Pages from Patil

Ex-home minister wont criticise anyone in his memoirs. That itself is interesting

Shivraj Patil wants to tell all. Political memoirs have their own narrative conventions,personalising political events. But more often than not,the intention is still squarely political,whether it is to redeem a reputation,explain motives or settle contentions,or even to position oneself for future advancement. Patils diaries,written in the twilight of a long career,are probably less of the latter. Given that his career ends,unfortunately but justifiably,on an all-time low as he resigned as home minister,he seems to savour anecdotes from his stints as speaker over the more problematic recent assignments. And it will certainly be edifying to read about both,from a man who has

spent over 40 years in politics.

Written by hand,published by an acquaintance back home,professedly uncontroversial (there will be no criticism of anybody) Patils storytelling still holds promise. He has been reading Thatchers The Downing Street Years,Bill Clintons My Life and even Advanis My Country,My Life. What he takes away will be telling: Advanis book wielded some distinctly embarrassing revelations. Clinton wrote a long-winded post-presidency yarn,filled with ideas and anecdotes.

We have often deplored the lack of political autobiography in India tracing the human logic that drove the crucial decisions of our country is useful reading for anyone interested in our past. Consider the American presidential race: Hillary Clintons aggressively styleless book was damned (as was the fact that she didnt thank her ghostwriter),Obamas moving prose was somehow interpreted as evidence of some preternatural political ability,John McCain and Ron Paul wrote predictable narratives of personal evolution and the place of liberty. Patil can safely expect that his memoir will be relentlessly parsed,for what he says and what he omits.