by Manish Anand (Author)
Indian politics went through catharsis during 2012-14. People called bluff of regional and smaller parties who for over two decades kept ruling parties on their toes. Demographic changes made previously held beliefs or stereotypes redundant. Youngsters cutting across party lines began experimenting with alternatives. Urban mobility of teeming millions fuelled aspirations in the backyards. Stage had been set for a new narrative. The Congress looked tired. Leadership wasn't around to connect with fast changing narrative. Narendra Modi had been watching from a fair distance the unfolding of script in New Delhi. Gujarat gave him a narrative for a pan-India connect. He readied the wherewithal to mount on a campaign to wrest power. India was waiting with open arms for Modi to come to New Delhi. The Congress surrendered timidly. But the 2014 Lok Sabha elections weren't about just one poll. It set the agenda for next decade. That agenda has enough energy to last for at least a decade. This book takes off from 2012 when India slowly turned into a restless nation. It explores political canvas and its vivacity. The book dissects policies to examine reasons for restlessness of the nation. The author of the book being a political journalist has travelled length and breadth of the country, and conversed with political leaders cutting across party lines to tell a larger story of India. The restless nation is hungry for identity, and so are her people. This book tells multiple stories which are woven to tell the tale of the contemporary India.
Author Biography
Manish Anand is a political journalist working for Asian Age newspaper. He lives in New Delhi. He has widely travelled length and breadth of India to connect with the people and gauge the pulse of the nation. He is also a regular commentator on India's foreign policy on external service division of All India Radio. His commentaries on India's relations with the world are broadcast across the world. He was born in 1974. Even before he began working as a journalist in New Delhi, Manish was struck by vibrancy of Indian democracy. For him, democracy is a great leveller and elections are opportunities for people to give new directions to the country. Even though vast stretch of India has come under the influence of Maoist violence, Manish believes democracy is the best bet for the poor of the country. And for that to happen in the real sense, political parties must deliver on economy and avoid the politics of rhetoric with which most of the outfits are obsessed in the country. Manish has interviewed most of the political personalities in India in his career spanning one and a half decades so far. He is also a blogger and has written many commentaries on Indian politics.