End of a chapter

Yes !

 It is an end of a chapter in the history of Britain. 

So many discussion has been aroused by the Death of Mrs Margret  Thatcher one of the greatest prime ministers that this country  ever had.

If I was asked  the  question 30 years ago is Margret Thatcher is a good prime minister my answer would definitely would have been different to today.

But would I have been justified of my answer then ?. In hindsight I would say no.

Margret Thatcher became as the Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979 . And made  a mark on the British Political history, as she was the first woman prime mister of this great country.

I was a foreign University Student  in this country when she became the Prime Minister.There was a tendency at that time among the foreign students and immigrants that the Conservative party was anti them. And the general belief was that the Labour party was the one which always stood for the interest of Immigrants. In Hind sight I could see how naive my opinion was at that time.

Because of that belief I as a foreign student who was following higher studies I was very anxious of the historical event of a first Conservative woman prime minister of this country. But looking back I cannot recall of any actions that she took was detrimental to my education and my subsequent citizenship of this country.

It is my belief that she stood by the hard working , honest people of this country and always took pride in British achievements.

Putting political beliefs aside it  amazes me to see a woman with such a strength who stood against all adversities thrown against her in a men dominated world.

It is a fact that in her own party there were many people opposed her being the leader of their party because she was a woman.

it was a time when British industries and the government were in the strangle hold of the unions and someone needed to come to the forefront and break this strangle hold. 

For the task of this proportion a person with firm convictions of their belief was needed and none other than this Iron lady fitted  the role.

She put Britain back in a straight path going forward. Mrs.Thatcher did not only sort the affairs of Britain but also held a huge influence internationally which gave  positive encouragement for the changes that were happening in other countries.

She visited China until that time had a very frosted relationship with Britain, Encouraged Mr.Gorbachev to bring liberalization to Soviet Union, played a major part in unifying Germany hence breaking the Iron curtain of the Eastern Europe.

Her political wisdom is evident the way she handled two different situations with two different outcomes.

1)When Argentina invaded Falklands she did not hesitate to stand by the people of Falklands

2) In the case of Hong Kong she was quiet willing to release the Island back to China

Poll tax brought  lot of negative reactions from the public but it is my belief that the true intention of bringing the Poll tax has not been understood properly by the public.

In the end it was people within her own party with the help of the Media plotted the downfall of Mrs.Thatcher .

One criticism that I level against her is that she did not do enough to bring women into the leadership of political parties using her influence. The only positive thing for women is that he set an example that being a woman does not stop anyone to be a good leader for their nation.

"If you want you turn but I am not for turning" what great leader of this nation who make every British National to think of her with warm pride feeling irrelevant of their party affiliation.

I salute the Iron Lady !

Sakthi Sakthithasan

08.04.2013