Seasoned Diplomat To Scholar Prime Minister- Profile of I.K. Gujral

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This book is an exciting journey into various facets of the illustrious career of India's new Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral. Leader of a multiparty coalition, he was chosen to preside over the destiny of world's largest democracy. He enjoys good reputation among the people in all walks of life because of his clean image. He is neither casteist nor communal and has thus wide acceptability. Indeed he is a perfect compromise Prime Minister for the fractious United Front.

Politics is an art, statesmanship is science and party organisation is a craft. Gujral successfully combines these roles to a remarkable degree. He exudes understanding and sweet reasonableness without compromising on fundamentals.

This book offers a collective psychoanalysis of the Indian Prime Minister. Himself a refugee, he had come to Delhi like millions of others. Destiny had assigned him the role of unfurling the National Flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort in the 50th year of India's Independence.

S.K. KHANNA, a socio-political analyst is the Director of National Institute for Humanistic Studies. His expertise in the field of socio-economic and political studies has been widely acclaimed. As an institution builder, philanthropist, an eminent journalist and author he has contributed innumerable articles/ learned papers in national dailies/leading journals in India and abroad. Presently he is en- gaged in completing a gigantic project on Indian Political System.

A scholar and lover of Urdu poetry, Gujral, 78, takes great pride in his mild-mannered, non-controversial, inoffensive, he is ever the gentleman. Born in Jhelum, now in Pakistan who made it good in post-partition politics in India-brings this high office vast administrative experience as a Minister, Ambassador and an intellectual interlocutor. His father Lala Avtar Narain, was a member of the constituent assembly. Both his parents were ardent Congress workers with a distinction of being imprisoned during the freedom struggle. Gujral himself was imprisoned during the Quit India movement after distinguishing himself as president of the Lahore Students Union. A principled and austere man, he ran a home for destitute women in Jalandhar after partition. The young Gujral went into business with his Delhiite cousins. That didn't last as Sucheta Kriplani weaned him from marxism to active politics. Now Gujral is a gentleman in the rough world of grassroots politics.

Gujral became member, Rajya Sabha 1964-76 and since '92, member Lok Sabha 1989. Close to Indira Gandhi, held several ministerial portfolios 1967-76. Ambassador to Soviet Union '76-'80 and then became External Affairs Minister Dec '89 to Nov '90 and from June '96 onwards, a soft-spoken intellectual get along with a wide cross-section of politicians and thinkers. The exigencies of coalition politics pushed lightweight, left- leaning intellectual within reach of prime ministership.

**Contents and Sample Pages**