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Standing Guard: A Year in Opposition
Authored by P. Chidambaram, one of India’s best-known politicians, Standing Guard offers a keen economic and political analysis of India@2015—the tumult of the 2015 Bihar election, the debates surrounding the Land Acquisition Amendment ordinances and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, and the alarming rise of intolerance. In this rare collection of essays, Chidambaram refuses to shy away from any subject, no matter how contentious. With characteristic candour he examines issues as varied as the true mandate of the Reserve Bank of India, the implications of the Union Budgets, the successes and failures of the United Progressive Alliance governments, and the formidable challenges that lie ahead of the Modi regime. Equally, the author presents a compass for the future—underscoring the need for humility while administering a complex nation and for accommodating Opposition voices for the greater common good. In presenting, at once, a critique and a constructive road map, this book plays out the true meaning of a vibrant democracy—a system of governance in which the Opposition stands guard and remains as responsible as the government of the day. Standing Guard is evidence why P. Chidambaram is considered not just an accomplished economist and administrator, but also a statesman of the finest calibre.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
226 pages, Hardcover
Published March 9, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 25, 2018
Chidambaram is mired in quite a bit of controversy in recent times, from improper FIPB clearances in the INR3,500 Cr. Airtel-Maxis deal to his son, Karti's, arrest in the INR305 Cr. INX Media case for FIPB clearance irregularities. All this intrigued me to try to find out what was going on in the mind of the man who was pushed to the helm of the UPA I and II regimes as its Finance (2004-08; 2012-14) and Home Minister (2008-12).
Even though the book attempts to present facts, it often descends into politicking and railing against the incumbent government at the time of writing, led by the rival BJP Party under Narendra Modi. Chidambaram claims that one year into Modi Sarkar, there is little to show for jobs generated, fiscal consolidation or private investment.
While there is meat to some of the arguments as they are presented with empirical evidence, the book seems more like a diatribe that selectively views issues without context or without contrasting it with what Chidambaram has himself done. There is no panacea to governing India, but if there needs to be a constant opposing force to keep the government in check, it probably needs to be rooted in a more politically-neutral discourse.
November 7, 2020
In this book, the senior congress man and former finance minister Mr. P Chidambaram, in his undaunted and argumentative way poses challenges and data based queries to the BJP Government on issues ranging from Governance, Economy, Budget, Policies, Legislations and Foreign Affairs. These 51 essays dealing with many topical issues of that time were published in The Indian Express in 2015, the year marked by many crucial events. Writing as a member of Congress, these columns are not written from politically neutral perspective, but these columns were also not written as party’s official spokesperson. As someone who lived politics, policies and reforms P Chidambaram is unique in expressing his opinions on range of important issues of contemporary importance with rare simplicity and even rarer brevity.
He says that, “The role of opposition in a parliamentary democracy is to oppose, expose and depose the government of the day.” Seemingly, Mr. Palaniappan Chidambaram had taken his role seriously in reflecting his opinions on issues of national interest in courteous language embarking on his solid research. His analysis on the economic growth in 2015 under the NDA was erudite and astute. Though the GDP growth had acceleration in 2015 after a slump, the advantageous role played by lower global oil prices and exchange rates were often less discussed by the mainstream media. He goes into intrinsic details of lower export rates, lower credit growth, lower public and private sector investments and lower electricity utilization among industries as a marker for economic distress, rightly warning the reader about the forthcoming economic catastrophe. Evidently, the average GDP growth rate after 2015 plummeted significantly on the backdrop of hasty demonetization and flawed GST. Mr P Chidambarm’s love for market economy and liberal economic worldview were pretty much evident in his earlier book ‘A View From Outside: Why Good Economics Works For Everyone’ where he passionately argued his stand in favour of disinvestments and privatization of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). His economic columns on fourteenth finance commission, lower state’s share in taxes, Goods and Service Tax (GST), private investments and budget were writings of constructive criticisms with offering specific solutions which remain to be addressed so even today.
