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Book Review
MALAYALAM
Reminiscences
B.R.P. BHASKAR
PATHARATHE MUNNOTTU: K. Karunakaran, Mathrubhumi Books, Mathrubhumi, MM Press, Cherooty Road, Kozhikode-1. Rs. 135.
THE AUTHOR was named leader of the Congress in the Kerala Assembly when the party, which had been declining rapidly since Independence, touched the nadir. An astute politician, he led the party back into reckoning, playing united front tactics with consummate skill. Today, at 89, he is a battle-scarred veteran, and in this book he looks back on the many battles that he fought within the party and outside it.
Karunakaran traces his political career back to the age of 11 when he had darshan of Mahatma Gandhi, who was on a visit to Malabar at a railway station and lustily cheered him. He recalls how he began life as a humble party worker, endured such epithets as “blackleg” and “murderer”, and rose to the highest levels in the party and the government.
There has been a plethora of autobiographies in Malayalam which were written primarily to settle scores. This one does not fall in that category. It can even be said that this is a colourless account of a colourful political life. Karunakaran does allude to betrayal by his protégés but does not dwell on them.
By and large, his account is factual. He does not sensationalise even events that may easily lend themselves to such treatment.
Rising above political pettiness, he applauds veteran Marxist A. K. Gopalan as “a leader of leaders.” At the same time he cannot help making snide remarks against some others.
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