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Parliamental
Raghav Marathe, cynical millennial turned reluctant policy analyst, arrives in Delhi with his boss, Prabhu Srikar of the RJM party, and a first-time MP with a tendency to throw up. As they navigate their way around Parliament, handling backroom deals, nepotistic party heads, and laws that seem to be tailor-made to benefit the ruling party, they learn that politics and idealism don't always go together.
While Srikar tries to adapt to his new avatar and lie low, Raghav uses his Twitter alter ego, @Arnavinator, to vent his frustration and spread chaos. But when a new bill that threatens freedom of expression is bulldozed through with impunity, Srikar and Raghav must make a choice—to compromise on their values or to stand up for what is right. But at what cost? And can they and their unlikely allies—a jaded lawyer, an ambitious journalist and a rising YouTube star—really make a difference?
A heady mix of politics, satire and current events, Parliamental is a roller-coaster ride through the corridors of power.
While Srikar tries to adapt to his new avatar and lie low, Raghav uses his Twitter alter ego, @Arnavinator, to vent his frustration and spread chaos. But when a new bill that threatens freedom of expression is bulldozed through with impunity, Srikar and Raghav must make a choice—to compromise on their values or to stand up for what is right. But at what cost? And can they and their unlikely allies—a jaded lawyer, an ambitious journalist and a rising YouTube star—really make a difference?
A heady mix of politics, satire and current events, Parliamental is a roller-coaster ride through the corridors of power.
220 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2019
17 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 18, 2019
I bought this book after looking to Megnad's work in Consti-tution and newslaundry. Impressed highly with his wit and policy understanding, this book was good, if not excellent. I read non fiction, but as the writer mentioned at the end that he feels important lessons can be imparted through stories, and I agree to him after reading the book.
A very basic book to urge people to be more aware and vigilant towards our ministers and the policies the make, with the help of a seemingly real life story. A good read if you have 2-3 days of time.
A very basic book to urge people to be more aware and vigilant towards our ministers and the policies the make, with the help of a seemingly real life story. A good read if you have 2-3 days of time.
October 1, 2019
They say, when you are caught in a dark, hopeless situation and there is nothing you can do to make it better, you can still deal with it, if you have a good sense of humour.
And that's exactly what Meghnad does best - acquaint us with our highly inept dysfunctional corrupt governing system - through his videos and podcasts, and now, with this book.
Having worked as public policy analyst and research aide for the members of parliament, Meghnad has the understanding of inner-workings of the government and takes it on him to create the awareness of the crooked system, especially amongst the young Indians (millennials, if you please), talking to them in their own language.
This book, which I think could easily pass as non-fiction, is an audacious attempt by the author to create some sort of a satirical fiction involving a first time idealistic (not so) MP and his speech writer (himself), trying to mask (not too hard though, as he admits) the parallels. He brings up several bills of importance- judicial appointment, anti-defection, electoral fundings, etc during course of this short book, but ends up focusing more on the bill on Social Media regulation, because I believe, that resonates well with his subscribers. There are actually no closures or conclusions to most of these discussions, jumping from one point to another, probably showing how our parliament functions in reality - before you can understand anything, the ship has sailed.
The book is short, probably, considering the attention span of his target readers. However, I wish the author would have spent more time on the different topics. The book starts with a promise, but fizzles out as it progresses. I still rate the book highly, only because I like the author and I support his work. Meghnad is like the ever jovial nerdy brother (younger, in my case) you always wanted to have. I wish him great success ahead and hope he keeps up the good work.
And that's exactly what Meghnad does best - acquaint us with our highly inept dysfunctional corrupt governing system - through his videos and podcasts, and now, with this book.
Having worked as public policy analyst and research aide for the members of parliament, Meghnad has the understanding of inner-workings of the government and takes it on him to create the awareness of the crooked system, especially amongst the young Indians (millennials, if you please), talking to them in their own language.
This book, which I think could easily pass as non-fiction, is an audacious attempt by the author to create some sort of a satirical fiction involving a first time idealistic (not so) MP and his speech writer (himself), trying to mask (not too hard though, as he admits) the parallels. He brings up several bills of importance- judicial appointment, anti-defection, electoral fundings, etc during course of this short book, but ends up focusing more on the bill on Social Media regulation, because I believe, that resonates well with his subscribers. There are actually no closures or conclusions to most of these discussions, jumping from one point to another, probably showing how our parliament functions in reality - before you can understand anything, the ship has sailed.
