Book Review #76: Durbar By Tavleen Singh

Title: Durbar

Author: Tavleen Singh

Publishing Year: 2012

Publishers: Hachette India

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 260+ (Digital eBook edition)

Source: Personal Copy

The political journalist turned writer Tavleen Singh has written an excellent book, which is a firsthand information that she has witnessed in her career as a political journalist. This book, as it goes with the name "Durbar" contains the account of the Prime Ministers that ruled India since the 70's. Yes, we are talking about Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi with a brief and startling account of Sanjay Gandhi, and the Italian Wife of Rajiv Gandhi the Antonio Maino a.k.a Sonia Gandhi.

The book is gripping in every aspect pertaining to the insider information of Indira Gandhi’s government. Tavleen writes about the days when Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of the Democratic India and events followed thereafter. Sanjay Gandhi who appeared to be apolitical, turned out to be someone who ran the government on behalf of Indira Gandhi. The Author has written exceptionally covering every possible details of this crooked Sanjay Gandhi. Sanjay Gandhi In fact had a say in everything in the Indira Gandhi government or she had granted that special permission to his dictator son to meddle with the functioning of the government.

Author goes on to expose some of the murky details of the emergency that Indira Gandhi declared in 1975 after Allahabad court issues a judgment that disqualified her as an MP. The events that followed in the name of Press Censorship during emergency that almost resented by everyone. According to the author, the emergency days were the dreadful days which became the sole reason for the rise of some of the prominent leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and LK Advani etc...

After the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her personal guards and the ascension of Rajiv Gandhi as the youngest Prime Minister of India was one of the notable events in India. But the expectations were soon faded out after Rajiv Gandhi failed to stop the brainless attack on the Sikh people. Author had opinionated that, Rajiv could've done well to stop this. Who will forget that nonsense statement by Rajiv Gandhi when he was asked to comment on the massacre of Sikh community "When a big tree falls, the earth shakes".

The important takeaway from the book is the author's observation of Sonia Gandhi and her political growth. Sonia had relatively fewer friends in India in the beginning when she came from Italy. She was very close to the Quottorchi family. As per the author, these Quottorchi duo were more than mere friends of Sonia Gandhi. They had some unusual influence over the government to get the huge contracts. Sonia on the other hand, was apolitical and kept herself away from all these business. But, she wasn't that regular kind, she was keenly observing every move of her Mother-in-law Indira and her husband Rajiv. In fact she would be there in every interview that Rajiv gives to the media.

The book is clearly an eye opener for anyone who believed Rajiv or Indira has done some good job during their governance. For sure, they would have a second opinion on these Prime Minister duo. Sonia on the other hand was very reserved and careful until her husband's assassination in Tamil Nadu.

The book ends at the stage when Rajiv's assassination took place. The Durbar is truly an account of the blind Durbar (Private Ruling) of these duo who took the country to the dogs. I recommend this book to everyone. A must read.

My Rating:

5/5