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VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977
‘The finest biography of an Indian prime minister that I have read’ RAMACHANDRA GUHA
‘A real achievement, an instant classic and a total triumph’ SHRUTI KAPILA
‘Doubles as a history of Hindu supremacism; it won’t be bettered for a long time’ PANKAJ MISHRA
‘Exceptionally interesting … a must-read for anyone curious about the history of the Right in modern India’ ZOYA HASAN
A man of unusual gifts and dangerously consequential flaws, Atal Behari Lal Vajpayee was the Hindu Right’s most glamorized and enigmatic face until now. Drawing on a natural talent to pull in the crowds with his eloquence, he elevated his physically frail and academically mediocre self to become a powerful spokesperson of historical victimhood.
In this singularly gripping account, Abhishek Choudhary sets out to prove that Vajpayee was far more critical to the project of Hinduizing India than is commonly understood. He uncovers how Vajpayee’s early life, of which we know shockingly little, lies at the heart of his political essentially conservative yet curious and conciliatory, detached yet quietly ambitious. Weaving previously unseen documents with revealing interviews, Choudhary layers this definitive biography with details of Vajpayee’s underground activities in the wake of Gandhi’s assassination; his early obsession with foreign policy; the shock from the premature deaths of his parents; his tortuous private life and maudlin poetry; his key role in the SVD coalition experiment; his defence of the Sangh Parivar inside the parliament and his averments and deferments outside. In so doing, this extraordinary debut revises several lazy myths and false binaries that have come to dominate Indian political discourse. The sympathy of Congress conservatives and Hindi intelligentsia for the RSS, Patel’s own extended ambiguity, Nehru’s innate conviction that East Pakistan would merge back with India, Indira Gandhi’s fleet-footed attack on the Jan Sangh’s finances and electoral chances, the foolish fantasies of JP’s Total Revolution and the Sangh Parivar’s dubious heroism in the Emergency are also revisited to reveal the complexity of India’s democracy.
The first of a two-volume study, The Ascent of the Hindu Right is a stunningly original portrait of Hindutva’s first prime minister.
‘A real achievement, an instant classic and a total triumph’ SHRUTI KAPILA
‘Doubles as a history of Hindu supremacism; it won’t be bettered for a long time’ PANKAJ MISHRA
‘Exceptionally interesting … a must-read for anyone curious about the history of the Right in modern India’ ZOYA HASAN
A man of unusual gifts and dangerously consequential flaws, Atal Behari Lal Vajpayee was the Hindu Right’s most glamorized and enigmatic face until now. Drawing on a natural talent to pull in the crowds with his eloquence, he elevated his physically frail and academically mediocre self to become a powerful spokesperson of historical victimhood.
In this singularly gripping account, Abhishek Choudhary sets out to prove that Vajpayee was far more critical to the project of Hinduizing India than is commonly understood. He uncovers how Vajpayee’s early life, of which we know shockingly little, lies at the heart of his political essentially conservative yet curious and conciliatory, detached yet quietly ambitious. Weaving previously unseen documents with revealing interviews, Choudhary layers this definitive biography with details of Vajpayee’s underground activities in the wake of Gandhi’s assassination; his early obsession with foreign policy; the shock from the premature deaths of his parents; his tortuous private life and maudlin poetry; his key role in the SVD coalition experiment; his defence of the Sangh Parivar inside the parliament and his averments and deferments outside. In so doing, this extraordinary debut revises several lazy myths and false binaries that have come to dominate Indian political discourse. The sympathy of Congress conservatives and Hindi intelligentsia for the RSS, Patel’s own extended ambiguity, Nehru’s innate conviction that East Pakistan would merge back with India, Indira Gandhi’s fleet-footed attack on the Jan Sangh’s finances and electoral chances, the foolish fantasies of JP’s Total Revolution and the Sangh Parivar’s dubious heroism in the Emergency are also revisited to reveal the complexity of India’s democracy.
The first of a two-volume study, The Ascent of the Hindu Right is a stunningly original portrait of Hindutva’s first prime minister.
530 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2023
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630 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 15, 2023
Let me begin by saying it’s a better written biography then many I have read in recent past. It is detailed, balanced, researched and a voice that is neutral.
Vajpayee is shown in all shades black white and a lot of grey. His virtues and vices both mentioned in equal
Measure and author does not shy from demystifying the myth and bring to forth the man.
It also describes the stance and view of Jan sangh of many of the issues we are seeing BJP
Deal with now and bring to fruition as an unfinished agenda.
I am sure not many bhakts have read it or by now we would have many of them disowning the author or maybe Atal ji has ceased to matter in the new order.
Or bhakts have forgotten that Jan sangh mentioned is the old order.
I eagerly await the second part which should be more interesting as it would include the birth of BJP sand Atalji year as PM .
Vajpayee is shown in all shades black white and a lot of grey. His virtues and vices both mentioned in equal
Measure and author does not shy from demystifying the myth and bring to forth the man.
It also describes the stance and view of Jan sangh of many of the issues we are seeing BJP
Deal with now and bring to fruition as an unfinished agenda.
I am sure not many bhakts have read it or by now we would have many of them disowning the author or maybe Atal ji has ceased to matter in the new order.
Or bhakts have forgotten that Jan sangh mentioned is the old order.
I eagerly await the second part which should be more interesting as it would include the birth of BJP sand Atalji year as PM .
October 1, 2023
Many saw in Vajpayee a true champion for Indian values, a manner that mixed hindu conservative thought with a globalized reality, others as the perpetual underdog who was cheated out of rightful power, some a visionary for infrastructure such as the golden quadrilateral project. To many others, a Prime Minister who lead to the rise of the BJP and majoritarian politics. In Abhishek Choudhary's compelling work, 'Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right 1924-1977,' a nuanced exploration unfolds. This book not only delves into Vajpayee's life but also examines his deep-rooted connections with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), offering an honest reflection of his political journey.
Click here to access a video review where I detail out the core theme of the book, my main takeaways and give it a rating!
Click here to access a video review where I detail out the core theme of the book, my main takeaways and give it a rating!
June 28, 2023
A factual, no-holds-barred portrait of this most human of leaders – warts and all – and, thankfully not a hagiography. He was, despite his failings, a bon vivant, cannabis aficionado, unabashed gourmand/epicure, and one of the best orators on the Indian political scene. He may have been an avowed votary of Hindutva earlier on in his political career as evidenced by this poem of his
Before the Congress eschewed its pro-Hindu stance towards a more pro-non-Hindu position that persists now, this was the prevailing sentiment
The advice that Golwalkar imparted to Vajpayee can now be seen as fruition of the RSS philosophy
मैं शंकर का वह क्रोधानल कर सकता जगती क्षार-क्षार।but later on he moderated his rigid views and turned more secular. Of course, he was instrumental in the promotion of the present PM Narendra Modi. The book details his maturing as a politician accompanied by similar expansion of RSS. There is a detailed account of the birth of Jan Sangh – with its iconic election symbol of a lit earthen lamp – the Deepak, its ups and downs and the final emergence of the BJP – the present political dispensation ruling the country after decimating the opposition.
डमरू की वह प्रलय-ध्वनि हूं जिसमें नचता भीषण संहार।
रणचण्डी की अतृप्त प्यास, मैं दुर्गा का उन्मत्त हास।
मैं यम की प्रलयंकर पुकार, जलते मरघट का धुआंधारय।
फिर अन्तरतम की ज्वाला से, जगती में आग लगा दूं मैं।
यदि धधक उठे जल, थल, अम्बर, जड़, चेतन तो कैसा विस्मय?
