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RAM JETHMALANI MAVERICK UNCHANGED, UNREPENTANT
Ram Jethmalani, respected and feared for his candour in matters political, remains an enigma to many. As a public figure—a politician always in demand, the highest rated criminal lawyer in the country and an international legal authority—he is held in high esteem. In over fifty years of being an active politician, he has never allowed political allegiance to compromise his values. Controversy therefore neither leaves him, nor intimidates him. This volume is a compilation of the author’s insights into the state of Indian politics today, expressed with clarity and frankness, laying bare the cover-ups and deception that have come to plague India's body politic. Jethmalani’s arguments are incisive, often explosive, but above all, they cannot be set aside. Some of the burning issues discussed in this book are black money, governance, corruption, Kashmir, China and Pakistan, fundamentalism and the rise of terror. Maverick Unchanged, Unrepentant is a searing critique of the disease inherent in government.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 24, 2016
Ram Jethmalani is as forthright with his pen as with his tongue. Perhaps as acerbic, laced with his inimitable sense of humour, as well. His in-depth understanding of the issues, specially the complexities of the Kashmir issue, is the halmark of this book. The book is fairly well researched. And he comes up with interesting quotes like the one on Osama's stay in Abbottabad : "If we did not know that he (bin Laden) was in Abbottabad for years with his wives and kids, we are a failed state; if we did know , we are a rogue state". Ram Jethmalani has never been neutral to any situation and he justifies it by quoting Dante :" The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who in time of great moral crisis remain neutral". He has his own view of democracy: "Democracy is like a swimming pool. If you do not periodically change the water, it will almost certainly turn into a stinking cesspool".
The author is critical of most of the institutions, including the judiciary, including the Supreme Court. And has got away with it. At least so far.
Jethmalani believes that women made civilisation possible and "she can rightly claim that man is woman's last domesticated animal". Some compliment to the fairer sex.
The author is critical of most of the institutions, including the judiciary, including the Supreme Court. And has got away with it. At least so far.
Jethmalani believes that women made civilisation possible and "she can rightly claim that man is woman's last domesticated animal". Some compliment to the fairer sex.
January 7, 2026
Maverick: Unchanged, Unrepentant promises far more than it delivers. Given the life and reputation of Ram Jethmalani, one expects provocation, candor, and a few carefully lobbed grenades.
What you get instead is restraint—too much of it. For a man who built a career on taking unpopular positions and unsettling polite opinion, the book feels oddly cautious. The sharp edges are dulled, the controversies softened, and the opportunity to genuinely interrogate power, law, and hypocrisy is largely sidestepped.
What you get instead is restraint—too much of it. For a man who built a career on taking unpopular positions and unsettling polite opinion, the book feels oddly cautious. The sharp edges are dulled, the controversies softened, and the opportunity to genuinely interrogate power, law, and hypocrisy is largely sidestepped.
November 28, 2022
The book is an interesting collection of essays and articles by Ram Jethmalani – lawyer, maverick, and parliamentarian. Although, in 2022, it's a little outdated: the government in whose time it was written, and whose policies it criticise, is no longer incumbent, and is replaced by a government much more favoured by Jethmalani. Nevertheless, his style of writing, research, punchlines and sense of humour are appreciable.
The Book is divided into four sections: the last one being the best, in my opinion.
The First Section deals with the issue of Pakistan, Kashmir, and China in three separate articles respectively. A lot of it is outdated now because the Indo-Pak relationship has undergone a major change, and the incumbent government has approached a more hardline approach than the previous one. The Kashmir issue is also an academic one now since Article 370 has been revoked and the State, despite all claims of Pakistan and China, has unequivocally become a part of the Indian union. The China issue has new developments that are obviously not in the article in the book and therefore the article stands redundant to that extent.
The Second Section is more or less a criticism of the successive Congress governments that have ruled India – and more deeply, a veiled criticism of the Nehru-Gandhi family particularly. I think to keep targeting the family, and attribute everything wrong with the governance to just a bunch of people is not correct and unworthy of the intellectual calibre that one could legitimately expect from Ram Jethmalani. He has not considered alternative explanations at all, neither has he dealt with all dimensions of the issues he has written about, nor has he given his objects of analysis a benefit of doubt where due, which is such an important rule of Law – Law, which is so dear to Jethmalani.
The Third Section is also a similar criticism of the UPA government and its policies – criticising it on fronts of RTI, Lack of Transparency, Lokpal Bill, Bhopal Gas Tragedy and subsequent alleged scandals, the Black Money issue, Scams during the UPA regime, etc. All of it more or less redundant now, mere academic issues to read about to know the history of the polity in the last decade.
