Six years ago, Rajiv Gandhi found himself at the helm of a country of 800 m people. A former airline pilot, he had never been a cabinet minister and, indeed, had never aspired to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jawarharlal Nehru, and his mother, Indira Gandhi. The author charts Gandhi's susbsequent stewardship of the world's largest democracy. He tells how, two months after succeeding to office, Gandhi won the largest election victory of any Indian prime minsiter, but it was a victory that brought an exaggerated expectation of his premiership. He examines Gandhi's approach to traditional Indian problems such as underdevelopment and communalism, and looks at his performance in the crucial role of India's chief diplomat. And the author investigates, too, the massive expansion of India's military capability under Rajiv - and the continuing suspicion that he was involved in the Bofors arms scandal. Rajiv Gandhi continues to be something of an enigma, a reluctant politician who had greatness thrust upon him. At the end of 1989 he fell from power, an end - even if only temporarily - to the great dynasty which has ruled India such independene in 1947. This book goes a long way towards an understanding of this surprisingly complex man and his struggle for political survival in an increasing volatile sub-continent.
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
As a BBC commentator on India, Nugent demonstrates a superb grasp of the Indian political milieu in which Gandhi served as prime minister from 1984 to 1989. Completed prior to Gandhi's assassination on May 21, the biography avoids the sentiment of tragedy and focuses on a devastating analysis of the airplane pilot turned prime minister. Nugent concludes that Gandhi was mainly the tool of the Congress Party and lacked the preparation essential for a national leader. For example, Gandhi's constant shuffling of the cabinet reflected poor personnel decisions and actually reduced its level of expertise. On the economic issues, problems with the Sikhs and Tamils, and the scandal over arms purchases, Gandhi was indecisive and often reversed his position. Moreover, Nugent shows Gandhi to lack the political savvy required of a national political leader; he lost numerous state elections. Without vituperation Nugent simply indicates that Gandhi was a basically nice man, but he was entirely out of his element as India's national leader. For informed laypersons.
- John F. Riddick, Central Michigan Univ. Lib., Mt. Pleasant
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- John F. Riddick, Central Michigan Univ. Lib., Mt. Pleasant
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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