Political autobiographies and their impact | A. Jayaram

Published on 08-02-2008 In National

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Political autobiographies and their impact

Not everyone in the State Congress is enthusiastic about the Governor of Maharashtra, S.M.Krishna's re-entry into Karnataka politics in particular. However there might not be any opposition to his entering national level politics. Political observers have come to view certain references to Krishna in the autobiography of the former minister H.Vishwanath as hoisting of the "you are not welcome" board. However it might not be a "Simon Go Back" protest of the 1928 days.

Though Vishwanath has denied it, there is much political meaning in the timing of the release of his autobiography in Kannada "Halli Hakkiya Haadu". Vishwanath might have written those lines concerning Krishna and yesteryear film star B.Saroja Devi months ago, but as to why he released the book at this juncture knowing full well that it would invite protests, is the question. It may be that he thought he could not have released the autobiography in the present form once Krishna became a Union minister or a leader of the Congress in Karnataka.

Though Vishwanath has claimed in a newspaper interview that he had nothing against Krishna's entry into State politics, there are not many takers for it. He has stated that he had in fact recently been to Mumbai to personally invite Krishna to reenter Karnataka politics. His track record when he was a member of the Krishna Cabinet lends credence to the view that he has been a critic of the Maharashtra Governor and a political foe of some of his ardent supporters like D.K.Shivakumar.

In the run-up to the 2004 Assembly elections, which the Congress lost, Vishwanath had opposed the then chief minister (Krishna) being projected to head the government if the Congress retained power. At one point, the All India Congress Committee had contemplated taking disciplinary action against him. However Vishwanath has been ranged more against Shiva Kumar rather than Krishna. He had called Shiva Kumar a "Palegar" (poligar) and demanded that he should not have a say in the selection of Party candidates for the 2004 elections. Vishwanath had received support from the former leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K.Patil who too had his grouse against Shiva Kumar. Vishwanath had come to be viewed as being opposed to the Vokkaliga domination of the Krishna government. It had been reported at that time he had opposed at a meeting of the State Cabinet, the proposal to allot a prime public land in Mysore City to the Adhichunchanagiri Math to build a hospital. The Math has a large following among Vokkaligas. As minister for primary education in the Krishna government, Vishwanath had attacked the Hindu mathadipathis alleging that they were cornering government grants through the schools opened by him. He had meant the Lingayat and Vokkaliga mathadipathis. He had attempted to emerge as a leader of the Kurubas and the other backward classes.

It is stated that Vishwanath lost his Krishnaraja nagar Assembly seat (Mysore District) in the last Assembly elections, as he had antagonized the Vokkaliga as also Lingayat voters.

His relations with the former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, who too is a Kuruba, were far from cordial atleast in 2004.

As to the persona of Vishwanath, he stands out as one of the few bold and outspoken leaders in the Congress. Not many have heard him say that he owes his position to the grace of the Party High Command, the stock words of former chief minister Dharam Singh and the KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

There is every reason to believe that Vishwanath is intellectually far better equipped than the common run of politician. How many of our politicians can write, though most of them are smart at soapbox oratory. One has noticed in and outside the Legislature, that the speeches of many of our politicians are long on rhetoric and short on facts. It applies to even those who rose high on the political ladder. Vishwanath is an engrossing speaker and sarcasm and wit lace his speeches. He has scripted the autobiography himself and not invited a "ghost" to write for him.

One cannot exactly agree with those who say that in an autobiography, one should write about oneself and avoid references to others. Such writings turn out to be too humdrum. Most autobiographies are written with a purpose and make some revelation or the other. Moreover every writer wants the people to read his or her book. Being a graduate in law and having been in public life for long, Vishwanath knows what the law of defamation is about, especially in view of the fact that he refers to two individuals who are happily living amidst us.

For the record very few Karnataka politicians have come out with their life stories. Exceptions being former chief ministers Kadidal Manjappa, S.Nijalingappa and Veerappa Moily. Ramakrishna Hegde disappointed everyone especially the students of public affairs by not penning the story of his life. No doubt the former Prime Minister H.D.Deve Gowda is threatening to come out with his autobiography. There is atleast one book high on praise for his ten month leadership of the nation-the autobiography of the former Union Cabinet Secretary Subramaniam. Besides Moily, erudite works have come from Kadidal Manjappa and the former Finance minister, the Cambridge educated M.Y.Ghorpade, who writes in English.

Of all the autobiographies of Karnataka political leaders, Kadidal Manjappa's is the most enjoyable. He has not hesitated to criticise many of his contemporaries especially his predecessor as chief minister Kengal Hanumanthaiya. He has also revealed that some of the Congress ministers of the 1950s and 1960s had no role at all in the freedom movement in erstwhile British India and what the AICC used to call with some derision, the movement for responsible government in princely States like Mysore. Kadidal was short in stature and his chief Ministership was too short, only two months (August to October 1956) , but his autobiography peaks over those of others.

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