LK Advani is known to the world as a family man. What remained unknown was the fact that his book My Country My Life was the outcome of the constant nudging from his wife Kamala to take up the pen and narrate his and the country’s political journey over the past six decades.

In the book, Advani maintains his stand on the Jinnah controversy and narrates the deep anguish he felt when the party refused to support him after the controversy erupted. He also states that he regrets the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

On Tuesday, at a function held at Rangsharda (Bandra) to promote his book, , which was launched on March 19 in Delhi, the former deputy prime minister publicly acknowledged that his book was the brainchild of his family members. It was possible because of the strength and support he derived from wife Kamala, daughter Pratibha, son Jayant and daughter-in-law Geetika, he said.

“From food to finance, everything is looked after by Kamala. I can’t do anything without her. I am not even aware about my monthly salaries and tax returns,” he said.

“I am proud because they have never taken advantage of my position (political powers). Pratibha, my daughter, is in media and she has consciously taken a decision not to interview anyone related to politics,” he stated.

He then became nostalgic, as he went down the memory lane recalling his association with the founder of Jana Sangh, Deendayal Updhayay. He described Updhayay as “absolutely selfless”.

“At the age of 14, I joined the RSS. I consider this as the most significant turning point in my life,” he said.

His detractors have often labelled him as communal, a hawk and as someone who is hankering for the prime ministerial post. But to his followers, Advani is a perfectionist, who exposed pseudo-secularism and gave a new meaning to the Constitutional term (secularism).

“I have no complaints in life. I have a great sense of fulfillment,” he said.

It is often said Advani’s greatest ambition is to become the prime minister of India. At the function he downplayed the issue. Admitting that his goal is to see India ranked number one on the world map, he said this is possible, as the GenerationNext has tremendous potential to help the country become a super power.

“We came into public life with a mission, but the present generation is seeing politics as a profession,” Advani said. “Therefore, we need people with professional integrity. Though the younger generation has got a lot of talent and ability, they lack values.”

Several dignitaries from various walks of life, including film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, former governor PC Alexander, former commissioner of police Arvind Inamdar, Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray, attended the function.