Title: Let Me Say It Now
Author: Rakesh Maria
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoirs
Published: 2020
BookMarks
“Let Me Say It Now” is the autobiography of Rakesh Maria, the former Commissioner of Police of Mumbai. While featuring his own personal life, it is also a sort of criminal history of Mumbai of the last three decades! Featuring local gangs, international gangs, terrorist attacks, shootouts, serial criminals, diabolical murderers, filmstars, business people, politicians and what not.
While going through the narrative, got reminded of the adage “Everyone is the hero in their own story”. And why not? Given the high-profile nature of the job that Mr. Maria had.
Key message - Policing is not easy, especially in a megapolis like Mumbai, and with the resource crunch faced by those in charge. And it’s a job which is filled with brickbats coming from everywhere – politicians, media (& now social media) and even their own internal politics! So it does take a different level of commitment to carry on in the face of all this.
Recently had read another similar memoir, “Biting the Bullet”. There is stark difference. While Mr. Ajai Raj Sharma’s stories are from rural UP, Mr. Maria’s is from urban Mumbai, making them more in-the-news. But in essence they are same – fighting crimes & criminals.
Funniest tale from the book – Mr. Maria trying to make his bachelor’s pad presentable to his to-be father-in-law.
Overall, quite a pacy and interesting read! Less of an autobiography and more of a crime thriller at times.
Previously on Bookmarks: The Vault of Vishnu
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