. They were probably the first couple in India who did not shy away from pulling each other’s legs on a public platform.
- Once a fan asked Sushma ji on Twitter, Ma’am, you follow so many people, but why don’t you follow your husband Swaraj Kaushal? Sushma ji’s answer was so witty that it went viral. He wrote, we have been taught since childhood to follow our husbands at home, not on Twitter.
- At the same time, Swaraj’s skills were also no less. When Sushma Swaraj announced not to contest elections in 2019, Swaraj Kaushal had tweeted, Madam, thank you very much. Don’t want any more elephants at home now. You have been running marathons for 41 years, now stop.
- Another story is very famous. Someone asked Swaraj Kaushal, what is the zodiac sign of you and Sushma ji? Swaraj Kaushal said jokingly, I don’t know my zodiac sign, but my wife’s zodiac sign is leader.
In the words of daughter Bansuri – He was my super dad and mother’s best friend.
Sushma and Swaraj’s daughter Bansuri Swaraj has often talked about this unique relationship of her parents. Bansuri had told in an interview that her childhood was not normal, because her mother was the busiest woman in the country.
Bansuri says, my father played the role of both mother and father for me. When mother was on tour, father used to go to my parent-teacher meetings and tie ribbons in my braids. He never let his masculinity or ego come in the way. He was mother’s biggest critic and also her biggest supporter.
According to Bansuri, Sushma Swaraj was not the foreign minister at home, but a normal wife and mother. And the work of maintaining that normality was done by Swaraj Kaushal.
When ‘Kaushal’ lost his ‘Sushma’
No one can forget that night of 6 August 2019. Sushma Swaraj died suddenly of a heart attack. That night, those stone-cold eyes of Swaraj Kaushal outside AIIMS were telling that he had lost his world. A picture from the funeral had made the entire nation cry. When Sushma Swaraj’s mortal remains were being taken away, Swaraj Kaushal and Bansuri gave her last ‘salute’. Later, Swaraj Kaushal, while sharing an old photo of Sushma ji, wrote, the music of my life has gone away with your departure. Today, Swaraj Kaushal’s demise marks the completion of a love story. Today we have to believe that there is going to be a debate competition in the sky, where on one side there will be arguments in Hindi and on the other side there will be arguments in English. And in the end, the same ‘love’ will win again.
