Yashwantrao Chavan reflects on India-Society and Politics

It can be found that though Yashwantrao Chavan practiced politics as an art of the possible, he did not do so as a decoy to avoid action. His life was full of action; but at the same time he was aware that it would be futile to resort to action, if it amounted to a Hara-kiri and would result in a loss of the cause. He immersed himself emotionally in the freedom struggle, started under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. During the period of imprisonment Chavan was fortunate enough to come into the company of some intellectual stalwarts whose discourses enlightened him. Govind Talwalkar In these interviews Chavan has responded openly and often frankly to my questions about his personality, his associations with other leaders and citizens. He explained the reasons behind several of his actions that were subjected by commentators and the press to critical analysis. I also asked him to comment on his contributions to the development of the nation and the state. A serious researcher should be able to use his responses as a lens to throw new light on some of the most critical decades in the history, politics and society of contemporary India. I hope this will become clear to the readers as they study these pages. Jayant Lele