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Beyond the Lines: An Autobiography
by
Kuldip Nayar
As a young law graduate in Sialkot (now in Pakistan), Kuldip Nayar witnessed at first hand the collapse of trust between Hindus and Muslims who were living together for generations, and like multitude of population he was forced to migrate to Delhi across the blood-stained plains of Punjab. From his perilous journey to a new country and to his first job as a young journali
...more
Hardcover
,
464 pages
Published
July 2012
by Roli Books
(first published 1969)
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The history of modern India (1930-2011) as witnessed by a Punjabi Hindu refuge from Sialkot(Pakistan) now based out of Delhi.
Mr Kuldeep Nayar's epic book is immensely readable due to the multitudes of anecdotes he shares of famous people (Nehru, Shastri, Indira, Vajpayee, Gujral, Ayub Khan, Bhutto, Muzib) all in first hand accounts.
The writer terms himself a left-of-center ideologist & a staunch secular, though after reading almost 500 pages of this book, he comes across as a true Punjabi-Pu ...more
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As a journalist nayar sahib has taken up political dimensions of his past which shaped the present institutions of the country , as a matter of fact that shaped lives of millions of people
This book is a must read for anyone who is curious about the factors that shaped India's political scenario from the time of independence to the present day. An exciting and informative book!
kukdip Nayar ,veteran journalist From India, who have witnessed the every subtle event since independance.
'Between the Lines' , name itself suggests the incidents, anecdots which were coverted in the folds of time are revealed by the author.
There are specially two chapters from the book which are congizable in my opinion.
First is about the Bilingualism (a famous debate about the Hindi whether it should be a 'National'? Language or Not). In this chapter ,author specially reports about the happen ...more
'Between the Lines' , name itself suggests the incidents, anecdots which were coverted in the folds of time are revealed by the author.
There are specially two chapters from the book which are congizable in my opinion.
First is about the Bilingualism (a famous debate about the Hindi whether it should be a 'National'? Language or Not). In this chapter ,author specially reports about the happen ...more
Not sure why the publishers have called this an autobiography - memoir would have been a better description. The parts relating to the Partition and the Nehru-Shastri-Indira era are interesting. The post-Indira part suffers from a lack of detail, perhaps indicating that the author may no more have been close to the center of power in New Delhi. The book is let down by too serious a tone. Nayar's writing is pedestrian. At times, one feels one's going through someone's personal diary. Still, with
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Extremely well written. The part on the major migration that was witnessed during independence is quite overwhelming. Kuldip Nayar has brings in his years of experience as a top editor and journalist into good use. Having watched the political drama in very close quarters he comes out with many nuggets hitherto unknown. A very good resource for anyone interested in the history of India of the first thirty years post independence.
A relevant book not only for people living in India, but on other side of divide too.
The book is brilliant, Very well written, gives you a virtual walk through of political developments in India from independence to present. There is no point throughout the book i felt bored. Though, after reading the book, i have a very pessimistic view on Indian politics and its foreign relations, Mr Nayar has put an extra effort to give the book an optimistic tint. And i do agree with him when he says "Optimism is a moral responsibility"
less of an autobiography and more of a story of the author's times, but i guess that should be expected to some extent, when someone has seen history getting made at such close-quarters and has hobnobbed with the who's who of politics, and all organs of the government...I was keen to pick up the book after having earlier read scoop by the same author
A good book which tells inside story of the working of Indian political system. Nayar has watched the system from close quarters and gives an indepth account of happenings after the independece. He throws light on the partition of India and Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars. A must read for all who have even slight interest in modern Indian history.
बहुत अचछा अनुभव था मैं पाकिसतान से हूँ आैर मुझे हिंदुसतान की सियासी तारीख के चंद पहलुआें काे करीब से जानने का माैका मिला।कहीं कहीं तारीख के मामले में खास कर पाकिसतान के साथ जुडी कुचछ ऐतिहासिक मामलाें में लेखक ने बहुत उजलत से अपना फैसला सादर किया है।लेखक ने बटवारे में जाे अनुभव किया था उतना नहीं लिखखा गया
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A good walkthru history
Author has penned down his experiences as his professional career advanced, with some of his insider experiences and his views - which u may or may not agree with. Overall a good read..
Author has penned down his experiences as his professional career advanced, with some of his insider experiences and his views - which u may or may not agree with. Overall a good read..
Lucid,frank and straight from the heart. Kuldip Nayar had never spared anyone in the past.Lives upto this reputation in this offering as well.
Very informative but a very prosaic style of writing, just the flavor of a reporter/journalist.
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“Over the years I have felt that both the IAS and IPS have developed a kind of feudal class consciousness that does not go well with the service to the people that India needs. Their initial idealism begins to diminish within a few years of service and they gradually become part of the furniture.”
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