NEW DELHI/JEDDAH, 20 December 2005 — India yesterday mourned the death of one of its longtime and distinguished parliamentarians. As a mark of respect for Power Minister P.M. Sayeed, 64, who died in Seoul on Sunday, both houses of Parliament observed two minutes’ silence and adjourned for the day after reading out condolence messages.
The national flag was flown at half-mast throughout the country yesterday. Sayeed’s body would be kept at the Congress party headquarters today for some time before being flown to Lakshadweep, where he will be given a state funeral tomorrow.
At an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the federal Cabinet expressed “profound sorrow” on his death and hailed his contribution to the nation as a lawyer, political leader and social worker. Describing Sayeed as an “epitome of politeness and old world grace, and a model of quite efficiency and effectiveness,” the Cabinet said: “He lent dignity to whichever office he occupied and brought to bear his humanitarian outlook on national affairs.”
In a separate statement, Manmohan said: “Sayeed was a valued and respected member of the Cabinet whose wisdom, sagacity and experience was of immense use not only in the power sector, but also in managing affairs of the government.”
Congress President Sonia Gandhi mourned the untimely death of Sayeed.
Expressing deep sorrow at Sayeed’s death, Home Minister Shivraj Patil recalled his long association with him. “I am deeply grieved to hear the news of the demise of my colleague,” he said. Offering condolences to his family, Patil said: “The Congress party and the United Progressive Alliance government will miss him very much.”
Indian expatriates across Saudi Arabia mourned Sayeed. Sayeed’s death is a loss not only for Lakshadweep, a union territory, from where he hailed and began his political career, but for the whole country, a cross-section of expatriates said.
“Sayeed was an astute politician and a very good man at heart as he served the poor regardless of religion, caste or creed,” V.P. Mohammed Ali, director of Jeddah National Hospital, said. He said Sayeed was a regular visitor to the Kingdom and remained quite close to the local community. “Many members regularly consulted him for his advice on issues facing the community,” Ali said.
Members of the community, especially those hailing from the southern Indian state of Kerala, held prayer meetings for Sayeed.
K.P. Abdul Salam, president of Saudi Indian Football Forum and a management executive of a cargo company, said Indians in the Kingdom were shocked to hear that Sayeed was no more. “He was one of modern India’s great leaders and had a great following among people both in India and overseas,” Abdul Salam said.
M.P. Koya, a social worker, said Sayeed was known more as a social worker than a politician, and that’s why the entire community held him in high esteem. He remained quite close to the people, especially those from Androth in Lakshadweep, which he represented for a record 10 times from 1967 to 1999.
“His bid to enter Lok Sabha suffered a blow when he was defeated in the 2004 general elections. And yet, he remained the leader of the masses,” Koya said.
Born May 10, 1941, Sayeed’s life was a continuous battle with fate. Young Sayeed lost his father at three and mother at seven. Having finished his preliminary education in Androth elementary school, he became the first commerce degree holder in the island when he graduated from the Government Arts College, Mangalore.
Even in his worst times, Sayeed never gave up his passion for books and knowledge — his vast collection of books at his official residence at 3, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road is proof of that. “He knew eight languages — English, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu and Beary Basa,” Manmohan said in his condolence message.
