A person who had not yielded one millimeter of integrity, fiercely independent and a man behind the photo identity card for every eligible voter of our country, provided it for free and fair elections. The concept of the photo identity card was championed by him to prevent electoral malpractices and act as a deterrent to bogus voting and impersonation. His tenure as the Chief Election Commissioner of India is remembered as a glorious era of the resurgence of democracy. He fought battles on all fronts to ensure that the Election Commission should be the watchdog of democracy as guided by the Constitution of India. His assertion was that it is the Election Commission that conducts polls, not the government.
In an interview, T.N. Seshan described himself as hailing from Palghat, Kerala, from a Brahmin family. His father practiced as a lawyer. He was the youngest child, with one elder brother and four elder sisters. He studied physics at Madras Christian College from 1949 to 1952 and later joined the same college as a demonstrator. He was born on May 15, 1933, at 3:27 am in Palghat (source: journalofastrology.com).
T.N. Seshan was born with Pisces Lagna (Ascendant) and Scorpio Navmansha. His Lagna Lord, Jupiter, is positioned in the 6th house with Mars (the 9th Lord and 2nd Lord) and Ketu. Jupiter also serves as the 10th Lord, aspecting the 10th house. The conjunction of Mars (9th Lord) and Jupiter (10th Lord and Lagna Lord) forms a potent Rajyoga in the 6th house, known as the house of competition. Mars also aspects the Lagna, Navmansha Lagna, Dreshkone Lagna, Trimshamsha Lagna, and is placed in the Lagna of the Hora chart, indicating a powerful Rajyoga (B.P.H.S, Chapter 40, Shloka 13). He excelled in his studies during the Dasha of Mars, as Mars is the 9th Lord (5th from the 5th house) and involved in two Rajyogas: first, by conjunction with the Lagna Lord and 10th Lord Jupiter, and second, by aspecting the Lagna, Navmansha Lagna, Dreshkone Lagna, and Trimshamsha Lagna.
Later, during the Rahu Dasha (from April 14th, 1949 onwards), he continued to excel, as Rahu is aspected by Mars and Jupiter (the 10th Lord). In the year 1953, he topped the All India Police Service examination. The Dasha running at that time was Rahu-Jupiter, with Jupiter, the 10th Lord, conjunct with Mars, the 9th Lord, forming a potent Rajyoga.
In D-9, Jupiter is positioned in the 12th house in the sign of Libra, involved in a sign exchange with exalted Venus (the 12th Lord and 7th Lord) and under the aspect of the Moon (the 9th Lord), constituting a Gajkeshri Yoga.
Despite this, he appeared again for the civil service examination in 1954 and, achieving top ranks, joined the IAS under the Madras cadre. The Dasha running until May 1955 was Rahu-Jupiter, justifying his selection as an I.A.S officer. In D-10, Jupiter is placed in the 11th house, serving as the anter Dasha Lord.
According to Saravali, Mars aspecting the Lagna makes the person brave, aggressive, and religious, while the aspect of Saturn hints at health issues.
He got married on February 9, 1959, in Bangalore. The Dasha at that time was Rahu-Mercury-Venus. Mercury, the 7th Lord, was positioned in the 2nd house under the aspect of Jupiter, the Lagna Lord. Venus, the pratyantar Dasha Lord, is the 7th Lord of Navmansha.
His Jupiter Dasha commenced on April 13, 1968, under the Rajyoga, but he still received adverse entries in his confidential report in 1972 during the Vimshottari Dasha of Jupiter-Saturn. The report was provided by the then-chairman of the atomic energy department in Mumbai, Mr. Homi Sethna, who described him as "aggressive, abrasive, and bullying those under him." The matter was brought to the attention of Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who questioned Seshan about these remarks and confronted Mr. Sethna in his presence. The aspect of Jupiter on the 10th house helped him to receive a clean chit as these remarks were removed from his confidential report. Jupiter aspecting the 7th Lord of Rashi, under the sign exchange with the 7th Lord of Navmansha, and aspecting the 7th house of Dashmansha. The 7th house is the house of public image.
He served as the secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forest from 1985 to 1988, during the Vimshottari Dasha of Saturn-Saturn. Saturn in the 11th house, conjunct with the 5th Lord Moon, made it auspicious. It is worth mentioning that he opposed the Tehri Dam and Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river during his tenure.
He became the Cabinet Secretary, the highest post in civil services, on March 27, 1989. The Dasha running at that time was Saturn-Mercury-Jupiter. Saturn in the 11th house, representing fulfillment of desires as the 11th Lord, Mercury, the 7th Lord, positioned in the 2nd house under the aspect of Jupiter (the 10th Lord and Lagna Lord), and Jupiter, the pratyanter Dasha Lord, is again Jupiter. It is important to understand that the 11th Lord in the 11th house with the 5th Lord signifies the fulfillment of desires due to Purva Punyas, a signification of the 5th Lord.
