DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

BOOK REVIEW

ON

THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER

ENGLISH

Mrs.Beena Punjabi

S V S S G Akhil

2019063 I semester
Introduction
“The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh” is a 2014
memoir by Indian policy analyst Sanjaya Baru, who was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
media advisor from May 2004 to August 2008. Published by Penguin India, the book alleges that
Singh was not entirely in control of his cabinet— or even of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Rather, the president of the Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, to whom Singh was completely a
servant There can be no two centers of power, Baru remembers Singh explaining to him," This
creates confusion. I have to agree that the leader of the party is the center of power. Here the
Government is answerable to party”

Author
Sanjaya Baru is a policy analyst and commentator. He served as Secretary-General of the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) until his resignation in April
2018. Prior to that, he served as Director of Geo-Economics and Policy at the International
Institute of Strategic Studies. From May 2004 to August 2008, he served as Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's Media Adviser and Chief Speaker (PMO). His father B. P. R. Vithal served
as Secretary of Finance and Planning during the administration of Dr. Manmohan Singh as
Secretary of Finance. He has been editor of Economic Times, Financial Express, and Business
Standard, India's major financial newspapers. He also acted as London's International Institute of
Strategic Studies, Director of Geoeconomics and Strategy. He has been Professor of Economics
at Hyderabad University, Indian Research Council on International Economic Relations, and Lee
Kuan Yew Public Policy Institute, Singapore. He was Secretary General of the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry between 1999-2001 as well as a member of the
National Security Advisory Board of India and a member of the Center for Policy Research's
governing board. He was Professor of Economics at Hyderabad University, Indian Research
Council on International Economic Relations, and Lee Kuan Yew Public Policy Institute,
Singapore. He was Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry between 1999-2001 as well as a member of the National Security Advisory Board of
India and a member of the Center for Policy Research's governing board. He was also a member
of the Eminent Persons Community of India-ASEAN in 2010. The Political Consequences of
India's Economic Growth, India and the World: Essays on Geoeconomics and Foreign Policy,
The Accidental Prime Minister: Making and Unmaking Manmohan Singh were some of his
published works

Genre
A memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events that
occurred in the life of the subject / person, whether public or private. It is understood that the
claims made in the work are factual. While memoirs have historically been defined since the late
20th century as a category of biography or autobiography, the genre is separated in form A
biography or autobiography tells the story of "a life," while a memoir also tells a story of "a
future" including landmark events or turning points from the life of the author. A memoir's writer
can be referred as memorialist
Over view
This created a storm when The Accidental Prime Minister was released in 2014 and became the
year's publishing trend. The Office of the Prime Minister called the book a fiction work, it was
regarded by the media as a captivating account of the first term of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh at the UPA. Written by Singh's media advisor and trusted assistant, the book describes
Singh's often troubled relationship with his ministers, his cautious equation with Sonia Gandhi,
and how he handled the major crises from managing the Left to pushing the nuclear deal
through. The Accidental Prime Minister is one of the great insider accounts of Indian political
life, insightful, acute and packed with political stories

This book explains the problems faced by the former Prime minister Manmohan Singh during
UPA-1 and UPA-2. He tackled many problems during UPA-1 with the help of author Sanjaya
Baru but when he enters in to UPA-2, Sanjaya Baru was resigned and the prime minister faced
lot of pressure from the party and the Coalition govt. The author mentions that he acted like a
puppet in the hands of Congress party president. Even though many scams were raised the Prime
minister was silent.

The second trait of attitude, his refusal to leave when he runs into harsh political conditions, is
equally difficult. In UPA-1, Singh successfully used the resignation threat to clear the Indian-US
civil nuclear deal from a dangerous leadership of Congress. One reason the threat worked was
the absence of a next rung leader who would be able to take over if Singh left. This problem had
been resolved by UPA-2: Rahul Gandhi was on the path. At that moment, Singh removed his
hand with one crisis after another hitting his state. He never threatened resignation after the
nuclear deal.

Had Singh quit as things began to turn worse, his party and his leadership would have been in
trouble, not Singh. But he chose to stay on until his party came to believe he was a responsibility.
The Accidental Prime Minister's author illustrates many of those moments where Singh might
have wanted to go. Baru ends by showing how Singh chooses a different course willingly.
Summary

Sanjaya Baru's Accidental Prime Minister is an account of the two terms of former Premier
Manmohan Singh–UPA-1 and UPA-2. Sanjaya Baru, who was Singh's media advisor, is trying
to put his master in a positive light despite what was going on inside and in Singh's media
reports. The book discusses the rise and fall or simply the construction of' King' Singh to a
puppet-like Singh dancing to the UPA chief's tunes. Although the book does not quote direct
references and titles, the political masters and the common man have enough clues to judge the
efficiency and integrity of the then Prime Minister.

With Singh, Baru sees no mistake. Singh's first tenure from 2004 to 2009, according to the
author, was unreasonably successful and he described it as' The Accidental Prime Minister.' In
the second term, Baru resigned for a number of reasons that he did not consider necessary to
notify the readers. Singh had a lot of difficulties in his second tenure after 2009, and the media
attached a puppet-like term with his name. Singh's reaction to the bribery and how he felt
helpless to resign from the second term, unlike the first term when he threatened to resign and
seal the Indo-US nuclear deal. He knew that there was no capable person in the first term, but the
second term had hints of Rahul Gandhi as the successor heir, which prevented Singh from calling
it quits. He knew that there was no capable person in the first term, but the second term had hints
of Rahul Gandhi as the successor heir, which prevented Singh from calling it quits.

Was silence the way to combat corruption?

The reputation of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was also damaged by bribery. Because
of the issues Baru raises in the book he has undoubtedly tried to give Singh a childish face, but
he also asks a question–Has Singh resigned as corruption hit the party and did not defend the
government? Singh wasn't looking for more trouble so he decided to be quiet and serve.

Shouldering all the Party ups and downs

Is silence, being the prime minister, the way to battle situations? Singh might have left the
position, but he chose to shoulder all the ups and downs alongside the party, which in turn
resulted in the media calling him "Sin is King" in contrast with the title "Singh is King" he got in
his first tenure. Leaving would have meant more accusations and accusing him of misleading
them. Therefore, he chose to be still in attendance until he appeared to them as a burden. The
author of this book points out how Singh himself chose a different course when he might have
decided to leave and held the mark of being a good UPA-1 prime minister.

Gandhi family – prime interruption

Baru's accidental prime minister shows that it was the Gandhi family that led to a barrier
between the prominence of Singh and his position as prime minister, but he also makes it clear
that this was not the only reason. Singh's inability, from the time he started under PV Narasimha
Rao in the 90s, to lack a strong hold for himself in such a big position, proved fatal too. The
obvious determination of Singh to ensure the succession of Rahul was even more misplaced. As
Baru points out, there are holes in the book due to knowledge he was unable to publish or access
to. In this novel, Baru gives an incomplete narrative of the Gandhi-Singh relationship.

Politics within Congress and attempts to weaken the Sonia-Singh partnership were evident, but
the book also attempts to shed light on how Sonia Gandhi rejected any change in leadership and
said Singh was the only leader they had in the second term. The president of the Congress was
constantly meeting with Singh at his residence and trying to clarify things, but Singh was hardly
going to 10 Janpath except to attend committee meetings. Singh was burdened by media and
other sources and became known as the puppet of the president of the UPA. The book poses a
question about the mind of the reader: whether it was the incapacity and meekness of Singh or
the interference of Sonia Gandhi in governing the country. The book for a

Full freedom in management of coalition

Obviously, the reader is aware that the Prime Minister was able to handle the coalition without
interference. Baru had suggested to keep the young leaders in the circle as a media advisor to
Singh, but acceptance of the idea is not mentioned in the book. When bribery hit UPA-2, readers
are looking for answers as to why a friendship has been established with ministers like A Raja as
the 2 G scam leaks.
Although Baru wrote this book in support of his master and showed him in a positive light, he
did not forget to mention Singh's drawbacks and weaknesses. Undoubtedly, even when Singh
held the position, Sonia Gandhi was the highest power for the only reason he could not be a
politician–one like Sonia Gandhi! In one of his interviews, Narasimha Rao described him as a
good economist rather than a politician.

Conclusion

According to Baru, Singh may have had two remarkably contrasting words: UPA 1 and UPA 2,
but his remarks, sacrifices and attempts to keep the party intact will be historic. As Baru speaks
of Singh's power as a pure power without violence in his' Responsibility Without Power,' the
reader is left to wonder if Singh was meek and submissive to take any action and why it was so.
Well, according to Baru, Singh was doing what he could and felt right.

Critical comment
This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know the problems faced by the former prime
minister Manmohan Singh during his term. Author Sanjaya Baru explained in a simple language
about the existing situation during that time. He explained that why Singh was a king in UPA-1
and why sin was a king in UPA-2

This book mainly divided into two parts i.e. UPA-1 and UPA-2. This book helps in
understanding how the head of the political party acts as the shadow head of the country