OPINION: Remembering Sushil Modi - From Exposing Chara Ghotala To Shaping GST In India

Sushil Modi, a stalwart of the Bharatiya Janta Party in Bihar, is no more. He breathed his last in the AIMS Delhi yesterday after battling against the cancer for about 8 months. In him a crucial pillar of state's politics has collapsed.

In the upheaval of the JP Movement, three prominent student leaders of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and Sushil Kumar Modi, later rose to fame and became significant figures in the politics of the nation and the state. At the time, when Laloo Prasad used to be the President of the Patna University Student Union, Sushil Modi was its secretary. Both fought together strongly against the anarchy and emergency imposed by the then Congress government at center, however, Lalu Prasad aligned with the Congress as the time changed, and Sushil Modi, becoming a prominent leader of the BJP, sometimes allied with Nitish and sometimes stood alone as the biggest opponent of Congress in the state. It is noteworthy that Sushil Ji had started practicing politics in Bihar alongside the outstanding BJP brigade of Kailashpati Mishra, Tarakant Jha and Jagdambi Prasad Yadav and alike.

The political journey of Sushil Modi has been enormous. Once an ally of Lalu Yadav in student politics, Suhil Modi went on to becoming an astute critic of Lalu's school of politics and a staunch crusader who fought vehemently against the so-called jungle raj in Bihar. When one would turn the page of history, one would know that it was Sushil Modi with Shivanand Tiwari and Rajeev Ranjan aka Lalan Singh of JDU, who went on knocking the doors of the court with the plethora of proofs of the involvement of Lalu family and the state in the infamous fodder scam.

Sushil Modi used to launch scathing attacks against Lau's dynastic politics, corruption, and jungle raj but always maintained the political decorum. He displayed remarkable finesse while expressing even the most bitter differences. Lalu Prasad and Sushil Modi remained adversaries in politics, but one would wonder to know that Rabari Devi, the former chief minister of Bihar and the wife of Lalu acknowledged him as a brother, and she would even tie rakhi to him. Laloo Yadav was known for his humorous nature and often made lighter remarks about Sushil Modi, but Sushil Ji confined his attacks to politics alone. He remained a synonym for integrity and transparency in public life. His sad demise has brought us to the last chapter of political modesty in Bihar.

Sushil Modi was a member of all four chambers of India's democratic system: the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assembly of Bihar as well as the Legislative Council. He also served as Bihar's Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. His significant contribution, alongside Nitish, was in reviving the economy and administrative system of the state. The duo was often seen as the artisan of bringing Bihar back on track. He was instrumental in bringing Nitish closer to the BJP repeatedly and handing over political humiliation to Lalu & Congress. However, allegations of being more loyal to Nitish than the BJP, would maliciously labeled upon him. Not to forget, whenever Nitish chose a different path, Sushil Modi consistently displaying his political integrity, did not refrain from attacking him, taking potshots against Nitish's unstable political alignment.

He has showcased his political prowess as the leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, he continued to display outstanding administrative skills as the deputy chief minister of Bihar, particularly in the role of the minister of finance of the state which had its treasury in trouble then.

Sushil Ji had a deep understanding of financial matters. He had also served as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. Sushil Modi, who loved to work behind the scenes, has made a massive contribution in designing and implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Sushil Modi was the one coordinated with the states to give a tangible form to the GST. With his unbeatable acumen, he dealt with the complexity of the then alien tax system for a diversified country like India. He was also the chairperson of the council of finance ministers of states on the GST.

In addition to a finest legislative brain, Modi was a friend to everyone, particularly a guardian and a guide to the journalists operating from Patna, sometimes elsewhere too. The press was not only looking up to him for needful information, but in the media sectors of the state capital, it was believed that the press fraternity used to get their facts checked by Sushil Modi. One would have certainly astonished by looking at the pile of paper cutting at his table. He used to preserve these snaps with dates. He had such a close bond with files that he was often referred to as the 'paper-worm' in the political circuit of Bihar. From exposing Bihar's infamous fodder scam and many more afterwards, taking them through the legal course, putting those in public discourse through press-sessions, he played a leading role.

I came in touch with him during my early days of journalism. Later, when he attended a conference of Biharis in Bengaluru once, our contact was renewed, however we couldn't stay in touch just due to the hustle and bustle of our lives. Recently, when the news of his illness broke, my mind panicked. I got his coordinates from a journo friend but could only connect once to hear that Sushil Ji was not in a state to talk.

We were planning a trip to Bihar for election coverage. I had told my colleague Inzamam Wahidi that, if possible, we would meet Sushil Ji, now that is never going to happen. With his departure to the heavenly abode, an era of selfless politics, particularly an extraordinary one in the context of Bihar, has ended.

Sushil Ji indeed deserved way too much more than he got in his political career. He was the finest brain behind Bihar's wellbeing, the bridge between the sangh and the socialists in Bihar, he was much more gracious leader than anyone else in his time, still he ended up with a second fiddle by hard luck. May God now at least grant him his due. Prayers for peace to his soul and strength to his family. Bon voyage, sir!