The Fourth Section is, in my opinion, the best one. Titled, "An Ode to Humanity", it comprises of two essays. One deals with Islam and fanaticism within it and how the Fanatics have misunderstood the peaceful religion and made the world suffer on account of their misinterpretations and misunderstandings. It is, in my opinion, a good and neutral piece of writing on Islam of today. The second essay talks about the unconventional marriage of Katherine and William, the Royal Couple. In 2022, it's redundant too, especially so after the even more unconventional marriage of William's younger sibling Prince Harry with the American actress Meghan Markle.
The Book is divided into four sections: the last one being the best, in my opinion.
The First Section deals with the issue of Pakistan, Kashmir, and China in three separate articles respectively. A lot of it is outdated now because the Indo-Pak relationship has undergone a major change, and the incumbent government has approached a more hardline approach than the previous one. The Kashmir issue is also an academic one now since Article 370 has been revoked and the State, despite all claims of Pakistan and China, has unequivocally become a part of the Indian union. The China issue has new developments that are obviously not in the article in the book and therefore the article stands redundant to that extent.
The Second Section is more or less a criticism of the successive Congress governments that have ruled India – and more deeply, a veiled criticism of the Nehru-Gandhi family particularly. I think to keep targeting the family, and attribute everything wrong with the governance to just a bunch of people is not correct and unworthy of the intellectual calibre that one could legitimately expect from Ram Jethmalani. He has not considered alternative explanations at all, neither has he dealt with all dimensions of the issues he has written about, nor has he given his objects of analysis a benefit of doubt where due, which is such an important rule of Law – Law, which is so dear to Jethmalani.
The Third Section is also a similar criticism of the UPA government and its policies – criticising it on fronts of RTI, Lack of Transparency, Lokpal Bill, Bhopal Gas Tragedy and subsequent alleged scandals, the Black Money issue, Scams during the UPA regime, etc. All of it more or less redundant now, mere academic issues to read about to know the history of the polity in the last decade.
The Fourth Section is, in my opinion, the best one. Titled, "An Ode to Humanity", it comprises of two essays. One deals with Islam and fanaticism within it and how the Fanatics have misunderstood the peaceful religion and made the world suffer on account of their misinterpretations and misunderstandings. It is, in my opinion, a good and neutral piece of writing on Islam of today. The second essay talks about the unconventional marriage of Katherine and William, the Royal Couple. In 2022, it's redundant too, especially so after the even more unconventional marriage of William's younger sibling Prince Harry with the American actress Meghan Markle.
February 24, 2019
An interesting collection of articles
Liked the candor, language and the material. Though, I would have loved to read a much more coherent and expanded version.
The author also mentions how such work is outdated quickly, but it would have been great to read an update nonetheless given his love-hate relationship with the BJP.
I felt some parts of the book were a bit repetitive. It also did not have that much of explosive revelations that I was hoping to read about! Though it made for a very entertaining read
Liked the candor, language and the material. Though, I would have loved to read a much more coherent and expanded version.
The author also mentions how such work is outdated quickly, but it would have been great to read an update nonetheless given his love-hate relationship with the BJP.
I felt some parts of the book were a bit repetitive. It also did not have that much of explosive revelations that I was hoping to read about! Though it made for a very entertaining read
November 20, 2019
This is a collection of essays by the author on some of the major topics concerning India-its politics and its neighbours. By the very nature of his long life and the expanse of history that he has closely witnessed we are given a wider perspective on the situations. Time has proven many viewpoints redundant but it does not negate the value of debate and discussion.
April 12, 2018
In your face kind of writing as one normally expects from the famous lawyer. He is a true maverick and a courageous person. This is a collation of some of his best speeches/writings. Anyone interested in the political history of our country must read it.
June 24, 2018
excellent book , and the boy who was the victim of partion crafted a history by writing this book , no grammatical errors , no bullshit , point to point , Excellent , I am giving 4 stars cause I was not quite familiar with the topic of Maverick
January 27, 2022
This is a wonderful book by Jethmalani, it explains His view of India and also about the Constitution also his proposal of changes that India needed constitutionally, in the judiciary, legislative and Executive functionaries of India.
February 1, 2021
In one word, phenomenal. I cannot believe how persuasive this book was and how much it changed my perspective towards certain politicians and some of the political parties just after reading this book. The amount of evidence and logic used to back the argument made in this book is just exceptional. I may have not read many books but out of the ones that I have read, this was the book which just made me think after EVERY SINGLE PAGE. It made me reevaluate the people/ideologies that I supported and changed the way I used to look at certain people and incidents, I must say, this book was somewhat an eye-opener for me.
Indeed, India lost one of the most mavericks.
Indeed, India lost one of the most mavericks.
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June 7, 2016best book ever
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews