Synopses & Reviews
Born into a wealthy, politically influential Indian family in the waning years of the Raj, Jawaharlal Nehru was raised, under his father's careful guidance, on Western secularism and the humanist ideas of the Enlightenment. But it was not until he met Gandhi in 1916 that Nehru was transformed from an uninspired student into a fiery and motivated activist. The theories of democracy, human dignity, and self-determination from his student days became ideals to fight and live for. In Nehru and Gandhi, India found an invincible team a spiritual father who could move millions and a political tactician who could galvanize them into action. Together, they led the nonviolent struggle for India's independence, a struggle that wasn't won until 1947. But neither Nehru nor Gandhi could prevent the horrific price for independence: partition.
In this fascinating account of an extraordinary life and career, Shashi Tharoor, eminent United Nations diplomat and author of India: From Midnight to the Millennium, traces Nehru's development from privileged child, posturing young nationalist, and valiant fighter for independence, to unchallengeable prime minister and global statesman. Tharoor casts an unflinching eye on Nehru's heroic efforts for, and stewardship of, independent India and gives us a careful appraisal of his legacy to the world.
Review
"Tharoor writes with unsparing objectivity....Tharoor's short and highly readable life never lacks for pithy phrases and strong opinions....This engaging short biography is a scrutiny of a major 20th-century leader..." Publishers Weekly
Review
"A well-crafted life....A thoughtful account, likening Nehru to Thomas Jefferson in ways both positive and negative." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Tharoor presents an uncomplicated overview of Nehru's life that is, with rare exceptions, an admiring one....Readers new to Nehru will receive an efficient introduction by Tharoor." Gilbert Taylor, Booklist
Review
"[N]onscholarly but nicely written....[G]racefully written and presented. If readers could choose only one narrative about Nehru, this would suffice. Highly recommended." Library Journal
Synopsis
An incisive new biography of the great secularist who alongside his spiritual father Mahatma Gandhi led the movement for India's independence from British rule and ushered his newly independent country into the modern world.
Synopsis
The man who would one day help topple British rule and become India's first prime minister started out a surprisingly unremarkable student. Born into a wealthy, politically influential Indian family in the waning years of the Raj, Jawaharlal Nehru was raised on Western secularism and the humanist ideas of the Enlightenment under his father's careful guidance. Once he met Gandhi in 1916, Nehru threw himself into the nonviolent struggle for India's independence, a struggle that wasn't won until 1947. India had found a perfect political complement to her more spiritual advocate, but neither Nehru or Gandhi could prevent the horrific price for independence: Partition. In this fascinating biography, Tharoor casts an unflinching eye on Nehru's heroic efforts for, and stewardship of, independent India and gives us a careful appraisal of his legacy to the world.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [265]-270) and index.
About the Author
Shashi Tharoor was born in London and brought up in Bombay and Calcutta. A winner of the Commonwealth Writer's Prize, he is the author of six books including the novels Riot, Show Business, and The Great Indian Novel, and nonfiction works India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Nehru: A Biography. He is also the author of numerous articles, op-ed pieces, and reviews in such publications as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the International Herald Tribune, the Times of India, the Indian Express, and Foreign Affairs. Mr. Tharoor is a senior United Nations official and lives in New York.