“The Accidental Prime Minister” by Sanjaya Baru, published in 2014, is an account of former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s two terms in office. Sanjaya Baru was appointed as 'Media Adviser' to Dr. Manmohan Singh during his first term in UPA – 1 from 2004 to 2009. This book is in the form of a political memoir. The book’s narrative follows a chronological format, painting a picture of Dr. Singh’s terms in UPA 1 and UPA 2.
In the introduction to his book, Baru proclaims that none of his predecessors at the Prime Minister’s office ever wrote a full book on his experiences during his tenure. Editors as famous as B G Verghese, Kuldip Nayar, H K Dua and Prem Shankar Jha chose not to do so. As also bureaucrats like G Parthasarathi,
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Manmohan Singh. Keen interest in this book also arose since it was released during the time of elections. While the ruling Congress Party scrambled to deny the veracity of the book’s contents, the Opposition indulged in gleeful government – bashing. Dr. Manmohan Singh's daughter Upinder Singh herself denounced the book, calling it "nothing but a stab in the back... a huge betrayal of trust".
I started reading “The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh” with some pre – conceived notions in my head about the non – performing image of Dr. Manmohan Singh as a man who rightly deserved the ridicule he aroused in the general population’s minds.
Instead I found that Sanjaya Baru, far from showing the man to be a silent robotic personality, had held up an image of a Brutus – like tragic hero, with a tremendous amount of turmoil in his heart.
Baru actually portrays him as an extremely deserving Prime Minister of India who is trapped in his own sense of what’s right and what’s wrong and thus becomes an object of contempt and gains the notoriety of destroying the magnificent stature of the office that he
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Manmohan Singh and it is UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and her gaggle of yes-men who are shown up in a poor light. The book does not disparage him in any manner. This book tries to explain plainly the power equation between Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh but does not sensationalize the issue. It only re-affirms what the Indian public knew to be true.
Dr. Manmohan Singh is shown, regrettably, as a helpless, clueless shadow - puppet of Sonia Gandhi who almost arouses our sympathies because of his ineffectiveness in functioning as the Prime Minister of India. This sad truth was simply being put on record by the primary witness, ie, Sanjaya Baru, to this political drama.
Baru tell us that Dr Singh was terrified of losing his place in the scheme of things if he did not kowtow to the High Command, Sonia Gandhi. For Dr. Singh, the Gandhi family came first, followed by the political party, prime minister’s office and, lastly, the
In Jawaharlal Nehru: Marxism, Capitalism and India’s Future (1941) the prime minister talks about how he grew addicted to political matters of india and western countries.
Ultimately, the author’s intention in sharing his experiences is to give himself a platform in which he can advocate for positive change and speak about issues. The author shared what he experienced in inspiring people to believe in the democratic process. The author inspires people by showing people that even though “the wheels of democracy turn slowly” (Takei, 1993), the government was able to eventually admit their wrongdoing. Following, the fact that they were able to admit their wrongdoings “makes an amazing statement about this country” (Takei, 1993). Not all countries would be willing to admit that.
Modi was the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat in India for thirteen years before he became prime minister. He came from a poor family, and worked on the sides of the streets to make money for him and his family, which consisted of his mother, father, and five other siblings. He started attending political lectures when he eight, and as the years went by he saw how much India needed someone who would bring change. Once he was in office, he started to put in new reforms against rape, public officials, strengthening the economy, and building better relationships with other countries (Modi’s Unexpected Boost). Modi is the first man since the Gandhi-Nehru reign in India; the nation is very excited to have him as their
Everybody knows exactly who to look to in a crisis. In Tim Grover’s, “Relentless”, Grover speaks of being a cleaner or the most committed competitor striving for an unattainable level of perfection in their given profession. Grover talks about pressurized situations when everything is falling apart and it’s the cleaner, with unflappable confidence, who rises to the occasion to lead his peers into the winner’s circle with him. Gandi is a cleaner, a man so dedicated to what he believed in he was willing to risk his life, all for an unpromised reward. Gandhi had to have confidence to do what he did. The notion that anyone can lead has a speck of truth to it, however where it comes apart is not everyone is willing to sacrifice and have the confidence to lead masses of people with dreams and desires into a situation where the outcome is unknown. That separates true leaders from want-to-be
Once again, he wanted to show to his friends, comrades and all India that they needed to free there self from the cast segregation, and have a respect for all humans at the same time they were searching from freedom. He taught them that no job or task, therefore man was less important that another, and dignity is not related to money or status.
