"Election Commission has been treated as a sidekick to the government."

Former Chief Election Commissioner, T.N. Seshan said that family values had kept him the way he was. "We were taught the value of time, money, honesty, and hard work from a very early age."
"Every possible imaginable work in the household I have done. Cleaning the house, during those days there was no gas, so lighting up a fire from firewood, draw water out of the well, milk the cow, clean the cow, cook. Work was not something that was unedifying. All work was edifying work".
He also said that his father taught him at a very young age to read the Gita.
"Spirituality does not mean demonstrative spirituality. I am not saying that those who do are wrong. You can be spiritual in your own space, own house. I base myself on the Gita. The first one third is about karma yoga, the second one third is about nyana yoga and third one third is about bhakti yoga. I have practiced this in my own little place. One does not need pictures of gods and goddess in conference room in order to be religious".
He said that he got into the Chief Election Commissioner's job by sheer accident. In October-November of 1990, when Chandrasekhar became the Prime Minister, he called T.N. Seshan and said he would like to give me some job. Unfortunately for everybody, Mr. Peri Sastri, the previous Chief Election Commissioner expired suddenly. "I was asked if I would like to be the Chief Election Commissioner and I refused. Before 1990 the only time I had done an election was in 1967, when I was collector in Madurai".
"Varieties of circumstances conspired and I consulted Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, he said no. I consulted Mr. Venkatraman, he said no. I consulted my brother, he said no. I consulted my father in law, who was a scientist, who in turn consulted his astrologer and was told that I would take up the job, but would sit on it like I was sitting on a bunch of thorns. I consulted the Acharya of Kanchi, who said I should take it up as it was a job with great dignity".
A month into the job Seshan wanted to quit. He approached the Prime Minister, who got annoyed with Seshan for deciding to quit so soon. Another month later, in January, Seshan wanted to quit again. It was only in March of 1991, with the elections round the corner that Seshan felt that he would like to continue in the job.
"My understandings of the Constitution of India, Article 324, and the subsequent articles have intended that the Election Commission should be truly independent. Today across the world, in Haiti, Ivory Coast and various other places where the absence of an independent election commission is causing havoc to democracies. Unfortunately design and theory is one and practice is another".
He said that the Election Commission was treated as a sidekick of the government. "In all papers it read Chief Election Commissioner, Government of India. I said sorry, I am not part of the Government of India. I am part of the structure of this country but am not part of the Government of India." He said that it took considerable effort to satisfy or bring home to the government that the Election Commission was of the government but not under the government.
"Establishing the independence of the Election Commission was one thing, the other thing was that the people did not understand the beauty of the language of the Constitution. Through the years, elections had become a joke".

[@SrikanthYallapragada]

damn we could not get him on to the president chair of India!

[@nmadankumar1978]

He ran against Dr. kalam I think

[@abishsaseendrawarrier6361]

@@nmadankumar1978 No K R Narayanan

[@soorajkudavattoor8884]

Then he would have showed what the power of the President is :)

[@Arunjeet_Singh]

Staright forward. Hard worker. Decisive. The true 'Public Servant'

[@calexander3989]

I can call him as a Bharat Rathna T.N. Shesan. He is really cable of any National Awards.

[@pritanyt]

No one treasures a good and just bureaucrat in india they despise them in Indian government.

[@ashisnath9145]

super historical interview. The election commissioner position coming to TN Seshan is most dramatic

[@abdulmajidfarooq8513]

WE INDIANS WASTE GREAT TALENTS LIKE THIS GREAT GEM................ JUST TO THINK THIS MASTER HAD TO WORK UNDER ANNA DURAI,MGR. KARUNANIDHI AND CROOKS LIKE THAT

[@HalarRajputSamaj]

सत सत नमन स्विकार करे एक छोटे भारत वासी की तरफ से श्री सेसानजी ।।

[@shubhanshupandey1007]

It is so sad that our great country India is always in habit of wasting and disregarding the great talents...and then later cry foul in search of a Messiah but we will not change our thinking and corrupt ways..and keep voting the morally corrupt and bloody criminals to power just because of our petty benefits, caste , region, language etc..

[@tinklingcrystals6489]

There's one now.. more or less of a Messiah.. Kejriwal.. open your eyes and vote wisely.

[@sailaab]

what a shame? referring to just another _suar_ (politician) as messiah!

[@arpitashankar3562]

one of the gems of India.

[@tulsiraodoppa1466]

Where u from.Raipur.

[@enlightenindia4179]

dada I love you

[@sailaab]

Dada *"ji*" ... but sadly his heritage won't live long :( wish they had at-least adopted a child or groomed someone to carry the legacy forward.

[@ravikumart7046]

Sir...you are inspiration for all of us...we will follow your footprints in maintaining honesty and integrity..Jai Hind

[@irfankhantn1186]

Gem of a person. Great personality.

[@aneesafatima8315]

This is real gentleman genuine person interview that people must see unlike A political interview

[@rathod307]

Inspiring personality.

[@patelpump3257]

Kindly remember, it was Subramanian Swamy who got in TN Seshan. It took a honest and gutsy politican to get a honest IAS officer. So kindly elect honest and gutsy people irrespective of PARTY.

