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Modi: The Challenge of 2024 - The Battle for India
The Opposition’s 26-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) aims to pose a serious challenge to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Despite the coalition leaders’ ideological differences and regional rivalries, their overwhelming intent is to prevent Narendra Modi from becoming the first Indian since Jawaharlal Nehru to win three successive five-year prime ministerial terms.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election could prove historic. If Narendra Modi wins a third successive five-year prime ministerial term, he will be the first Indian leader to do so since Jawaharlal Nehru.
In this sweeping account of events leading up to the 2024 General Election, Minhaz Merchant analyses how Modi has shaped Indian politics, economics and culture during his decade as prime minister.
The book examines whether the Opposition’s strategy to present a united front can derail the BJP’s juggernaut. For example, can Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and regional satraps in Opposition-ruled states put aside their differences?
Minhaz Merchant has met and interviewed Modi several times since 2012. The author analyses Modi’s policies across key geopolitics, economics, technology and social reform.
Broken up into ten broad sections and thirty-one chapters, the book decodes Modi’s evolution over the past decade from a regional leader to a global statesman.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election could prove historic. If Narendra Modi wins a third successive five-year prime ministerial term, he will be the first Indian leader to do so since Jawaharlal Nehru.
In this sweeping account of events leading up to the 2024 General Election, Minhaz Merchant analyses how Modi has shaped Indian politics, economics and culture during his decade as prime minister.
The book examines whether the Opposition’s strategy to present a united front can derail the BJP’s juggernaut. For example, can Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and regional satraps in Opposition-ruled states put aside their differences?
Minhaz Merchant has met and interviewed Modi several times since 2012. The author analyses Modi’s policies across key geopolitics, economics, technology and social reform.
Broken up into ten broad sections and thirty-one chapters, the book decodes Modi’s evolution over the past decade from a regional leader to a global statesman.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 26, 2023
Modi: The Challenge of 2024
Author: Minhaz Merchant
Genre: Political Commentary
Published by Amaryllis Publishing ( An Imprint of Manjul Publishing House)
Pages: 429
MRP: Rs. 899/-
Acknowledgement: Thank you @amaryllispublishing for a review copy of the book.
Modi: The Challenge of 2024 by Minhaz Merchant - A balanced and insightful analysis of India’s most powerful leader
Minhaz Merchant is a veteran journalist and author who has written several books on Indian politics and history. He is known for his impartial and objective reporting, which is rare in today’s polarized media landscape. He does not follow any politician on social media, not even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once followed him on ‘X’. He believes that journalistic neutrality is not only a matter of principle, but also a matter of perception.
In his latest book, Modi: The Challenge of 2024, Merchant does not attempt to write a biography of Modi, but rather a critical assessment of his two terms as prime minister and the challenges he faces in the next general election. He calls 2024 “the year of reckoning” and “the battle for India”, as it will determine the future course of the country’s politics, economy, and foreign policy.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of Modi’s governance, achievements, failures, and personality. Merchant draws on his personal interactions with Modi, as well as his extensive research and analysis of various sources, to present a comprehensive and nuanced picture of the man who has dominated Indian politics for the past decade.
Continue reading the review on my website: https://www.keetabikeeda.in/post/modi...
Author: Minhaz Merchant
Genre: Political Commentary
Published by Amaryllis Publishing ( An Imprint of Manjul Publishing House)
Pages: 429
MRP: Rs. 899/-
Acknowledgement: Thank you @amaryllispublishing for a review copy of the book.
Modi: The Challenge of 2024 by Minhaz Merchant - A balanced and insightful analysis of India’s most powerful leader
Minhaz Merchant is a veteran journalist and author who has written several books on Indian politics and history. He is known for his impartial and objective reporting, which is rare in today’s polarized media landscape. He does not follow any politician on social media, not even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once followed him on ‘X’. He believes that journalistic neutrality is not only a matter of principle, but also a matter of perception.
In his latest book, Modi: The Challenge of 2024, Merchant does not attempt to write a biography of Modi, but rather a critical assessment of his two terms as prime minister and the challenges he faces in the next general election. He calls 2024 “the year of reckoning” and “the battle for India”, as it will determine the future course of the country’s politics, economy, and foreign policy.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of Modi’s governance, achievements, failures, and personality. Merchant draws on his personal interactions with Modi, as well as his extensive research and analysis of various sources, to present a comprehensive and nuanced picture of the man who has dominated Indian politics for the past decade.
Continue reading the review on my website: https://www.keetabikeeda.in/post/modi...
