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Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years
Of India’s civil servants, Mani Shankar Aiyar may have arguably had one of the most colourful careers. Known for his lacerating wit and many indiscretions, with a career that has seen great highs and lows, he has been a true maverick.
In this extraordinarily honest memoir, he tells the story of his first fifty years – from his childhood at Dehradun where he was raised by his feisty widowed mother to nearly becoming the president of the Cambridge Union, to working as a young diplomat who strengthened Indo–Pak ties by brilliantly managing India’s first consulate general in Karachi and then going on to work intimately with Rajiv Gandhi in the PMO.
Candid, funny and thoughtful, Aiyar writes sparklingly about his childhood and college days, of his parents’ troubled marriage and his beloved youngest brother’s suicide, and insightfully about the countries he served in – observing that the net level of freedom in both India and Pakistan were about the same because Zia’s dictatorship was as inefficient as India’s democracy, and that Saddam Hussein’s government was unusually feminist with a large number of female public servants. And he draws, too, a revelatory and moving picture of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Above all, he doesn’t spare himself.
This is a rare memoir - rich in detail, full of self-deprecatory humour and, above all, frank. It will be a classic of its genre.
In this extraordinarily honest memoir, he tells the story of his first fifty years – from his childhood at Dehradun where he was raised by his feisty widowed mother to nearly becoming the president of the Cambridge Union, to working as a young diplomat who strengthened Indo–Pak ties by brilliantly managing India’s first consulate general in Karachi and then going on to work intimately with Rajiv Gandhi in the PMO.
Candid, funny and thoughtful, Aiyar writes sparklingly about his childhood and college days, of his parents’ troubled marriage and his beloved youngest brother’s suicide, and insightfully about the countries he served in – observing that the net level of freedom in both India and Pakistan were about the same because Zia’s dictatorship was as inefficient as India’s democracy, and that Saddam Hussein’s government was unusually feminist with a large number of female public servants. And he draws, too, a revelatory and moving picture of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Above all, he doesn’t spare himself.
This is a rare memoir - rich in detail, full of self-deprecatory humour and, above all, frank. It will be a classic of its genre.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 14, 2024
A delight to read about the early years and formative experiences of an Indian intellectual of the 80s and 90s. I particularly enjoyed reading about his time at Cambridge, his stint at Karachi, his approach to neighbour diplomacy, and his bind with Rajiv. Sometimes he comes off a snobbish but overall a great read for anyone interested in Indian politics of the 80s and 90s!
September 24, 2023
Being self-critical and having a strong sense of self-deprecatory humour is a flair rarely found among the new breed, but for the most talented and ever experienced personality in Mani Shankar Aiyar. His memoir in the ‘Memoirs of a Maverick’ is an exceptionally honest account of his first 50 years of both personal and political life.
From acquiring the best education to his contributions in the Foreign Services, have been quite remarkable yet understated. But that is solely because of his unfiltered and unabashed opinions on most matters, has remained a controversial figure.
Some of the noted highlights of this book are his extraordinary writing skills. His usage of the English language to expressing his opinion layered with wit and sarcasm, makes this book a must-have. Secondly and most importantly, he clears out some crucial misinformation and misquotes of Rajiv Gandhi, which were then floated around to bring about the downfall of his government.
Do read this book, if you can pardon his barbs thrown at the current disposition, for he has ‘an amazing talent to abuse and amuse’.
📚
From acquiring the best education to his contributions in the Foreign Services, have been quite remarkable yet understated. But that is solely because of his unfiltered and unabashed opinions on most matters, has remained a controversial figure.
Some of the noted highlights of this book are his extraordinary writing skills. His usage of the English language to expressing his opinion layered with wit and sarcasm, makes this book a must-have. Secondly and most importantly, he clears out some crucial misinformation and misquotes of Rajiv Gandhi, which were then floated around to bring about the downfall of his government.
Do read this book, if you can pardon his barbs thrown at the current disposition, for he has ‘an amazing talent to abuse and amuse’.
📚
January 5, 2024
Nehruvian socialism and secularism is heavily out of fashion in present-day India and Doon school, Cambridge graduates from the yesteryears labeled as agents of the angrez, blamed for endangering everything from dominion to divinity.
And yet, if you put aside this avowed Nehruvian pluralist's party affiliation for a moment -- although his party too has sidelined him for a number of years -- you will marvel at the kaleidoscopic journey of Mani Shankar Aiyar.
A Tamil Brahmin born in Lahore, raised in North India, part of the initial cadre of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) diplomats, serving in Vietnam, Baghdad, Brussels, Karachi, then entering politics and returning to his ancestral roots in Tamil Nadu.
It gives a fascinating view of the Indian diplomatic activities during the Vietnam war, 1965 war with Pakistan, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and more.
Political views notwithstanding, I believe that we had highly intelligent, dedicated men on the job pushing India's interests and navigating our place on the world stage even as elections were won and lost at home and governments changed.
And yet, if you put aside this avowed Nehruvian pluralist's party affiliation for a moment -- although his party too has sidelined him for a number of years -- you will marvel at the kaleidoscopic journey of Mani Shankar Aiyar.
A Tamil Brahmin born in Lahore, raised in North India, part of the initial cadre of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) diplomats, serving in Vietnam, Baghdad, Brussels, Karachi, then entering politics and returning to his ancestral roots in Tamil Nadu.
It gives a fascinating view of the Indian diplomatic activities during the Vietnam war, 1965 war with Pakistan, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and more.
Political views notwithstanding, I believe that we had highly intelligent, dedicated men on the job pushing India's interests and navigating our place on the world stage even as elections were won and lost at home and governments changed.
December 7, 2023
As much as I have admired Mani Shankar Aiyar for his turn of phrase and unique wit, I found his remonstrations and pained-explanations in the last segment of the book too hackneyed and boring.
Rest assured, the first 225 pages of the book make one learn about the qualities of precocity, hardwork and fortitude of women, in this case the Mother of the Author. His career in diplomacy is weather-backed on Mani's erudition, reason and a quiet indignation for hierarchical setting. Stints in Brussels, Hanoi, Baghdad and Karachi are craftily presented in the book. His eye for detail is quite apparent all through the book.
All in all, a good read.
Rest assured, the first 225 pages of the book make one learn about the qualities of precocity, hardwork and fortitude of women, in this case the Mother of the Author. His career in diplomacy is weather-backed on Mani's erudition, reason and a quiet indignation for hierarchical setting. Stints in Brussels, Hanoi, Baghdad and Karachi are craftily presented in the book. His eye for detail is quite apparent all through the book.
All in all, a good read.
October 25, 2023
Remarkable story of remarkable times by a remarkable man who lived those times
Biographies auto or not, are the best way to understand history. MSA isa well known name of the times and to read about people and incidents which are the stuff of history recorded by one who lived in those times and was one of the actors in the drama is a treat.
Biographies auto or not, are the best way to understand history. MSA isa well known name of the times and to read about people and incidents which are the stuff of history recorded by one who lived in those times and was one of the actors in the drama is a treat.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews