Patil serving up an autobiography

Mumbai: Utilising the time at his disposal after exit as Union Home Minister, post-26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Shivraj Patil is busy writing his memoir. However, he insists that his book won`t contain any "spicy" tidbits. "I am not writing (the autobiography) to create a sensation or earn money. The book will be a record of events," Patil told media. The senior Congress leader is "rewriting" portions of the book, whose handwritten manuscript is around 1,000 pages. "My autobiography is not aimed at defending myself, nor is it an exercise in criticising anyone. It will be about policies formulated, implemented and difficulties encountered while doing so," 74-year-old Patil said. Asked if it would be published next year, Patil said "there is no time- frame. It can be published anytime." "It is a balanced book. I have worked at local, state and national levels. The book is a record of my tenure in these levels of government and politics. It would also contain a little about my personal life and dwell on my experiences as President of a Municipality and a Minister in State and central governments," he said. In March 1979, when State Legislatures and Parliament were adjourned, wrongly, to mourn the "death" of Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan, Patil, who was Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, did not adjourn the House. Patil insisted the news should be crosschecked with Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai, where JP was admitted. It was confirmed that he was still alive and Patil had the last word. Justifying his not bowing to demand to adjourn the House, despite All India Radio announcing the "death" and Parliament adjourning on the matter, Patil said, "Some things one learns from reading. In England, when the king dies, the announcement is not done immediately. The matter is brought to the notice of the government. In this case, I thought it better to crosscheck before adjourning the House." Asked if he has zeroed in on a title for his memoir, Patil said "not yet, although there are some titled under consideration...Lets see." The book would be in English but a Kannada professor has expressed desire to translate it, he said. Marathi translation would also follow, Patil added. The former Home Minister, who drew flak for changing his dress thrice on the day when Delhi was rocked by serial blasts in September last year, does not react to the treatment he got from media. "His memoir may reveal his take on the episode," an aide said. Bureau Report