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैं आदि पुरुष, निर्भयता का वरदान लिए आया भू पर।
पय पीकर सब मरते आए, मैं अमर हुआ लो विष पी कर।
अधरों की प्यास बुझाई है, पी कर मैंने वह आग प्रखर।
हो जाती दुनिया भस्मसात्, जिसको पल भर में ही छूकर।
भय से व्याकुल फिर दुनिया ने प्रारंभ किया मेरा पूजन।
मैं नर, नारायण, नीलकंठ बन गया न इस में कुछ संशय।
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैं अखिल विश्व का गुरु महान्, देता विद्या का अमरदान।
मैंने दिखलाया मुक्ति-मार्ग, मैंने सिखलाया ब्रह्मज्ञान।
मेरे वेदों का ज्ञान अमर, मेरे वेदों की ज्योति प्रखर।
मानव के मन का अंधकार, क्या कभी सामने सका ठहर?
मेरा स्वर नभ में घहर-घहर, सागर के जल में छहर-छहर।
इस कोने से उस कोने तक, कर सकता जगती सौरभमय।
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैं तेज पुंज, तमलीन जगत में फैलाया मैंने प्रकाश।
जगती का रच करके विनाश, कब चाहा है निज का विकास?
शरणागत की रक्षा की है, मैंने अपना जीवन दे कर।
विश्वास नहीं यदि आता तो साक्षी है यह इतिहास अमर।
यदि आज देहली के खण्डहर, सदियों की निद्रा से जगकर।
गुंजार उठे उंचे स्वर से 'हिन्दू की जय' तो क्या विस्मय?
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
दुनिया के वीराने पथ पर जब-जब नर ने खाई ठोकर।
दो आंसू शेष बचा पाया जब-जब मानव सब कुछ खोकर।
मैं आया तभी द्रवित हो कर, मैं आया ज्ञानदीप ले कर।
भूला-भटका मानव पथ पर चल निकला सोते से जग कर।
पथ के आवर्तों से थक कर, जो बैठ गया आधे पथ पर।
उस नर को राह दिखाना ही मेरा सदैव का दृढ़ निश्चय।
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैंने छाती का लहू पिला पाले विदेश के क्षुधित लाल।
मुझ को मानव में भेद नहीं, मेरा अंतस्थल वर विशाल।
जग के ठुकराए लोगों को, लो मेरे घर का खुला द्वार।
अपना सब कुछ लुटा चुका, फिर भी अक्षय है धनागार।
मेरा हीरा पाकर ज्योतित परकीयों का वह राजमुकुट।
यदि इन चरणों पर झुक जाए कल वह किरीट तो क्या विस्मय?
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैं वीर पुत्र, मेरी जननी के जगती में जौहर अपार।
अकबर के पुत्रों से पूछो, क्या याद उन्हें मीना बाजार?
क्या याद उन्हें चित्तौड़ दुर्ग में जलने वाला आग प्रखर?
जब हाय सहस्रों माताएं, तिल-तिल जलकर हो गईं अमर।
वह बुझने वाली आग नहीं, रग-रग में उसे समाए हूं।
यदि कभी अचानक फूट पड़े विप्लव लेकर तो क्या विस्मय?
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
होकर स्वतंत्र मैंने कब चाहा है कर लूं जग को गुलाम?
मैंने तो सदा सिखाया करना अपने मन को गुलाम।
गोपाल-राम के नामों पर कब मैंने अत्याचार किए?
कब दुनिया को हिन्दू करने घर-घर में नरसंहार किए?
कब बतलाए काबुल में जा कर कितनी मस्जिद तोड़ीं?
भूभाग नहीं, शत-शत मानव के हृदय जीतने का निश्चय।
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
मैं एक बिंदु, परिपूर्ण सिन्धु है यह मेरा हिन्दू समाज।
मेरा-इसका संबंध अमर, मैं व्यक्ति और यह है समाज।
इससे मैंने पाया तन-मन, इससे मैंने पाया जीवन।
मेरा तो बस कर्तव्य यही, कर दूं सब कुछ इसके अर्पण।
मैं तो समाज की थाती हूं, मैं तो समाज का हूं सेवक।
मैं तो समष्टि के लिए व्यष्टि का कर सकता बलिदान अभय।
हिन्दू तन-मन, हिन्दू जीवन, रग-रग हिन्दू मेरा परिचय!
अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी
Before the Congress eschewed its pro-Hindu stance towards a more pro-non-Hindu position that persists now, this was the prevailing sentiment
It speaks volumes of the porous boundary between the Congress and RSS-Mahasabha – and between secularism and communalism – that the man who made the arrangements for Gandhi’s cremation was the son of a prominent Mahasabha leader. Assisted by Sangh volunteers, Sharma floated the “Council of Civil Liberties” – Janadhikar Samiti – and began to meet every major politician to argue the RSS’s innocence.A schism in Congress led by Nehru and Patel factions that could have been permanent, if hadn’t been for Patel’s premature death could have been due to Nehru’s utterances like
“Urdu belongs more to UP than to the whole of Pakstan … I see no beauty or grace or exactitude in the new Hindi that is developing in the UP for official purposes. That seems to me rather a tragedy.”Some of the issues that were close to Vajpayee’s heart were in evidence right from the beginning of his political career like the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, banning cow-slaughter and the reversing of partition.
The advice that Golwalkar imparted to Vajpayee can now be seen as fruition of the RSS philosophy
an ideological party would not manage to capture power, though it could happily exist as a powerful pressure group. The Jan Sangh’s only option was to compromise ideology for power. Once they had attained power, they could mould the body politic as per their desire.A fascinating book – eagerly awaiting he sequel…
February 9, 2024
A fine half-biography. Well-researched. Well-crafted. Doing full justice to the stature (and the enigma).
Doubles up as a decent political history of the right as well.
Would be eagerly waiting for the sequel.
Doubles up as a decent political history of the right as well.
Would be eagerly waiting for the sequel.
August 28, 2023
One of the best biographies I have read. Definitely the best book I have read this year -- meticulously researched, but reads almost like a novel. A must read for anyone interested in Indian politics! Can't wait for part 2. It ends at an inflection point in Vajpayee's career and exciting times ahead!
August 22, 2023
Abhishek Choudhary undoes all the wrongs committed in the name of a Vajpayee biography. He provides a deeper account of Vajpayee's hindu national politics without being swayed by his outwardly liberal disposition
June 28, 2025
Abhishek Choudhary’s first of a 2-part biography of Vajpayee is an empathetic yet critical account of the life and legacy of India’s first BJP prime minister. It is as much a history of 20th-century India from the RSS-Jana Sangh vantage point as it is a biography of Vajpayee.
December 14, 2023
I have always been a fan of AB Vajpayee - right from the time he was the PM of India. His oratory skills, his charisma was something which set him apart. So as soon as i came across his biography it was a must read.
The book provides a good insight into the early life of Vajpayee - his childhood, how he entered politics and what shaped his "right wing" alignment. The book provides a very good insight into his relationship with Congress - Nehru and Gandhi family and how he was able to maintain the personal relationships outside of being in opposition. How his fundamental beliefs changed overtime and how he grew as a statesman.
In addition the book also provided great insight into politics which goes on behind the scene, parts of Indian history which have never been discussed in any history books which children read and how that shaped actions / decision making of the said time (eg. Kashmir).
The only disappointing piece was that the book was a bit shallow towards the end - doesn't go deep into personal life of Vajpayee - something which has been not too talked about and also his role and life during the Morarji Desai government and post that.
