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PRATIBHA Devisingh Patil has been President since 2007. She made history by being the first woman to hold the office. Earlier, she had been an MLA, Minister, president of the Maharashtra Congress Committee, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and the first woman Governor of Rajasthan. With an illustrious political career, she is a very successful woman politician, indeed. The book attempts to chart her political and apolitical journey. Undeniably, writing biography of such a person, who with her path-breaking role in Indian political history, has become a force to be reckoned with, is a challenge. Yet, creditably, the co-biographers have done their job well, producing a beautiful book with motivating content and an attractive get-up.
However, written by women biographers with the proclaimed aim of saluting a woman, who has climbed to the top of her profession, paying tribute to womanhood, this biography belongs to the genre of women’s literature, geared to provide encouragement to women. "The Foreword" describes Patil "as a living example for women to succeed in the rough and tumble of politics". A reading of her extraordinary political journey, which also serves as an important historical document giving illuminating insights into state and national politics, will definitely benefit the aspiring woman politicians. Using extracts from diverse issues discussed, reported upon and clarified by her during her tenures of high political offices, the book illustrates that her fine oratory skills coupled with impressive knowledge of socio-cultural history of India, devotion to duty, firm resolution, bold stance for the right, an enormous capacity for spirited discussion, and total allegiance to the Congress—qualities that have served her well as a politician. Thus, as a politician of rare accomplishment, "she inspires countless Indian women to greater effort and achievement". Besides, her uplifting feminist orientation, recorded in the book, is a way of advancing woman empowerment. She is quoted as saying: "A women is blessed with inborn management skills, which help her in managing her home. If given an opportunity, she can get recognition as an able and expert manager." As a matter of fact, women’s issues have always been an abiding concern for Patil, whichever portfolio she has taken charge of and even still as President. As is shown by the book, she has been proudly making rapid strides in promoting socio-economic status of women. A steadfast champion of women’s cause indeed! Moreover, juggling well her demanding political career with her family commitments, she serves as a role model for married working women. Well, creditably, her bond with her husband (whose temperament comes across as a contrast to her) has deepened and intensified with the passage of time, notwithstanding the clashes that broke out between them in the initial stages. As the book puts it: "Undoubtedly their relationship is worth emulating — it has seen its share of complexities and undulations but with each passing year, it has evolved like the stature of two luminaries involved". However, biographical literature also interest mass readers as a study of human life. Some of the incidents of Patil’s life, described in the book, show that irony is the spirit of life. She entered politics, where she has left her mark, not on her own initiative. Three persons primarily deserve credit for launching her career in politics. It was Sonusingh Anna Patil, a family acquaintance and a political leader, who initiated the idea with her father known as Nanasaheb, who (the later) persuaded her to join politics. Finally, it was Yashwant Rao, a farsighted leader and then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who kicked off her political career, granting her ticket. Hence, at the age 27, in 1962, she contested her maiden election, and rose to become an MLA. Success through
wholehearted efforts has become the trademark of "the rare and
magnificent pride of India and Maharasthra" — Pratibha Devisingh
Patil. That completion of any task, even a formidable one, irrespective
of gender, requires skills coupled with devotion, is the uplifting,
wholesome message of this gripping biography on her.
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"The
Preface", outlining aims and experience of the biographers, is
followed by a precise and effective "Foreword" by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh. The persuasive beginning of the book stimulates
reader’s interest in the gracefully crafted narrative that includes
copious illustrations, quotes, documentary evidence, and memories of her
children and her contemporaries.