There is way too much hype around the book. Firstly I never really understood the reason for banning the book by then in power UPA government. The only reason fathomed was that banning the book evoked inquisitiveness of the readers three folds. The launch of the books first Sanjay Baru’s ‘Accidental Prime Minister’ And then Javier Moro’s ‘ The Red Sari’ were sequenced exactly around the elections and offered kind justification for the decisions made. An attempt to clear the air about the losing of elections.
The book is divided into four acts each marking the important phase of life of the principal character of the novel, Sonia Maino. It starts with the accidental death of Rajiv Gandhi, who is touring before the elections in the state of Tamil Nadu by the LTTE extremists group. The stupefaction of the event took Sonia in flashback, thinking of the time when she was a young Italian girl who falls in love with a man who hails from one of India’s most powerful families. The initial chapters revolve around the introduction of Maino family, as the most normal and down to earth religious people on face of earth. Then the ambitious devour of Sonia for learning English language that takes her to Cambridge where she meets young, shy but very endearing Indian boy, Rajiv. The readers will witness the Bollywood romance sequence between the two and then the attempts made by them to win over their in-laws to finally get knotted together. The author describes the Sonia’s dubiousness before getting married with Rajiv about the nature of their relationship and if she will be able to cope up with the pressures of being an outlander in the prime minster’s house,being away from her country, people and culture.
The book travels the journey with Sonia Maino to Gandhi; the taking of household responsibilities, building of the trust factor within the Nehru-Gandhi clan. The incidences and the narration of this part of the book is a mere repetition with references. The incidences quoted have been read and versed in the other biographies and autobiographies of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The most surprising factor is that this middle parts focus less on Sonia and more on Indira’s rule over India and the political fiascos of Sanjay Gandhi. This seems deficient and one can really perceive the lack of first hand research material for a biography.
The book apparently navigates the Indian political waters with the most ideal view, envisioning that view belonged to Sonia. but it couldn’t justify as to why was she not able to clearly delineate the same prospicience when she was UPA chief. This part becomes a little unpalatable as a reader. The author portrays Sonia as a diligent and sincere learner, although not a natural like rest of the Gandhis and not even like Menaka.
The book has been very unfair to Menaka, elaborating her like any common Bollywood vamp and not giving her the due credit for her political and social accomplishments; but also vilifying her late husband. It is anything but flattering about Maneka Gandhi’s relationship with the Gandhi family, and her inglorious exit from it.
At the end, the book doesn’t have much credit as a literary masterpiece but I won’t be surprised if the novel is storyboarded by someone looking to make a movie on Gandhi. I will give it a 2 on 5.
Picture Source: Outlook
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