After the November 1989 general elections, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was unable to form the government at the center, and Mr. V.P. Singh, the champion of Mandal reservation, became the Prime Minister. In the first cabinet meeting, when Mr. Seshan insisted on the security of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, he was shunted to the Planning Commission on 22nd December 1989 . The Dasha at that time was Saturn-Mercury-Saturn, with Saturn aspecting the 8th house of change. Additionally, Mercury in Mrityu Bhag aspecting the 8th house could have contributed to this significant transition.
In his autobiography 'Through the Broken Glass,' Seshan recounts his appointment as CEC in November 1990. 'I knew nothing about elections. Anyway, I did not think very highly of the CEC post,' he writes. Seshan mentions an interesting conversation with Rajiv Gandhi, who said that Chandrasekhar would regret giving him this job. He was indecisive before accepting the offer from Prime Minister Chandrashekhar and consulted Shankaracharya of Kanchi. Eventually, he received permission to proceed with the offer. He was under the Dasha of Saturn-Ketu-Saturn, with Saturn positioned in the 11th house as the 11th Lord and Ketu in the 6th house, along with the 9th Lord Mars and the 10th Lord Jupiter.
Saturn and Ketu are at a 1-8 axis with each other, indicating the change.
In D-10, Saturn is in the Lagna of Dashmansha, and Ketu is in the 8th house, confirming the change. Ketu is famous for indecisiveness.
On 2nd August 1993, Mr. T.N. Seshan wrote a seventeen-page letter to the government, stating that no elections would be conducted until the government recognized the powers of the Election Commission. The Dasha running was Saturn-Venus-Saturn . The anter Dasha Lord Venus In 3rd house in own sign with 6th Lord Sun.
As per Bhavartha Ratnakar Chapter twelve [12] Shloka 2, for natives born in Pisces or Sagittarius Lagna, Venus anterdasha within Saturn Mahadasha, and Saturn anterdasha within Venus Mahadasha deliver auspicious results.
It is important to note that all the reforms in the electoral process he has made during Saturn's Dasha. Saturn is conjunct with the 5th Lord Moon, making it auspicious as per the principles of Laghu Prashari . Saturn is associated with discipline, responsibility, and governance, while the 5th house represents creativity, intellect, and political power among other things. When Saturn is conjunct with the 5th lord Moon, it can enhance the influence of both planets in the chart, particularly in areas related to governance, leadership, and creative decision-making. When Saturn and Moon combine in such a way, especially during Saturn's Dasha, it can indicate a period where one's actions or decisions related to governance, politics, or electoral reforms may yield significant and auspicious results. Saturn is placed in the Moon Lagna and is also the lord of the Moon Lagna (Chandra Lagna) and it's conjunct the 7th lord Moon, it can indeed create a Rajyoga (a combination indicating success, power, or authority). This is because Saturn is considered a planet of discipline, structure, and long-term success, while the Moon represents emotions, nurturing, and the mind.
In Vedic astrology, the concept of Rajyoga often involves the combination of planets that bring auspicious results, especially when they are lords of important houses or when they are placed in beneficial positions in the chart. When Saturn, as the Moon Lagna lord, is in conjunction with the 7th lord Moon, it can signify a strong connection between the self (Lagna), relationships (7th house), and emotional well-being (Moon). This can potentially indicate success, stability, and fulfillment in these areas of life.
As a tribute to democracy he won the Magasaysay award of 1996 .
He retired on 11th December 1996 under the Vimshottari Dasha of Saturn –Mars –Rahu, Mars the anter Dasha Lord aspecting the 12th house and Rahu the pratyanter Dasha lord in 12th house, the house of retirement.
After retirement, he valiantly tried to contest the presidential election but was unable to gather enough support on 17th July 1997 to become the President of India.
He tried again and contested against Mr. L.K Advani in the 1999 general election on the Congress I ticket, but failed miserably. The Dasha running at that time was not promising for an upset, as he was under Saturn-Rahu-Rahu. Rahu was in the 12th house of retirement in the Rashi Chart and the 2nd house in Dashmansha, with the sign Lord again in the 12th house.
He maintained zero tolerance for campaign speeches stroking religion and caste-based hatred. Currently, we all are dearly missing him in 2024 general elections.
I am sharing my favorite lines of Mr Seshan .
“I assumed the office when I didn’t know the rules and how the Election Commission operates,” says Seshan. “I had never conducted an election. I went with two principles: zero delay and zero deficiency.”
Written and Researched by Sunil Dutt
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