Beyond 26/11: Family pens a book for Karkare

“The experience has been overwhelming. We have heard such beautiful stories about him from people. We are now approaching publication houses to take this collection forward. Hemant Karkare was more than the night of November 26,and it is through the words of the people in the book that we plan to give a tribute,” says Shirish.

The family has registered a trust named after Karkare,with proceeds from the sale of the book set to be used through the trust to identify and nurture young talent. Shirish has spent the last nine months travelling to various places within the state where the former IPS officer served.

The collection includes experiences penned by senior commissioners under whom Karkare started his career,by his contemporaries and officers who worked under him in various departments,by colleagues from his postings in Naxalism-hit regions,by friends,journalists and also many “random people whose lives he touched as an officer,as a friend”. So,one will get to read thoughts on Karkare from a handloom worker in Malegaon,his constabulary from his Chandrapur days,his friends from the village in Vienna where he stayed,to his contemporaries including State Intelligence Department chief K L Prasad and state IB chief Datta Padsalgikar.

His wife Kavita,pointing to pictures of the couple over the years,only manages to say,“I have been observing his face and the way it has changed over the years. As for love,it shows in the pictures that it had only matured with years.” The compilation will also include personal pieces by the three children,his wife,siblings and some distant family members

“I feel anguished at every report saying they were sitting ducks who went in for the assault without planning. In my interviews with many officers who were at the spot,it comes through that the three had proper plans to seal the exits,they had called for reinforcements and Karkare himself had told the control to tell K L Prasad to call in the Army —-I have decided to write it myself,since everyone has decided to ignore the important aspects,” Shirish adds.