December 12, 2023
“MODI: The Challenge of 2024” is a curative account of a contemporary politics in India penned by Minhaz Merchant, a prominent journalist who is popularly celebrated for his neutral stand on politics. Mr Merchant rejects to orient himself with any political party/figures on social networking sites. He has followed 0 politicians on X and even ignored to return the compliment when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself followed him on X.
Coming up fresh from the house of Amaryllis Publishing, this noteworthy account responds to your major queries on the ongoing political narrative of the state. Make it very clear that the book is not a biography of Mr. Modi but a critical evaluation of his two consecutive terms of being a Prime Minister and explains why 2024 is going to be a watershed year. Author calls it “the year of reckoning” that would witness the “battle for India”.
Expanding into 10 sections and 31 chapters, the book submits an outlook into Modi’s persona with an itemized approach. Modi does possess some seraphic attitude which enables him to connect better with the masses. And this is one of the prime reasons what gave him an indomitable victory for the two consecutive terms as a Prime Minister. His connect with people is deeply rooted with his early spiritual life (given a bird’s eye view in this book) which was quite ordeal sometimes but did allow him to develop this attribute.
The book is a perfectly balanced account where author did not hesitate to favour Modi for his remarkable achievements—foreign Affairs, economy, welfare measures, climate change, smart cities etc. And also takes no step back from being critical of him. Be it a failure to curb communal violence, delay in police reforms, governance at municipality level, centralisation of power, demonetization and few more infirmities. He is equally upfront about the failures & weaknesses of the Union government.
Both criticism and praises were fair and needed not just for the audience in politics but also for a regular newspaper reader who could appraise the existing government and collate with the experiences which he/she had with the previous governments. Author’s “rishi-like” remark on Modi makes it a more interesting to perceive the man himself and the characters associated with him.
His visits to ashrams, wanderings in the ranges of Himalayas, seeking blessings from sadhus and observing their wisdom did alot to alter his temper into what he is now. He transformed into a leader who welcomed changes, who acclimatised with them and reject to stay immutable unlike his oppositions. However, with many positives, there are still negatives which take a big share in the man’s popularity.
While the year 2024 is a done deal for the BJP, Minhaz’s apprehensions sit nowhere less. However, I disagree with his take on internal rifts and anti-incumbency, but being an aware citizen who follows politics with whatever slight evaluating capabilities I have, I must say that the complacency, aggression & cocksure attitude in the party workers of BJP is visible.
Modi’s BJP is not immuned for challenges upcoming in 2024. Congress led I.N.D.I Alliance could forge major counterweight to Modi led BJP as what Minhaz writes in his book. But looking at the recent State Election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, he may have a changed outlook towards 2024 now! Whatever being said, Minhaz’s suggestion to Modi for not taking his popularity for granted is defensible.
One should never have a holier-than-thou attitude, especially if he is contesting an election in the world’s biggest democracy where voters’ psyche stay unpredictable. Minhaz ends his work by predicting a win for Modi but with reduced margin as compared to 2019. Well how fair it goes, only time will tell. In the end, to my mind, this book is one of the best & strongest works of non-fiction publishing this year. I am particularly pleased and thankful to Mr. Minhaz Merchant for producing such dispassionate and unbiased piece of work. The book is highly recommended.
Coming up fresh from the house of Amaryllis Publishing, this noteworthy account responds to your major queries on the ongoing political narrative of the state. Make it very clear that the book is not a biography of Mr. Modi but a critical evaluation of his two consecutive terms of being a Prime Minister and explains why 2024 is going to be a watershed year. Author calls it “the year of reckoning” that would witness the “battle for India”.
Expanding into 10 sections and 31 chapters, the book submits an outlook into Modi’s persona with an itemized approach. Modi does possess some seraphic attitude which enables him to connect better with the masses. And this is one of the prime reasons what gave him an indomitable victory for the two consecutive terms as a Prime Minister. His connect with people is deeply rooted with his early spiritual life (given a bird’s eye view in this book) which was quite ordeal sometimes but did allow him to develop this attribute.
The book is a perfectly balanced account where author did not hesitate to favour Modi for his remarkable achievements—foreign Affairs, economy, welfare measures, climate change, smart cities etc. And also takes no step back from being critical of him. Be it a failure to curb communal violence, delay in police reforms, governance at municipality level, centralisation of power, demonetization and few more infirmities. He is equally upfront about the failures & weaknesses of the Union government.
Both criticism and praises were fair and needed not just for the audience in politics but also for a regular newspaper reader who could appraise the existing government and collate with the experiences which he/she had with the previous governments. Author’s “rishi-like” remark on Modi makes it a more interesting to perceive the man himself and the characters associated with him.
