EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK:

During the time I was collector (of Hyderabad district), Sanjay Gandhi, the son of the Prime Minister, visited Hyderabad. The Protocol Department of the government informed me that I was to receive him at the airport. It was to be on an informal basis as Sanjay Gandhi had no official position. I called on Vengal Rao (the then chief minister). I told him that it would be inappropriate for me as a collector to receive someone who had no official standing, and as I wanted to avoid causing any embarrassment to the chief minister, I requested him to transfer me. He said that he would not transfer me, but that I could proceed on leave if I wanted to. I said I would take leave. ‘I wish I could also go on leave’ Rao said, just as I was leaving the room.” - Page 73, chapter ‘A State of Emergency’

“I met the Prime Minister (Dr Manmohan Singh) in his house....He said: 'Venu, the finance minister (P Chidambaram) is very upset with you. I do not know what to do. I cannot be taking sides between Chidambaram and you. I am very worried about this.’.... I called Chidambaram over the phone and said I would like to straightaway drop by at his home... When I met Chidambaram, he was unusually formal. He felt that while he was very supportive, the RBI was not adequately reciprocating by progressing with reforms. I expressed my unconditional apology to him and conveyed that I would keep in mind the issue of being supportive.” - Page 387, chapter ‘Creative Tension’