The book provides a good insight into the early life of Vajpayee - his childhood, how he entered politics and what shaped his "right wing" alignment. The book provides a very good insight into his relationship with Congress - Nehru and Gandhi family and how he was able to maintain the personal relationships outside of being in opposition. How his fundamental beliefs changed overtime and how he grew as a statesman.
In addition the book also provided great insight into politics which goes on behind the scene, parts of Indian history which have never been discussed in any history books which children read and how that shaped actions / decision making of the said time (eg. Kashmir).
The only disappointing piece was that the book was a bit shallow towards the end - doesn't go deep into personal life of Vajpayee - something which has been not too talked about and also his role and life during the Morarji Desai government and post that.
January 10, 2024
This book gives a good account into Vajpayee’s early days, his struggle to topple the Congress government & bringing the first non left government to power. The book was written in good balance calling out the pitfalls, blunders of Vajpayee not just all praises.
Chapters into his personal life were well dealt not crossing a line yet informative.
Chapters into his personal life were well dealt not crossing a line yet informative.
May 28, 2024
In the last Indian general elections in 2019, Vajpayee’s last remains (allegedly to the objections of his family members) were taken to some key polling constituencies as part of a Kalash yatra. A politician as important (useful?) to the serving government in death as he was in his life are rare to come by. Vajpayee’s life and political career is often hailed as a follower of soft-hindutava and remarks are often made, even by his political adversaries, of him being liberal and ‘right person stuck in a wrong party.’ A silken carpet, its value and beauty notwithstanding, gathers dust underneath. It is this dust that Abhishek Choudhary sometimes sweeps up to the surface to show us by gently slipping the beauty away and recording not only the achievements of Vajpayee but the cracks in the fibre too.
Abhishek Choudhary, in his winning speech after his debut work VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 won 2023 Tata Literature Live! First Book Award, humbly remarked that he, at the last moment, decided to just stroll into the ceremony out of curiosity. He ended up winning. Although Choudhary pulls up the subject of his study to most severe, rigorous moral standards (he accuses Vajpayee of doublespeak), his modesty runs close to the figure he studied after being awarded the prestigious NIF fellowship in 2017 to research Vajpayee’s life.
Hailed by the master-biographer Ramchandra Guha as the finest biographies of an Indian Prime Minster, Vajpayee- The ascent of the Hindu right is rich in detail and wears no discriminatory gaze. It doesn’t succumb to the obligation to sugarcoat the life of its subject so much so that one of the popular tabloids calls Choudhary’s treatment towards his research subject ‘harsh’, the reason being that politicians are naturally double speakers.
Capturing Vajpayee’s personal and political life from 1924 to 1977, Choudhary has planned the book as a two part biography, citing the reason for this as- ‘We know little of value about the first half of his six-decade-long career.’ Choudhary himself claims the he is merciless some times, only to be a little tender the other. He has tried of not having been awestruck so as to give a clear account of the stalwart he has studied.
Vajpayee begins with busting myths about its eponymous protagonist, the first being his birth place. He was born near Agra, in Bateshwar (its rich history and downfall are discussed in detail- a sign of rich research and good storytelling) and not Gwalior. With great fondness, he would later recall his childhood: ‘The Yamuna’s bank, mounds of sand On stilts a home of grass and thatch A courtyard swept with cow-dung Sounds of bell, the Tulsi patch On mother’s tongue the nectar of the Ramayana’s lines.’
Choudhary also clears that Vajpayee did not call Indira Gandhi ‘Durga’. Choudhary, in an amusing tone, after coming across Vajpayee’s eight class result (imagine someone doing that to you, the horror of that), debunks the myth perpetuated by other biographers that Vajpayee had been academically gifted. The author was shocked to notice that the son of a headmaster had barely passed with a third division. Such myths, author laments, have been perpetuated in most recent biographies of the then PM.
Choudhary however, also gives credit to the former PM with the early success of Jan Sangh, a party floated by him, Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Balraj Madhok (the book also doubles as an account of the birth of the Jan Sangh). He writes- ‘The popular narrative about the BJP tends to solely credit the Ayodhya movement of 1989–92 led by L. K. Advani for catapulting the party into power. This is an ideologically lazy, self-deceptive analysis that wholly bypasses an earlier trend.’
Choudhary, apart from hammering down on the myths, also cements other well known facts about Vajpayee. The story about him having forgotten a mugged-up speech while on the stage for a debate that led to widespread mockery by his school mates turns out to be true. Vajpayee pledged- ‘I learned a lesson that changed my life. I took a pledge that I would never rote-learn a speech.’
The book informs the reader that Vajpayee grew into his liberal persona with time and age. A young Vajpayee was not so mellow. ‘He argued that Muslims who stayed back in India needed to pass a loyalty test, which included handing over usurped Hindu sacred sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. This was a popular belief in those times, even among Congress members, notably because the Muslim League had won a staggering 87% of the reserved Muslim seats in the 1946 election. The idea of Pakistan had been supported wholeheartedly by the Muslim electorate of undivided India.’
The book doesn’t shy away from diving deep into the murk and the mud. Gandhi’s assassination has been discussed in detail. Gandhi opposed RSS, the author writes, but Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel was not convinced. Maybe he wanted to use the influence of the Hindu right in his power play with Jawaharlal Nehru and even imagined that RSS members would eventually come to the other side. The author writes- “Golwalkar bragged at a secret meeting that Mahatma Gandhi could easily be killed… but it is our tradition not to be inimical to Hindus.”
Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, however, had the RSS distancing itself from the Hindu Mahasabha. One of the most shocking facts that the book reveals is that Gandhi’s last rite ceremony had been organised by the son of a formidable Mahasabha leader.
In early 50s, Vajpayee’s political flight began to take off. He had been appointed PA to Dr Mookerjee. He ended up forming Jan Sangh and contesting the elections. After Mookerjee passed away, Deendayal Upadhyay took Vajpayee under his wing. The book tenderly outlines the close bond shared by the two. When Upadhyaya died after falling from a train (or was murdered violently by getting pushed off), Vajpayee was devastated.
It was as a parliamentarian that Vajpayee stood out. He criticised Nehru, who complimented the young parliamentarian, thus enabling Vajpayee’s first foreign travel.
The last portion of the book is titled “In the Shadow of Shrimati Gandhi: 1968 to 1977”. The author writes about the Indo-Pak war, JP movement and the Emergency, finally ending with Indira Gandhi’s electoral defeat and Vajpayee join in the government as the Minister for External Affairs. L.K. Advani joins him as Minister of Information and Broadcasting).
The book boasts of a fine storytelling approach that saves it from being dry and overtly political. The story of this non fiction is as juicy and crisp as it could be.
Abhishek Choudhary, in his winning speech after his debut work VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 won 2023 Tata Literature Live! First Book Award, humbly remarked that he, at the last moment, decided to just stroll into the ceremony out of curiosity. He ended up winning. Although Choudhary pulls up the subject of his study to most severe, rigorous moral standards (he accuses Vajpayee of doublespeak), his modesty runs close to the figure he studied after being awarded the prestigious NIF fellowship in 2017 to research Vajpayee’s life.
Hailed by the master-biographer Ramchandra Guha as the finest biographies of an Indian Prime Minster, Vajpayee- The ascent of the Hindu right is rich in detail and wears no discriminatory gaze. It doesn’t succumb to the obligation to sugarcoat the life of its subject so much so that one of the popular tabloids calls Choudhary’s treatment towards his research subject ‘harsh’, the reason being that politicians are naturally double speakers.
