MPs who wield pen

Members of parliament are known for their eloquence. Many of them have produced a very high standard of literature and analysis. They are supposed to be good orators but some of them have adopted the route of penning down their thoughts and even emotions. Two of them Shashi Tharoor of Congress and M.J.Akbar of BJP stand out head and shoulders above the rest. They have written novels, critiques on national and international affairs as well as poetry. When it comes to poetry, the first name that comes to mind is the former prime minister Atal Behari Vaajpayee who dropped the pearls of emotions at the drop of a hat. In fact, he would get poetic even during his interviews. When he was the prime minister, he was asked would he like to consider the highest constitutional post in India to finish his innings in public life. He smiled and said. No never. I am a free word and I need to whole sky to fly without any checks and balances.. It is better appreciated in Hindi: " Main to Mukt vihag mujhe poora aakash chaiye

In fact India has a great tradition of political leader spenning their pearls of wisdom. The first name that comes to mind is of Jawahar Lal Nehru who gave us two of the best pieces of prose: Discovery of India. My Autobiography. Both written in jail before Independence. But he had already become the head of the proviional government. Similarly Maulana Abdul Kalam azad wrote his memoirs if the freedom struggle in " India Wins Freedom. Even another former prime minister P.V.Narsimha Rao shared his growth in Congress in his autobiographical novel 'The Insider'. This novel describes how he survived Indira Gandhi and made a place for himself in Congress politics. He was the prime minister from 1991 to 96 after a fluid situation of 1989-91.

·         Coming back to present times the two names crop up as eminent authors. Shashi Tharoor and M.J.Akbar  Tharoor is a versatile speaker and a prolific writer. He created waves in England when he was invited to speak in Oxford University and took the British empire to task. Tharoor recreated the great epic of India Mahabharat. It has been written by many authors including Kamla Subramanyam.But Tharoor has created an allegory by setting Mahabharat characters in the recent pre-independence and post independence context. It was widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of literature and mythology. This story has been revisited by dozens of Indian authors but Tharoor stands out because of its topicality.

·          He has also written novels like The Elephant, The Tiger and the Cellphone as well as Operation Blues. When contacted By Central Hall, he called it an adventure novel. But he was hesitant in commenting on his own works. He said, a writer puts it on paper, what he wants to say and leaving the rest to the readers. He has also edited an anthology of political essays The Future is Now. It comprises of articles by many MPs. His other books include The Five Dollar Smile, Show Business, Riot ( all novels), Reasons of State, India from Midnight to Millennium, Nehru, The Invention of India,  Bookless in Baghdad, India Shastra, Reflections on the nation in our time. He has also illustrated books to his credit.

·         It is surprising that Nehru continues to ignite the imagination of so many authors across the world because of his stellar role in freedom struggle and the making India a great democratic republic. No wonder, the second author-MP, Central hall has chosen to comment upon, M.J.Akbar has also written an erudite critique of Nehru.

Akbar also has a forceful pen. He has penned many books besides Nehru, Making of India (1990) , Riot after Riot, ( 1991 ), Behind the Vale, 'India, the Siege Within' and The Past and Future of Pakistan. Akbar is known for calling a spade a spade. He has a facile pen, clear vision and wider perspective.

He was the founder of news magazine journalism in India soon after emergency with a fortnightly called Onlooker but he found his pinnacle through a highly volatile magazine Sunday and its Hindi counterpart Ravivar of Ananad Bazar Patrika group. When contacted, he shared that after a long innings in journalism, I found my niche in books which gave me an immense sense of fulfillment. He has a distinct worldview especially in the context of the prevailing situation. But his books go beyond the narrow confines of day to day politics. He is one of the most secular and liberal thinker and author.

Recently a literary journal called Sansadiya Majusha ( Parliamentary offering)was carried poems by a former Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar. One of her poems reads like this: Pankh bhi hain, aasman bhi hai,  phir ye na udne ki majboori kyon.( I have wings, also a sky to fly still I can't fly, the way I want, why…? It apparently reflects on the constraints imposed by  of the chair she was holding. This she uttered when the parliament was discussing the women's reservation bill.

The other MPs who contributed in this journal included Kirit Solanki, BJP member from Gujarat. He wrote an essay on democracy and Mahesh Joshi. congress MP from Rajasthan wrote on sculptures iof parliament and Congress MP J.P. Aggarwal from Delhi on voting rights.