Don't Tell The Governor - book review

Don't Tell The Governor                                                                                                                     by                                                                                                                                                                          Ravi Subramanian

Genre: Fiction

If you are wondering why the Indian economy is tottering, this would be the book to read. It explains how the autonomous Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came under the thumb of the current Indian Govt. by establishing the Monetary Policy Committee that removed the RBI Governor’s veto power, the printing of currency notes by a British company, the IPL fixing scandal, terrorism funding and how all these are connected.

The author tries to explain a whole lot of current events in simple English instead of banking language and this includes demonetization. This makes the thriller interesting but the protagonist is caught in a honey trap while the crooks get away making the ending bland. The pace is fast and if you like puzzles, you can try decoding the names of the people who the author is referring to in his book. I love puzzles, so I was stunned by what I found. For India watchers, the events described would be familiar but for others who are not familiar with political and economic events, this might be just a thriller.

The writing is simple and clear. The author explains how banks work, what are NPAs, etc. in a way that even ordinary people can understand. While Indian media did not give the kind of attention they should have to Panama Paper leaks, the author does and explains money laundering, why diamond jewellers seem to be fleeing the country including a jeweller who was a former IPL team owner and also a gold Ponzi scheme runner, etc.

Is the system being cleaned? The answer appears to be no as India appears to have replaced the system with an even worse system.

If you wish to buy the book click  HERE

The Sari woven in prison by Nehru for Indira Gandhi's wedding

The Red Sari
by Javier Moro
Genre: Non-fiction
Available in different formats and languages.

In India, Sonia Gandhi is a mystery, especially for the generations born after 1960 in India. While some may remember Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and their horrible assassinations which wounded their psyche as children and chose to forget it as it is too painful that made the rise of the Hindu Right in the late 80s possible, this novel makes it hard to forget and gives a glimpse into the life of Sonia Gandhi.

The Red Sari is almost a biographical account of Sonia Gandhi and addresses most of the accusation filled rhetoric of the media and  politicians of different parties in India against Sonia Gandhi who they describe as "a person with power but no responsibility." Her Italian origins are mocked at and some go to the extent of claiming that she is a foreign spy. This book answers their accusations.

The style is crisp. It lifts the curtain behind the mystery that is Sonia Gandhi and introduces the reader to her family, her love story, the story of Indira, Sanjay and Rajiv ever since she became the elder daughter-in-law, her children and grandchildren, the 1971 war, the emergency, Operation Blue Star, the Bofors scandal, the security scares and the reason she agreed to become Congress President finally even though she was offered it on a platter again and again since Rajiv's murder. It is like reading the history of India from 1968 with all its triumphs and tragedies and the challenges faced by the leaders.

This is a must read for all Indians born after 1960 and for those interested in Indian politics. Amazing this book has been ignored by the media.

You can buy the book here  or here in India