[@xyzabc5755]

wish he were here as CEC at this point of time . He handled the most difficult elections in Indian history of post Rajiv Gandhi assassination in the most efficient,fair and bold manner ,without fear or fervour! The most hated and feared beurocrat by all indian politicians who was like a hawk swooping in and tearing apart all those who transgress the rules laid out by the election commission ! No wonder ,none of the politicians wanted his presence ! The present dispensation is a knee jerked and wimping one ,always ready and happy to pamper and satisfy the rulers at the center !Integrity of election commission is a big question mark now ! We are yet to witness even a semblance of seshan era election commission or a CEC to match his caliber ,honesty and Integrity after his term was over ! It seems election commission and CEC is now back to pre seshan era!

[@srikanthnarasimhan8968]

Trend setter for Election commission

[@vasupradhamohan3156]

Karma yoga had made this person strong and. Unique

[@kris05178]

Rip seshan hope the heaven you stay has an integrity

[@shubhanshupandey1007]

Just see which types of channels take interviews of these greats... And how many views does it earn... And just contrast it by the no. Of views on filmy songs, yoyo fuckin' Singh, tiktok etc... So sad

[@whileStillhere]

He said this during Congress rule in 2011. Video uploaded 8 years ago.

[@MohanRoy-ss8vb]

All Indian politicians are dishonest but TN shesshan was the one of the honest pepole

[@SuperLAKSHIT]

brilliant !!!

[@aaictsecurity]

Rip sir .. today is very sad day for india

[@kssubramanian4793]

Like the Five Year Plans the theory is good but the practice it is totally different

[@carampavankumarmelam1811]

Great person

[@curious1731]

Imagine if he becomes indias prime minister...

[@nagariknewzcom]

Please don't miss to see this video on Late TN Seshan- kzbin.info/www/bejne/opbappmFfdmMoNE

[@sailaab]

fortunate to have seen and heard him in person when he addressed our gathering. someone with real gonads even after leaving the office of CEC and at that age. so unfortunate that such people are a rarity and the toil they go through, the risks they take (threats to life too)... are ALL subsequently UNDONE :( by spineless whimps, crooks.

[@aneesafatima8315]

Gathering? In college

[@sailaab]

ji Aneesa ji. back in 1990s (just 2-3 years after BSNL started giving internet) there was no social media etcetera and he spoke with us very candidly. still was under Z security or something even 15-16 months after stepping down. THAT was how much politicians or goons hated him. he openly :P told that some people have a two fathers and still are 'bastards'. he meant the political masters being Godfathers and petty criminal turned politician's biological father.

[@manoharraman6707]

The most efficient beurocrate of our country

[@sachindandge764]

Old people were so much virtuous , disciplined,had a high moral values like Sheshan Sir ..rip

[@tulsiraodoppa1466]

He was right person for President candidate.He was great understanding person.He knows India.I salute him.

[@ravisankar9411]

You are great person... Straight forward

[@jaihind2111]

Can anyone? 12:35 In During the elections also PM being continued as PM Of India .then what about the CM?

[@divyaniwatgule5144]

His left is continuously shaking but the confidence and roughness in his voice is really too strong, this man was really something!!🔥

[@rajarajan8720]

T N Seshan was the only officer who read & understand the schedule of powers CEC & implemented his powers. Likewise there are lot of OFFICERS who did Not read & understand the schedule of POWERS vested with them. Many of them take the Job as a routine. If they realise their powers the innocent Public will Get Justice.

[@chakrapaniveeraraghavan5409]

Yes it is coming to my mind that we were all brought up like that nin childhood, school days. Most of the who took vrs from public sector undertakings, central band state government jobs, insurance and banking sector, belong to the same category of honestly, integrity, family values. I proud to say that I am one among those firtunates.

[@sailaab]

good to know that. sadly not all, even back then, were like that... and in current times even less are. whether that be due to aspirations, fear, greed, lust or whatever... the value systems are largely lost or not the same as earlier. of-course dignity of labour too is dwindling.

[@nirajpandey2853]

Mr. T N Seshan one of the gems of India, should have been CM of Tamil Naidu. He should have been President of India. We need more, more people like Mr. Seshan.

[@adityaanupam4697]

The greatest gift we have is right to vote to choose our rulers. Nation salutes him for contribution for reforms. True statesman. People dies legacy remains🙏

[@donquixoteonrocinante]

Unsung Hero of democracy in India

[@pradeepraj007]

What a legendary person. Salute sir !

[@ravisankar9411]

What a memory sir... We wasted your talent....

[@BhaskerYogendra]

my hero and ideal personality

[@1212kamlesh]

we need another T N SESHAN

[@Pilgrim_Adament]

This man deserves a bharat ratna.

[@abhiranjankumar2306]

Great sir salute ur integrity

[@subash_ori]

True hero🇮🇳

[@RahulSingh-ir2ij]

A great reformer

[@vatsee]

A true hero!

[@newton0701]

He is a gems

[@unpurposelessness]

Who is the interviewer - is it Deepa Jayakumar?

[@rajasekarr7456]

Very depressing. So much study but supporting and quoting hindu religious text is supporting caste system indirectly. Don't believe a word of religous people in civil duties.