Capturing Vajpayee’s personal and political life from 1924 to 1977, Choudhary has planned the book as a two part biography, citing the reason for this as- ‘We know little of value about the first half of his six-decade-long career.’ Choudhary himself claims the he is merciless some times, only to be a little tender the other. He has tried of not having been awestruck so as to give a clear account of the stalwart he has studied.
Vajpayee begins with busting myths about its eponymous protagonist, the first being his birth place. He was born near Agra, in Bateshwar (its rich history and downfall are discussed in detail- a sign of rich research and good storytelling) and not Gwalior. With great fondness, he would later recall his childhood: ‘The Yamuna’s bank, mounds of sand On stilts a home of grass and thatch A courtyard swept with cow-dung Sounds of bell, the Tulsi patch On mother’s tongue the nectar of the Ramayana’s lines.’
Choudhary also clears that Vajpayee did not call Indira Gandhi ‘Durga’. Choudhary, in an amusing tone, after coming across Vajpayee’s eight class result (imagine someone doing that to you, the horror of that), debunks the myth perpetuated by other biographers that Vajpayee had been academically gifted. The author was shocked to notice that the son of a headmaster had barely passed with a third division. Such myths, author laments, have been perpetuated in most recent biographies of the then PM.
Choudhary however, also gives credit to the former PM with the early success of Jan Sangh, a party floated by him, Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Balraj Madhok (the book also doubles as an account of the birth of the Jan Sangh). He writes- ‘The popular narrative about the BJP tends to solely credit the Ayodhya movement of 1989–92 led by L. K. Advani for catapulting the party into power. This is an ideologically lazy, self-deceptive analysis that wholly bypasses an earlier trend.’
Choudhary, apart from hammering down on the myths, also cements other well known facts about Vajpayee. The story about him having forgotten a mugged-up speech while on the stage for a debate that led to widespread mockery by his school mates turns out to be true. Vajpayee pledged- ‘I learned a lesson that changed my life. I took a pledge that I would never rote-learn a speech.’
The book informs the reader that Vajpayee grew into his liberal persona with time and age. A young Vajpayee was not so mellow. ‘He argued that Muslims who stayed back in India needed to pass a loyalty test, which included handing over usurped Hindu sacred sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. This was a popular belief in those times, even among Congress members, notably because the Muslim League had won a staggering 87% of the reserved Muslim seats in the 1946 election. The idea of Pakistan had been supported wholeheartedly by the Muslim electorate of undivided India.’
The book doesn’t shy away from diving deep into the murk and the mud. Gandhi’s assassination has been discussed in detail. Gandhi opposed RSS, the author writes, but Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel was not convinced. Maybe he wanted to use the influence of the Hindu right in his power play with Jawaharlal Nehru and even imagined that RSS members would eventually come to the other side. The author writes- “Golwalkar bragged at a secret meeting that Mahatma Gandhi could easily be killed… but it is our tradition not to be inimical to Hindus.”
Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, however, had the RSS distancing itself from the Hindu Mahasabha. One of the most shocking facts that the book reveals is that Gandhi’s last rite ceremony had been organised by the son of a formidable Mahasabha leader.
In early 50s, Vajpayee’s political flight began to take off. He had been appointed PA to Dr Mookerjee. He ended up forming Jan Sangh and contesting the elections. After Mookerjee passed away, Deendayal Upadhyay took Vajpayee under his wing. The book tenderly outlines the close bond shared by the two. When Upadhyaya died after falling from a train (or was murdered violently by getting pushed off), Vajpayee was devastated.
It was as a parliamentarian that Vajpayee stood out. He criticised Nehru, who complimented the young parliamentarian, thus enabling Vajpayee’s first foreign travel.
The last portion of the book is titled “In the Shadow of Shrimati Gandhi: 1968 to 1977”. The author writes about the Indo-Pak war, JP movement and the Emergency, finally ending with Indira Gandhi’s electoral defeat and Vajpayee join in the government as the Minister for External Affairs. L.K. Advani joins him as Minister of Information and Broadcasting).
The book boasts of a fine storytelling approach that saves it from being dry and overtly political. The story of this non fiction is as juicy and crisp as it could be.
March 11, 2024
I cannot wait for Volume 2 of this book. This is indeed a remarkable book that transports the reader into the mind and thoughts of Vajpayee. It is easy to read, consistently engaging and with almost no dull moment. Highly recommended!
March 16, 2025
Excellent biography of one of the most lively politician and poet of India. The author gives such an honest and inspiring portrayal of the man as well as a good history lesson of India’s political environment during that time.
August 30, 2025
Quite an interesting read. Does capture the various dimensions of the man. My image of him was that of a tall leader who was swept to leadership by his sheer charisma and other credentials … all of which were myths bust by this book.
Yet, as a leader I still say he was one of the better ones we have produced. He was a gentleman. He had his flaws ( not the least of which was ideological ambiguity - captured beautifully and his agile U turns and flexibility on issues to keep his party in the race ) and played the game but did not step on other peoples heads to grab power. He was a decent human being who worked hard to get to where he did. He was fortunate that luck played to his favour at critical juncture but he deserved every bit of success he achieved.
Yet, as a leader I still say he was one of the better ones we have produced. He was a gentleman. He had his flaws ( not the least of which was ideological ambiguity - captured beautifully and his agile U turns and flexibility on issues to keep his party in the race ) and played the game but did not step on other peoples heads to grab power. He was a decent human being who worked hard to get to where he did. He was fortunate that luck played to his favour at critical juncture but he deserved every bit of success he achieved.
December 20, 2023
It's style and flow is very similar to India after Gandhi with focus on Hindu Right Wing.
The book does a good job in detailing as well conjecturing Vajpayee's thinking and decision making process. Given the subject matter as well as the political leanings of the author its a really tough job to keep it unbiased and objective. Hypothesis presented feel more hits than misses (despite being backed by citations).
The book does a good job in detailing as well conjecturing Vajpayee's thinking and decision making process. Given the subject matter as well as the political leanings of the author its a really tough job to keep it unbiased and objective. Hypothesis presented feel more hits than misses (despite being backed by citations).
October 25, 2025
Wake me up when abhishek releases the second edition of this book :)
June 29, 2023
Well researched, unbiased.
September 13, 2024
A very insightful and balanced biography. Normally, indian authors tend to be zealous in protecting their subject's perceived image. Choudhary has carefully dissected the claims and facts attributed to Vajpayee & shed more light on our public figures. I look forward to reading the next part, which is linked with many historical events..
February 16, 2024
A compelling read that delves into the life and legacy of one of India's most esteemed as well as controversial prime ministers. Choudhary's writing style is simple and convenient, making the complex political landscape of India approachable for readers of all backgrounds. The book not only explores Vajpayee's political journey but also gives us a glimpse into his personal qualities, his poetic inclination (tbh he wasn't that great), and his philosophy toward governance and leadership. Choudhary meticulously researches and presents key moments that define Vajpayee's tenure, making it not just a biography but a piece of history brought to life.
September 1, 2025
#Binge Reviewing my previous Reads #Modern Indian Politics and Government
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is one of those rare Indian political figures who defy easy classification. For decades, he carried the tag of being a right-wing leader, a swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and a stalwart of the Jana Sangh, yet his reputation extended well beyond the boundaries of his ideological camp.
He was respected, even admired, by political opponents, intellectuals, and sections of the public who otherwise had little sympathy for the Hindu Right. Abhishek Choudhary’s Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 is the most substantial attempt so far to excavate the early life and political journey of Vajpayee.
