Pawar unveils YB Chavan’s autobiography

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday released a new edition and an English translation of Krishnakath, the autobiography of the state's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, whose birth centenary year is being celebrated. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were present on the occasion.

The autobiography of the leader, who is acknowledged as having been the architect of modern Maharashtra, has been translated into English by Gayatri Pagdi, the grand-daughter of the historian late Setumadhavrao Pagdi and has been published by Rohan Prakashan along with the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan as part of the official celebrations of the centenary year. Rohan Champanerkar of Rohan Prakashan expressed hope that the English translation would reach a large number of people across the state. "Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan in view of celebrating this birth centenary year and to spread the book nationwide, joined hands with Rohan Prakashan for the new editions," he said.

In her note in the book, the translator says that apart from the detailed descriptions of the places Chavan grew up in and the depiction of the people he met in his growing years and then later once he was in active politics, what stands out in the autobiography is the transformation of a young boy who had "almost no family background that could directly influence his personality academically and politically" going on to play a key role in state politics in the pre-Independence and post-Independence era.

The book is divided into three chapters, comprising Chavan's growing years and early influences as a young boy in Karad, Satara district; the 1930s when he began to get involved in the freedom movement and finally his political coming of age.

The book will be available in a hardbound format for Rs 395 while the Marathi version is being made available in two editions – deluxe (hard bound) for Rs 300 and an economy edition in a paperback format for Rs 160.

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