7 up – Veteran Narendra Makanji signs books

Published: 16 April 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

LABOUR activist and former Whittington Hospital chairman Narendra Makanji was laden down with books when he attended MP Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign launch on Monday.

Mr Makanji was carrying part of his collection of volumes written by Tony Benn. He seized on the visit to ask Mr Benn to autograph seven of the books. Mr Makanji said: “I bought the first book in the 1970s when he did the first volume of his diaries. It gave a terrific insight into how the machinery of government works.”

He paid tribute to Mr Corbyn, adding: “Jeremy’s responsible for me being involved in politics. When he was a councillor in Haringey he cornered me and forced me to become a candidate for Labour.” Mr Corbyn had spelled out the priorities of life under Thatcher. “He said while all that is going on, people like you shouldn’t be hanging round and going to the pictures every night,” Mr Makanji said.