Paresh Baruah

ULFA (I) chief Paresh Baruah’s memoir will be published within less than a month, The Print reported.

The military chief of the proscribed rebel outfit told the news website that his memoir would be published in “less than a month or 20 days”.

“If it’s not the truth, people will not accept it. If it’s a fictionalised biography, no one would really want to read it,” the news portal quoted Baruah as saying.

“My part, to narrate facts, has been completed. But other areas — like proof-reading and editing — are being done,” he added.

Baruah said he “has been bothered about the misrepresentation of facts about ULFA in the past years”, adding that his memoir will be steeped in historical accuracy.

It is his voice that tells “true stories” with ruthless precision, and that is why “some might not like it”, he said.

“I had contemplated this before. There has been a misrepresentation of facts, people have written in many ways — some know little, others know too much, but who knows the truth? I am not speaking with arrogance when I say this. I have only tried to record facts,” he added.

The ULFA (I) chief said for the book he recorded his recollections on audio 4-5 hours daily over a period of three months.

According to Baruah, the biography would offer an elaborately layered account of his life, the formation of ULFA and the revolution, the highs and lows, and the obstacles the outfit encountered along the way.

It will also include a glimpse at his childhood — the contours of his preadolescent mind and under what circumstances he joined the armed struggle.

Baruah said the book was initially supposed to be penned by writer, journalist Homen Borgohain, but these plans fell through for certain reasons.

“I have given the responsibility to a few young persons who take an interest in writing. They are new, but it’s encouraging for them,” he said.

He said that the final editing will be done by a renowned litterateur from Assam.