The Hindu : New Delhi News : A new arrival in the world of words

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A new arrival in the world of words

Kunal Diwan

– PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT

“MY COUNTRY MY LIFE”: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani speaking at the release of his book in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

NEW DELHI: On a day that saw the realisation of his literary dreams and the release of his book “My Country My Life”, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani’s only regret was the absence of “Atal Ji” on stage.

Published by Rupa and Co. and released here on Wednesday evening by former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the rather thick volume traces the journey of political development in post-Independence India as observed by Mr. Advani. It takes the readers on a 60-year-long passage through an impeccable albeit occasionally controversial political career.

“When I called on Kalam Sahib a few days ago to give him a copy of the book, the former President had just one observation to make. He said it would have been appropriate if instead of him the book was released by Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” said Mr. Advani to a packed Siri Fort auditorium here.

Attributing all his ideological beliefs to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the veteran leader said he had joined the organisation when he was not quite 15 and from that day on his life acquired a new meaning.

“Right from the day I joined the RSS, it has continued to exert a profound influence on me. All the positives in my personality and work can be accredited to the RSS. I won’t delve much on the book here, but just allow it to speak for itself,” he added.

Mr. Kalam—who had to walk the last hundred yards or so leading to the auditorium because of a severe traffic jam on the road—said the book acquired great significance because Mr. Advani’s life has been intertwined with several historic events of the country.“He combines an incisive analytical ability with a panoramic view of India. The book is mandatory reading for the young as it reveals not only the personality of the writer but also the tumultuous ambience of the times that he witnessed,” added Mr. Kalam.Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh said the volume was a commendable addition to world of words, especially so as it arrived in these times of political disorder, cultural confusion and a famine of values.

“This book was long overdue and is a valuable asset to the chronicles of Indian history. It is perhaps the first clear definitive account of what the country has gone through by possibly the most misread and misrepresented of political leaders. It is a journal of the foundation-laying process of the most significant alternative political viewpoint in India,” said Mr. Jaswant Singh.

Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, RSS general secretary Mohan Rao Bhagwat and eminent journalist Cho Ramaswamy were among those present on the occasion.

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