My Country, My Life

The Nation Witnessed a grand book release at the capital few weeks ago. It was the release of an autobiography of a renowned politician. India has not seen such an event for long, Nehru being the last in the list.
The book is very large with 800+ pages, and depicts the post independent India's political scenario very beautifully. It also describes the relation with his friend and Guru Sri. Atal Bihari Vajpayeee. Their comradeship is something uncommon in Indian politics. Working together for such long periods, under the same umbrella, in spite of differences over many issues...

Traversing through the book we develop a kind of respect for Advani. He has shown the courage to talk about all the issues that were controversies in the past, at that point of time when he is projected as the Prime Minister candidate of his party. He has not changed any of his views expressed earlier. He repeats that 6ht of December 1992 was a black day in his life This is stated when he is believed to be a pro Hindu leader by all, and the major share of his supporters belong to that fold. Also even if he tries to project himself as a secular person by such statements, that is not going to help him. The result will be he loosing his own ground support and gaining none. Still in such a scenario he has reiterated what he has said earlier!
Another such statement was during his Pakistan yathra in 2005. He had quoted Jinnah in his speech which was misunderstood by his own political comrades (presented in such a way by the media), which eventually lead to removal of his crown as the supremo of the party. Still he has given the title of the chapter where he mentions this incident as I have no regrets!
This courage, political honesty makes him eligible to be called the Loh Purush (Iron Man).

Another important thing that stuck me was the way he has narrated the incidents through out the book. We don't feel that we are reading an autobiography but a book on History, and at times a story of his party. He has used more ink to portray the historical incidents in our Nation, of course from his perspective. He has also used space lavishly to tell the story of his party and 6 years of the NDA Govt at the center. So it has been an Autobiography with a difference