K. Natwar Singh is an erudite person and known for his literary associations. He was a close associate of the eminent Bloomsbury novelist, E.M. Foster and after he was removed from the office of foreign minister by Sonia Gandhi for alleged involvement in a scam in Iraq, he is said to have decided to read one novel by E.M. Foster which he had not read, ‘Howards End’. Singh’s autobiography ‘One Life is not enough’ should arouse more literary than political curiosity. As a political document, it may not be worth much. His revelation that Sonia Gandhi declined the Prime Ministership, not prompted by an inner voice but by her son Rahul Gandhi, does not make much difference to developments in Delhi. Rahul’s concern is understandable in view of his father’s assassination. That Prime Minister Manmohan Singh worked under Sonia Gandhi’s guidance is common knowledge. Even Natwar Singh was sacked by Sonia Gandhi and not by Manmohan Singh. Whether or not she insisted on files from the PMO’s office to be sent to her does not signify much. She no doubt wielded the baton, despite Manmohan Singh’s disclaimer. The attack on Sonia’s Italian ruthlessness seems strange coming from Natwar Singh, a friend of Foster who was a great lover of Italy and Italians. The book does not appear to throw much light on the Iraq scandal which caused his dismissal. The findings of the Vocker Commission still appear unknown.
What is of greater interest is a Sonia Gandhi has decided to write an autobiography. It should be a significant political document covering the period following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. People are anxious to know in her own works the milestones in her career, her rise and fall. She is the one who can authenticate facts about the division of labour between 10 Janpath and the PMO. The question is: will she? Her autobiography may not tell all and can hardly be expected to be above controversy. The last word always lies with an objective historian.
