AZAAD : AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

by Ghulam Nabi Azad

India’s tumultuous political history, revealing backroom stories, humorous anecdotes and invaluable life lessons come together in Azaad, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s frank, unflinching autobiography about his life and career alongside some of the most powerful leaders from India and the world. As Ghulam Nabi charts his political odyssey, he showcases the grand arc of the great India story through the most dramatic political transformations of the last five decades.
The heart of this autobiography is devoted to his half a century-old association with the Congress party. He offers candid, captivating accounts of his relationship with the members of the Gandhi Parivar—former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay, Maneka, Sonia Gandhi and her children, Rahul and Priyanka. From devising a strategy with Indira Gandhi to bring Rajiv into politics and convincing Sonia to become the party chief to his mediation efforts in the tussle between Rahul Gandhi and Himanta Biswa Sarma—Ghulam Nabi explores the challenges of leadership and the consequences of daring to bring fresh thinking into the political landscape.
He also offers a personal perspective of working in government and in Opposition. He does not pull his punches, offering his unvarnished opinions on leading politicians from across the political divide—from his confrontation and comradeship with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri, political tricks played by N.D. Tiwari and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to his personal equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Insightful, intimate and utterly entertaining, Azaad is Ghulam Nabi’s own journey, in his own words.
It is a book that belongs on the reading list of every political aficionado.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2023

Reviews

[Kamlesh Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very balanced simple narration interesting vignettes
Some traits one can fathom in this seasoned politician is sadly missing in most politicians of the day.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

AZAAD : AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Kindle Edition) by Ghulam Nabi Azad- born 07 March 1949 – The narrates political history of Indian National Congress (I), the revealing backroom stories, humorous anecdotes and invaluable life lessons come together. Author’s narration is frank and unflinching. In the book, author charts his political odyssey, he showcases the grand arc of the great India story through the most dramatic political transformations of the last five decades. The heart of this autobiography is devoted to his half a century-old association with the Congress party. He offers candid, captivating accounts of his relationship with the members of the Gandhi Parivar—former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and her children, Rahul and Priyanka. From devising a strategy with Indira Gandhi to bring Rajiv into politics and convincing Sonia to become the party chief to his mediation efforts in the tussle between Rahul Gandhi and Himanta Biswa Sarma—Ghulam Nabi explores the challenges of leadership and the consequences of daring to bring fresh thinking into the political landscape. Author offers a personal perspective of working in government and in Opposition. He does not pull his punches, offering his unvarnished opinions on leading politicians from across the political divide—from his confrontation and comradeship with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri, political tricks played by Narayan Dutt Tiwari and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to his personal equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is an interesting autobiography. It is a good read book for readers of all age groups.

[Kosam Ganjoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about veteran Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azaad and his journey in Indian politics from the time of Indira Gandhi to Manmohan Singh and later as LOP in Rajya Sabha. Azaad had been a follower of Gandhian teachings from his college days and inspired from one of these events he joined INC as a young leader. Later on, he came to serve many important positions in Congress at national level and in the government and held various portfolios like I&B Minster, Civil Aviation Minster, Tourism Minster, Health Minster and CM of J&K etc.; also, he was a very close aid of Sanjay, Rajiv and Indira Gandhi. He believed in maintaining cordial relationships with his party and opposition leaders which helped him to work and sail through difficult circumstances in his political career. After reading the book, you will know more than a dozen backstories from him, and get an understanding of how the decisions at various levels were made which mostly are obscured from the general publics’ eye.

His story is mostly the story of the Congress and of our Country since the Congress remained in power for around 40 years. Someone, who is keen to know the history and politics of India, can definitively give it a try..

[Ambesh Tiwari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I, me and myself. This memoirs by GNA seems rather untrue. It seems each significant thing that has happened in the Congress party in last 3 decades was initiated by him only. If this was true, he would be far more relevant than he was today.

For people who have been first time voters, you may read to understand how electoral politics and old school politicians were and how they have evolved in last 4 decades.

[Sachin Bhide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice reading

Came to know about many interesting things. Learned a lot about leadership dos and don'ts. Very interesting career. Thank you for sharing your experience.