The Commissioner For Lost Causes

by Arun Shourie

The work done by Arun Shourie and his colleagues rocked institutions and the freeing of 40,000 undertrials; revealing the Bhagalpur blindings; purchasing Kamla; dislodging a 'Sultan'; foiling 'strikes'; controverting Judges; battling privilege motions; courting contempt of court charges; nailing corruption, forgeries, lies, and the opportunism of rulers; uncovering suppressed reports... What lay behind these and the consequences that followed?

A comprehensive account of dramatic incidents like getting governments to swallow legislation against the press, unseating of chief ministers, a prime minister unspooling himself even as manoeuvres to unseat him are scotched, a deputy prime minister trying to dislodge colleagues with fabricated documents, people's movements ending up as rivulets in the sand, The Commissioner for Lost Causes discusses Shourie's innings, the calumny hurled at him, his dismissal, and his being recalled and removed again.

Delicious tales of characters from the noble to the colourful to the short-sighted to outright from JP, to a president, to prime ministers, a deputy prime minister, chief ministers, a conman, indignant editors, and of course a great warrior, the press baron, feature in this honest retelling of the life of Arun Shourie, the writer, former editor and minister who was acclaimed as one of the fifty 'World Press Freedom Heroes'.

Genres: India, Nonfiction, History

616 pages, Hardcover

Published June 15, 2022

About the author

Indian economist, journalist, author and politician.

He has worked as an economist with the World Bank, a consultant to the Planning Commission of India, editor of the Indian Express and The Times of India and a Minister of Communications and Information Technology in the Vajpayee Ministry (1998–2004). He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982 and the Padma Bhushan in 1990.

Popularly perceived as one of the main Hindu nationalist intellectuals during the 90s and early 2000s.

Reviews

[Vineet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic tales...bliss for any Indian political buff

[Deepak Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Arun Shourie was my hero when I was in 20s and most of the narrations in the book was of that time of 1980s.


In this book, Arun Shourie explores the challenges and complexities of India's bureaucracy through the story of a government official who is appointed as the Commissioner for Lost Causes. The book is a thought-provoking and compelling read that provides insights into the inner workings of the Indian government.

One of the strengths of the book is Shourie's ability to weave together multiple storylines and characters, creating a rich and immersive world. The characters are well-developed and their struggles are relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys.

While the book is primarily focused on the challenges faced by the bureaucracy, it also touches on broader social and political issues such as corruption, caste discrimination, and the tension between tradition and progress. Shourie tackles these complex topics with sensitivity and nuance, making the book a thought-provoking read that will resonate with readers beyond India's borders.

That being said, there are a couple of shortcomings in the book. As you mentioned, some of the chapters can be dense and technical, which may not be appealing to all readers. Additionally, the chronology of events in the book can be unclear at times, which can make it challenging to follow along.

Overall, "The Commissioner for Lost Causes" is a well-written and engaging book that provides valuable insights into India's bureaucracy and broader societal issues. While it may not be a book for everyone, those who are interested in politics, government, or India's history and culture will find it to be a compelling read

(With the help of chatgpt ,😊)

This book may not be liked who is born after 1975.

[Prakash Sethu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read for initial few chapters… but I was unable to catch up with continuous change in theme every chapter.

While there is a single theme for the book, that is author’s experience as Editor in Indian Express, every chapter is actually a new story about a particular situation during his editorial days… and these are not necessarily interconnected.

I gave up reading halfway, i didn’t find it fun anymore. I also felt there was a bit of average writing.

[Prashant Vishwakarma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few chapters are fun but as the book progresses the book get somehwst dense like adding too much judiciary words which add to boreness but still very much readable and enjoyable. The constant addition of hindu sentances written in english somewhat breaks the focus which could hinder a lot of people especially non hindi speakers. Would have given 4 stars but the middle few chapters and the quotes in hindi breaks the focus and adds to boredom. Still the other chapters are very engaging.

[Atoorva · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on politics and journalism of 1970-90s. It shows the ugly side of democracy as well as the power of 'few good men'. A must read for anyone interested in public administration and Public Policy . In some parts details are bit boring and definitely the book could benefit from better editing ...but that said, enjoyed every bit of it.

[Niveditha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wonderful thing about this book is that by chronicling his life, Shourie is chronicling India's modern history, through the lens of an incredible institution like the Indian Express. It also helps that the events are detailed by minutiae. Highly recommend reading this and literally everything Shourie has ever written, irrespecitve of whether you care for his politics.

[Hrishav Dasgupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for history lovers,a book that looks into events of great importance through the eyes of none other than the great Mr Shourie.However it lacks brevity which hinders it from achieving even more than it achieves.

[Ridham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best non fiction thrillers, one can read….on the edge, riveting, a real history book

[Sandeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really detailed account of the bofors controversy and other juicy parts towards the end of the book, somewhat marred by the obsessive details furnished on some really dry matter in the initial stages of the book. Decent read.

[Meenhaz Mk]

Read it for two things.
1. Anatomy of the bofors scandal.
2. Bhagalpur acid attack on criminals in police custody

The author is one of the first activist editors of India, and the way he covered these incidents then, and the chronicles of his struggles in getting the news to the printing press are words that stay with you long after you finish reading the book.