A leaf from Osama’s Personal life

Her book,first released in 2009,is not deeply revelatory and talks about,among many other things,bin Laden’s disapproval of electricity,medicines and other modern amenities; of his idea of ‘toughening up’ his children by sending them off to deserts,deprived of food and water; about his first wife Najwa’s escape from the Laden household; and the turmoil that spilled into his domestic life,post- 9/11. Growing Up Bin Laden,has catalogued the words of Najwa and her son Omar (the fourth son of Osama). “I was very apprehensive about having anything to do with people so closely related to Osama. Post 9/11 attacks,writing this book wasn’t even a distant possibility,” Sasson recalled. She had sent out a suggestion to Omar about approaching other authors when a letter from Najwa arrived. “It took eight months for us to build a relationship of trust with each other. From the first conversation itself,Najwa had made it clear that she would not talk about her husband’s terrorist activities,as he had never disclosed or discussed these matters with her.”

The book dwells on Laden’s troubled relationship with his children. But despite the revelations,a stalking restraint marks Omar’s words as well as those of his mother. “Although he did not agree with his father’s acts,Omar did not want any harm to come to his friends who were still working with his father. He would call me later and tell me that he does not want certain things published,” Sasson said. Najwa was equally hesitant to speak of an annulment or a divorce. “She believed that every family has its secrets. She had a cheerful voice. When I asked her about her age,she told me,‘Jean,let’s be friends.’ She was very cute,” Sasson laughed.

The Marathi translation of the book was done by Bal Bhagwat,also credited with the translation of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and Jack Reacher’s One Shot. He approached Mehta Publications to secure the rights from the author when he came across the book. He got inspired by its never-seen-before content. “The book throws light on Osama’s life as a youngster,a lover,a husband and a father,” he says.