World Book Day: Indian politicians turned writers
DId you know yesterday was World Book Day?? Though you can read a book anytime or anywhere, this one particular day is observed globally in more than 100 countries to celebrate the importance of books or any reading material.
The theme of World Book Day 2020 is:
“Books have the unique ability both to entertain and to teach. They are at once a means of exploring realms beyond our personal experience through exposure to different authors, universes and cultures, and a means of accessing the deepest recesses of our inner selves,” said UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay.
This day let us look into a few politicians who took time out of their public life to become renowned authors from our country. In this piece of writing let us only focus on their writing and words, jeepind aside their political life and stand.
1. Shashi Tharoor- The first politician-writer that comes to anyone’s mind in India is our very own Shashi Tharoor. As a writer Tharoor has explored the cultural diversity of India, its past and comparing it to the future yet to come, especially in The Great Indian Novel and Show Business. Tharoor has been referred to as “one of the finest writers of satirical novels currently operating in English”.
2. Kiran Bedi- Kiran Bedi resigned from her active IPS job to focus on social activism and writing. Bedi’s “I Dare” is her most renowned book in which she tells about her decision to move on after 35 successful years in the Police Department. She was clear in her mind that she was not going to be subordinated by this team of saboteurs. She did not want to be a part of such dubious ‘history’.
3. Pranab Mukherjee- Being the 13th President of India, Pranab Mukherjee is also a prolific reader and writer. Mukherjee has authored several books on the Indian Economy and on Nation Building. Mukherjee is the author of several books, including Beyond Survival: Emerging Dimensions of Indian Economy (1984) and Challenges Before the Nation (1993).
4. Atal Bihari Vajpayee- India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of varied taste. With exceptional oratory skills he was also a refined writer and poet. Some of his critically acclaimed works include Bindu-Bindu Vicara (1997), Rajaniti ki Rapatili Rahem (1997), Back to Square One (1998), Decisive Days (1999), Sakti Se Santi (1999), Vicara-Bindu (2000) and Nayi Chunauti, Naya Avasara (2002).
5. Sitaram Yechury- The CPIM leader was a wonderful orator whose razor sharp speeches could not be argued by any member of the Rajya Sabha. The leader mostly wrote books on communist ideology. His notable works include Modi Government: New Surge of Communalism (2014), Ghrina Ki Rajniti (2006), Socialism in a Changing World (2008) Caste and Class in Indian Politics Today (1997).
