With Jaswant Singh, probably the last of the BJP stalwart goes who initially endeared the party to the educated middle class.

With Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Parrikar & Madanlal Khurana, he lent BJP the credibility among aspirational India, paving the path for radicalisation. 1/n

Jaswant Singh ji was gentle, suave, pleasantly argumentative, who respected parliamentary ethics and procedures.

He could connect with people across party lines and ideological lines.

Sad that he was almost comatose for last few years of his life.
2/n

From my personal interaction with Jaswant Singh ji, I can say that he had began to foresee the impact of his politics on social etiquette and values dear to him. Infact, he paid a price for it.

Personally he taught me a golden principle of public life:
3/n

जसवंत सिंह जी ने कहते थे-
जब लोग नेताओं से काम के लिए मिलने आते हैं, तो अक्सर वो सब तरफ़ से थक हार कर आते हैं। उम्मीद की आख़िरी किरण की तलाश में आते हैं। इसलिए उनके लिए :
‘कार्यवाही हो न हो, उनकी सुनवाई ज़रूर होनी चाहिये’
4/n

A lighter moment-Jaswant Singh ji theoretically introduced me to difference between single malts & blended scotch.

Narrated why single malts were not appropriate gifts for friends, they were only to be gifted to adversaries.

& I laid claim on single malt on ideological grounds