Unreal Elections by C. S. Krishna & Karthik Lakshman

"Unreal Elections" by C. S. Krishna & Karthik Lakshman. This book is published by Penguin Books in 2014 and has 298 pages. Both the authors have done their management education from IIM Ahmedabad. This book was Ravi's recommendation.

It's a political satire, parody and fiction about 2014 general elections in India and buildup to the elections. Authors have taken the real events and presented them with the imaginary and fictionalized reasons, behaviors and behind the scene drama to make it a riveting read. Authors have used real politicians, bureaucrats and TV personalities as characters in this book. Although we all know the outcome of general election (BJP's win), it's the journey that authors have charted is immensely enjoyable. They have also introduced a superhero V-man who fights against corruption.

How is it fictionalized? Who is the mysterious V-man? What is Modi's secret? Who is the unrecognized savior of India?

Some of the incidents make you laugh, some tickle you and you salute the authors for some. Authors have used the personality traits and exaggerated them to create humor. Manmohan Singh is mistaken for a wax statute. Sonia conducts musial chair for cabinet reshuffle and to drop ministers. Manmohan Singh does not attend office & meetings for 6 months and his absence is not even noticed. Modi and Amit Shah open Champaign to celebrate victory in Gujarat upon hearing that Rahul will campaign for Congress. Sonia's innovative punishment to Railway minister Bansal for getting involved in a mini scam.

Authors have demonstrated their command over English, their keen observation, witty commentary, vivid imagination. Even the featured personalities would not help chuckling if they read the book.

In order not to make the end mundane, authors have given a big twist to the tale in the end. This would please all the aggrieved parties.

A thoroughly entertaining book. A must read.

Is Gandhi out of date? by Dr. Vishwanath Tondon.

"Is Gandhi out of date?" a booklet by Dr. Vishwanath Tondon. This consists of two parts, an award winning essay by author written in 1969 and his thoughts today.

Author has covered Gandhi's principles one by one.
Philosophy: His religiousness consisted of an abiding faith in absolute values of truth, love & justice. There are chords in every human heart. If we only know how to strike the right chord, we bring out the music.
Ethical ideas: Truth is highest law, nonviolence is highest duty.
Brahmacharya however is not well defended by the writer.
Swadeshi is defined as that spirit in us which restricts us to the use and service of immediate surroundings to the exclusion of more remote.
Economic: Urbanization harms both cities and villages. He was not opposed to machinery but the craze for it and it's dominance over humans.
Political: That government is best which governs the least.
Education: Education must be woven around craft.
Satyagraha: Moral equivalent of war.
Non stealing, trusteeship, life, sarvoday are also covered.

In second section author says following in today's context:
There is enough in world for everyone's need but not everyone's greed.
There is increasing need of acceptance of nonviolence due to danger of nuclear annihilation.
Deal with terrorism by removing their economic and political greviances.

Author states the obivious, in the end, that his ideas have relevance today and would prove relevant in future. He also states that there is greater realization in west than in India.

This booklet is a crash course in Gandhian philosophy. I have tried to give you a gist of it. The quotes in this booklet can be used effectively in any speech, Gandhian or otherwise.

I had a feeling that the author has tried to show that there are similarities in Gandhi's philosophies and those of various western scholers, in order to justify or validate Gandhi. This seemed unnecessary and artificial.

Gandhiji was great and his greatness lies in the massive support he mobilized and his simple living and high thinking.

Those interested in quotations can read it.

Gokhale - My political guru by M.K.Gandhi

"Gokhale - My political guru", by M.K.Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi). This is a small book of 60 pages and was published in 1955.

We all know that Mahatma Gandhi considered Gopalkrishna Gokhale as his guru, he even refered to him as Mahatma Gokhale. Gandhiji had written a number of articles about his time with Gokhale, Gokhale's legacy, his place in Gandhiji's life and delivered speeches on Gokhale, mostly in Gujarati. This book is compilation of these writings and speeches extracted from Gandhiji's literature.

The book portrays Gokhale as a scholar, compassionate towards plight of Indians, one of the best English speakers (even better than native English speakers), a thinker, reformer and a person with crystal clear thoughts. Gandhiji sights Gokhle's delicate health as an impediment in his work. Probably this was the reason for Gokhle not resorting to frugal living, penance and fasting. He donated all his allowances and lived on allowance of 40 to 75 rupees per month.

Gandhiji narrates Gokhle's trip to South Africa to review situation of Indian laborers in detail. He was the first Indian leader to visit South Africa. He also affectionately talks about Gokhale and how he helped him personally and guided him in his work.

Gokhale was proponent of compulsory and free primary education to every child. In his times it was unusual foresight. His idea of doing the right thing with public opinion on his side, if possible; if not, doing right thing anyway, is exemplary. His idea of creating young political Sanyasis to take up politics as duty towards society is ideal but seems impractical in today's world.

This book, however, is curiously silent about Gokhale's rivalry and differences with Lokmanya Tilak and resultant breakup of congress.

The main difference between guru and disciple is that Gandhiji tried to change the establishment by non cooperation whereas Gokhle tried to change the establishment by being part of it.

Read this book if you want to know about one great man from another great man.