Thackeray Pawar launch book on Antulay regale gathering with

anecdotes
    Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav
Thackeray on Saturday named the law college of Anjuman-i-Islam
in south Mumbai after former chief minister AR Antulay while
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar released a book on him.
    Pawar said Antulay was an excellent administrator and
strong political leader, and described the book 'Banaam Nargis
Baqalam AR Antulay' as a compilation of letters written by
"barrister saheb (Antulay) to his wife which shows his
commitment and dedicationto his relationship of love".
    Thackeray said Antulay was a good friend of Sena
founder late Bal Thackeray and described the book as "dil ki
baat which is different from mann ki baat", an apparent swipe
at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his radio address.
    "Antulay saheb wrote these letters every day and his
wife preserved them for so many years...this shows the
relationship was strong from both sides," Thackeray added.
    He also said the book was a lesson in letter writing.
    The CM recalled that the late Sena patriarch and
Antulay never hid their friendship.
    "I remember after becoming Union minister, Antulay had
said he was the Shiv Sena's ambassador in Delhi. I think the
Congress took action against him. Now what wrong did he say?
If he was alive today, he would have been proud that his
friend's son is the state's chief minister," Thackeray said.
    Looking in the direction of Pawar, Thackeray added
that "all my father's friends love me".
    "Many people must be thinking what is Balasaheb's son
doing at Anjuman-I-Islam. After joining hands with the
Congress, have I converted? But the knowledge imparted at this
institution has kept its foundation strong," he said, going on
to add that film legend Dilip Kumar was also a friend of the
Sena founder.
    Both Antulay and Kumar are alumni of Anjuman-i-Islam
and the Sena always stood by nationalists, be it Hindus or
Muslims, Thackeray added.
    "In troubled times like now, educational institutions
need to give right direction to the youth. Creation of human
wealth is the responsibility of education institutions," said
Thackeray.
    Hindus and Muslims must know that stones are good when
they are used to construct centres of knowledge, the CM said,
adding he was a neighbour of the institution as he studied at
the JJ School of Art next door.
    Pawar said the book highlighted the strong bond
between Antulay and his wife.
    He said Antulay was a "dashing chief minister" and an
excellent administrator who knew the pulse of the people.
    "When the country opposed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
for Emergency, (Bal) Thackeray had said its imposition would
bring discipline among people," Pawar said.
    After Emergency was lifted, Thackeray decided against
contesting polls as a mark of support for Gandhi and Antulay,
Pawar told the gathering.
    Pawar said Antulay and he started out around the same
time and became ministers for the first time in the Vasantrao
Naik government, and remained friends despite heated exchanges
in the Assembly when Antulay was CM and he was leader of
opposition.
    Pawar praised the book and recounted that Pandit
Nehru's letters to his daughter Indira and YB Chavan's letters
to his wife about his travels as Union minister had been
published before.
    Antulay's daughter Neelam, who has published the book,
said she was touched by how beautifully her father could
express himself on paper and claimed the letters were art
which revived a feeling of nostalgia.
    Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present on the
occasion. PTI MR
BNM BNM

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)