The book is short, probably, considering the attention span of his target readers. However, I wish the author would have spent more time on the different topics. The book starts with a promise, but fizzles out as it progresses. I still rate the book highly, only because I like the author and I support his work. Meghnad is like the ever jovial nerdy brother (younger, in my case) you always wanted to have. I wish him great success ahead and hope he keeps up the good work.
September 6, 2021
I am a longtime subscriber of Newslaundry as I believe it's currently one of the few news outlets in India that I can trust with providing authentic news. I am familiar with Meghnad S through his association with Newslaundry and have always found him and his content witty and amusing; maybe that's why I had high expectations from this book, which it didn't quite meet. I expected the story to be a bit less clichéd and slightly better written.
It is still a fun and informative book, and I would recommend young Indians to go through it atleast once to understand how the Parliament works internally. My favourite part(s) of the book were the translations of the vernacular words used in the text. They were funny and witty, and felt more 'Meghnad-y'.
It is still a fun and informative book, and I would recommend young Indians to go through it atleast once to understand how the Parliament works internally. My favourite part(s) of the book were the translations of the vernacular words used in the text. They were funny and witty, and felt more 'Meghnad-y'.
July 20, 2019
Romping read. Shows the reality of parliamentary democracy in the country. Wish it weren’t so, but if this is how things are, I’m glad the book exists.
August 6, 2019
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/08/bo...
Prabhu Srikar has unexpectedly won as the MP from Nagpur, representing the RJM party, being first timer and without any prior political experience. Raghav a young neighbor whose education Srikar sponsored for the sake of old time rapport with Raghav’s family, helps Srikar with his winning speeches during the election campaigning. Srikar as well as Raghav’s mother insist that Raghav tags along Srikar for his Parliament sessions and continue assisting Srikar for his speeches and other work. Raghav along with Jeetu, Srikar’s trusted aide, cook and driver, land in Lok Sabha, thus embarking on a roller coaster journey none of them ever dreamt of.
Srikar faces the ugly side of politics and shocking manipulation from his own party people. Raghav is constantly reminded of the nasty truth of his father’s death and the circumstances that forced it. There is a nosy journalist Nikita who is always prying for some inside gossip from Srikar and Raghav. What lies ahead for Raghav resulting from lack of maturity and political experience forms the rest of the story.
Starting from the title, the cover and from page one, the book is filled with subtle humor and sarcasm about current political scenario in the country especially in the digital world with the youth having their own opinions. Even the footnotes on most pages explaining some of the catchy and desi words are hilarious. The author keeps the number of characters minimal to avoid unnecessary cluttering of narration. The characters are pretty intriguing from the start with the author unveiling different unexpected sides to each of them as the story progresses. The book also gives some intricate details of how parliament sessions take place, and how the elected representatives and parties work as per their own agendas.
However, after an excellent first half, the story gradually fizzles in the second part and the narration loses direction, as the actions of the main characters gets illogical in parts. Some scenes feel rushed and dramatic straying away from the tone of the story so far. If these sequences in the second half can be ignored, then this book is a must read for those looking for a different genre amidst all the love stories or startup stories filling Indian market.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/08/bo...
Prabhu Srikar has unexpectedly won as the MP from Nagpur, representing the RJM party, being first timer and without any prior political experience. Raghav a young neighbor whose education Srikar sponsored for the sake of old time rapport with Raghav’s family, helps Srikar with his winning speeches during the election campaigning. Srikar as well as Raghav’s mother insist that Raghav tags along Srikar for his Parliament sessions and continue assisting Srikar for his speeches and other work. Raghav along with Jeetu, Srikar’s trusted aide, cook and driver, land in Lok Sabha, thus embarking on a roller coaster journey none of them ever dreamt of.
Srikar faces the ugly side of politics and shocking manipulation from his own party people. Raghav is constantly reminded of the nasty truth of his father’s death and the circumstances that forced it. There is a nosy journalist Nikita who is always prying for some inside gossip from Srikar and Raghav. What lies ahead for Raghav resulting from lack of maturity and political experience forms the rest of the story.
Starting from the title, the cover and from page one, the book is filled with subtle humor and sarcasm about current political scenario in the country especially in the digital world with the youth having their own opinions. Even the footnotes on most pages explaining some of the catchy and desi words are hilarious. The author keeps the number of characters minimal to avoid unnecessary cluttering of narration. The characters are pretty intriguing from the start with the author unveiling different unexpected sides to each of them as the story progresses. The book also gives some intricate details of how parliament sessions take place, and how the elected representatives and parties work as per their own agendas.
However, after an excellent first half, the story gradually fizzles in the second part and the narration loses direction, as the actions of the main characters gets illogical in parts. Some scenes feel rushed and dramatic straying away from the tone of the story so far. If these sequences in the second half can be ignored, then this book is a must read for those looking for a different genre amidst all the love stories or startup stories filling Indian market.
September 1, 2019
Fascinated by this maddening yet weirdly functioning democracy that we live in? Ever wondered what happens inside the most important building of India?!
Wanted to know how our legislative works & function but too wary of reading those mundane pol-sci books?! Well, if you’re looking for answers to all these questions just like me, then this is the perfect book for you!
The book tells the story of a first-time & “by fluke” MP - Prabhu Srikar & his accidental & clueless political aide Rahghav Marathe as they find themselves thrown into the political circus of the biggest democracy of the world! What happens with them and how they make sense of the world around them & how they both grow up into their roles with different world views & values is very interesting.
The book is very fluidly written, and it is a fun, breezy & quick read. Even though it is written in a light & satirical style (you’ll find yourself chuckling every few paragraphs), it explains some very crucial concepts about the functioning of our parliament and certain constitutional provisions in a very in-depth manner. You’ll definitely learn a lot from it, and yet it won’t feel too preachy or boring!
The footnotes mentioned in various places are hilarious, and I loved them a lot!
I have been a big fan of Meghnad’s work for quite some time now, and this book didn’t let down at all! I must admit that I’ve heard most of the facts & trivia that are mentioned in this book already as Meghnad often talks about them in his podcasts or YouTube videos, but it was still nice to read them again. I am so familiar with Meghnad’s style by now that it feels as if he is narrating the book in his own voice!
And I can safely say that it is semi-autobiographical in certain places because he has obviously drawn from his own experiences being a political aide for 7 years!
A superb book overall and I totally recommend it if you like reading political fiction. And I hope to read another book by Meghnad sometime soon!
Wanted to know how our legislative works & function but too wary of reading those mundane pol-sci books?! Well, if you’re looking for answers to all these questions just like me, then this is the perfect book for you!
The book tells the story of a first-time & “by fluke” MP - Prabhu Srikar & his accidental & clueless political aide Rahghav Marathe as they find themselves thrown into the political circus of the biggest democracy of the world! What happens with them and how they make sense of the world around them & how they both grow up into their roles with different world views & values is very interesting.
The book is very fluidly written, and it is a fun, breezy & quick read. Even though it is written in a light & satirical style (you’ll find yourself chuckling every few paragraphs), it explains some very crucial concepts about the functioning of our parliament and certain constitutional provisions in a very in-depth manner. You’ll definitely learn a lot from it, and yet it won’t feel too preachy or boring!
The footnotes mentioned in various places are hilarious, and I loved them a lot!
I have been a big fan of Meghnad’s work for quite some time now, and this book didn’t let down at all! I must admit that I’ve heard most of the facts & trivia that are mentioned in this book already as Meghnad often talks about them in his podcasts or YouTube videos, but it was still nice to read them again. I am so familiar with Meghnad’s style by now that it feels as if he is narrating the book in his own voice!
And I can safely say that it is semi-autobiographical in certain places because he has obviously drawn from his own experiences being a political aide for 7 years!
A superb book overall and I totally recommend it if you like reading political fiction. And I hope to read another book by Meghnad sometime soon!
August 29, 2019
“Always remember that selfless deeds are collateral damage of selfish deeds. Nobody would do anything if it’s not driven by selfish desire.”
The semi-fiction book Parliamental, by Meghnad S, which started as fun soon lost its charm after #StarPower. The ending of the book was highly predictable (may be because I was expecting far too much).
There are two characters around whom the plot revolves, Prabhu Sirkar, the newly elected MP from Nagpur and his assistant Raghav Marathe, who is in to make a change. Other characters join in and you can relate them to some or the other present day people in various sectors.
Good things: You can read it to understand how Parliament works, what happens and you will come to know a few things you were never aware of. First few chapters of the book are funny and can be enjoyed for a light mood. Also, since it is a 191 Page book, it is a light read.
The language is also simple and crisp, so no need to sit with a phone to Google the words.
Not-so good things: You expect a lot from the book, since it began on a funny note but it really doesn’t offer you much as it approaches towards the end. I was expecting it to end quickly, however, a few mid chapters are slow and that makes reading the book a little difficult.
Sorry Meghnad, I was expecting way too much after I heard you speak in Nagpur.
Good job though writing on a topic which people don’t even think upon.
Published by HarperCollins Publishers India
The semi-fiction book Parliamental, by Meghnad S, which started as fun soon lost its charm after #StarPower. The ending of the book was highly predictable (may be because I was expecting far too much).
There are two characters around whom the plot revolves, Prabhu Sirkar, the newly elected MP from Nagpur and his assistant Raghav Marathe, who is in to make a change. Other characters join in and you can relate them to some or the other present day people in various sectors.
Good things: You can read it to understand how Parliament works, what happens and you will come to know a few things you were never aware of. First few chapters of the book are funny and can be enjoyed for a light mood. Also, since it is a 191 Page book, it is a light read.
The language is also simple and crisp, so no need to sit with a phone to Google the words.
Not-so good things: You expect a lot from the book, since it began on a funny note but it really doesn’t offer you much as it approaches towards the end. I was expecting it to end quickly, however, a few mid chapters are slow and that makes reading the book a little difficult.
Sorry Meghnad, I was expecting way too much after I heard you speak in Nagpur.
Good job though writing on a topic which people don’t even think upon.
Published by HarperCollins Publishers India
November 23, 2019
What Parliamental has going for it : in the super-easy-to-read, don’t-stretch-your-mind category which targets non-readers, it has a ‘noble’ objective of at least coupling a fun, uncomplicated tale along with educating people about the structure of our political systems.
Pretty much everything else was disappointing.
I’ve followed Meghnad on Newslaundry and Twitter – and dude, friendly free ka advice : you should not write a book in the same way you tweet or speak on a podcast. Colloquial approachable language still needs to feel coherent and connected over pages and pages, and this just felt annoying after a while. What’s more – we know little about this hep meme-quoting, acronym-spouting cool Gen-Z guy from middle-class Nagpur for this to feel organic. At least give him a meaningful background story as to why he turned out that way since he’s not a waster (no disrespect) from South Mumbai or Delhi (sorry for the stereotype).
Current events are shoehorned into the tale a little too much for my liking, and characters seem artificially ‘grey’ – the rushed ending which is so obviously built towards another sequel did not make much sense to me either...
It's not a terrible book, just a mighty disappointing one...
Pretty much everything else was disappointing.
I’ve followed Meghnad on Newslaundry and Twitter – and dude, friendly free ka advice : you should not write a book in the same way you tweet or speak on a podcast. Colloquial approachable language still needs to feel coherent and connected over pages and pages, and this just felt annoying after a while. What’s more – we know little about this hep meme-quoting, acronym-spouting cool Gen-Z guy from middle-class Nagpur for this to feel organic. At least give him a meaningful background story as to why he turned out that way since he’s not a waster (no disrespect) from South Mumbai or Delhi (sorry for the stereotype).
Current events are shoehorned into the tale a little too much for my liking, and characters seem artificially ‘grey’ – the rushed ending which is so obviously built towards another sequel did not make much sense to me either...
It's not a terrible book, just a mighty disappointing one...
August 9, 2019
The book is crisp and unputdownable and the vocabulary helps. The editing is sharp and polished and it definitely reflects. With less than 200 story pages it is a fast read and even though the book is a fictional political satire, it goes at a thriller pace and keeps you invested till the very end.
The book is a welcome fodder for all those political analysts. I am going with four stars for ‘Parliamental’ by Meghnad S. – three and a half for the satire and the extra half for the amazingly humorous and creative footnotes. This page-turner is a must-read.
Read the full review here:
https://manasmukul.wordpress.com/2019...
The book is a welcome fodder for all those political analysts. I am going with four stars for ‘Parliamental’ by Meghnad S. – three and a half for the satire and the extra half for the amazingly humorous and creative footnotes. This page-turner is a must-read.
Read the full review here:
https://manasmukul.wordpress.com/2019...
September 30, 2020
After meeting the author at my college, I was a bit interested in his work where he deals with law and policy. This book is a fiction which can be clearly assumed as a real because the incidents mentioned in the book seems to be inspired by the real events.
I really liked the way where the author has explained nitty-gritty of the working of Parliament and he ensures that a layman who isn't aware of the anything going around the Lutyens can understand at least the basic functioning of the system.
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to do light reading about the Parliament and also wants to know something substantial about the system.
I really liked the way where the author has explained nitty-gritty of the working of Parliament and he ensures that a layman who isn't aware of the anything going around the Lutyens can understand at least the basic functioning of the system.
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to do light reading about the Parliament and also wants to know something substantial about the system.
August 4, 2019
I began reading it with no expectations. It turned out to be an enjoyable read about politicians, their dealings, and well, the consequences of selfishness and ambition.
I have two grouses about this book:
1. Could have been longer. Or maybe the author is planning a sequel?
2. Those footnotes about what a tapri or a kurta are were totally unnecessary and seemed contrived.
I have two grouses about this book:
1. Could have been longer. Or maybe the author is planning a sequel?
2. Those footnotes about what a tapri or a kurta are were totally unnecessary and seemed contrived.
June 7, 2021
This is my first-ever attempt at a book review; so apologies in advance for any ambiguities in the same.
Meghnad's "Parliamental" is a fun book, and was a pretty fast and light read. Don't expect a deep-dive into character development though; the book allows you to have just enough contact with the characters to be able to relate to and sympathise with them for the purpose of the story, but that's about it. To be fair, the plot doesn't require much more than that, and the book thankfully does not overdo itself in this front.
One front where I was somewhat left craving for more is the exploration of the inner workings of the book's titular entity - the parliament itself. What the book provides is merely a sneak peek into the goings on in the great round building - a greater involvement of the melangé of characters in parliament that hail from different regions of the country would have certainly made the book even more engaging.
Lastly, the ending did seem a bit rushed, and did not seem to do proper justice to the relative brilliance of the rest of the book. Part of the plot that was rushed through in the last couple of pages could easily have been material for 1-1.5 chapters.
In conclusion, "Parliamental" is an enjoyable, engaging and sometimes eye-opening short read, but given the premise, it could have been much more than that.
P.S: The footnotes were hilarious.
Meghnad's "Parliamental" is a fun book, and was a pretty fast and light read. Don't expect a deep-dive into character development though; the book allows you to have just enough contact with the characters to be able to relate to and sympathise with them for the purpose of the story, but that's about it. To be fair, the plot doesn't require much more than that, and the book thankfully does not overdo itself in this front.
One front where I was somewhat left craving for more is the exploration of the inner workings of the book's titular entity - the parliament itself. What the book provides is merely a sneak peek into the goings on in the great round building - a greater involvement of the melangé of characters in parliament that hail from different regions of the country would have certainly made the book even more engaging.
Lastly, the ending did seem a bit rushed, and did not seem to do proper justice to the relative brilliance of the rest of the book. Part of the plot that was rushed through in the last couple of pages could easily have been material for 1-1.5 chapters.
In conclusion, "Parliamental" is an enjoyable, engaging and sometimes eye-opening short read, but given the premise, it could have been much more than that.
P.S: The footnotes were hilarious.
October 17, 2023
Quick witted, short, and shows the way our parliament and its members work.
May 20, 2020
Have you ever been amused by how our Parliament works? How the MPs are elected, their roles, who writes their speeches?
If yes, this is the one for you.
Prabhu Srikar, a first time MP from Nagpur is clueless about his role at the Parliament. His accidental aid, Raghav, who helped him during his election campaign, is entrusted with the same sort of responsibility again. Srikar is our "good and ideal politician", the one who stands for right, and goes against his party for his morals. Raghav, his speechwriter, is a millennial, with an alter-ego called @Arnavinator . The clueless duo arrives in Delhi and is not only met by surprises and whispers, but things go way back, deeper and nastier.
What intrigued me was the title 'Parlia + Mental' (pun intended). Meghnad, with an eight-year experience of working with MPs, has quite lucidly highlighted how our Parliament functions, how bills are passed and gives a sneak peek into the inner workings of the system. The subtle sarcastic dialogues by Raghav are fun to read. Clearly, he's a millennium. The sarcasm, however, doesn't take away the focus from the main subject of the book.
The author touches upon some bills of great importance; the electoral bonds, anti-defection. However, his focus stays on the 'Social Media regulation' partly because that resonates with his own social media presence (search @memeghnad on Twitter) . We see how "sabhas" are adjourned, how easily rucksack can be caused during the briefings, and how social media can play a crucial role in altering anything and everything.
At some points, though, I did feel the author left a few things to the readers' imagination, and rushed a little, especially the end. A little guidance and clarity would have been great.
Part fiction part real, this makes for a great satirical read on how our 'babus' function. Recommended.
P.S. don't miss the footnotes for a desi feel .
EndNote: For a clear understanding of our Constitution and government, you can also check out "Consti-tuition" on newslaundry.com where Meghnad explains the nitty-gritty of Indian democracy from scratch.
If yes, this is the one for you.
Prabhu Srikar, a first time MP from Nagpur is clueless about his role at the Parliament. His accidental aid, Raghav, who helped him during his election campaign, is entrusted with the same sort of responsibility again. Srikar is our "good and ideal politician", the one who stands for right, and goes against his party for his morals. Raghav, his speechwriter, is a millennial, with an alter-ego called @Arnavinator . The clueless duo arrives in Delhi and is not only met by surprises and whispers, but things go way back, deeper and nastier.
What intrigued me was the title 'Parlia + Mental' (pun intended). Meghnad, with an eight-year experience of working with MPs, has quite lucidly highlighted how our Parliament functions, how bills are passed and gives a sneak peek into the inner workings of the system. The subtle sarcastic dialogues by Raghav are fun to read. Clearly, he's a millennium. The sarcasm, however, doesn't take away the focus from the main subject of the book.
The author touches upon some bills of great importance; the electoral bonds, anti-defection. However, his focus stays on the 'Social Media regulation' partly because that resonates with his own social media presence (search @memeghnad on Twitter) . We see how "sabhas" are adjourned, how easily rucksack can be caused during the briefings, and how social media can play a crucial role in altering anything and everything.
At some points, though, I did feel the author left a few things to the readers' imagination, and rushed a little, especially the end. A little guidance and clarity would have been great.
Part fiction part real, this makes for a great satirical read on how our 'babus' function. Recommended.
P.S. don't miss the footnotes for a desi feel .
EndNote: For a clear understanding of our Constitution and government, you can also check out "Consti-tuition" on newslaundry.com where Meghnad explains the nitty-gritty of Indian democracy from scratch.
August 7, 2019
Meghnad has the capability to break down difficult explanations and explain it to you in a way that anybody can understand it. In this book, he chose a storytelling format to explain the working of parliament. It's like learning 'behind the scenes' of parliament. It was such a new perspective for me. All this time, I've been looking at the parliamentary proceedings through the perspective of a viewer. But, in this book, the character 'Raghav' represents us (I don't know if it makes sense but read). He is a 'newbie' and a 'nobody' in the parliament. Acting as an MP's PA, he starts learning and exploring the parliament from square one. As he unravels the parliament and its working, we unravel with him. It's something I loved the most about this book. You don't have to be an intellectual or keep googling legislative jargon to understand this book. You don't even have to have a political interest to read this book. ALSOOOOO, can we please please admire the Jacquet Cover? It's humourous. Even the glossary at the margins of every page makes you chuckle.
Except for the rushed ending (I think there could have been more layers to the climax), it's a one-sitting read. You will be satisfied with the story.
P.S: my conspiracy theory is that Meghnad wrote this book simply to promote 'Poha', I swear.
Except for the rushed ending (I think there could have been more layers to the climax), it's a one-sitting read. You will be satisfied with the story.
P.S: my conspiracy theory is that Meghnad wrote this book simply to promote 'Poha', I swear.
August 2, 2019
The author has a flair for breaking down the complex into its simplest form for the masses to understand and enjoy. The book opens and ends at such lively and unexpected notes that it's quite difficult to feign ignorance to the effort. Every character stands out and I personally loved the web woven around just a few instead of a star cast to support the story. The language used is simple and to further simplify the analogy the author has included a detailed explanation of the typical words as footnotes. The storyline is fast, non-distractive, and adequately balanced. I strongly recommend the book as it offers a fictional insight to a world inaccessible to the majority of the population and contains just 193 pages.
Definitely, a political satire but characters like Raghav, Jeetu, Nikita, Dushyant, and Helen, leave a mark on the reader and craving for more.
Definitely, a political satire but characters like Raghav, Jeetu, Nikita, Dushyant, and Helen, leave a mark on the reader and craving for more.
December 16, 2019
I loved this book! It was unputdownable, which is the highest praise I can give a book.
Raghav Marathe is the character that all of us once were, when we wanted to make changes in the world. And he has both the idealism and the love for political drama that act as opposing forces through the book. He fights with all his might against the social media regulation bill, and at the same time takes pride in authoring the speech that introduced and supported the bill. That’s politics at its finest!
Raghav Marathe is the character that all of us once were, when we wanted to make changes in the world. And he has both the idealism and the love for political drama that act as opposing forces through the book. He fights with all his might against the social media regulation bill, and at the same time takes pride in authoring the speech that introduced and supported the bill. That’s politics at its finest!
August 15, 2019
I bought this book only for Meghnad. But it is not living upto the expectations that the author made with the documentaries on democracy. The plot has starts with a young guy and newly elected MP boss comes in terms with unwritten rules of parliament. I was completely left confused what was the story that is told. There are some glimpses of making us understand intercasies of democracy, but then the entire plot falls apart. Won't recommend
December 16, 2019
A good read if you have context about Indian politics.
July 13, 2019
Clever and relevant, I sense this is just a teaser and there is much more that Meghnad would unleash, possibly via tv series. Excellent!
October 2, 2019
bit predictable needs more working on the plot twist. From the beginning the narrative has been only about the lead , no major sub-plots, needs more work
February 5, 2024
I have been following Meghnad for years on the socials - including his video, audio and written work with Newslaundry, and his more recent solo YouTube venture that's growing pretty rapidly. I don't necessarily agree with him (or Newslaundry) on everything, maybe only half the time at most, and I think he has some biases and blind spots, but I respect his intentions and sincerity immensely.
The book itself is a fun, blazing fast read. For people who follow politics fairly actively, there are a lot of sly references and fictional parallels to several real events that I won't get into here. It should be kept in mind that a big part of this is indirectly a piece of political commentary, which left a bad taste in my mouth because it seems to approach everything with the assumption that everything that gets done by the government, gets done with malicious or stupid intentions.
Meghnad's aforementioned blind spots do creep in, people and entities from the 'other side' are shown as simplistic caricatures who are at worst machiavellian villains and at best, just stupid and immature. He doesn't do a good enough job in really getting into the arguments from the other end - most prominently when taking up the NJAC issue, a real constitutional amendment (the 99th) that was brought on by the Modi government as one of their first big moves when it arrived into the Indian political scene in 2014. Occasional straw men arguments like that for me damaged the appeal of what's otherwise a pretty fun read.
I'd recommend this book for schoolkids who know nothing about politics, as it would serve as a fun and gentle introduction to thinking about some issues, as while it has issues, it does come from a good place and sincere intentions. The biases and blind spots the book might create can be dealt with later - hopefully they'll read more broadly and not get trapped in an ideological echo chamber.
The book itself is a fun, blazing fast read. For people who follow politics fairly actively, there are a lot of sly references and fictional parallels to several real events that I won't get into here. It should be kept in mind that a big part of this is indirectly a piece of political commentary, which left a bad taste in my mouth because it seems to approach everything with the assumption that everything that gets done by the government, gets done with malicious or stupid intentions.
Meghnad's aforementioned blind spots do creep in, people and entities from the 'other side' are shown as simplistic caricatures who are at worst machiavellian villains and at best, just stupid and immature. He doesn't do a good enough job in really getting into the arguments from the other end - most prominently when taking up the NJAC issue, a real constitutional amendment (the 99th) that was brought on by the Modi government as one of their first big moves when it arrived into the Indian political scene in 2014. Occasional straw men arguments like that for me damaged the appeal of what's otherwise a pretty fun read.
I'd recommend this book for schoolkids who know nothing about politics, as it would serve as a fun and gentle introduction to thinking about some issues, as while it has issues, it does come from a good place and sincere intentions. The biases and blind spots the book might create can be dealt with later - hopefully they'll read more broadly and not get trapped in an ideological echo chamber.
March 31, 2020
It was a quick fun read. The book is a fictional story of a boy who suddenly finds himself in the Parliament of India and is amused by how the system works. He is quickly frustrated at knowing that the democratic system that we are so proud of is not really that democratic. He tries to fiddle with it and find some relevance or self-importance and goes through a heck of journey while doing so.
I learnt a thing or two about our parliamentary democracy, like anti-defection law, what is a whip, electoral bonds, division, and ordinance. I had read about some of them before, but getting to read about them as an integral part of a story is much more intuitive and I give the author Meghnad points for that.
I liked the simplicity of writing, but not really a fan of too informal/casual and slang ridden writing. Also found many mistakes in the copy (like RJD instead of the fictional party RJM and other such) which were off-putting. The fiction writing was also a bit weak, as the protagonist often did things that were so out-of-character. He would randomly come to conclusions and conveniently find allies. But I guess some of these are tolerable and I am sure the author will get better as he writes more.
Attempts at being funny fell flat more than once, which was very true to Meghnad's real life persona. Explanations of slangs or native words in footnotes were trying to be funny and cool, but if someone who was not familiar with these words read those, he maybe more confused than otherwise.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. In total, it took me just three sittings to finish it and I would say it was worth the time.
I learnt a thing or two about our parliamentary democracy, like anti-defection law, what is a whip, electoral bonds, division, and ordinance. I had read about some of them before, but getting to read about them as an integral part of a story is much more intuitive and I give the author Meghnad points for that.
I liked the simplicity of writing, but not really a fan of too informal/casual and slang ridden writing. Also found many mistakes in the copy (like RJD instead of the fictional party RJM and other such) which were off-putting. The fiction writing was also a bit weak, as the protagonist often did things that were so out-of-character. He would randomly come to conclusions and conveniently find allies. But I guess some of these are tolerable and I am sure the author will get better as he writes more.
Attempts at being funny fell flat more than once, which was very true to Meghnad's real life persona. Explanations of slangs or native words in footnotes were trying to be funny and cool, but if someone who was not familiar with these words read those, he maybe more confused than otherwise.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. In total, it took me just three sittings to finish it and I would say it was worth the time.
July 30, 2021
This was an all right, breezy read. But as far as stories go I think it stops short of being that great a story, while the intent of giving an insight into the chaos of Indian Parliament through a story is a noble one, the writing isn't exactly as impactful as it needs to be to rouse a reader. And because it is a story in the end, it is not deep enough from an, umm, educational perspective either.
I would highly recommend Meghnad's youtube videos for a much deeper understanding of India's Consti-tution. And he has a show called Sansad which really is about the core topic of the book - the Sansad. And in 2021, the monsoon session is truly like Big Boss. I mean, it always is, but man it's like a classroom of 9th std students who are being supervised by a class monitor of another 9th Std class, but from different division or something. Pure pandemonium. With laws getting passed.
Meghnad definitely has a knack for explaining complicated things, without having to abstract away complicated details in the name of "simplification". He also takes good interviews, and asks good questions. All in all a journalist whose work I enjoy. But a story teller and an author, he is not. Not yet, anyways. But if he ever writes a book, I will probably read it.
Till then his videos for News Laundry are pretty great. And remember, when advertisers pay, advertisers are served. When you pay, you are served. So pay to keep news free. I kind of wish this was incorporated somewhere in the book.
I would highly recommend Meghnad's youtube videos for a much deeper understanding of India's Consti-tution. And he has a show called Sansad which really is about the core topic of the book - the Sansad. And in 2021, the monsoon session is truly like Big Boss. I mean, it always is, but man it's like a classroom of 9th std students who are being supervised by a class monitor of another 9th Std class, but from different division or something. Pure pandemonium. With laws getting passed.
Meghnad definitely has a knack for explaining complicated things, without having to abstract away complicated details in the name of "simplification". He also takes good interviews, and asks good questions. All in all a journalist whose work I enjoy. But a story teller and an author, he is not. Not yet, anyways. But if he ever writes a book, I will probably read it.
Till then his videos for News Laundry are pretty great. And remember, when advertisers pay, advertisers are served. When you pay, you are served. So pay to keep news free. I kind of wish this was incorporated somewhere in the book.
June 13, 2020
A fictional account of a policy analyst working for a member of parliament might not seem as interesting a premise, but the insight it provides into how the parliament works can potentially change the way we look at our legislature. Meghnad does a great job of weaving fiction into what he claims are parallels to actual events he was witness to. Highly recommend giving this a try.
December 31, 2020
A good satire based on sad realities of working of a great democracy. Meghnad has encapsulated the madness in the house of democracy very well with this book. The footnotes are hilarious. This book is as good as Meghnad's work with newslaundry. I really recommend reading this to anyone even mildly interested in politics.
June 4, 2021
The book has an interesting and easy way about it but the language and the buid-up is sometimes too underwhelming. Its certainly not a bad read but leaves a lot to be desired. One thing that is in the books favor is its size which is perfect for a lazy Sunday or a holiday. Other than that there isn't much to be talked about.
August 12, 2021
Knowing Meghnad from Newslaundry and watching almost all of his explainer videos. This book is fab for someone who is learning ABCs of the government now. This book should be in School curriculum. Special mention to the definition of day to day items at the bottom of the page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2021
Woah
A really great satire of indian politics .
The characters may seem flat at first but they all show faces latter .
A testament lf this been a great book is that events in the books have happened in real life in the future
A really great satire of indian politics .
The characters may seem flat at first but they all show faces latter .
A testament lf this been a great book is that events in the books have happened in real life in the future
March 7, 2020
This story is a gripping story about the intricacies of politics, politicians and workings of democracy. The humor and the plot line keeps the reader riveted.
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