OBITUARY

A champion of Immigrants

Ted was the driving force behind the passing of  the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which “abolished the national-origin quotas that had been in place in the United States since the Immigration Act of 1924.” For the first time, the doors for immigrants from Africa and Asia were opened and they migrated to America in far greater numbers than they did previously in a system of  quotas based on preferences for ethnicities from Western Europe.

He was a supporter of anyone who faced disadvantage, discrimination or denial of rights; he was a true champion of the American Dream and stayed true to those values of tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation of the fact that U.S. is “A Nation of Immigrants” throughout his career, working hard in the last few years to pass immigration reform legislation, which would have covered legalization of illegal immigrants, a guest-worker program, and border enforcement issues. Though he did not live to see the end of such a measure, President Obama has committed to comprehensive immigration reform early next year, and if it passes, it will owe much to Senator Kennedy’s work.

Though he did not live to see the end of such a measure, President Obama has committed to comprehensive immigration reform early next year, and if it passes, it will owe much to Senator Kennedy’s work.

A great friend of Bangladesh

Kennedy had many foreign-policy achievements to his credit, and one of them was his role in helping to create the new state of Bangladesh in 1971.

In 1971, the Pakistan Government, with the support of the Nixon administration, sent troops into what was then called East Pakistan, in order to contain a secessionist movement.

The U.S. government was busy wooing Pakistan and China and ignored the massacre. The situation got little coverage in the United States.

Kennedy was one of the first international figures to alert the world of the Pakistani army’s genocide in Bangladesh. He was among the first to tell the world of how Hindu Bangladeshis were targeted by the Pakistani army. He also helped focus the world’s attention on the unprecedented humanitarian and refugee crisis that had begun unfolding in the Subcontinent with a massive refugee crisis as millions streamed across the border to India.

Kennedy, who had a lifelong interest in refugee issues and was eyeing a run against Nixon, traveled to inspect the situation. 

The 39-year-old Kennedy travelled across West Bengal and other parts of eastern India and documented the plight of Bangladeshi refugees in a scathing report on American policy.   In 1971, In his report to the Judicial Committee on Refugees, titled Crisis in South Asia, Kennedy told of seeing “one of the most appalling tides of human misery in modern times”.   “Nothing is more clear, or more easily documented, than the systematic campaign of terror - and its genocidal consequences - launched by the Pakistani army on the night of march 25th,” Kennedy wrote.   “Hardest hit have been members of the Hindu community who have been robbed of their lands and shops, systematically slaughtered and, in some places, painted with yellow patches marked ‘H’.   “All of this has been officially sanctioned, ordered and implemented under martial law from Islamabad.

“America’s heavy support of Islamabad is nothing short of complicity in the human and political tragedy of East Bengal,” he concluded.

In the 200 days from April 1 to mid-October, he wrote, over half a million refugees - 954,012 to be exact - had crossed over to India, a flow that he said was “without parallel in modern history”.

When Bangladesh gained independence, Kennedy flew over Feb 14, 1972. He received a hero's welcome in Dhaka. He gave a speech at a rally at Dhaka University where thousands of students greeted him with cries of “Joi Kennedy” (Long Live Kennedy). 

In his speech, Kennedy drew parallels between the liberation of Bangladesh and the American Revolution. He said America had prospered despite people who predicted it would collapse following independence, and so would Bangladesh. "Even though the United States government does not recognize you," Kennedy said, "the people of the world do recognize you."

He planted a tree at the site of the original giant Banyan tree, lovingly known as Bawt Tawla, which the Pakistani army had blown up on the night of March 25 “ripping the very heart of Dhaka University”, as a student put it.

It was an appropriate echo of the Bangladeshi independence slogan of “Joi Bangla” - at a venue where the Pakistani army had begun its pogrom a year ago. 

The Nixon administration maintained its stance. But Kennedy's focus on the mass killings came as everyday Americans began to share in the outrage.

The U.S. Congress was forced to push through a bill to ban arms sales to Pakistan.

Kennedy's interest in Bangladesh did not end at that stage. On October 26, 2007 he expressed his deep concern "about twelve prominent intellectuals in Dhaka and Rajshahi University" who had been detained without charges and tortured.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalling Kennedy's role while paying a tribute said, "The people of Bangladesh will remember his contribution forever."

Health Care Reform

Kennedy was a longtime advocate of healthcare reform. His interest in healthcare dated from his son's bout with cancer in the 1970s, his own diagnosis in May 2008 as he battled brain cancer.

"I've benefited from the best of medicine, but I've also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans," he wrote in a May 28, 2009, issue of the Boston Globe.

Health care reform is a signature issue of Obama's presidency. Obama said he was heartbroken to hear of the death of Kennedy.

"I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom," said Obama. 

“The best of the Democratic Party” 

Many politicians lose touch or relevance as they get older, but Kennedy remained in touch with the concerns of every generation of Americans even as he entered his 70’s.

For his 47 years in the Senate, his immigration legislation is the work that most profoundly affected the lives of South Asians. He touched the life of every American with the staggering body of his work from healthcare reform to disability empowerment to patient’s rights, measures he helped to enact protect civil and labor rights, expand healthcare, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.    "There's a lot to do," Kennedy told Reuters in 2006. "I think most of all it's the injustice that I continue to see and the opportunity to have some impact on it."   A 2009 survey by The Hill, a Capitol Hill publication, found that Senate Republicans believed Kennedy was the chamber's easiest Democrat to work with and most bipartisan.   Like his brothers, Kennedy was known for his oratory, delivered in a booming voice at rallies, congressional hearings and in the Senate.

He drew praise from liberals, labor and civil rights groups and scorn from conservatives, big business and anti-abortion and pro-gun activists. His image was often used by Republicans in ads as a money-raising tool.

Kennedy endorsed President Obama back in February of last year, as he spoke of once again “passing the torch to the next generation.” At that same event, Obama said that Kennedy’s values embodied “the best of the Democratic Party.” Senator Kennedy once said, "...the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," the family statement said. 

"I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the presidency," Obama said. "And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as president from his encouragement and wisdom."

Carter said that despite the tough and divisive primary campaign, the two had long ago reconciled their political rivalry and had a good working relationship on a number of issues.

“I have called on Ted Kennedy as a friend and he's always been fully supportive. Those political skirmishes were soon forgotten and the friendship prevailed,” Carter told CNN.

Republican Senator John McCain called Kennedy "the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results."

His death marked the twilight of a political dynasty and dealt a blow to Democrats as President Barack Obama works for an overhaul of the healthcare system. 

Kennedy married Virginia Joan Bennett, known as Joan, in 1958. They divorced in 1982. In 1992, he married Washington lawyer Victoria Reggie. His survivors include a daughter, Kara Kennedy Allen; two sons, Edward Jr. and Patrick; and two stepchildren, Caroline and Curran Raclin.

"True Compass," his 650-page autobiography, is scheduled to be released September 14.

__________________

Suresh Jaura is managing editor of South Asian Outlook and Indo-Canada Outlook published by Globalom Media (North America), which also runs the South Asian Web TV.