Unlike Balram and the poor villagers who are dazed by the imposing structures and icons in Delhi, the educated Ashok is unable to remain quiet. He voices his disapproval to his brother Mukesh, while Balram drives them through the streets of Delhi. When they come across a bronze statue of Gandhi leading a group of people from “darkness to light,” its irony strikes Ashok as it comes upon them almost immediately after bribing a politician to curry favours with him. He blurts out to Mukesh in anger and dismay: “We’re driving past Gandhi, after just having given a bribe to a minister. It’s a fucking joke, isn’t it? It is a fucking joke – our political system – and I’ll keep saying it as long as I like” (79). The worldly-wise Mukesh who is better
In the series of events following his driver’s car crash, Balram’s refusal to completely embody the corruptibility of his past masters is driven by his experiential empathy for those in India’s Darkness. Mohammad Asif, one of Balram’s many drivers, had crashed and killed a boy on a bicycle. After an intense rant advocating for his family’s justice, “The brother understands at last why [Balram] had brought him to the station--he understands at last that the trap had shut on him” (Adiga 265). With his wealth and bribery, Balram’s ties to the local assistant commissioner allows him to corruptly evade the pressed charges against him and Asif. This parallels Pinky Madam and Mr. Ashok’s car crash in the past, where their corrupt ties let them off. The difference is in the result of the car crash.
As this extract is a primary source, it is highly reliable and useful. It is also relevant and valuable in assisting me in my historical investigation. This speech demonstrates his motivation and the profound impact he had over the nation. It also shows his role during the war and what he did as Prime Minister. The speech
However, both the Country Profile (2005) and Business Asia (2010:10) highlight that although the fundamental political keeps stable, the efficiency of political is low. The cause of this existed problem is that the national parties weakened gradually while the regional parties which influenced by the coalition government strongly (Business Asia, 2010:10). Current President is Pratibha Patil. (BBC News, 2011). As a result, India began to conduct a relatively free liberal market reform. Nonetheless, because of the interests of coalition government members are dissimilar, the speed of market reform is limited (Business Asia, 2010:10).
As written by Malenbaum (1971), it is not surprising therefore that the conclusions on the public-private interplay in Indian economic life correspond with Nayar’s. Mostly business in politics is a record conflict. There are temporary adaptations but these are scarcely additive in their influence. They sum to limited achievement toward an
Adopt the view of the Prime Minister. Consider the character’s strengths, responsibilities, and blind spots. Why is the Prime Minister in this dilemma?
This incident began his life long battle against all discriminations. Although he debated returning to India, his duty came first. “It would be cowardice to run back to India without fulfilling my obligation. The hardship to which I was subjected was superficial-only a symptom of the deep disease of colour prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of the colour prejudice.”
During the mid-1970’s in India, it was a time of democracy where people were not treated according to the justice. The people in lower classes were being mistreated and taken advantage of due to their lack of power to stand up for themselves. However, people who had the power were controlling the government for their own advantage to cover up their ruthless actions. This chaotic situation in their society is addressed in the novel A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry through the quote “Government problems- games played by people in power. It doesn’t affect the ordinary people like us”, which illustrates how the law is being bent in the society and how it is breaking the balance of justice bringing misfortune to the people in lower classes.
Events in South Africa had made Gandhi a very well-known man in India and in 1915 he along with family in tow, arrives in Bombay, India which is where the following scene takes place. I immediately noticed that he was no longer wearing a suit, but instead the traditional clothing of the Indian people. Upon returning to India, the film depicts Gandhi taking on the English once again with the backing of millions of Indian supporters seeking independence from Great Britain. This done by once again forming a non-violent protesting organization. From here the film goes on to show violence brought to Gandhi’s followers, supporters, and the non-violent protestors by officials using force with gunfire, batons, etc. Afterwards, Gandhi was again imprisoned several times in India with one occurrence resulting in a six year sentence.
The researcher understood the specific theme chosen and was a bit au-fait with the topic, because she had a keen interest in Gandhi and all his work. In an age where violence is on the increase Gandhi’s message of non-violence is needed. It is the researchers hope that this IA will reach a wide cross section of people and will effect a change. Gandhi’s views on issues like untouchability are deeply dealt with. Never anywhere Gandhi’s views about untouchability were effectively heard. But, in this book they were dealt in detail with lots of arguments and convincing proofs of why untouchability is sin. Even his co-living with the untouchables and the resistance he faced for that is discussed. His views on religion, nationality, his movements like civil-disobedience, are also clearly shown. Even his opinions on many religions were discussed in deep; a striking