In an interview with THE WEEK, Azad touches upon his differences with the present generation of Gandhis and Rahul’s disqualification. Excerpts:
Q/ Your recollection of Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi in Azaad is emotional.
A/ I have been truthful and objective. Wherever I have felt Indira ji has done best, I have praised her. Wherever Rajiv Gandhi has done good, I have said so. But wherever Indira ji and Rajiv ji have gone wrong, I have written that also. Sanjay Gandhi, of course, there is not much. But he had a great role in my political career.
Similarly, the opposition. Mostly, I have opposed them. But there were good points also. I can only say that in spite of my opposing them, they were more generous than my Congress party. They (the Congress) became more critical of me after my leaving. But, the BJP became friendly and praised me for my work.
Q/ You have written about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised some of his qualities. Would you call him a friend?
A/ No, I would not call the prime minister a friend.... But, I would not call him an enemy either. My political learning took place under Indira Gandhi. Every year, I had Eid milan and Diwali milan. When I called Indira ji, I used to call Atal Bihari Vajpayee, too. She never asked me why I was calling them. The atmosphere has changed now. If you see somebody, they say you have become a BJP wallah.
Denne historien er fra April 16, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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Denne historien er fra April 16, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
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William Dalrymple goes further back
Indian readers have long known William Dalrymple as the chronicler nonpareil of India in the early years of the British raj. His latest book, The Golden Road, is a striking departure, since it takes him to a period from about the third century BC to the 12th-13th centuries CE.
The bleat from the street
What with all the apps delivering straight to one’s doorstep, the supermarkets, the food halls and even the occasional (super-expensive) pop-up thela (cart) offering the woke from field-to-fork option, the good old veggie-market/mandi has fallen off my regular beat.
Courage and conviction
Justice A.M. Ahmadi's biography by his granddaughter brings out behind-the-scenes tension in the Supreme Court as it dealt with the Babri Masjid demolition case
EPIC ENTERPRISE
Gowri Ramnarayan's translation of Ponniyin Selvan brings a fresh perspective to her grandfather's magnum opus
Upgrade your jeans
If you don’t live in the top four-five northern states of India, winter means little else than a pair of jeans. I live in Mumbai, where only mad people wear jeans throughout the year. High temperatures and extreme levels of humidity ensure we go to work in mulmul salwars, cotton pants, or, if you are lucky like me, wear shorts every day.
Garden by the sea
When Kozhikode beach became a fertile ground for ideas with Manorama Hortus
RECRUITERS SPEAK
Industry requirements and selection criteria of management graduates
MORAL COMPASS
The need to infuse ethics into India's MBA landscape
B-SCHOOLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIAN ECONOMY IS GOING TO WITNESS A TREMENDOUS GROWTH
INTERVIEW - Prof DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE, director, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
COURSE CORRECTION
India's best b-schools are navigating tumultuous times. Hurdles include lower salaries offered to their graduates and students misusing AI