Sanjaya Baru

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 book. His vision that the borders cannot be changed and it can be made irrelevant is really an impressive thought and its a pity that he could put it in action because of various political reasons in India as well as Pakistan.

But apart from the above, all other things discussed in the book is nothing phenomenal. We knew that he was crippled by the coalition politics and his puppeteer was Sonia. This books goes in elaborate ways to corroborate this.… (mehr)

Author Sanjay Baru, an editor of The Financial Express and Business Standard, media advisor to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and director for Geo-economics and Strategy, International Institute of Strategic Studies, London, is also taught at the University of Hyderabad, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore and the Indian School of Public Policy, New Delhi.

With his vast knowledge in the field of economics, published by Rupa Publications, Sanjay Baru has written this book commemorating India’s Economic Journey – for 75 years! The book is written in primary language that will help students of economics apart from non-fiction readers. This book by Baru has 14 chapters, each focusing on key ideas and events that have shaped Indian economic policy and its impact. The facts in the book are relevant to the story of India’s economic resurgence. At the same time, the title suggests that India is a country that is re-emerging as a strong economy.

As stated in one of the leading newspapers, through his latest book, author Sanjaya Baru has outlined the 75-year journey of an independent India’s economic rise—a journey that started even before its independence.
… (mehr)

Here's a three way quandary: who will be kinder to Manmohan Singh (India's 13th Prime Minister), the media; the public or history? Philosophizing aside, Baru portrays the truth as it refracted within his mind concerning Singh's overnight ascent and torturously prolonged fall.

Manmohan Singh was a man of many firsts. He could also throw a calculated fit as he did to concretify the India-US Nuclear deal in the face of Congress apathy. But the early days of UPA-1 did not continue. Rahul Gandhi's dynastic rise annihilated Singh's seeming confidence.

Baru reveals the infamous truth: between Singh and Congress existed a third party; party President Sonia Gandhi. Wielding almost titanic influence, she eviscerated Singh's political career by misleading his policy approach. Singh's fault? Mindlessness and naive belief in party loyalty. Sonia's benefit? Singh's political demise paved the way for Rahul Gandhi. Ultimate result? Landslide loss for Congress.

Baru's cool, crisp narrative delivers one lesson: do not trust even your closest in politics. Politics is a filthy game. Trust even filthier.… (mehr)

The book that made Manmohan Singh interesting for me and has forever changed my impression of him. I thank Sanjaya Baru for giving voice to a much misunderstood man who at least in the first term in office did a great job that earned him a repeat term with greater majority. The victory proved thankless for him and owing to a series of bad decisions he ended up with an image much more tarnished than what could have been if he had the guts/will to resign rather than carry on for political survival/loyalty. He was as PM a good man on the wrong side.… (mehr)