His visits to ashrams, wanderings in the ranges of Himalayas, seeking blessings from sadhus and observing their wisdom did alot to alter his temper into what he is now. He transformed into a leader who welcomed changes, who acclimatised with them and reject to stay immutable unlike his oppositions. However, with many positives, there are still negatives which take a big share in the man’s popularity.
While the year 2024 is a done deal for the BJP, Minhaz’s apprehensions sit nowhere less. However, I disagree with his take on internal rifts and anti-incumbency, but being an aware citizen who follows politics with whatever slight evaluating capabilities I have, I must say that the complacency, aggression & cocksure attitude in the party workers of BJP is visible.
Modi’s BJP is not immuned for challenges upcoming in 2024. Congress led I.N.D.I Alliance could forge major counterweight to Modi led BJP as what Minhaz writes in his book. But looking at the recent State Election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, he may have a changed outlook towards 2024 now! Whatever being said, Minhaz’s suggestion to Modi for not taking his popularity for granted is defensible.
One should never have a holier-than-thou attitude, especially if he is contesting an election in the world’s biggest democracy where voters’ psyche stay unpredictable. Minhaz ends his work by predicting a win for Modi but with reduced margin as compared to 2019. Well how fair it goes, only time will tell. In the end, to my mind, this book is one of the best & strongest works of non-fiction publishing this year. I am particularly pleased and thankful to Mr. Minhaz Merchant for producing such dispassionate and unbiased piece of work. The book is highly recommended.
February 16, 2024
Minhaz Merchant pens the quintessential book about the 2024 elections.
Minhaz Merchant covers a range of topics, from domestic politics, geopolitics, the opposition, the economy, China, Pakistan and the media, amongst others. He focuses primarily on post-independence history, but does not fib from getting into the genocide of native Turtle Islanders (renamed by colonialists as "Americans"), Bharat's Mughal colonization, etc.
The book has some weak moments. The author is too conservative with his views on Islamic reform. There is a gap in knowledge of pre-Islamic Arabic Paganism. The part about the Opposition did not age well; they've only grown weaker since the book was written, and two players have left the alliance already; they seem to be overblown in retrospect. He also does not differentiate between Mughals and the Sultanates before them.
But Minhaz Merchant's meta analysis, esp for the things that matter, remain on point. His views do stem from the "matured progressive" lens.
If anyone is having doubts about the election and wants to hear a truly neutral voice (or is studying for UPSC too), they should read this book. It will deepen your perspective on Bharat's current events as a layman; even if it won't give you a path for the future.
I would recommend combining this book with the Rahul Shivashankar/Siddhartha Talya book for the easiest "2024 and beyond" perspective of the nation.
For more reviews, follow: @cokedupnormies on Instagram!
Minhaz Merchant covers a range of topics, from domestic politics, geopolitics, the opposition, the economy, China, Pakistan and the media, amongst others. He focuses primarily on post-independence history, but does not fib from getting into the genocide of native Turtle Islanders (renamed by colonialists as "Americans"), Bharat's Mughal colonization, etc.
The book has some weak moments. The author is too conservative with his views on Islamic reform. There is a gap in knowledge of pre-Islamic Arabic Paganism. The part about the Opposition did not age well; they've only grown weaker since the book was written, and two players have left the alliance already; they seem to be overblown in retrospect. He also does not differentiate between Mughals and the Sultanates before them.
But Minhaz Merchant's meta analysis, esp for the things that matter, remain on point. His views do stem from the "matured progressive" lens.
If anyone is having doubts about the election and wants to hear a truly neutral voice (or is studying for UPSC too), they should read this book. It will deepen your perspective on Bharat's current events as a layman; even if it won't give you a path for the future.
I would recommend combining this book with the Rahul Shivashankar/Siddhartha Talya book for the easiest "2024 and beyond" perspective of the nation.
For more reviews, follow: @cokedupnormies on Instagram!
March 23, 2024
The main intention of the book seems to trash anything or anyone that can be classified as an "other". It's also unfortunately a mixed bag of research. Some well studied information but also lacking a good understanding of important global affairs or concepts. E.g. the connection between neo-liberalism, colonialism, capitalism and FDI is completely ignored to justify the administration's approach. Not everyone and everything that's different from your point of view is garbage. The author does critic this administration too but only seems very superficial and doesn't explore deeper.
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November 15, 2023Minhaz Merchant, a very notable journalist and column writer has exhaustively written the book covering topics such as economy, geopolitics, Modi's performance in the last two terms and India' s standing at the world stage.This book also covers a bird's eye view of India's past, present and probable future.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews