Durbar

Durbar is a memoir by Indian journalist Tavleen Singh that chronicles her experiences covering Indian politics during the 1970s and 1980s. Singh provides a firsthand account of major political events and figures during Indira Gandhi's rule and the early years of Rajiv Gandhi's prime ministership. The book takes readers inside the power corridors of Delhi, offering observations of the Gandhi family's inner circle and the elite social set that influenced national policy. Singh's position as both an insider due to her upper-class background and an outsider as a journalist allows her to document the disconnect between India's ruling class and the general population. Political upheavals including the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 are covered through Singh's reporting experiences and personal encounters with key players. The narrative follows her career progression from a young reporter to an established journalist with access to major political figures. The book serves as both a memoir and a critique of India's dynastic politics, examining how social privilege and nepotism shaped governance in post-independence India. Through personal anecdotes and reportage, it raises questions about democracy, accountability, and the relationship between the press and power.

Readers appreciate Singh's insider perspective on Indian politics during the 1970s-80s and her firsthand accounts of interactions with the Gandhi family. Many note her detailed observations of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi's early years in politics. Readers highlight her sharp criticism of dynastic politics and the Emergency period. Several readers point out factual errors and perceive a bias in Singh's narrative. Some find her tone bitter and personal grievances overshadowing objective reporting. Multiple reviews mention the book feels more like a collection of memories rather than a structured political analysis. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon India: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Engaging gossip but lacks documentary evidence" - Goodreads reviewer "Strong on anecdotes, weak on analysis" - Amazon reviewer "Important perspective on the Gandhi family's rise to power, though clearly colored by personal opinions" - Flipkart review

India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha This history of post-independence India examines the same political period as Durbar through documented research and archival material rather than personal encounters.

The Accidental Prime Minister by Sanjaya Baru A former media advisor's insider account reveals the power dynamics between Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh during the UPA years.

The Emergency: A Personal History by Coomi Kapoor This first-hand chronicle of the Emergency period presents the atmosphere of fear and control during Indira Gandhi's rule.

Half-Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati The book uncovers the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering during India's economic liberalization through access to private papers and interviews.

India's Power Elite by Sanjaya Baru The book maps the networks of power between politicians, bureaucrats, and business leaders in contemporary India's corridors of power.

🔹 Tavleen Singh wrote this memoir based on her unique position as both an insider and outsider of Delhi's elite political circles during the 1970s and 80s, having grown up among them but later viewing them critically as a journalist. 🔹 The book reveals how Rajiv Gandhi's Italian-born wife Sonia Gandhi struggled to adjust to Indian culture initially, refusing to wear saris and learning to eat Indian food only gradually. 🔹 "Durbar" refers to the royal court of Indian rulers, and Singh uses this term to criticize what she calls the "new aristocracy" that emerged in post-independence India, particularly around the Nehru-Gandhi family. 🔹 The author was present at several pivotal moments in modern Indian history, including the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, providing firsthand accounts of these events. 🔹 Despite being friends with Rajiv Gandhi's inner circle in her youth, Singh became one of the most vocal critics of the Gandhi family's politics, a transformation she documents throughout the book.