📖 Overview
Sanjaya Baru is an Indian political commentator, economist, and journalist who served as the media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008. He is best known for his controversial memoir "The Accidental Prime Minister," which provided an insider's account of Singh's first term as Prime Minister.
Prior to his role in government, Baru worked as the chief editor of the Financial Express and as the strategic affairs editor of The Times of India. He has held academic positions at prestigious institutions including the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Through his writings and commentary, Baru has focused extensively on India's economic policy, national security, and strategic affairs. His other notable works include "The Strategic Consequences of India's Economic Performance" and "1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History."
Baru currently serves as Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution of India and the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis. His analysis and opinion pieces regularly appear in major Indian newspapers and journals, where he comments on political economy and India's strategic relationships.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Baru's insider perspective from his time as media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, particularly in "The Accidental Prime Minister." Reviews note his detailed accounts of policy decisions and political dynamics within the UPA government.
Readers highlight:
- Clear writing style that makes complex politics accessible
- Behind-the-scenes insights into the PM-Congress relationship
- Analysis of economic reforms and policy making
Common criticisms:
- Perception of self-importance in the narrative
- Some sections read like personal defense/justification
- Selective portrayal of events to support his viewpoint
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,000+ ratings)
Amazon India: 4.1/5 (900+ reviews)
Amazon US: 3.9/5 (100+ reviews)
One reader noted: "Provides valuable context but seems to overstate his own role." Another mentioned: "Strong on economics, weaker on political analysis."
📚 Books by Sanjaya Baru
The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh (2014)
A first-hand account of Dr. Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister of India from 2004-2008, written by his former media advisor detailing the power dynamics between Singh and Congress party leadership.
India's Power Elite: Class, Caste and Cultural Revolution (2021) An analysis of how India's power structures have evolved since independence, examining the shifting relationships between business, political, and bureaucratic elites in modern India.
1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History (2016) A detailed examination of P.V. Narasimha Rao's role in implementing the 1991 economic reforms that transformed India's economy.
The Strategic Consequences of India's Economic Performance (2006) An exploration of how India's economic growth has influenced its global strategic position and relationships with major world powers.
India's Power Elite: Class, Caste and Cultural Revolution (2021) An analysis of how India's power structures have evolved since independence, examining the shifting relationships between business, political, and bureaucratic elites in modern India.
1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History (2016) A detailed examination of P.V. Narasimha Rao's role in implementing the 1991 economic reforms that transformed India's economy.
The Strategic Consequences of India's Economic Performance (2006) An exploration of how India's economic growth has influenced its global strategic position and relationships with major world powers.
👥 Similar authors
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Ram Guha writes extensively about modern Indian political history and the key figures who shaped post-independence India. His works provide deep analysis of Indian democracy and political institutions from a historian's perspective.
Shankkar Aiyar examines India's economic reforms and policy decisions through detailed case studies and archival research. He focuses on the intersection of politics and economics in modern India, particularly the liberalization era.
T.N. Ninan analyzes India's economic transformation and provides context for policy decisions through his experience as a business journalist. His writing combines economic analysis with political insights from his decades of covering India's power corridors.
K. Natwar Singh offers insider accounts of Indian politics and foreign policy from his experience as External Affairs Minister. His memoirs and political writings provide first-hand perspectives on government functioning and policy making.