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Amit Shah and the March of BJP
About the Book
The story of Amit Shah's political life, struggles, rise and triumph is little known. For a leader who is often referred to as the Chanakya of Indian politics, who has dominated India's fast-paced and complex political stage since 2014, has altered its electoral map by leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to successive historic victories post the May 2014 general elections, there is very little that is recorded or narrated.
Yet, the curiosity that he continues to generate, the interest that he elicits from people across the spectrum is increasing by the day. Most of what is written about Amit Shah is based on conjectures, hearsay, assumptions and biases. The real Amit Shah, the once booth-worker and now national president of the largest political party in the world, the leader who can clinically plan a sharp electoral strike and with the same precision can discuss political philosophy, the master strategist who has pushed the BJP to an organisational pinnacle and yet talks of scaling peaks, a man who is unhesitant and forceful in his stand on nationalism and on anything which concerns India's national interest, has remained in the shadows, in the margin, self-effaced.
The story of how he expanded the BJP into a pan-Indian party and the convergence of organisational science and ideology that has made the BJP a unique and formidable political entity is a story that needs to be told.
This is an account of Amit Shah's personal and political journey, an account of the ideological world that shaped him, an account of the party that he is leading and shaping today. It is for the first time that his story is being told-an authentic, no-holds-barred and detailed narration of one of the most influential leaders of our times.
To the political worker, to the observer, scholar and student of Indian politics as well as to the lay and interested reader who have no position but are intrigued by the unfolding of Indian politics since the summer of 2014, this book is bound to be a fascinating exploration through the political life and journey of one of its central characters.
The story of Amit Shah's political life, struggles, rise and triumph is little known. For a leader who is often referred to as the Chanakya of Indian politics, who has dominated India's fast-paced and complex political stage since 2014, has altered its electoral map by leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to successive historic victories post the May 2014 general elections, there is very little that is recorded or narrated.
Yet, the curiosity that he continues to generate, the interest that he elicits from people across the spectrum is increasing by the day. Most of what is written about Amit Shah is based on conjectures, hearsay, assumptions and biases. The real Amit Shah, the once booth-worker and now national president of the largest political party in the world, the leader who can clinically plan a sharp electoral strike and with the same precision can discuss political philosophy, the master strategist who has pushed the BJP to an organisational pinnacle and yet talks of scaling peaks, a man who is unhesitant and forceful in his stand on nationalism and on anything which concerns India's national interest, has remained in the shadows, in the margin, self-effaced.
The story of how he expanded the BJP into a pan-Indian party and the convergence of organisational science and ideology that has made the BJP a unique and formidable political entity is a story that needs to be told.
This is an account of Amit Shah's personal and political journey, an account of the ideological world that shaped him, an account of the party that he is leading and shaping today. It is for the first time that his story is being told-an authentic, no-holds-barred and detailed narration of one of the most influential leaders of our times.
To the political worker, to the observer, scholar and student of Indian politics as well as to the lay and interested reader who have no position but are intrigued by the unfolding of Indian politics since the summer of 2014, this book is bound to be a fascinating exploration through the political life and journey of one of its central characters.
302 pages, Hardcover
Published April 18, 2019
35 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 3, 2019
Very comprehensive read. Liked it over all. There were few portions which I felt little less credible. But as a person who knew Amit Shah only in negative shade, this book had it's moment to show his brighter side
March 7, 2020
The making of modern Chanakya of contemporary Indian political ruling party ,Bhartiya Janta Party. How a shrewd but hardworking background worker of once an obscure political party rose to become the current Home Minister of India? The compulsive desire to know the background and swing of electorate before hand made him push his 'real- time' refined strategies to ensure victorious mandate for his allegiance. Fortunately, the party shunned nepotism and made its way to welcome his acumen and facilitated his rise along the rungs of political accession to become and deliver as Chief Strategist.
July 10, 2019
The book has been authored by Dr. Anirban Ganguly who heads the policy think tank of the BJP. The book gives an insight into the party - its genesis - its working and its an inspiring read.
A must for those of who want to know more about the BJP & Amit Shah particularly
A must for those of who want to know more about the BJP & Amit Shah particularly
November 26, 2019
Factual despite the author being part of bop
Book is objective
The story talks about lesser known aspects of amit shah. Would like a sequel for his tenure at home ministry
Book is objective
The story talks about lesser known aspects of amit shah. Would like a sequel for his tenure at home ministry
December 23, 2019
One may hate BJP, Modi and Amit Shah but one can learn ability to do hard work, bearing gruesome responsibility and zeal for making impossible possible.
Many unknown facts about Amit Shah has been highlighted such as he is voracious reader and extracts time to read everyday inspite of gruelling schedule. He is key person to initiate BJP e-library which offers rare books in pdf free for reading.
The author Mr.Anirban Ganguly presents BJP's history in such a way that one feels those events are happening live. One gets reference of valuable books regarding Shri Deendayal, Shri S.P.Mukherjee and Indian political development.
Many unknown facts about Amit Shah has been highlighted such as he is voracious reader and extracts time to read everyday inspite of gruelling schedule. He is key person to initiate BJP e-library which offers rare books in pdf free for reading.
The author Mr.Anirban Ganguly presents BJP's history in such a way that one feels those events are happening live. One gets reference of valuable books regarding Shri Deendayal, Shri S.P.Mukherjee and Indian political development.
November 15, 2020
A must read for every member of BJP. This is to understand the working style of the Modern "Chanakya" of India. For the people who doesn't know Amit Shah will learn that
- He is ardent reader
- Meticulous Organizer
- Non-Stop Traveler
- Rooted in ground.. maintain contacts with Booth level worker
- Focused on Higher Goal - Making India as Vishwa Guru than temporary electoral gains.
- He is ardent reader
- Meticulous Organizer
- Non-Stop Traveler
- Rooted in ground.. maintain contacts with Booth level worker
- Focused on Higher Goal - Making India as Vishwa Guru than temporary electoral gains.
July 5, 2020
A good insight on BJPs election campaign and booth management.
September 11, 2019
A bit repetitive at times and seems it was put together in a rush (and it says so in the acknowledgement section) and eulogizing of Mr. Shah (which too is understandable). None of these flaws can deny Amit Shah the title of one of the greatest organizers Indian Polity has seen though. The book gives insights into lot of history and one can make out that lot of the claims opposition makes are not new. That opposition parties have had BJP in their crosshairs from the time memorial. It truly is a greatest triumph of a political outfit.
June 30, 2019
Tearing hurry to go through timeline of Amit Shah's early days. In chapter 2, first time modi was mentioned but there should have been some build up. Book lacked some good stories. It was more like a Monday morning slide show profiling a competitor. Covering a man like Amit Shah in a book requires more in-depth homework. Just statistical coverage didn't do justice to the cover of the book. It was kind of a half-hearted effort from the author and it appeared there was a publisher pressure to finish the book. On a hindsight, the topic of this book is pretty heavy even for seasoned authors.
September 15, 2019
Reading this book comes close to reading the BJP manifesto. I would save future readers some time by advising them to read just the first few chapters on the history of the party and skip to the very end to learn more about the Uttar Pradesh mandate (which is actually an interesting read). Learned very little about Amit Shah, the person, as opposed to Amit Shah, the party president. Glorification aside, the book gives a very one-sided account of the history of the country itself.(well, of course)
December 16, 2019
One-sided exercise in sycophancy. Poor editing with entire paragraphs duplicated, too much irrelevant content and a few typos. When you fight your way through that, you realise that the book's subject may actually be underrated. He is not just a ruffian; he has a strong (twisted?) sense of history and is steeped in Savarkarite thought. Sections on election management and organisation building are relatively insightful.
May 7, 2021
The book is pro bjp and portrays the party in a positive light. The book could have been better if the authors weren’t biased. For instance the authors have written how bjp chose to remain in opposition benches when congress and jd(s) formed a coalition government due to its ethical politics approach and didn’t opt for horse trading, but within a short span of time and toppled the Karnataka government and few years later when it was thrown out of power in Madhya Pradesh it did the same.
Want to read
June 8, 2019This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2019
++ Stat-packed and detailed look at the workings and dealings of Amit Shah.
± Leans / Biased towards Amit Shah as the author's are loosely affiliated with BJP
-- Bad editing
± Leans / Biased towards Amit Shah as the author's are loosely affiliated with BJP
-- Bad editing
December 14, 2019
70% is what is already known public. 30% is what is new in the book.
70% is what is already known public. 30% is what is new in the book. But a good enough to read it once.
70% is what is already known public. 30% is what is new in the book. But a good enough to read it once.
October 20, 2021
Not that great .. Repetitive.. Not synchronised .. lacks Shah's personal life..
September 12, 2023
3.5 Stars
May 23, 2021
Biased, writers work with BJP. I was curious to know about Amit Shah but got a one sided picture of his journey. Surprised and inspired to see some of the great habits followed by him.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews