Subjects
Home »  History and Politics » Mother India : A Political Biography of Indira Gandhi

Mother India : A Political Biography of Indira Gandhi

Pranay Gupte, Penguin, 2009, xii, 598 p, ISBN : 978-0-67-008409-8, $35.00 (Includes free airmail shipping)
Bookmark and Share
Mother India : A Political Biography of Indira Gandhi/Pranay Gupte

Contents: Author's note. Prologue: the funeral of Indira Gandhi. Introduction: Indira's India. I. The end: 1. The assassination. 2. The news. 3. The aftermath. 4. The legacy of Indira Gandhi. II. The beginning: 5. Daughter of privilege. 6. The education of Indira Priyadarshini Nehru. 7. The death of Kamala Nehru. 8. Lovers' wedding. 9. Marriage by fire. III. The middle years: 10. The apprenticeship. 11. Into her own. 12. Towards the top. 13. The perils of power. 14. Party times. IV. Triumph and twilight: 15. Taking on Titans. 16. Indira Raj. 17. Empress of India. 18. Friends, neighbours and enemies. 19. Transforming democracy. V. Beyond the dynasty: 20. Domestic affairs. 21. The world according to the Nehrus and the Gandhis. 22. Power plays. 23. India after Indira and Rajiv. Epilogue: the funeral of Rajiv Gandhi. Acknowledgements. Select Bibliography. Index.

"Mother India is the fascinating story of independent India's most complex political figure: Indira Gandhi, the enigmatic and solitary daughter of the country's first prime minister, who rose to become prime minister herself. From being the reticent Indu in the Nehru family, she became one of the great leaders of the twentieth century. Pranay Gupte explores the life and times of 'Mrs G', who at the height of her career was often compared to Bharat Mata -- Mother India. Her 'Garibi Hatao' call and her efforts at bringing about a Green revolution endeared her to the electorate, but controversy and criticism, too, marked her years in and out of office. From the time she engineered a split in the Congress Party to emerge as its undisputed leader in the 1960s, through the triumphal aftermath of the 1971 war, the infamous emergency, right up to operation Bluestar which led to her brutal assassination on 31 October 1984, Mrs Gandhi's legacy is still being determined.

This comprehensive biography, reissued in a revised edition on Indira Gandhi's twenty-fifth death anniversary, not only explores her career and contradictions as a consummate politician, but also her relationships as daughter, wife and mother. Packed with lively anecdotes and cogent insights, this book is both compelling portrait of Indira Gandhi and a trenchant analysis of the politics of twentieth-century India." (jacket)

Login
Username:
Password:
Remember Me
Testimonials
  • Thank you very much for your assistance with this matter. My husband and I (both Sanskritists) have consistently found your customer service far superior to that of your competitors and therefore intend to continue to patronize your business whenever we need books.

    Sincerely,
    Asa Buchta
    Sweden
  • Just wanted to thank you guys for a wonderful site and service. I received both of my books about 2 weeks ago. You guys do an excellent job.  Keep up the good work. I have passed your site on to many of my friends who are all very impressed with my purchases. Thanks again.

    Raman Sharma.

  • I received my order of seven book volumes today in perfect  order. Thank you so much for your assistance in locating the correct  material from your vast collection of books. They are fantasic! I am so looking forward to reading them. They are a rare treat as is your wonderful website. I would wholeheartedly recommend  Vedams to every individual looking for titles regarding your fascinating Nation and Her culture.
     
    Thanks again, 

    sincerely yours, 
    Mr.Stelios Vrocharis,
    N.S.W.,Australia.
  • I have recieved my books yesterday and I am very impressed with the quality of your service. The books arrived in perfect condition, condiotioned in excellent packaging. I would like to congratulate you for your very professional service. This should certainly be an example for all P.O. services around the world. I´ve already recommended your site to lots of friends and wish you success and prosperity in your bussiness.

    Thank you and best regards! 

    Felipe dos Santos Patto
    Brazil

  • I received your parcels with the books today and I am still completely baffled how well the books were wrapped in. (Not even Austrian customs could do them any harm.  You did a lot better than amazon.com. Needless to say that I am completely happy. Thank you very much! 

    Best regards from Vienna, 
    Peter Asenbauer
     Austria
  • I write to confirm receipt of the following books ordered from you recently:-

    1. "Bridges, Buildings and Black Beauties of Northern Railways";
    2. "Smoking Beauties"; and
    3. "British Feminists".

    May I congratulate you on the excellent quality of the books and, in particular, I am very much obliged to you for bringing them to my attention.  The attention paid to the packaging and dispatch is commendable.

    Your consistent courtesy, promptness and efficiency to date is very much appreciated.

    Yours sincerely,

    Peter R. MOORE
  • A thousand thanks for promptly sending the Pali English Dictionary which I had needed urgently. The securely packed parcel arrived safely here in the South of France all the way from distant India. I am happy that this large volume is still in mint condition. 

    I know of no other Indian publisher whose books can equal the superb quality of Vedams books. Similarly, no other Indian distributor of books can excel Vedams as regards the quickness of service, the perfect packing of books and their safe delivery at overseas destinations.

    Susunaga Weeraperuma

    Villa Claudia
    France
                             

  • Good Day,

    I have recieved the book today. It is sundar sundar sundar!

    thanks for your sweet service

    cheers,
    Sam
    CA, USA
  • Just a quick note to thank you very much for your excellent service . My book arrived very promptly. It  was very well packaged thus protecting a very valuable manuscript from any damage.
     
    Best Regards
     
    Senani Ponnamperuma
    Australia
  • I wanted to thank you for the lovely book and to assure you that we are in the process of cutting a check for your payment.  Thank you so much for shipping the book to us before receiving payment.  I saved the cloth packaging – I’ve never received a package that was wrapped with such care!  I have shown it to many of my co-workers. 

    Thank you again for fulfilling my request and you should receive payment within a few more weeks.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

    Jackie St.Aubyn
    Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS)
    University of Kansas


  • Just to let you know that this order arrived here safely yesterday, and to offer my thanks and congratulations on your absolutely first class service. I will have no hesitation in ordering from you in the future as occasion arises, and look forward to doing so.
    Not only did the book arrive in quick time, it was beautifully packed in waterproof and shock-damage resistant materials consistent with the protection of this fine and important volume. I have never seen more care and attention to detail than in your shipment.
    Thank you very much.
    Sincerely,
    John Thomson
    NSW, Australia