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The Great Unravelling: India after 2014
‘For the first time, I was not so sure that the survival of an idea could be taken for granted. But I was sure of one thing: the battle to salvage it, whether in whole or in part, had to be fought.’
Since May 2014, under a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party, it appears that the Nehruvian—read liberal, secular, scientific—Idea of India has come utterly undone. Institutions of governance that had weathered great turbulence in the past seem to be disintegrating. The economy, once the celebrated ‘India story’, is in a shambles due to self-inflicted blows. Large sections of the media genuflect in cringe-worthy surrender to the ruling dispensation. Two hundred million Indians are being repeatedly reminded about their irrelevance in the new political narrative. Meanwhile, the grand old party of India flounders on unfamiliar territory—trapped in its past and unsure about its future.
Sanjay Jha, long-time Congress spokesperson, now suspended from the party for his outspokenness against it, takes a long, hard look at what all of this means for the future of India. What are the reasons for the Congress’s acute lack of oppositional ability? Is a resurrection of this seemingly somnolent giant even possible? What would it entail? Can the party look beyond the easy fallback of the Gandhi-family charisma and embrace transformational change? Can it sell its vision—of inclusive growth and social justice—to a nation that seems mesmerised by hate?
Even as he asks tough questions of the government and his party, Jha has not lost faith in Mahatma Gandhi’s India. He writes of renewal, of hope. And the Congress, he firmly believes, is central to that revival of India.
Since May 2014, under a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party, it appears that the Nehruvian—read liberal, secular, scientific—Idea of India has come utterly undone. Institutions of governance that had weathered great turbulence in the past seem to be disintegrating. The economy, once the celebrated ‘India story’, is in a shambles due to self-inflicted blows. Large sections of the media genuflect in cringe-worthy surrender to the ruling dispensation. Two hundred million Indians are being repeatedly reminded about their irrelevance in the new political narrative. Meanwhile, the grand old party of India flounders on unfamiliar territory—trapped in its past and unsure about its future.
Sanjay Jha, long-time Congress spokesperson, now suspended from the party for his outspokenness against it, takes a long, hard look at what all of this means for the future of India. What are the reasons for the Congress’s acute lack of oppositional ability? Is a resurrection of this seemingly somnolent giant even possible? What would it entail? Can the party look beyond the easy fallback of the Gandhi-family charisma and embrace transformational change? Can it sell its vision—of inclusive growth and social justice—to a nation that seems mesmerised by hate?
Even as he asks tough questions of the government and his party, Jha has not lost faith in Mahatma Gandhi’s India. He writes of renewal, of hope. And the Congress, he firmly believes, is central to that revival of India.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2020
12 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 20, 2021
A Poor attempt to blame BJP for sins committed by congress
Sanjay is very intellectual person,I often enjoy is debates on tv, but when you read this books it tells you the reality that politician don't have courage to call spade a spade, in the entire book he could not find a single incident where he thinks congress did many wrong acts and paying the price for it.
This books is poor attempt to destroy BJP image without facts in place.
Sanjay is very intellectual person,I often enjoy is debates on tv, but when you read this books it tells you the reality that politician don't have courage to call spade a spade, in the entire book he could not find a single incident where he thinks congress did many wrong acts and paying the price for it.
This books is poor attempt to destroy BJP image without facts in place.
January 1, 2021
Shortsighted and ignores all the corruption and bad loans that led to slower economic growth post 2008 in the UPA era itself. Slower economic growth is not an excuse not to execute the much needed reforms implemented by the NDA.
January 1, 2021
A template for how a party spokesperson can start to believe the lies he's forced to repeat day after day. Absolute drivel.
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March 22, 2021QOTD:What do you think can be done to bring about change in the governance of the country??
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“With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.”~ Abraham Lincoln
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Politics is a much discussed topic in my family .
Right from my childhood I grew up discussing politics at dinner with my parents which has made me more observant when it comes to politics.
This book “The Great Unravelling -India After 2014” is a book that discusses politic and how half baked measures of the ruling party has resulted with the not much agreed downfall of the country .
Taking about the author ,Sanjay Jha ,The ex spokesperson of the Congress party.He was always know for his outspokenness which finally backfired when he was too outspoken to his party itself.
With that in mind ,I do believe that this book is unbiased and has conveyed a lot of truth or at least has imposed a lot of questions which is normally not put out as the ruling party has clearly been ignoring to address the facts.
The author talks about topics like Hindutva ,Demonetization,How BJP came to power,How economy hit rock bottom ,How media has become what it shouldn't actually be.The book has been receiving alot of hatred as it highlights the gruesome acts of the ruling party.But ultimately the truth can be hidden but not burnt.
If you want to understand the inside the house political stories this one would be a great read !
.
.
.
“With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed.”~ Abraham Lincoln
.
.
Politics is a much discussed topic in my family .
Right from my childhood I grew up discussing politics at dinner with my parents which has made me more observant when it comes to politics.
This book “The Great Unravelling -India After 2014” is a book that discusses politic and how half baked measures of the ruling party has resulted with the not much agreed downfall of the country .
Taking about the author ,Sanjay Jha ,The ex spokesperson of the Congress party.He was always know for his outspokenness which finally backfired when he was too outspoken to his party itself.
With that in mind ,I do believe that this book is unbiased and has conveyed a lot of truth or at least has imposed a lot of questions which is normally not put out as the ruling party has clearly been ignoring to address the facts.
The author talks about topics like Hindutva ,Demonetization,How BJP came to power,How economy hit rock bottom ,How media has become what it shouldn't actually be.The book has been receiving alot of hatred as it highlights the gruesome acts of the ruling party.But ultimately the truth can be hidden but not burnt.
If you want to understand the inside the house political stories this one would be a great read !
May 15, 2021
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟰 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗮𝘆 𝗝𝗵𝗮
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I usually do not pick political books but when I came across this one, I decided to give it a read. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed because I genuinely feel that BJP has taken some hard decisions that our country needed and all this book did was defame one party over other.
Now, talking in a completely neutral sense, the Nehruvian India which Sanjay Jha talked about was not something I would prefer. Nehru took some really bad decisions one of which is Kashmir.
The only thing I liked about the book is the fact that Sanjay did touch upon the gross incompetency of Congress in becoming a strong opposition party. The lack of strong leader as well as the inner conflicts of the party are the prime reason behind it.
Overall, I would have preferred a much balanced view from Sanjay. If you are a fan of political books, you can give this one a shot but I guess there would be better options available in the market.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝟮.𝟱/𝟱
.
I usually do not pick political books but when I came across this one, I decided to give it a read. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed because I genuinely feel that BJP has taken some hard decisions that our country needed and all this book did was defame one party over other.
Now, talking in a completely neutral sense, the Nehruvian India which Sanjay Jha talked about was not something I would prefer. Nehru took some really bad decisions one of which is Kashmir.
The only thing I liked about the book is the fact that Sanjay did touch upon the gross incompetency of Congress in becoming a strong opposition party. The lack of strong leader as well as the inner conflicts of the party are the prime reason behind it.
Overall, I would have preferred a much balanced view from Sanjay. If you are a fan of political books, you can give this one a shot but I guess there would be better options available in the market.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝟮.𝟱/𝟱
June 10, 2021
A former spokesperson of the Indian National Congress reveals his angst on how the Grand Old Party is struggling to stay afloat. While the chapters on Modi and Economy reveal nothing new, the chapters on Media (and his relationship with the rabid Arnab Goswami) and Congress (wherein he puts forth passionate proposals for structural overhaul) are important for a contemporary follower of Indian politics. That such a sincere votary of Nehruvian ideals has been expelled from the Indian National Congress reveals as much about the party as his book does.
June 5, 2021
Hats off to Sanjay Jha
One of those few non fiction books which is a page turner. If you love India in the true secular sense of the term then you will really enjoy the book. Writing such as this lifts the spirits. Unfortunately his people have not valued the author. A sad shame and a loss.
One of those few non fiction books which is a page turner. If you love India in the true secular sense of the term then you will really enjoy the book. Writing such as this lifts the spirits. Unfortunately his people have not valued the author. A sad shame and a loss.
March 1, 2021
Sobering
July 7, 2021
Very well described the Modi era and congress sitiuation.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews