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The Study of Nehru
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Was the author denied an interview with Maneka Gandhi?
A "tragic" life
Great Read
Indira and India
Indira is no more

Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi
Katherine Frank
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Nehru: A Biography
Sun Yat-sen
Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth
In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India
India: Emerging Power

ASIN: 039573097X

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The veteran author of critically praised books about Emily Brontë and Lucie Duff Gordon has written an exemplary popular biography of the powerful, controversial prime minister who indelibly shaped the world's largest democracy. Katherine Frank's solidly researched narrative is particularly good on the early years of Indira Gandhi (1917-84), cogently delineating her complex relationship with her father, nationalist hero Jawaharlal Nehru, which was intimate when they were pouring out their feelings in letters, but strained when they were actually together. We see an intelligent, strong-minded woman coming of age in a turbulent time marked by her relatives' frequent stays in prison as India struggled for freedom from Great Britain. After independence, when Nehru became prime minister, Gandhi was politically active but for many years resisted seeking power in her own right. Following the deaths of her husband (Feroze Gandhi, no relation to the Mahatma) in 1960 and Nehru in 1964, she moved into the top spot, aided by the Congress Party bosses' mistaken impression that she would be a figurehead they could manipulate. On the contrary, Frank shows Prime Minister Gandhi prompted by her deep fear of disorder toward increasingly authoritarian acts, most notoriously the state of emergency declared in 1975, when she authorized the arrest of many opposition leaders. Frank depicts Gandhi as having more faith in her personal bond with the Indian people than in the messy workings of democracy. But the religious and political divisions inflamed by her policies came home to roost in 1984, when she was assassinated by her own bodyguard, a Sikh enraged by the massacre of militant Sikhs in the Golden Temple. This sympathetic but unsparing portrait makes it clear that Gandhi was a flawed leader but evinces compassion for a woman striving with a difficult personal and political legacy. --Wendy Smith

Book Description

On the morning of October 31, 1984, as she walked through her garden, smiling, with hands raised and palms pressed together in the traditional Indian namaste greeting, Indira Nehru Gandhi was assassinated by her own bodyguards. She died as she had lived, surrounded by men, yet isolated. It was a violent end to a life of epic drama.
Here is the first popular biography of one of the world's most influential leaders, India's third prime minister. Brought up during an era that saw the rise of Indian nationalism, Indira was raised to be what her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, called "a child of revolution" - destined to play a political role in the creation and governing of an independent India. Despite her early reluctance to embrace this role, Indira eventually presided over a huge, complex, religiously riven, and male-dominated country. She was born to a wealthy, westernized family, but she had a gift for connecting with the poor of the countryside and the urban slums, the illiterate, the dispossessed - so much so that "Indira is India" became a familiar slogan. Throughout childhood, love, marriage, imprisonment, motherhood, and a sequence of personal and family tragedies, her personal hopes and desires were continually subsumed by the historical and political imperatives of her country.
In this beautifully written book, the acclaimed biographer Katherine Frank draws on unpublished sources and more than a hundred interviews to create a rich, balanced portrait. INDIRA captures in full color the personal and political fate of the leader of the world's largest democracy - the woman who played a dominant role in the history of the twentieth century and who, when it ended, was voted Woman of the Millennium by the BBC.

Customer Reviews:

Was the author denied an interview with Maneka Gandhi?.......2007-06-23

It may very well be that Sonia cared for Maneka's child during the day, and Indira slept with him by night, but before painting this uncaring picture of Maneka, did Katherine attempt to get the other side of the story?

Even if she had been refused an interview, perhaps she should have attempted to give her readers a third-party (her own?) view of what was probably transpiring in the Nehru-Gandhi household (as she does in numerous other places), rather than passing along what is probably Sonia Gandhi's view of the situation.

Or perhaps Katherine didn't really care whether she maligned Maneka, the not-so-powerful politician?

A "tragic" life.......2006-08-26

This is a very good account of Indira Gandhi's life. I felt very sad after reading it. I knew already about her life and politics as being an Indian. But this book gave me a very comprehensive account of her life, except her last couple of years, which I think were
hurried. I think that spicy tidbits of alleged affairs about her, Nehru and her husband should have been avoided as they distract from the larger point and have given her worshippers an excuse to discount the book. Description of India's early life before she became the Prime Minister is very engaging. You can see how the seeds of her later-day paranoia and siege mentality were sown during her unhappy childhood and her estrangement with her husband. You feel sad that in the end that privileged upbringing, lots of potential, education at the best schools and colleges and tutoring by her father in democratic traditions did not amount to much. She achieved little and destroyed much.

It is amazing that in a vibrant democracy, she was able to undermine every political institution, which is essential for a democracy. How she instigated conflicts in Assam, Kashmir and Punjab. How she shamelessly went around dismissing democratically elected state govts and playing one group against another. How she let loose her son, Sanjay as an extra-constitutional authority to subvert judiciary and beaurocracy. She surrounded herself with sycophants and boot-lickers. In her own words, she herself admits, "men who may not be very bright but on whom I can rely"? Only bright spot in her career was the liberation Bangladesh. She used every weapon available to stay in the power. In the end, the forces she helped unleashed consumed her. Even her son Rajiv who became Prime Minister after her violent death was killed Srilankan Tamil Tigers whom she nourished. It might seem like a poetic justice in the end but India was/is the big loser having lost so much and still fighting those forces.

History will not be kind to her and I hope that Indian people would not let another Indira immerge on the political scene.

Great Read.......2005-04-05

This is one of the best biographies on Indira Gandhi. Most of the other books on indira authored by Indian journalists tend to focus primarily on her political activities with a brief summary of her childhood and adult years. This is by far the most comprehensive attempt at combining the various threads and presenting the story of a normal human being. Katherine's description of Indira's years at Anand Bhawan, Europe, marriage to Feroze read like a best seller fiction. Meticulous research, analysis and an objective attempt to understand the influences in Indira's life prior to her prime ministership is the hallmark.

Missing is the analysis in understanding why a shy, reserved person longing for anonymity suddenly craves for power, and seeks power with scant regard for the institutions set-up by her father, leaders she grew up with. Going by Indira's example,I am disappointed that despite having the best role models (Gandhi, Nehru), best education ( shantiniketan, finishing schools, oxford), global exposure, immense wealth, Indira in her latter years behaved very much like an average middle class Mother, the book unfortunately fails to provide a rationale for this abnormal behavior.

Still a great attempt from a non-indian to understand and piece together the life of the most charismatic and powerful Indian leader in the last 30 years.

Indira and India.......2004-08-28

This is a thorough and critical account of the life of Indira Gandhi, concentrating on her early life and her relationship with her father Jawaharlal Nehru, then on to her time a Prime Minister, the Emergency of 1975-77, the influence of her son Sanjay, and finally her violent death.

The author gives great detail of Indira's childhood and privileged upbringing: it seemed a lonely childhood and adolescence. The close bonds with her father seemed to make her marriage with Feroze Gandhi next to impossible. Franks is highly critical of the baleful influence of Sanjay Gandhi and of Indira for being blind to his faults.

It was interesting that the author quickly dismisses any notion of Indira Gandhi as a conviction politician: the exercise of power seemed a sufficient driving force for her, to the extent that democratic values were dispensible.

I thought that this book is as important an account of post-1947 Indian politics as it is a biography of Indira Gandhi (the two seemed to be closely linked). A good read for all that.

G Rodgers

Indira is no more.......2003-08-17

Result of an obviously (too) meticulous study, the book reveals a very objective account of one of the leading female figures of the world... The emphasis is not limited to her political life and therefore you understand almost all underlying motives in her most absurd decisions. Throughout the book, you both love and hate Indira Nehru Gandhi but most of the time, you pity her for the life she, afterall, did not really wanted to have but couldn't refuse either... There is struggle, war, peace, politics, Byzantine games, democracy, dictatorship but happiness in this life....

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Democracy Version 2
good book
first document

Da Vijay Code: The exit of the Nehrus
Pravin Benjamin
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Titled as the First Document in the earlier edition Da Vijay Code offers a simple method by which members of minority groups can lay claim for Prime Ministership or Presidentship in a democracy. The most powerful job of the land in most democracies continues to remain beyond the reach of the minorities not withstanding the existence of the much touted equality of political opportunity Da Vijay Code examines the reasons why even mature democracies continue to deprive its minorities the right to become Head of Government (HOG) either Prime Minister or President. Da Vijay Code details the dynamics of this deprivation and suggests an appropriate remedy by a method called PCR. Most democracies continue to be Democraties Frustrées for their minorities as far the HOGship is concerned. Democracies of the world continue to pretend that equality of political opportunity exists for its minorities when it comes access to Head of Government status. Da Vijay Code debunks this pretension and throws open, by PCR, the PMship or Presidentship of a country to its minorities. PCR is about Ability or Probability to become a HOG. It is not about Opportunity or Eligibility. Democracies, as they exist today, claim that all citizens living within its borders have the Eligibility or Equal Opportunity to become HOG. The truth however being that even in the most mature democracies, this so called Equal Opportunity does not convert to Probability neither does Eligibility convert to Ability. PCR makes possible this conversion. PCR can transform all the democracies of the world into true democracies wherein anyone, not just a member of a majority, but anyone, irrespective of her race, color, creed, linguistic or regional origins gains a 100% probability to occupy the most powerful job of the land - of his or her citizenship. The author poses some simple questions to identify a Démocraties Frustrées. 1. Do you live in a country that has a democratic polity. 2. Do you consider yourself having made commendable contribution to the country in which you live, in different fields of human endeavor, be it political /social/economic/ military service etc., 3. And by virtue of that do you consider yourself a deserving candidate for the Head of Government position 4. In spite of (2) above do you think that you do not have a chance of becoming Head of Government because your racial or linguistic identity is different from the majority, even though : a)Your racial or linguistic group shares a common history and 'ancientness' as the majority in the same country and b) Membership of your racial or linguistic group in the same country runs into millions If you have answered yes to all these 4 questions then your country qualifies to be a Démocraties Frustrées, a fit case for implementing PCR.

Customer Reviews:

Democracy Version 2.......2006-01-23

Brilliant.The book poses some valid questions that beg an answer. If democracy is about equality why do democratic countries not allow members of minority communities living within its borders to become Head of Government? The author has set forth some cogent arguments demanding a share for minorities in the most powerful job of a land. In the world of computers there are version releases for software. Lower software is upgraded to a higher release. First Document's PCR democracies should come under the category of upgraded democracies. The author comments, tongue in cheek, that democracies that do not allow members of its minority communities to become head of government as belonging to the same category as the bogus Peoples Democracy of the Soviet era. First Document is without doubt a brilliant work of political literature.

good book.......2006-01-14

First Document has all the ingredients to shake the Indian political world. The author claims, not unjustifiably, that the Nehrus may have to seek retirement from political life if his suggestions become a reality. The book calls into question the very basis of the strength by which the Nehrus have survived this long in Indian politics. The Nehrus would have no place in an Indian democracy that practices PCR. In India in future the contest for the Prime Ministerial position is no more going to be limited to just the Singhs the Tiwaris and Lals one can see the Naidus, Jeyalalithas and Subramaniams from the South too entering the fray.

first document.......2006-01-10

This book will definitely bring down the political curtains for India's premier republican dynasty,the Nehrus, if what has been expounded here finds acceptance by the Indian political elite. First Document discusses the reasons why Indian democracy continues to be majoritarian centric when it comes to access to headship of government (Prime Ministership).

Since Independence, 59 years ago, the Prime Ministers of India have all risen only from the majority Hindi speaking states of India. There was only one non-Hindi speaking prime minister and he did not last more than 10 months. In spite of this lopsided representation of Hindi speakers in this most powerful cabinet post the 500 million strong linguistic minorities have not made an issue of it because the categorization of minorities in India was based on religious grounds.

The identification of the word minority to refer only to say Muslims or Christians was a brilliant masterstroke in the evolution of political categorization in India. India's linguistic minorities were made to believe they belonged to the majority. Prior to every Parliamentary elections their local linguistic identities are dissolved in this pan Indian/pan Hindu majority. While assimilation is used as a political strategy to ensure governmental formation, non-assimilative, local identity however is used as a criteria to reject the candidature of the non-Hindi candidates for prime ministership.

The author's case is that this state of affairs is too good to be true for the Hindi speaking groups to last for long. With the arrival of coalition governance India's non-Hindi linguistic groups would soon become vociferous and demand a share in the Prime Ministerial pie. First Document should serve to provide the intellectual basis for such a demand.

Even though First Document revolves around India denying its 500 million strong linguistic minorities the right to become Head of Government (Prime Minister) what he says is true for all countries wedded to a democratic polity. The worlds largest democracies have been denying the right of its minorities to become Head of Government. This denial is being done by them by clever manipulation and selective interpretation of the majoritarian written constitutions.

In most democracies members of the minority are told that being citizens they have equal opportunity and equal ability as any other to become Head of Government. Though opportunity exists for a member of the minority to make it to the most powerful job of the land, the ability or probability of their making it to the top job is either low or next to impossible? Opportunity is just eligibility neither does this so called ability convert itself to a probability of any measure. First Document addresses precisely this question. The author suggests a method call PCR to set right this anomaly seen even in mature democracies.

Nehru (Routledge Historical Biographies)

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Nehru (Routledge Historical Biographies)
B. Zachariah
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

How did Jawaharlal Nehru come to lead the Indian nationalist movement, and how did he sustain his leadership as the first Prime Minister of independent India? Nehru's vision of India, its roots in Indian politics, society and religion, as well as its viability have been central to historical and present-day views of India. This engaging and sophisticated new biography dispels many myths surrounding Nehru, and distinguishes between the icon he has come to be and the politician he actually was.

Benjamin Zachariah discusses the central issues of the Nehruvian period, such as foreign policy, non-alignment and the Cold War, the Indian nationalist movement and Independence, the Kashmir problem, economic pressures, and Nehru's political legacy. The introductory chapters look at Nehru's personal and family background and his time as Gandhi's disciple. Zachariah provides a balanced and critical account of Nehru's thought and actions, drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources.

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Impact of Indian Culture on Nehru
Rachna Mehrotra
Manufacturer: Rahul Publishing House,India
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Socialisation Education and Women (Explorations in Gender Identity)

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Socialisation Education and Women (Explorations in Gender Identity)

Manufacturer: Orient Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0861318293

Book Description

EXPLORES HOW WOMEN ARE SOCIALIZED INTO THEIR ROLES AND HOW THEY INTERNALIZE THE OFTEN NEGATIVE IMAGES THIS SOCIALIZATION PROVIDES.

Nehru: a Political Life.(Book Review) : An article from: Journal of Contemporary Asia

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Nehru: a Political Life.(Book Review) : An article from: Journal of Contemporary Asia
Bruce MacFarlane
Manufacturer: Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0009GM00S
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Contemporary Asia, published by Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers on October 1, 2004. The length of the article is 786 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Nehru: a Political Life.(Book Review)
Author: Bruce MacFarlane
Publication: Journal of Contemporary Asia (Refereed)
Date: October 1, 2004
Publisher: Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers
Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Page: 555(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Ideas on socialism and social justice: A study of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rammanohar Lohia, and Asoke Mehta

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Ideas on socialism and social justice: A study of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rammanohar Lohia, and Asoke Mehta
Santanu Bagchi
Manufacturer: Kanishka Publishers, Distributors
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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A Study of Nehru
Rafiq (foreword By Rajendra Prasad, President of India) Zakaria
Manufacturer: Times of India
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IZH8GQ

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The Study of Nehru

Manufacturer: South Asia Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

More than 60 distinguished persons of different countries and different political persuasions pay their tribute to this great man. The contributors draw freely from their experience of Nehru the man and also analyse his political persona. This book is a valuable addition to the works that have grown around Jawaharlal Nehru's name.

State terrorism vs. Jihad in Kashmir.: An article from: Journal of Contemporary Asia

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State terrorism vs. Jihad in Kashmir.: An article from: Journal of Contemporary Asia
Shakti Bhatt
Manufacturer: Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Contemporary Asia, published by Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers on May 1, 2003. The length of the article is 5201 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: State terrorism vs. Jihad in Kashmir.
Author: Shakti Bhatt
Publication: Journal of Contemporary Asia (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2003
Publisher: Journal of Contemporary Asia Publishers
Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Page: 215(10)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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