Following his retirement as Governor of Meghalaya in 2022, Satya Pal Malik frequently discussed the content of his forthcoming book with The Indian Express. The book, centered on his tenure in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), addresses the region’s loss of special status and its division into two Union Territories in August 2019. Before a three-month hospitalization, the 79-year-old former Governor had indicated that he had moved the unfinished manuscript to a secure location as a precaution. After his passing on Tuesday, a trusted aide informed The Indian Express that the book was “almost done,” although not fully completed. The aide declined to disclose the manuscript’s location but confirmed that a significant portion had been written.
In prior discussions, Malik hinted at various revelations in his book, including details about security failures surrounding the 2019 Pulwama attack, which resulted in the deaths of 40 soldiers. He criticized the denial of air transport for troops and noted the absence of inquiries or accountability regarding the incident. “All these details will be there in my book… Wait for the book, I cannot tell you everything now. But the book will be about governing J&K and about the Government’s lethargy,” he stated.
Malik mentioned that more of the book’s revelations would be known upon its release. He expressed concerns about potential repercussions if he claimed a finished manuscript was ready, saying, “If I say there is a book ready, they will raid me.” However, he indicated that he was more than halfway through and that several publishers were interested in publishing the work. An episode he planned to discuss in detail included the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2018.
Even during his hospitalization in 2024, Malik spoke to The Indian Express about his upcoming book and the precautions he took regarding the manuscript. He tentatively titled the book “The Truth about Kashmir.” He disclosed that he publicly mentioned the manuscript during a rally, prompting the need for heightened security: “It was after that I realized that I should not keep the 200-page manuscript at home, and the CBI raids (in February 2024) have proven me correct. There are many publishers in touch with me for the book.”
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/satya-pal-malik-book-on-jammu-kashmir-hidden-manuscript-where-is-it-10172013/
Category: Political Pulse
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Publish Date: 2025-08-06 07:30:00