The book, built on meticulous archival research and interviews, captures both the man and the historical context in which he emerged, long before he became the Prime Minister of India.
The biography covers Vajpayee’s life from his birth in 1924 to the end of the Emergency and the rise of the Janata Party in 1977.
This is a wise cut-off point, because it allows the author to dwell deeply on Vajpayee’s ideological formation, his early experiments in politics, and the peculiar duality of his personality — a committed member of the RSS and the Jana Sangh, and yet a poet, an orator, and a man of moderation in a political environment often defined by hard edges.
Choudhary begins with Vajpayee’s childhood in Gwalior, a princely state where the RSS first took root in the 1930s. Vajpayee’s early exposure to the Sangh is placed in the larger backdrop of a Hindu society grappling with the rising tide of nationalism and the competing pulls of the Congress, the Hindu Mahasabha, and the emerging ideology of cultural nationalism championed by K. B. Hedgewar and M. S. Golwalkar.
Vajpayee’s father was himself a teacher of Sanskrit, steeped in tradition, and the young Atal grew up in a milieu where Sanskritic learning, religiosity, and nationalist fervour blended seamlessly. Yet, as Choudhary points out, Vajpayee’s sensibility was never doctrinaire. Even as a young man, he showed curiosity about literature, poetry, and the liberal, democratic ideals that were being debated in pre-independence India.
The book’s real strength lies in the way it traces Vajpayee’s gradual but steady immersion into politics. His student years saw him sharpen his skills as a debater and orator, abilities that would later become his greatest political capital. Joining the RSS full-time, he was quickly recognised as a talented propagandist, articulate and persuasive, someone who could put across the Sangh’s ideas in a form palatable to a wider audience. This role of translator — from the disciplined, insular language of the RSS shakha to the democratic, plural idiom of parliamentary politics — became Vajpayee’s lifelong calling.
Choudhary illustrates how, from the very beginning, Vajpayee was both inside and outside the ideological core of the Sangh. He was trusted, promoted, and admired but also regarded with a degree of suspicion for being “too soft”, “too poetic”, and “too flexible”.
The formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee is a crucial turning point in the story. Vajpayee quickly became one of its rising stars, his eloquence in Parliament marking him as one of the finest opposition voices in Nehru’s India.
The book carefully reconstructs these early parliamentary interventions, showing how Vajpayee simultaneously critiqued the Congress from the Right and yet refrained from descending into crude communal rhetoric. His was a voice of sharp political opposition tempered by statesmanship — a balancing act that endeared him to colleagues across the aisle. Choudhary’s access to parliamentary archives allows him to present Vajpayee’s speeches in detail, capturing the rhythm and craft of his oratory.
An important theme running through the biography is Vajpayee’s complex relationship with the RSS. While he owed his entire career to the Sangh network, he consistently pushed its boundaries. He argued for broader alliances, stressed democratic values, and often sought to soften the hardline positions of the organisation. This made him an invaluable face of the Jana Sangh, especially in a country where the RSS still carried the stigma of being associated with Gandhi’s assassination. Yet, this duality also exposed Vajpayee to criticism from within. Hardliners saw him as a compromiser, a man too eager to seek respectability from the secular establishment. Choudhary documents several instances where Vajpayee’s moderation placed him at odds with party colleagues, and yet, it was this very moderation that allowed the Jana Sangh to survive as a political force in the Nehruvian era.
The personal side of Vajpayee is not neglected. His lifelong bachelorhood, his passion for Hindi poetry, and his deep friendships across party lines — all of these are woven into the narrative with sensitivity. Choudhary is careful not to indulge in gossip, but he does acknowledge the more complicated aspects of Vajpayee’s private life, including his long companionship with Rajkumari Kaul. This treatment gives the reader a fuller sense of the man — not a saint, not a rigid ideologue, but a human being negotiating the demands of politics and personal longing.
The book also examines Vajpayee’s role during moments of national crisis, particularly the 1962 war with China, the 1965 war with Pakistan, and the tumultuous years of the Emergency. His speeches during the Chinese aggression are highlighted as an example of his ability to rise above partisan lines and strike a patriotic chord.
During the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee’s imprisonment and subsequent participation in the opposition unity movement of 1977 cemented his place as a national leader. By ending the narrative in 1977, Choudhary ensures that the focus remains on Vajpayee’s ascent, leaving the story of his prime ministerial years for another volume.
What makes this biography compelling is its refusal to either canonise or vilify Vajpayee. Choudhary neither presents him as a flawless liberal trapped in the Hindu Right nor as a calculating politician cloaking communal politics in poetic language. Instead, he emerges as a complex actor shaped by the ideological currents of his time, deeply loyal to the Sangh and yet capable of transcending it. This nuanced portrait challenges both his critics and admirers to rethink simplistic narratives.
Stylistically, the book is accessible, engaging, and rich in detail. The research is impressive, ranging from archival documents to interviews with contemporaries, and yet the prose never becomes dry. Choudhary has the biographer’s gift of contextualising without overwhelming — placing Vajpayee’s story against the broader history of Indian politics while always keeping the individual at the centre.
If there is a limitation, it is perhaps that the book ends just as Vajpayee’s story becomes even more interesting — with his transformation from opposition leader to prime ministerial candidate. But that is clearly the promise of the next volume. What we do have is a foundational text that sets the stage for understanding not just Vajpayee but the evolution of the Hindu Right in India’s democracy. The Jana Sangh of the 1950s and 60s, small and marginal, would one day morph into the Bharatiya Janata Party, a behemoth of Indian politics. To understand that trajectory, one must understand Vajpayee’s early years, and Choudhary’s biography makes an indispensable contribution.
Ultimately, Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 is more than just a biography. It is also a history of post-independence India seen from the standpoint of the opposition. Through Vajpayee’s journey, we see the dilemmas of a party outside the mainstream, the challenges of reconciling ideology with democratic practice, and the role of individuals in shaping political discourse. For students of Indian politics, it is a treasure trove.
For general readers, it is a gripping story of a poet who became a politician, and a politician who, despite belonging to the Hindu Right, managed to embody a broader national appeal.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is one of those rare Indian political figures who defy easy classification. For decades, he carried the tag of being a right-wing leader, a swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and a stalwart of the Jana Sangh, yet his reputation extended well beyond the boundaries of his ideological camp.
He was respected, even admired, by political opponents, intellectuals, and sections of the public who otherwise had little sympathy for the Hindu Right. Abhishek Choudhary’s Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 is the most substantial attempt so far to excavate the early life and political journey of Vajpayee.
The book, built on meticulous archival research and interviews, captures both the man and the historical context in which he emerged, long before he became the Prime Minister of India.
The biography covers Vajpayee’s life from his birth in 1924 to the end of the Emergency and the rise of the Janata Party in 1977.
This is a wise cut-off point, because it allows the author to dwell deeply on Vajpayee’s ideological formation, his early experiments in politics, and the peculiar duality of his personality — a committed member of the RSS and the Jana Sangh, and yet a poet, an orator, and a man of moderation in a political environment often defined by hard edges.
Choudhary begins with Vajpayee’s childhood in Gwalior, a princely state where the RSS first took root in the 1930s. Vajpayee’s early exposure to the Sangh is placed in the larger backdrop of a Hindu society grappling with the rising tide of nationalism and the competing pulls of the Congress, the Hindu Mahasabha, and the emerging ideology of cultural nationalism championed by K. B. Hedgewar and M. S. Golwalkar.
Vajpayee’s father was himself a teacher of Sanskrit, steeped in tradition, and the young Atal grew up in a milieu where Sanskritic learning, religiosity, and nationalist fervour blended seamlessly. Yet, as Choudhary points out, Vajpayee’s sensibility was never doctrinaire. Even as a young man, he showed curiosity about literature, poetry, and the liberal, democratic ideals that were being debated in pre-independence India.
The book’s real strength lies in the way it traces Vajpayee’s gradual but steady immersion into politics. His student years saw him sharpen his skills as a debater and orator, abilities that would later become his greatest political capital. Joining the RSS full-time, he was quickly recognised as a talented propagandist, articulate and persuasive, someone who could put across the Sangh’s ideas in a form palatable to a wider audience. This role of translator — from the disciplined, insular language of the RSS shakha to the democratic, plural idiom of parliamentary politics — became Vajpayee’s lifelong calling.
Choudhary illustrates how, from the very beginning, Vajpayee was both inside and outside the ideological core of the Sangh. He was trusted, promoted, and admired but also regarded with a degree of suspicion for being “too soft”, “too poetic”, and “too flexible”.
The formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee is a crucial turning point in the story. Vajpayee quickly became one of its rising stars, his eloquence in Parliament marking him as one of the finest opposition voices in Nehru’s India.
The book carefully reconstructs these early parliamentary interventions, showing how Vajpayee simultaneously critiqued the Congress from the Right and yet refrained from descending into crude communal rhetoric. His was a voice of sharp political opposition tempered by statesmanship — a balancing act that endeared him to colleagues across the aisle. Choudhary’s access to parliamentary archives allows him to present Vajpayee’s speeches in detail, capturing the rhythm and craft of his oratory.
An important theme running through the biography is Vajpayee’s complex relationship with the RSS. While he owed his entire career to the Sangh network, he consistently pushed its boundaries. He argued for broader alliances, stressed democratic values, and often sought to soften the hardline positions of the organisation. This made him an invaluable face of the Jana Sangh, especially in a country where the RSS still carried the stigma of being associated with Gandhi’s assassination. Yet, this duality also exposed Vajpayee to criticism from within. Hardliners saw him as a compromiser, a man too eager to seek respectability from the secular establishment. Choudhary documents several instances where Vajpayee’s moderation placed him at odds with party colleagues, and yet, it was this very moderation that allowed the Jana Sangh to survive as a political force in the Nehruvian era.
The personal side of Vajpayee is not neglected. His lifelong bachelorhood, his passion for Hindi poetry, and his deep friendships across party lines — all of these are woven into the narrative with sensitivity. Choudhary is careful not to indulge in gossip, but he does acknowledge the more complicated aspects of Vajpayee’s private life, including his long companionship with Rajkumari Kaul. This treatment gives the reader a fuller sense of the man — not a saint, not a rigid ideologue, but a human being negotiating the demands of politics and personal longing.
The book also examines Vajpayee’s role during moments of national crisis, particularly the 1962 war with China, the 1965 war with Pakistan, and the tumultuous years of the Emergency. His speeches during the Chinese aggression are highlighted as an example of his ability to rise above partisan lines and strike a patriotic chord.
During the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee’s imprisonment and subsequent participation in the opposition unity movement of 1977 cemented his place as a national leader. By ending the narrative in 1977, Choudhary ensures that the focus remains on Vajpayee’s ascent, leaving the story of his prime ministerial years for another volume.
What makes this biography compelling is its refusal to either canonise or vilify Vajpayee. Choudhary neither presents him as a flawless liberal trapped in the Hindu Right nor as a calculating politician cloaking communal politics in poetic language. Instead, he emerges as a complex actor shaped by the ideological currents of his time, deeply loyal to the Sangh and yet capable of transcending it. This nuanced portrait challenges both his critics and admirers to rethink simplistic narratives.
Stylistically, the book is accessible, engaging, and rich in detail. The research is impressive, ranging from archival documents to interviews with contemporaries, and yet the prose never becomes dry. Choudhary has the biographer’s gift of contextualising without overwhelming — placing Vajpayee’s story against the broader history of Indian politics while always keeping the individual at the centre.
If there is a limitation, it is perhaps that the book ends just as Vajpayee’s story becomes even more interesting — with his transformation from opposition leader to prime ministerial candidate. But that is clearly the promise of the next volume. What we do have is a foundational text that sets the stage for understanding not just Vajpayee but the evolution of the Hindu Right in India’s democracy. The Jana Sangh of the 1950s and 60s, small and marginal, would one day morph into the Bharatiya Janata Party, a behemoth of Indian politics. To understand that trajectory, one must understand Vajpayee’s early years, and Choudhary’s biography makes an indispensable contribution.
Ultimately, Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 is more than just a biography. It is also a history of post-independence India seen from the standpoint of the opposition. Through Vajpayee’s journey, we see the dilemmas of a party outside the mainstream, the challenges of reconciling ideology with democratic practice, and the role of individuals in shaping political discourse. For students of Indian politics, it is a treasure trove.
For general readers, it is a gripping story of a poet who became a politician, and a politician who, despite belonging to the Hindu Right, managed to embody a broader national appeal.
February 14, 2024
A gripping biography of Atal Bihari. With an English easily accessible to a layman reader, it employs a storytelling style covering all the known and many unknown events of Vajpayees life. It was interesting to find out that the various folklore about him are mostly untrue. Looking forward to the second volume.
February 4, 2024
I absolutely devoured Vajpayee: Ascent of the Hindu Right! The author manages to get the reader to root for Vajpayee, while simultaneously being critical of the RSS and Jan Sangh doublespeak and bigotry. I found the description of Nehru and Patels disagreements about banning the RSS captivating. Experiencing the emergency from the vantage point of Vajpayee was also harrowing. The book potrays Vajpayee as a thoughtful and reflective leader, one who sheds the ideological hatred of his roots to become much more amenable to national politics. It’s hard not to walk away from this book with a fondness for Vajpayee, who was perhaps the last Moderate Hindutva leader. I also don’t have in depth knowledge of the historical record to critique this book, so perhaps more reading is necessary. The book sags in the middle, and the details of the SVD require a bit of patience to endure, but the riveting account of the Emergency is a great pay of and there’s something to be said about the rise of the Jan Sangh to central leadership after 25 years. I’m the furthest away one can be from Hindutva politics but I found this biography to be incredibly enriching.
May 27, 2023
A Captivating Insight into the Legacy of Vajpayee: A Review of Abhishek Choudhary's Book
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Abhishek Choudhary's book, "Vajpayee," provides readers with an engrossing exploration of the life and political journey of one of India's most prominent leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative style, Choudhary sheds light on the multifaceted personality of Vajpayee and how he was the pioneer of Hindutva in Indian politics.
One of the most commendable aspects of this book is the author's ability to present a balanced account of Vajpayee's life. By exploring Vajpayee's early influences, his struggles, and the evolving political landscape of India, the author successfully captures the essence of the man who held the nation's reins.
Choudhary's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book a captivating read for both political enthusiasts and those seeking to understand the legacy of Vajpayee. The author's attention to detail is evident in his thorough examination of key events, political strategies, and the evolving dynamics within the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Sangh Parivar during Vajpayee's tenure. The book successfully navigates through Vajpayee's rise from a young, promising leader to his eventual role as a Cabinet Minister in 1977.
Furthermore, the book excels in providing a historical context, offering insights into the sociopolitical climate of India during Vajpayee's time in power. Choudhary skillfully weaves together anecdotes, interviews, and archival material, creating a rich tapestry of Vajpayee's political career. This comprehensive approach allows readers to comprehend the challenges Vajpayee faced and the strategies he employed to navigate through complex situations.
In terms of structure, the book is well-organized, with each chapter addressing a particular phase or theme in Vajpayee's life. The inclusion of photographs, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons adds visual interest and enhances the reading experience.
In conclusion, "Vajpayee" by Abhishek Choudhary is a compelling and well-researched account of one of India's most influential leaders. The book effectively captures the essence of Vajpayee's political journey, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the man who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. The book's comprehensive approach and engaging writing style make it a recommended read for anyone interested in Indian politics and the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Abhishek Choudhary's book, "Vajpayee," provides readers with an engrossing exploration of the life and political journey of one of India's most prominent leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative style, Choudhary sheds light on the multifaceted personality of Vajpayee and how he was the pioneer of Hindutva in Indian politics.
One of the most commendable aspects of this book is the author's ability to present a balanced account of Vajpayee's life. By exploring Vajpayee's early influences, his struggles, and the evolving political landscape of India, the author successfully captures the essence of the man who held the nation's reins.
Choudhary's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book a captivating read for both political enthusiasts and those seeking to understand the legacy of Vajpayee. The author's attention to detail is evident in his thorough examination of key events, political strategies, and the evolving dynamics within the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Sangh Parivar during Vajpayee's tenure. The book successfully navigates through Vajpayee's rise from a young, promising leader to his eventual role as a Cabinet Minister in 1977.
Furthermore, the book excels in providing a historical context, offering insights into the sociopolitical climate of India during Vajpayee's time in power. Choudhary skillfully weaves together anecdotes, interviews, and archival material, creating a rich tapestry of Vajpayee's political career. This comprehensive approach allows readers to comprehend the challenges Vajpayee faced and the strategies he employed to navigate through complex situations.
In terms of structure, the book is well-organized, with each chapter addressing a particular phase or theme in Vajpayee's life. The inclusion of photographs, newspaper clippings, and political cartoons adds visual interest and enhances the reading experience.
In conclusion, "Vajpayee" by Abhishek Choudhary is a compelling and well-researched account of one of India's most influential leaders. The book effectively captures the essence of Vajpayee's political journey, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the man who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. The book's comprehensive approach and engaging writing style make it a recommended read for anyone interested in Indian politics and the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
February 4, 2024
A well rounded biography of ABV's first half of his life starting from his youth in Bateshwar and Gwalior to the victory of the Janata Party in the central elections. The author has cited sources for just about every statement in the book. It manages to be unbiased for the most part, with the author's view only popping in with an adjective or two to describe a certain character or an event - all of which were well warranted.
August 14, 2023
Vajpayee's biography is among the most highly anticipated reads of this year. It represents the first volume that delves into Vajpayee's pre-birth background, shedding light on the circumstances that shaped his upbringing and the events leading up to the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi.
The author has skillfully presented accurate information as the cornerstone of this book. From Vajpayee's birth on December 25th, 1924, to his formative years in Bateshwar and Gwalior, the book traces his journey towards a political career.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, renowned for his eloquence and astute observations about the opposition, emerges as one of the most celebrated Prime Ministers. His vision for India evolves as he matures.
The book extensively covers Vajpayee's pivotal role in revitalizing the RSS following the assassination of Gandhi.
Examining both the pre and post-independence eras, the book delves into the complex relationship between Gandhi and the RSS, revealing moments of criticism and detachment.
This book underscores Vajpayee's significant influence during British India's undivided era, analyzing how people grappled with supporting the INC-led government during the struggle for independence, despite many reservations.
While thoroughly exploring historical context, some sights seem lucid but opaque with one sided portrayal of Hinduism and its (re)actions that have mostly been projected clearly shows the poignant features of RSS during the independence.
However, to make such a remark one has to be well equipped with the resources that claim otherwise views too. I personally find this book interesting to know the depth which has been touched by the author so that it reflects blunt and uncanny remarks.
The author has skillfully presented accurate information as the cornerstone of this book. From Vajpayee's birth on December 25th, 1924, to his formative years in Bateshwar and Gwalior, the book traces his journey towards a political career.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, renowned for his eloquence and astute observations about the opposition, emerges as one of the most celebrated Prime Ministers. His vision for India evolves as he matures.
The book extensively covers Vajpayee's pivotal role in revitalizing the RSS following the assassination of Gandhi.
Examining both the pre and post-independence eras, the book delves into the complex relationship between Gandhi and the RSS, revealing moments of criticism and detachment.
This book underscores Vajpayee's significant influence during British India's undivided era, analyzing how people grappled with supporting the INC-led government during the struggle for independence, despite many reservations.
While thoroughly exploring historical context, some sights seem lucid but opaque with one sided portrayal of Hinduism and its (re)actions that have mostly been projected clearly shows the poignant features of RSS during the independence.
However, to make such a remark one has to be well equipped with the resources that claim otherwise views too. I personally find this book interesting to know the depth which has been touched by the author so that it reflects blunt and uncanny remarks.
September 29, 2024
In order to understand the current political climate, we have to look into the past. The beginnings of Jan Sangh and their relationship with RSS since beginning makes you understand the overall view of the organisation. It took them 25 years of non-stop work to achieve majority at the Center and this book also exposes the harsh realities of the emergency and the malignant strategies used by Congress to crush their opponents.
Atal ji, was a very prominent figure in the history of Indian Political System and this book sheds light on his life through RSS, Jan Sangh and eventually the Janata Party along with providing some insights into the personal nature and relationships of his.
Atal ji, was a very prominent figure in the history of Indian Political System and this book sheds light on his life through RSS, Jan Sangh and eventually the Janata Party along with providing some insights into the personal nature and relationships of his.
July 12, 2023
A good, factual account of Vajpayee’s life and the rise of India’s right wing. It has fascinating details on how India’s first formidable opposition came together. The dilemma in Vajpayee’s belief systems and his/ his party’s reluctance to speak it out aloud is brought out well.
His transformation into a person who could bring different factions together during the 70s is interesting. The book ends with removal of Emergency - looking forward to the next part.
His transformation into a person who could bring different factions together during the 70s is interesting. The book ends with removal of Emergency - looking forward to the next part.
January 2, 2024
Abhishek Choudhary’s sprawling biography of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is—as rightly pointed out by Ramchandra Guha—one of the finest of an Indian prime minister. Out of the pantheon of prime ministers, Vajpayee, due to his stature, and due to the mystery that loyally followed his personal and professional life, always deserved one such dedicated effort.
The reaction to this book has been interesting—as in just like the person and the life it covers, it was nuanced, which in itself demands some deliberation. While it is never fair to discuss a book based on the reactions it has elicited from the public, this particularly curious case, however, warrants one, just so the book’s relevance can be wholly understood. The polarized politics of contemporary India did not, or rather could not, break the opinions about the book into convenient or expected terms. Perhaps it is to the testament of the man himself that people from across the political spectrum came as one in hailing the book and the man.
This book—this is still the first part in a two-part volume—quashes many fabricated tales which were believed to be facts, and throws light on the personal life of one of the most celebrated public figures of the country. Choudhary uses the evidence of poems which Vajpayee wrote in his adolescence to evict any claims of him being a secular man right from his political coming-of-age, and, as a result, a 'right man in the wrong party,' as many Vajpayee admirers who cannot brush under the carpet the uncivil ways of the Sangh Parivar, love to say in his defense. But this also brings to notice the fact that Vajpayee’s later acquired credentials of a secularist were a result of bouts of humbling defeat he suffered repeatedly for around four decades. It was realpolitik that molded Vajpayee in the image that we have mistakenly assumed as his primary character. Was he then, really, a ‘Mukhauta?’
The writer goes on to talk about a pattern of doublespeak that littered Vajpayee’s public utterances all his life. But as he establishes for posterity Vajpayee’s roots in the starting of the book, the reason behind the doublespeak starts to show itself. He, Vajpayee, couldn’t help himself from drawing pride out of the Hindutva cause, but, always feared the electoral backlash that might follow in its wake. Although, even the harshest of his critics would grant him the tag of non-conformist. This tag achieves huge significance after one realizes the cabal of which Vajpayee was part of—where personal always merged with the professional and disciplined, almost militant, way of life was treasured. To be a non-conformist in such a group at once talks about the rebellious nature of the man and also Sangh’s degree of dependence on him, such that he flouted the rules of the organization on their faces and always lived to see the day. I am obviously talking about his meat-eating and liquor consuming habits. Not to mention the affair that he was embroiled in, the nature of which was completely antithetical to Sangh’s active view on relationships and marriages.
But just as one can paint a portrait of Vajpayee as a mellowed down Hindutva proponent at heart, one can, and should, also paint a portrait of him as the politician who liberalized the communal RSS, at least in public perception, to a point where it could be considered electable by the large masses disillusioned by the Congress. This Abhishek Choudhary does swiftly, with his words always backed by comprehensive research. He, Vajpayee, chastised the more rabid elements of his organization and kept atavistic tendencies at bay. He might have had support from other non-Sangh Parivar opposition leaders, particularly those of the Congress(O) and JP, in forming a political opposition to Mrs. Gandhi, but it was he alone who gifted the country another digestible and moderate ideology and, in the process, enriched India's democracy. Never mind, what Advani made of that ideology with his politics of Mandir.
Another issue which was quite a discovery for me was the state of opposition, which Vajpayee headed for a long time, about which Choudhary gives a detailed account in this book. The Jana Sangh position is very reminiscent of the ditch that the Congress finds itself in today. Vajpayee toiled hard and yet, in face of Nehru before and then Indira, it took him and his acolytes three decades to capture power. Poor Rahul has been trying only for ten years and he is no Vajpayee. Congress' situation today also resembles the Jana Sangh of then. Armed with reactions in name of policies and populism in name of ideology, Jana Sangh had no contact with the populace for the better period of their opposition years just as Congress has none today. For example, a prospective policy in relation to Kashmir over which the Jana Sangh had pondered in great detail as opposition would have severed Kashmir for good and bartered it to Pakistan for an arm and ammunition aid from America against China in 1962.
This first part closed on a high as Vajpayee becomes the External Affairs Minister of the country. If the book has turned the comparatively monotonous period of Nehru and mildly turbulent Indira years to such an exciting read, there is nothing but anticipation for the second part when Choudhary goes into the details of the Coalition era, of which Vajpayee was the chief player.
The second volume is awaited!
The reaction to this book has been interesting—as in just like the person and the life it covers, it was nuanced, which in itself demands some deliberation. While it is never fair to discuss a book based on the reactions it has elicited from the public, this particularly curious case, however, warrants one, just so the book’s relevance can be wholly understood. The polarized politics of contemporary India did not, or rather could not, break the opinions about the book into convenient or expected terms. Perhaps it is to the testament of the man himself that people from across the political spectrum came as one in hailing the book and the man.
This book—this is still the first part in a two-part volume—quashes many fabricated tales which were believed to be facts, and throws light on the personal life of one of the most celebrated public figures of the country. Choudhary uses the evidence of poems which Vajpayee wrote in his adolescence to evict any claims of him being a secular man right from his political coming-of-age, and, as a result, a 'right man in the wrong party,' as many Vajpayee admirers who cannot brush under the carpet the uncivil ways of the Sangh Parivar, love to say in his defense. But this also brings to notice the fact that Vajpayee’s later acquired credentials of a secularist were a result of bouts of humbling defeat he suffered repeatedly for around four decades. It was realpolitik that molded Vajpayee in the image that we have mistakenly assumed as his primary character. Was he then, really, a ‘Mukhauta?’
The writer goes on to talk about a pattern of doublespeak that littered Vajpayee’s public utterances all his life. But as he establishes for posterity Vajpayee’s roots in the starting of the book, the reason behind the doublespeak starts to show itself. He, Vajpayee, couldn’t help himself from drawing pride out of the Hindutva cause, but, always feared the electoral backlash that might follow in its wake. Although, even the harshest of his critics would grant him the tag of non-conformist. This tag achieves huge significance after one realizes the cabal of which Vajpayee was part of—where personal always merged with the professional and disciplined, almost militant, way of life was treasured. To be a non-conformist in such a group at once talks about the rebellious nature of the man and also Sangh’s degree of dependence on him, such that he flouted the rules of the organization on their faces and always lived to see the day. I am obviously talking about his meat-eating and liquor consuming habits. Not to mention the affair that he was embroiled in, the nature of which was completely antithetical to Sangh’s active view on relationships and marriages.
But just as one can paint a portrait of Vajpayee as a mellowed down Hindutva proponent at heart, one can, and should, also paint a portrait of him as the politician who liberalized the communal RSS, at least in public perception, to a point where it could be considered electable by the large masses disillusioned by the Congress. This Abhishek Choudhary does swiftly, with his words always backed by comprehensive research. He, Vajpayee, chastised the more rabid elements of his organization and kept atavistic tendencies at bay. He might have had support from other non-Sangh Parivar opposition leaders, particularly those of the Congress(O) and JP, in forming a political opposition to Mrs. Gandhi, but it was he alone who gifted the country another digestible and moderate ideology and, in the process, enriched India's democracy. Never mind, what Advani made of that ideology with his politics of Mandir.
Another issue which was quite a discovery for me was the state of opposition, which Vajpayee headed for a long time, about which Choudhary gives a detailed account in this book. The Jana Sangh position is very reminiscent of the ditch that the Congress finds itself in today. Vajpayee toiled hard and yet, in face of Nehru before and then Indira, it took him and his acolytes three decades to capture power. Poor Rahul has been trying only for ten years and he is no Vajpayee. Congress' situation today also resembles the Jana Sangh of then. Armed with reactions in name of policies and populism in name of ideology, Jana Sangh had no contact with the populace for the better period of their opposition years just as Congress has none today. For example, a prospective policy in relation to Kashmir over which the Jana Sangh had pondered in great detail as opposition would have severed Kashmir for good and bartered it to Pakistan for an arm and ammunition aid from America against China in 1962.
This first part closed on a high as Vajpayee becomes the External Affairs Minister of the country. If the book has turned the comparatively monotonous period of Nehru and mildly turbulent Indira years to such an exciting read, there is nothing but anticipation for the second part when Choudhary goes into the details of the Coalition era, of which Vajpayee was the chief player.
The second volume is awaited!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2023
Absolutely loved the book. Very candid and thoroughly researched. Despite being only the first book of Abhishek Choudhary, the book has dived deep into the subject and has busted many a myth constructed on the eventful life of the former Prime Minister of India. Rest assured, the book is a nice introduction to the rise of Right-wing in the Indian politics. Much recommended.
June 29, 2023
Worth reading primarily to get at the facts of Vajpayee's life, and for the reminder, as the author puts it, that Atal was not the "right man in the wrong party". The form and style leave much to be desired.
May 31, 2023
Well researched and well written biography of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Kudos to the author.
Kudos to the author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews