History's Forgotten Contradiction

By presenting a detailed account of KM Panikkar, Basu traces India's political and diplomatic thought during the Independence struggle

- By ANUJA CHANDRAMOULI

Narayani Basu's biography of KM Panikkar, A Man for All Seasons, sheds light on a key player in the story of Indian Independence who, despite being at the center of events during a crucial period of history, remains an obscure figure.

It was not for want of trying, as Panikkar was a towering intellectual and a colourful personality in his day. He was a strident editor, Gandhi's emissary, academic, diplomat, constitutional lawyer, politician, and man of letters.

The founder of Hindustan Times, he made waves during his tenure as Nehru's ambassador to both Nationalist China and the People's Republic of China, and later as a member of the States Reorganisation Commission.

Having lived through the British Raj, the framing of the Constituent Assembly, two world wars, and the Cold War, Panikkar's life was anything but dull, marked by encounters with Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Chairman Mao, and even Benito Mussolini (whom he admired!).

Basu reconstructs Panikkar's life and times with respect, reverence, and intricate detail.