The Accidental Prime Minister

Posted on 16 February 2018 by Sanjaya Baru

In 2004 Sanjaya Baru left a successful career as chief editor of the Financial Express to join Manmohan Singh as his media adviser Singh and Baru had been close and Baru, a great admirer of the technocrat who had ushered in the 1991 reforms, saw this as an opportunity to help a man he admired lead India down a new path As Singh s eyes and ears and self appointed conscience keeper , Baru saw the transformation of Manmohan Singh from technocrat to politician In his account, he tells his story of what it was like to manage public opinion for Singh and how their relationship unraveled, while giving us a riveting look at Indian politics as it happened behind the scenes Capturing the heady early days of UPA 1 to the high noon of the nuclear deal, The Accidental Prime Minister is one of the most important and intimate accounts of the prime minister and UPA 1. Read The Accidental Prime Minister – kino-fada.fr Contrary to what others feel, my respect for Dr Manmohan Singh which had reached its lowest point has been revived and has only increased.While all the reviews say that this book says what was largely known, my review aims to tell the readers that why they should read this book.Any book that you read teaches you something drawing from the life lessons and experiences of the writer The Accidental Prime Minister. does exactly that and between the lines you will find many takeaways whether you a Contrary to what others feel, my respect for Dr Manmohan Singh which had reached its lowest point has been revived and has only increased.While all the reviews say that this book says what was... I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him The evil that men do lives after them The good is oft interred with their bones So let it be with Caesar I am to speak what I do know You all did love him once, not without cause What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him O judgment thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason Bear with me My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar I am firmly of belief that a no better parallel came be drawn to this book than what I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him ...Who can afford to not read the biggest publishing phenomenon in India in the last decade As if that was not enough, who can afford to not read the first of a whole genre of books that has not till now existed in India i.e people who work with powerful politicians and then talk about it For these reasons alone, you would want to check this book out no matter what the reviews say Having said that, here are my thoughts 1 The books reads well It should The author is a senior journalist.2 Thi Who can afford to not read the biggest publishing phenomenon in India in the last decade As if that was not enough, who can afford to not read the first of a whole genre of books that has not till now existed in India i.e people who work with powerful politicians and then talk about it For these reasons alone, you would w...After reading the book one could easily come to the conclusion that the difference between UPA1 and UPA2 was the media advisor Dr Singh Manmohan Singh was tutored, educated, built and defended by this media advisor during UPA1 Hence Dr Singh succeeded, as did UPA1 despite enormous shortcomings The whole book is in poor taste Perhaps the initial attempt was to project Dr Singh as a hero and the fall guy but once Baru could not be brought on board again, he goes on to question his hero for After reading the book one could easily come to the conclusion that the difference between UPA1 and UPA2 was the media advisor Dr Singh Manmohan Singh was tutored, educated, built and defended by this media advisor during UPA1 Hence Dr Singh succeeded, as did UPA1 despite enormous shortcomings The whole book is in poor taste Perhaps the initial attempt was to project Dr Singh as a hero and the fall guy but once Baru could not be brought on board again, he goes on to question his hero for harbouring survival instincts The book is so appropriately timed to make it a commercial success and to embarrass the embarrassed A lot of what has been mentioned could be true but intentions are questionable and grossly unethical, specially from a person who was trusted by Dr Singh Knowing Dr Singh as well he did or pr...A helpless Bheeshma of our times This book is the first of a kind which provides an insiders account to how things unfolded during the first tenure of the UPA government it also throws light on the personality of Dr Manmohan Singh and how he managed to run the coalition This book is an account of how a good, wise and a learned man was put on the wrong side defending a disreputable lot Manmohan Singh is the case of a ...After reading the book I can only say that media reports have been very selective while reporting about this book.Definitely, an undue emphasis has been given to the latter part of the book s title while deciding on the theme of these reports.My respect for Dr Singh has only increased after reading the book Every great man has certain failings which are often retrospectively attributed to him while criticising his work and life.But the eclipse of Sun shouldn t m...Sanjaya Baru needs to be praised for taking the bold some may say, controversial step of deciding to write this book Our politicians and bureaucrats prefer to take the refuge of sensitive matters and official secrets in order to justify their decision of not coming out with their memoirs But, this is precisely the kind of transparency that we need, of a view inside the corridors of power, who lobbies for whom, what motivates the various characters and so on.Coming to the book, Sanjaya Baru de Sanjaya Baru needs to be praised for taking the bold some may say, controversial st...Loads and loads of information, and many times, about unimportant events.Tons of name droppings and glorification of one s own contributions Poor story telling to hold the attention of the reader.Deliberate shunning of controversial subjects I thought I would gain some insider s view in to the workings of one of the makers of Modern India I doubt if there are any critics of his 1991 economic reforms , who became a laughing stock as a l...A little laborious read, if you are following up the politics of India for the last decade It is laborious not because of the style of writing but the content The entire book tries to say that Manmohan Singh is an honest, gentleman politician and an able economist, became a prime minister but could not wield his power because omnipotent Sonia controlling him and the government.Manmohan Singh s vision on external affairs and relationship with Pakistan is really a key take away for me from this A little laborious read, if you are following up the politics of India for the last decade It is laborious not because of the style o...The book gives a clear idea about how complex it is to run a government There are so many participants, all precariously strung together, and contrary to public opinion the first among the equal is not, in fact, the most powerful Though Dr Singh wassubmissive than an usual PM, but I feel even a PM with a majority would have as many factions in his own party to keep happy.For the common man, who demands changes in 100 days, this book is a MUST Running a government is a mammoth task an The book gives a clear idea about how complex i...

English
16 February 2018

Sanjaya Baru