I have been a loyal reader of National Interest columns (Indian Express) by Shekhar Gupta. Week after week, I have enjoyed his brilliant analysis of our contemporary political landscape. His style is always simple - but never simplistic.
Anticipating India is a collection of 'the best'of National Interest. It traces the period from the days of the NDA government right up to the Anna Hazare movement. It is a succulent slice of history on one platter!
I was struck by how accurate Shekhar Gupta's predictions turned out and how perceptive he was in his analysis, even if some of it then appeared to be on a shaky terrain. He had started predicting the decline and demise of the UPA II government when - to put it in an analogy from his favourite sport of cricket - the opening batsmen had barely taken guard. Over the last five years, he persisted in the belief that the UPA was on a self-destruct mode. It was chronicle of a death foretold!
Of course he appears to have got a few things wrong. He considered the selection of Amit Shah as organizer of BJP's UP campaign a blunder because Mr Shah was known to be a divisive and polarizing figure. The last elections proved this prediction hugely wrong! To be fair, the reason lay in the fact that Mr Shah and his party appeared to have re-invented themselves and approached issues far less divisively than anyone thought was possible.
This is an excellent book for anyone who understands the nuances of Indian politics and wishes to make sense of the last two decades.
Anticipating India is a collection of 'the best'of National Interest. It traces the period from the days of the NDA government right up to the Anna Hazare movement. It is a succulent slice of history on one platter!I was struck by how accurate Shekhar Gupta's predictions turned out and how perceptive he was in his analysis, even if some of it then appeared to be on a shaky terrain. He had started predicting the decline and demise of the UPA II government when - to put it in an analogy from his favourite sport of cricket - the opening batsmen had barely taken guard. Over the last five years, he persisted in the belief that the UPA was on a self-destruct mode. It was chronicle of a death foretold!
Of course he appears to have got a few things wrong. He considered the selection of Amit Shah as organizer of BJP's UP campaign a blunder because Mr Shah was known to be a divisive and polarizing figure. The last elections proved this prediction hugely wrong! To be fair, the reason lay in the fact that Mr Shah and his party appeared to have re-invented themselves and approached issues far less divisively than anyone thought was possible.
This is an excellent book for anyone who understands the nuances of Indian politics and wishes to make sense of the last two decades.
Well written review....
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