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The Unseen Indira Gandhi: Through Her Physician’s Eyes
The Unseen Indira Gandhi is an intimate look at probably India’s best-loved Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, with the solitary exception of her father and the first person to hold that post,
Jawaharlal Nehru.
While biographers have generally seen Indira only through the lens of politics, Dr Mathur gives us a moving and witty account of the three-term PM as a person. Seen through his eyes, she appears to be as human as the rest of us, despite being the only PM till date who won India a full-fledged war in a decisive manner. We find in her the daughterin-law who continued to maintain relations with her in-laws although her marriage was over, for all intents and purposes. We also get to read about Indira caring for Feroze in his last days. Later on, she displayed the same love for her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren, and continued to involve herself in their lives, despite her onerous duties as PM. Apart from being attentive to her filial duties, Indira, like the rest of us, also had her quirks and fancies. With a subtle touch, the author has brought them to light. Last but not the least, the book provides us with a rare look at the trajectory of her development as a politician as well. Putting to good use his privilege of meeting PM almost every day, Dr Mathur provides us with an excellent vantage point to observe her political from the nervous politician with a frequently upset stomach to the war-winning PM, the distressed but resolute PM during the Emergency to her phoenix-like rise to take charge again for the third and final time in 1980, and the days leading to her gruesome assassination.
Jawaharlal Nehru.
While biographers have generally seen Indira only through the lens of politics, Dr Mathur gives us a moving and witty account of the three-term PM as a person. Seen through his eyes, she appears to be as human as the rest of us, despite being the only PM till date who won India a full-fledged war in a decisive manner. We find in her the daughterin-law who continued to maintain relations with her in-laws although her marriage was over, for all intents and purposes. We also get to read about Indira caring for Feroze in his last days. Later on, she displayed the same love for her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren, and continued to involve herself in their lives, despite her onerous duties as PM. Apart from being attentive to her filial duties, Indira, like the rest of us, also had her quirks and fancies. With a subtle touch, the author has brought them to light. Last but not the least, the book provides us with a rare look at the trajectory of her development as a politician as well. Putting to good use his privilege of meeting PM almost every day, Dr Mathur provides us with an excellent vantage point to observe her political from the nervous politician with a frequently upset stomach to the war-winning PM, the distressed but resolute PM during the Emergency to her phoenix-like rise to take charge again for the third and final time in 1980, and the days leading to her gruesome assassination.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 23, 2020
A Biography of one of the strongest Indian Prime Ministers capable of arousing sharply divided and extreme emotions even years after her passing away. The book provides her physician's perspective of her development as an individual including her political evolution.
January 5, 2023
Wonderful book written by my uncle who was Indira Gandhi’s personal physician.
May 2, 2017
A small crispy and interstesting account of Indira Gandhi
Dr.Mathur was Indira Gandhi's perosnal doctor for two decades and during this period he was the witness of so many incidents which was never come in light.
This book is all about such anecdotes and incidents.
This is not at all a memoir, nor its a political commentary book, but incident mentioned here helps us to understand the hidden facets of Indira Gandhi's nature.
Indira Gandhi was very informal with her staff members also she was a great Host.
Indira Gandhi had a habbit of making small notes and collection of such notes are printed in this book on every page.
Author is still alive and 92 years old.
book is also Translated in marathi by Rajhans Publication
Dr.Mathur was Indira Gandhi's perosnal doctor for two decades and during this period he was the witness of so many incidents which was never come in light.
This book is all about such anecdotes and incidents.
This is not at all a memoir, nor its a political commentary book, but incident mentioned here helps us to understand the hidden facets of Indira Gandhi's nature.
Indira Gandhi was very informal with her staff members also she was a great Host.
Indira Gandhi had a habbit of making small notes and collection of such notes are printed in this book on every page.
Author is still alive and 92 years old.
book is also Translated in marathi by Rajhans Publication
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews