Dynasty: Nehru-Gandhi Story [Hardcover]

Adams (Author), Whitehead (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1998

In August 1947, India achieved independence from British colonial rule. Now the world's largest democracy, & second largest country after China, India is growing daily in importance for global politics & economics. And yet for almost all 50 years of its independence, it has been ruled by one family -- a dynasty of Nehrus & Gandhis. Based on diaries, letters, contemporary journalistic accounts, new research & exclusive interviews with politicians, business leaders, family members & colleagues of the two families, this book traces the rise of the family from 1857 through India's independence, & on through the ill-fated reigns of Indira & Rajiv Gandhi. Illustrated.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: TV Books; 1St Edition edition (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575000563
• ISBN-13: 978-1575000565
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,557,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educated informative look at a truly dedicated family, May 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dynasty: Nehru-Gandhi Story (Hardcover)

This book and the corresponding PBS television documentary offer an incredible look at the sacrifices of this family. Whatever one's personal feelings are in regards to the politics of Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, one cannot help but to recognize the incredible sacrifices made by this family. Covering 4 generations of the family, the book details the virtues and mistakes of this political dynasty. What the book addresses best is that despite the fact that the family is called a "dynasty," it faced great political opposition, which ended the lives of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. The succesive family members did not merely inherit the post of Prime Minister like it was their birthright. They had to fight for it, and both Indira and Rajiv lost elections and were thrown out of office, forcing them to make comebacks. However the book has a flaw that it shares with many others. It is oudated. Despite being a recent publication, it fails to cover one important aspect that leaves informed readers hanging. In January 1998, Rajiv's widow Sonia began to actively campaigning for the party in which her family was such an active force. In March, Sonia Gandhi became the Congress Party Presidentwhich continues this so called "dynasty."