Since I did not actively follow the political developments or read newspapers during my undergraduate years in 2015, the essays on the migrants and refugee crisis of Europe, the death of a three year old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi on the shores of Turkish coast, the GST ordinance and the reluctance of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to join GST, the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, the One Rank One Pension (OROP) Policy, the draft National Encryption Policy and its constitutional conflict with right to privacy, the formation of Monetary Policy Committee, the murder of Kalbrugi, Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar and the follow up protests from 25 writers who returned their Sahitya Akademi Awards, the alleged role of Sushma Swaraj in helping his ‘family friend’ Lalit Modi on ‘humanitarian grounds’ to apply for a travel document from British Embassy after his passport was revoked, that enabled him to travel the whole world were both persuasive and informative.
As Mr. Chidambaram rightly pointed out, “After 2015, humour is dead in public discourse in India. People don’t laugh enough – at themselves and at or with others. We don’t seem to know what satire is.” In his own witty and snarky style, P Chidambaram had done an impeccable job in compiling these essays. I have learnt many things from Mr. P Chidambaram from his articulative speeches, interviews, about his unconditional love for ‘Thirukkural’, his realistic views on economic policies and his despise and resentment towards archaic ideas of ‘communism’ and his conscience to uphold the values of liberal democracy. But, of all the important things, it is the purpose and necessity behind the art called 'writing'. He believes, “Writing is, first and foremost an act of self-discipline. It forces one to think, gather authentic information, reflect, and express oneself precisely. If people read what I write, that is reward enough; they do not have to agree with me. The reward will be even greater if my writing is able to influence people, alter policy and bring about change for better.” And, that will be one of the greatest lesson I take from Mr P Chidambaram after reading this book.
He says that, “The role of opposition in a parliamentary democracy is to oppose, expose and depose the government of the day.” Seemingly, Mr. Palaniappan Chidambaram had taken his role seriously in reflecting his opinions on issues of national interest in courteous language embarking on his solid research. His analysis on the economic growth in 2015 under the NDA was erudite and astute. Though the GDP growth had acceleration in 2015 after a slump, the advantageous role played by lower global oil prices and exchange rates were often less discussed by the mainstream media. He goes into intrinsic details of lower export rates, lower credit growth, lower public and private sector investments and lower electricity utilization among industries as a marker for economic distress, rightly warning the reader about the forthcoming economic catastrophe. Evidently, the average GDP growth rate after 2015 plummeted significantly on the backdrop of hasty demonetization and flawed GST. Mr P Chidambarm’s love for market economy and liberal economic worldview were pretty much evident in his earlier book ‘A View From Outside: Why Good Economics Works For Everyone’ where he passionately argued his stand in favour of disinvestments and privatization of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). His economic columns on fourteenth finance commission, lower state’s share in taxes, Goods and Service Tax (GST), private investments and budget were writings of constructive criticisms with offering specific solutions which remain to be addressed so even today.
Since I did not actively follow the political developments or read newspapers during my undergraduate years in 2015, the essays on the migrants and refugee crisis of Europe, the death of a three year old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi on the shores of Turkish coast, the GST ordinance and the reluctance of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to join GST, the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, the One Rank One Pension (OROP) Policy, the draft National Encryption Policy and its constitutional conflict with right to privacy, the formation of Monetary Policy Committee, the murder of Kalbrugi, Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar and the follow up protests from 25 writers who returned their Sahitya Akademi Awards, the alleged role of Sushma Swaraj in helping his ‘family friend’ Lalit Modi on ‘humanitarian grounds’ to apply for a travel document from British Embassy after his passport was revoked, that enabled him to travel the whole world were both persuasive and informative.
As Mr. Chidambaram rightly pointed out, “After 2015, humour is dead in public discourse in India. People don’t laugh enough – at themselves and at or with others. We don’t seem to know what satire is.” In his own witty and snarky style, P Chidambaram had done an impeccable job in compiling these essays. I have learnt many things from Mr. P Chidambaram from his articulative speeches, interviews, about his unconditional love for ‘Thirukkural’, his realistic views on economic policies and his despise and resentment towards archaic ideas of ‘communism’ and his conscience to uphold the values of liberal democracy. But, of all the important things, it is the purpose and necessity behind the art called 'writing'. He believes, “Writing is, first and foremost an act of self-discipline. It forces one to think, gather authentic information, reflect, and express oneself precisely. If people read what I write, that is reward enough; they do not have to agree with me. The reward will be even greater if my writing is able to influence people, alter policy and bring about change for better.” And, that will be one of the greatest lesson I take from Mr P Chidambaram after reading this book.
