govindjs's review against another edition
4.0
A well crafted account of the dreaded past... Emergency wasn't just a snap in the history - like popular imagination, it has its roots in the past as well as in the events after that; even in 21st century Indian politics.
It was all about the blatant misuse of power and nation building.
It was all about the blatant misuse of power and nation building.
grgrhnt's review against another edition
4.0
If all told history was as engaging and informing as this book, then we couldn't have fools in our midst.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
avicosmos's review against another edition
4.0
If all told history was as engaging and informing as this book, then we couldn't have fools in our midst.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
I expected a concise reportage of things leading to The Emergency, during it and the impact of it. I was banking on my interest in Indian Political history to read through it. What is given here is the portrayal of India of that era. Prakash goes back to the drafting of the constitution to explore why these powers were included in it. How the RSS was politically legitimised by JP's movement. How Indira Gandhi entered the mindset of an authoritarian ruler. Most significantly, how India reacted to The Emergency. Prakesh outlines some of the literature to come out of that dark period, positing how farreaching the influence of The Emergency was.
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