With Malice Towards None- An Autobiography

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Belavadi Shrinivas Hanamanthrao, Civil Servant, born at Athani (Belgaum District) on 26th July, 1910; Education B. Sc., LL.B.(Bombay), Practised in Bombay High Court 1937-1946; Deputy Registrar, High Court 1946- 1953, Secretary, Maharashtra Legislature, also Legislative Secretary, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Maharashtra Branch 1953-1972; Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Government of Maharashtra 1973-1978; Member, Copyright Board of India, 1965-1972; attended various International Conferences, toured United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asian Countries; delivered a Lecture on "The Press and Parliamentary Privileges" under the auspices of Harold Laski Institute of Political Science, Ahmedabad in 1965; delivered two Lectures on "Parliamentary Privileges, Theory and Practice" in 1970, under the auspices of C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, Madras, connected with several cultural and educational bodies in Bombay.

Shri Belavadi in his brief biographical sketch, has given an account of his life's progress in a forthright manner in the three fields where he worked. In all these fields he has left an impress of his personality in no uncertain manner. His work has earned the respect of all, because of a harmonious combination of his ability, knowledge, merit and public relations in the particular fields where he worked.

I became associated with him because of legislative work.

I had the good fortune of discharging my duties as the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly in a satisfactory manner, during the long period of 10 years 1962-1972. During all this period, Belavadi was, as the Secretary of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was also our Secretary.

Coincidentally, Shri V. S. Page happened to be the Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council at that time. We accomplished successfully, the difficult and delicate work of carrying out special reforms in the Legislative procedures and practices, of both the houses. We were able to bring about several reforms in the field because of the happy combination of joint efforts made by the triumvirate in the shape of myself, Shri Page and Belavadi.

The idea of writing my memoirs had never crossed my mind. I had no such intention at any time. I thought it was a matter for the privileged few, who have something worth to say, for the edification of the general public.

But I had wished to write my impressions about the various persons primarily in the Legislature, whom I was able to watch, from my Secretary's table - their style of functioning and their manner of speaking. But I did not know how to set about doing it. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gadre a friend and resident of our colony, was interested that I should write about the members and the ministers whom I was privileged to observe for nearly two decades. I wished to start doing it, but did not know how.

Then one fine morning, I happened to receive a copy of the book written by my friend - Dr. Keshav Mutalik, former Principal of Sydenham College which was, in fact, his own biography.

It had no public interest as such, being principally a personal account of the life of a University Teacher - about his experiences - teaching and learning as he called it; then the idea struck me that I could also try in a similar way. Being in Pune, far removed from my work place the Council Hall, Mumbai, I have no means to verify the correctness of the various things I have narrated here. I have mainly relied on my memory and have gone on putting down things as they occurred in my long life. If there are any errors, they are unintentional and due to my faulty memory. For that I wish to be pardoned. I have tried to be as objective and truthful as possible in this narration.

I am grateful to Shri Bala Saheb Bharade former Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for his excellent foreword, which he agreed to give most heartily.

Thanks are due to Shri V. S. Tamhankar, who prepared the manuscript with great promptitude and efficiency. Last but not the least, to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, a prestigious and world renowned Institution, which so graciously agreed to publish this short narration.