October 24, 2018
पुस्तक एक हताश विपक्ष द्वारा सत्ता पक्ष का अधूरा आंकलन ही प्रतीत हो रहा है।ये पुस्तक वर्तमान सरकार के प्रथम वर्ष में ही लिखी गयी है किंतु इस बात का ध्यान नही रखा गया है कि किसी भी सरकार के पहले वर्ष पर तो पिछली सरकार की छाप ही ज्यादा दिखाई देती है।कुछ करने से पहले कैसे करना है ये समझने में ही प्रथम वर्ष व्यतीत हो जाता है।
अर्थव्यवस्था के विद्यार्थियों के लिए पुस्तक थोड़ी लाभकारी साबित हो सकती है,इसके माध्यम से सरकार की आर्थिक गतिविधियों और आर्थिक शब्दावली से परिचित हुआ जा सकता है।
अध्ययन की दृष्टि से पुस्तक उम्मीद से कमतर ही साबित हुई।
अर्थव्यवस्था के विद्यार्थियों के लिए पुस्तक थोड़ी लाभकारी साबित हो सकती है,इसके माध्यम से सरकार की आर्थिक गतिविधियों और आर्थिक शब्दावली से परिचित हुआ जा सकता है।
अध्ययन की दृष्टि से पुस्तक उम्मीद से कमतर ही साबित हुई।
June 11, 2021
The veteran politician, smart lawyer Hon. P. Chidambaram summarizing his column as a book that showcases the immense of his writing skill, I am a serious follower of his column writings, media debate, parliament speeches in both languages Tamil and English. Personally, I underline his management skills are methodical, I therefore here, pointing some of his measured words scanned through my retina and keep continuing my review.
• Method should be a method, not madness
• There was no one-size of cap that will fit to all…
• Truth, damned truth, and statistics (I do say, lay, damned lye is statistics)
• Inflation bounces back deflation go back
The facts and figures of the Indian economy that the author Mr. Chidambaram addressed in order to solidarity with affluent economic policy, to restore the farm sector and their employs and production and producer’s product value to cater uninterruptable supplies to the consumers with affordable price and also to earn more revenue through the surplus. NDA government missed the fortune bonanza of a downfall of oil price in the global market, to recap the growth once the government received the baton from their predecessor UPA government, and the horrific situation led the hot air balloon to burst drastically.
The author confessed the long-term solution for the overall efficiency of the economy not only the raw materials, production, and marketing but also the utilization of relevant attributes road and rail transports, port services, communication, credit process, electricity, and labor force and productivity in terms of the law and order. This structural reform is a sortie to come out from the defensive position of the economy. The author criticizes the economic agenda of the NDA government and at the same time he addressed the issues of the loophole with county, regional and global examples and without fail he pinches to the government and pointing where the governing system went wrong particularly in economy, banking, and financial sectors.
Disappointing also a kind of indicator for the shrinking economy in the dark, the author elaborated. Further, he criticizes the attribute between vision and humility, crisis for GDP growth and the government struggle for to make stable must put more money in people’s pocket to spend for commodities and let currency to circulate between hands of public call as “the velocity of currency”.
The author argues the economic reform in target sector or attributes by citing since 1991 which has hidden behind the curtain and the author is referring as “low hanging fruit”. Absolute majority in the Lok Sabha but, fail to lift up growth in capitalist reforms. Ultimately the government failed in the equity test, the author said. The author narrations with regards to the budget 2015, he manipulated the scorecard scientifically on behalf of his view. Suffocation of equity among the public with informal settlements and other important basic needs are also critiqued in the book. The disproportionate financial allocation underutilized for allocated budget works, and it was the great slip “between the cup and the lip”.
The banking scheme is one of the focal points of the author’s vision in terms of the respected brand and the mode of the transaction money between the bank and the account holders, but why the inclusion rosed with zero balance and zero balance accounts? The natural resources auctions are the controversial dowry of Indian politics and still, the fog is not yet clear. The monitory policy is stumbling, from my point of view. My argument is according to the author, everything can be one within the territory union of India but, how, one person can be many as ‘anarchist’, ‘thief’, ‘monkey’ and ‘liar’ and Mr. Author, its people’s choice, what they want to eat. Liberty is the fundamental right of every citizen in the world, it is the matter of generating ideas and apply the idea into practice. immunity and impunity are buffering between the real and the shadow but tried and fail is better than losing or fail without anything. GST bill is a good turning point in Indian politics but, time will be decided the impact of the bill on the national economy on the focus of the different parties’ views and practice.
