‘Can’t judge Amarinder by political successes or failures alone’
KHUSHWANT SINGH, WRITER OF UPCOMING BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT AMARINDER SINGH
CHANDIGARH: An author of four books, a progressive farmer, a columnist, and a TV show host, Chandigarh-based Khushwant Singh wears many hats. But, in the past four years, he’s been increasingly sticking to one. He tells Manraj Grewal Sharma how he put everything else on hold to do justice to his latest, a biography, ‘Capt Amarinder Singh: The People’s Maharaja’.
What made you write this book on Amarinder? It wasn’t my idea. Hay House (publishing company) had approached me before the 2012 Punjab elections. When I pitched it to him (Amarinder) three-four days after the Congress defeat, he asked who would read it. But then he agreed and the first interview took place
10-15 days later.
Was access a problem? Was it difficult to delve into his personal space? No, he was cooperative, open and frank. I researched a lot and then framed my questions. We would chat for an hour or two before the trickle of people would begin. I must have read over 30 books besides the white paper on Punjab post-Operation Bluestar, old gazettes, and newspapers. I also interviewed his family members, friends, course-mates at the National Defence Academy (NDA), staff, and bureaucrats. The notes left by his German governess, Hede Dayal, with her son, Mickey Dayal, were particularly illuminating. I also got hold of his school reports.
Isn’t the title deferential? I don’t think so. It was a working title, and it stuck. Also, people are really drawn to Amarinder. He used to be covered with blueblack marks while canvassing in Amritsar.
Did he ever try to control the book? No, never. Not once did he ask me to delete or insert something. I corroborated all the information I got, and tried to make the narrative as accurate and objective as possible. I felt so much responsibility towards history, towards Punjab, towards the subject. Also, you can’t give Amarinder a report card based only on his political successes or failures. He has so many facets; he writes, reads, cooks, travels.
Why did Amarinder ally with Congress, perceived as the villain of the piece in Punjab after 1984? Rukhsana Sultana (actor Amrita Singh’s mother) persuaded him to rejoin the Congress. He was in political oblivion after being refused a ticket by the Akali Dal in 1997. He had to park himself somewhere. For the Congress, he was the only face with which they could go to Punjab, given his heritage and resignation over Operation Bluestar (1984).
Why this timing of release? It’s sheer coincidence. This project consumed four prime years of my life; it changed the way I look at Punjab; it made me mature. I never knew when it would end. I sent the manuscript to the publishers in August-September 2016.