In 1993, I had come to Bombay after a very hectic but equally rewarding tour of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshdweep. Bombay riots had erupted once again. We all felt helpless. The Government seemed quite ineffective. Janata Dal colleagues and I decided to go on indefinite fast to exert moral pressure for restraint. We sat at the Flora Fountain circle. Foolishly, I cut down my intake of water so that I would not have to go to urinate often as there was no proper arrangement for the same. By the fourth day, kidney damage was detected.

In 1994, after a blood test, the doctor asked me, “Have you heard of multiple myeloma?” I said “No, but I know that, generally, “omas” are cancers.” So it was. Though kidney damage and multiple myeloma are serious diseases, outwardly I was in good health and did not feel their impact. I went about my activities as usual, which, at times, were quite hectic.

During that period my two nieces Shalu and Shivi insisted that I paint for them. I made two identical copies of flowers from a book on Chinese paintings, so that the two may not quarrel. This sharpened my long treasured desire to paint and write.

But if I were to pursue these goals seriously, I thought, I will have to tone down my political activities to carve out time and atmosphere. But I did not want to back out of politics when things were politically in a bad shape for the Janata Dal and the National Front, particularly after losing power at the Centre in 1990. It would look like running away when things failed. So I had to bide my time till things started looking up. Failure binds one as much as success.

This much awaited time came with Janata Dal victories in the Assembly Elections in Bihar, Karnataka, and Andhra. Things had started looking up for Janata Dal and the National Front. I resigned my membership of the Parliament and also did not renew my party membership.

I also did several paintings even during my election campaigns. I worked on one single painting in Patna, Calcutta and Arunachal. I would only get snippets of time, but the feeling carried on.

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