‘’Few succeed in attaining perfection in politics like T M Jacob,’’ said Speaker G Karthikeyan here on Sunday. Inaugurating a function organised by the friends of the late leader, Karthikeyan said Jacob is an ideal role model for those who aspire to become good parliamentarians and leaders.
‘’Jacob also proved his mettle as an organiser by founding and heading a party for such a long time,’’ he added.
‘’Integrity and honesty were the hallmarks of Jacob,’’ remembered Chief Secretary and Jacob’s college-mate K Jayakumar. ‘’He supported just and noble causes and stood by them without bothering about the consequences,’’ Jayakumar said.
Former Additional Chief Secretary D Babu Paul said Jacob broke the concept of the ‘ever-smiling’ politician. ‘’Jacob, like A K Antony, is noted for his original behaviour which didn’t stand as a handicap for him to earn the love and respect of people,’’ he said. ‘’It seems his unswerving devotion paid well when the almighty called him back only after giving him the lost power and position,’’ Babu Paul said.
In his reply, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, the only son of T M Jacob, said that it is a matter of pride for him and his family that his father’s personality and services are being recalled gloriously by one and all in the society. ‘’He was a wonder in many ways for our family too. His hard-working mentality and commitment to a cause while shouldering responsibilities and fighting against adversities were always notable,” Anoop said.
“He never asked me to venture into public life or in the organisational structure of the party. Nor had he prevented me either,” Anoop disclosed. “Despite his rough exterior, he always maintained a close bond with us children and other family members,” he added and admitted that while steering the same portfolio of his father now, he could feel the difficulty ten-fold.
“His struggle with severe illnesses was something which could not be put in words. But with his never-say-die frame of mind and action, he had translated the Re 1/kg rice scheme into a reality with such a commitment when the government came to power. God might have had a definite plan while making him pass through hardships and also while bidding adieu from our midst with honour retrieved,” Anoop observed.
Elizabeth Antony, Kerala Congress (Jacob) chairman Johny Nelloor, Planning Baord member C P John, Mahatma Gandhi University former vice-chancellor A Sukumaran Nair, Press Club president Pradeep Pillai, Law Academy director Narayanan Nair, Kerala Kaumudi bureau chief V S Rajesh, senior journalist Sunnykutty Abraham, Jacob’s wife Daisy and daughter Ambily attended the function.