Power and greedy never prevail and it will lead to disaster and think of it as a monster. Sri Lanka lost its paradise due to the internal political conflict and settlement is needed with fast and broad recovery for all in the island. In my conclusion, I would like to convey my greetings to the author for his tireless work and I wish him to continue the writing for a noble purpose, also I urge the viewers to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVruj... YouTube link.
• Method should be a method, not madness
• There was no one-size of cap that will fit to all…
• Truth, damned truth, and statistics (I do say, lay, damned lye is statistics)
• Inflation bounces back deflation go back
The facts and figures of the Indian economy that the author Mr. Chidambaram addressed in order to solidarity with affluent economic policy, to restore the farm sector and their employs and production and producer’s product value to cater uninterruptable supplies to the consumers with affordable price and also to earn more revenue through the surplus. NDA government missed the fortune bonanza of a downfall of oil price in the global market, to recap the growth once the government received the baton from their predecessor UPA government, and the horrific situation led the hot air balloon to burst drastically.
The author confessed the long-term solution for the overall efficiency of the economy not only the raw materials, production, and marketing but also the utilization of relevant attributes road and rail transports, port services, communication, credit process, electricity, and labor force and productivity in terms of the law and order. This structural reform is a sortie to come out from the defensive position of the economy. The author criticizes the economic agenda of the NDA government and at the same time he addressed the issues of the loophole with county, regional and global examples and without fail he pinches to the government and pointing where the governing system went wrong particularly in economy, banking, and financial sectors.
Disappointing also a kind of indicator for the shrinking economy in the dark, the author elaborated. Further, he criticizes the attribute between vision and humility, crisis for GDP growth and the government struggle for to make stable must put more money in people’s pocket to spend for commodities and let currency to circulate between hands of public call as “the velocity of currency”.
The author argues the economic reform in target sector or attributes by citing since 1991 which has hidden behind the curtain and the author is referring as “low hanging fruit”. Absolute majority in the Lok Sabha but, fail to lift up growth in capitalist reforms. Ultimately the government failed in the equity test, the author said. The author narrations with regards to the budget 2015, he manipulated the scorecard scientifically on behalf of his view. Suffocation of equity among the public with informal settlements and other important basic needs are also critiqued in the book. The disproportionate financial allocation underutilized for allocated budget works, and it was the great slip “between the cup and the lip”.
The banking scheme is one of the focal points of the author’s vision in terms of the respected brand and the mode of the transaction money between the bank and the account holders, but why the inclusion rosed with zero balance and zero balance accounts? The natural resources auctions are the controversial dowry of Indian politics and still, the fog is not yet clear. The monitory policy is stumbling, from my point of view. My argument is according to the author, everything can be one within the territory union of India but, how, one person can be many as ‘anarchist’, ‘thief’, ‘monkey’ and ‘liar’ and Mr. Author, its people’s choice, what they want to eat. Liberty is the fundamental right of every citizen in the world, it is the matter of generating ideas and apply the idea into practice. immunity and impunity are buffering between the real and the shadow but tried and fail is better than losing or fail without anything. GST bill is a good turning point in Indian politics but, time will be decided the impact of the bill on the national economy on the focus of the different parties’ views and practice.
Power and greedy never prevail and it will lead to disaster and think of it as a monster. Sri Lanka lost its paradise due to the internal political conflict and settlement is needed with fast and broad recovery for all in the island. In my conclusion, I would like to convey my greetings to the author for his tireless work and I wish him to continue the writing for a noble purpose, also I urge the viewers to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVruj... YouTube link.
March 31, 2018
PC is quite famous for his clarity of thought. He has penned some excellent essays on multiple and varied topics. Go for it.
November 16, 2019
This is a chronological compilation of Chidambaram's articles published in newspapers. So, something are sooo irrelevant to be read years later.
November 28, 2016
Rating: 5/10
June 4, 2016
A well written book with short essays explaining the state of the economy, politics etc. In spite of being in the opposition, the author has not taken any rhetoric or incorrect or bad statements. The essays are thoroughly professional and brings out many points clearly. Overall a good book to understand the economy from a government ministers point of view.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews