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Rajaji
A scintillating biography of C. Rajagopalachari, statesman. shrewd politician and a good father. The author presents Rajaji's lesser known face in his tribute to him.
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Published March 30, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 8, 2017
This book is not a conventional biography. It is a string of anecdotes: conversations and encounters with Chakravarty Rajagopalachari, a stalwart of the Indian Freedom Struggle. This account, of a short period of a couple of years in Rajaji's life reveals the intimate side of this great man rather than presenting his public persona.
The authoress, Monica Felton had set out to write a biography but it seems that upon getting to know Rajaji from up close settled for this short but personal record. Being British, she presents an interesting point of view in describing Rajaji's thoughts and world-view, Madras and occasionally the state of Indian politics during the late 50's.
This book contains numerous insights which I believe cannot be found anywhere else. The fact that Rajaji supported the muslim demand for Pakistan and joined the communists in opposing the Quit India movement makes him a controversial figure. There also seems to be some disparity in the accounts of various Indian National Congress leaders regarding incidents which occurred around the time when India won freedom. Some chapters shed light on these issues.
This book is devoid of a serialized narrative of events in Rajaji's life, the role in played in the freedom struggle or his re-entry into Indian politics in the 60's, but it is a good book nonetheless.
The authoress, Monica Felton had set out to write a biography but it seems that upon getting to know Rajaji from up close settled for this short but personal record. Being British, she presents an interesting point of view in describing Rajaji's thoughts and world-view, Madras and occasionally the state of Indian politics during the late 50's.
This book contains numerous insights which I believe cannot be found anywhere else. The fact that Rajaji supported the muslim demand for Pakistan and joined the communists in opposing the Quit India movement makes him a controversial figure. There also seems to be some disparity in the accounts of various Indian National Congress leaders regarding incidents which occurred around the time when India won freedom. Some chapters shed light on these issues.
This book is devoid of a serialized narrative of events in Rajaji's life, the role in played in the freedom struggle or his re-entry into Indian politics in the 60's, but it is a good book nonetheless.
February 19, 2014
Monica Felton was a Londoner in active public service before she came to Madras in 1956 ; she spent the next fourteen years working on her books. Rajaji ( initially published as I meet Rajaji ) is a biography of one of India's foremost freedom fighters and writers. This biography is written in a style unconventional for biographies and is based a series of talks the writer had with Rajaji and friends/ people acquainted with him. Rajapopalachari was in political retirement and has spoken with the author on a bunch of issues like world peace, his attempts at stopping the hydrogen bombs , the language issue of Hindi versus English, books, politics , etc. It is peppered with anecdotes from Rajaji's past interspersed with talks with him and provides an insight into one of India's most astute thinkers.
July 30, 2019
With all due respects to Mrs.Felton who had originally titled this slim volume "I meet Rajaji" the categorization of this book in "Katha biographies" with a title change is misleading. The book by itself is definitely worth a read but it is windowed to a brief period of 3 to 4 years (1956-60) in the life of a well lived colossus. Rajaji does speak his mind on many instances during his friendly interactions with the authoress and when in company of his lifelong friends but they are insufficient to understand his mind even in parts. I have not read Rajmohan Gandhi's biography of Rajaji yet but should I? Chakravarthi Rajaji dislikes biographies and auto-biographies are just a book marketing fleece in his opinion. At the suggestion of a biography ,as in this book, he acts like an uncooperative model forced to have his portrait inked. Why disrespect his Ganga like soul by wanting to read a more complete biography?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews