But she chose to remain with Indira Gandhi when the Congress was split following the 1977 defeat. In those days, to remain loyal to Indira Gandhi meant inviting political ridicule. It was a difficult decision also because her mentor had left Indira Gandhi. Even Sharad Pawar, Chavan’s godson as he was termed, had left the Congress. Pratibhatai (as she’s known in Maharashtra) chose to become leader of the opposition in the assembly, positioning herself against Pawar’s ruling front.

Loyalty matters. Mrs Gandhi came back to power in 1980. The Janata Party had disintegrated and the Pawar government was dismissed. Today, the Left may be extolling her political virtues, but then the CPM and later even the CPI, were totally opposed to Indira and therefore even to Pratibhatai’s politics. The Left has gone out of its way to describe her as “steadfast”, but at that time it meant support to Indira and even to the Emergency.

Her being ‘Patil’ has confused many. In Maharashtra, ‘Patil’ does not necessarily mean a Maratha. Shivraj Patil, for instance, is a Lingayat, and Pratibhatai is a Rajput-Maratha. Then there are Patils who are Kunbis and even Dalits. And besides the last name, there is really nothing Shivraj Patil and Pratibha Patil have in common.

Pratibhatai is a private, media-shy person but is open and communicative when in conversation. She is confident and restrained. Shivraj Patil is like a wax statue. He has a very synthetic smile and well-ironed clothes to match that artificiality. It is difficult to hold a conversation with him because he neither expresses an opinion nor challenges any view. He is reliable because he is like a sponge which absorbs water.

... contd.