Single Man : The Life & Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar

by Sankarshan Thakur

Here is the tale of one of Indias most talked-about politicians as never told before, from the acclaimed biographer of Laloo Yadav. A dispassionate unlayering of the complex persona behind Nitishs person: ditherer and gambler, tentative and determined, gullible and astute, effacing and ambitious, introvert and interventionist, loner in the crowds he courts. Part personal diary of Bihar, part hard political portraiture, part unsparing perspective, a seamless weave of contemporary political shenanigans, reportage, storytelling and analysis from a dim corner of the country Nitish Kumar set out to light up. This is as much exploration of his zigzag but focused rise to power and what he means to Bihar as of what he could become on a larger stage.

Genres: Politics, India

324 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[E.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 “Nitish Kumar Gentleman hai.” - I remember asking a well-off client with family in Muzaffarpur on the new Bihar CM. And I loved both the book and the man.
This classy book is partly Bihar travelogue and mostly a political biography of Nitish Kumar. I have read the author’s equally good book on Laloo Yadav earlier and the contrast between the 2 men was clear to see.
I wished the book had gone more indepth on Nitishji’s policy and governance though. Its heartening to see that quiet men like Nitishji and Naveen Pattanaik have been so successful in Indian politics.

[Shashank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised by the book.I had apprehensions of this being a 'glorification' project but thankfully that was not the case.The book sheds some light on Nitish's life and in doing so on Bihar too.A quick and easy read.

[Sandeep Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved to know the history of Nitish Kumar. It was a great read.

[Mrityunjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the sharpest, most insightful book into the life of one of the most talked about politician of India in the last two decades.

[Shashank Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant book on Bihar, via Nitish Kumar. The political life of Nitish Kumar encapsulates the Bihar of last 4 decades and the author has done an unbiased probe of the life and times of Nitish. The writing is picturesque, graphic and spellbinding. There are personal anecdotes that add immensely to the literary richness of the book. An extraordinary book by the roving editor of the Telegraph.

[Alankrita Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though every book is a writer's perspective but this one is by far one of the most interesting and kind of unbiased political stories that I have read.