DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

BOOK REVIEW

ON

THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER

ENGLISH

Mrs.Beena Punjabi

S V S S G Akhil

2019063 I semester
Introduction
“The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh” is a 2014
memoir by Indian policy analyst Sanjaya Baru, who was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
media advisor from May 2004 to August 2008. Published by Penguin India, the book alleges that
Singh was not entirely in control of his cabinet— or even of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Rather, the president of the Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, to whom Singh was completely a
servant There can be no two centers of power, Baru remembers Singh explaining to him," This
creates confusion. I have to agree that the leader of the party is the center of power. Here the
Government is answerable to party”

Author
Sanjaya Baru is a policy analyst and commentator. He served as Secretary-General of the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) until his resignation in April
2018. Prior to that, he served as Director of Geo-Economics and Policy at the International
Institute of Strategic Studies. From May 2004 to August 2008, he served as Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's Media Adviser and Chief Speaker (PMO). His father B. P. R. Vithal served
as Secretary of Finance and Planning during the administration of Dr. Manmohan Singh as
Secretary of Finance. He has been editor of Economic Times, Financial Express, and Business
Standard, India's major financial newspapers. He also acted as London's International Institute of
Strategic Studies, Director of Geoeconomics and Strategy. He has been Professor of Economics
at Hyderabad University, Indian Research Council on International Economic Relations, and Lee
Kuan Yew Public Policy Institute, Singapore. He was Secretary General of the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry between 1999-2001 as well as a member of the
National Security Advisory Board of India and a member of the Center for Policy Research's
governing board. He was Professor of Economics at Hyderabad University, Indian Research
Council on International Economic Relations, and Lee Kuan Yew Public Policy Institute,
Singapore. He was Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry between 1999-2001 as well as a member of the National Security Advisory Board of
India and a member of the Center for Policy Research's governing board. He was also a member
of the Eminent Persons Community of India-ASEAN in 2010. The Political Consequences of
India's Economic Growth, India and the World: Essays on Geoeconomics and Foreign Policy,
The Accidental Prime Minister: Making and Unmaking Manmohan Singh were some of his
published works

Genre
A memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events that
occurred in the life of the subject / person, whether public or private. It is understood that the
claims made in the work are factual. While memoirs have historically been defined since the late
20th century as a category of biography or autobiography, the genre is separated in form A
biography or autobiography tells the story of "a life," while a memoir also tells a story of "a
future" including landmark events or turning points from the life of the author. A memoir's writer
can be referred as memorialist
Over view
This created a storm when The Accidental Prime Minister was released in 2014 and became the
year's publishing trend. The Office of the Prime Minister called the book a fiction work, it was
regarded by the media as a captivating account of the first term of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh at the UPA. Written by Singh's media advisor and trusted assistant, the book describes
Singh's often troubled relationship with his ministers, his cautious equation with Sonia Gandhi,
and how he handled the major crises from managing the Left to pushing the nuclear deal
through. The Accidental Prime Minister is one of the great insider accounts of Indian political
life, insightful, acute and packed with political stories

This book explains the problems faced by the former Prime minister Manmohan Singh during
UPA-1 and UPA-2. He tackled many problems during UPA-1 with the help of author Sanjaya
Baru but when he enters in to UPA-2, Sanjaya Baru was resigned and the prime minister faced
lot of pressure from the party and the Coalition govt. The author mentions that he acted like a
puppet in the hands of Congress party president. Even though many scams were raised the Prime
minister was silent.

The second trait of attitude, his refusal to leave when he runs into harsh political conditions, is
equally difficult. In UPA-1, Singh successfully used the resignation threat to clear the Indian-US
civil nuclear deal from a dangerous leadership of Congress. One reason the threat worked was
the absence of a next rung leader who would be able to take over if Singh left. This problem had
been resolved by UPA-2: Rahul Gandhi was on the path. At that moment, Singh removed his
hand with one crisis after another hitting his state. He never threatened resignation after the
nuclear deal.

Had Singh quit as things began to turn worse, his party and his leadership would have been in
trouble, not Singh. But he chose to stay on until his party came to believe he was a responsibility.
The Accidental Prime Minister's author illustrates many of those moments where Singh might
have wanted to go. Baru ends by showing how Singh chooses a different course willingly.
Summary

The Accidental Prime Minister by Sanjaya Baru is an account of former Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh’s two terms – UPA-1 and UPA-2. Sanjaya Baru, who was Singh’s media
advisor, attempts to put his master in a positive light despite what went inside and in the media
reports about Singh. The book primarily talks about the rise and fall or simply the building of
‘King’ Singh to a puppet-like Singh dancing to the tunes of the UPA chief. Though the book
doesn’t cite straight references and names, there are enough hints for the political masters and the
common man to judge the then Prime Minister’s efficiency and honesty.

Baru sees no mistake with Singh. According to the author, Singh’s first tenure from 2004 to 2009
was unreasonably successful and he terms it as ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’. In the second
tenure, Baru resigned due to certain reasons which he doesn’t term as necessary to inform the
readers. But he does give a hint when he mentions in the book, “It is better to leave when people
start asking why instead of when.”

In his second tenure after 2009, Singh had a lot of difficulties and a puppet-like term was
attached with his name by the media. Reaction of Singh to the corruptions and how he felt
helpless to resign from the second tenure, unlike the first tenure when he threatened to resign and
sealed the Indo-US nuclear deal is told by Baru in this book. In the first term he knew that no one
capable was there but the second term had hints of Rahul Gandhi as the heir successor, which
held Singh back from calling it quits.

Was silence the way to combat corruption?

As corruption tarnished the image of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Singh’s image
dilapidated too. On account of the issues Baru raises in the book he undoubtedly tried to give a
kinder image to Singh but also poses a question – Should Singh have resigned as corruption hit
the party and not defend the Government? Singh did not want more troubles and he chose to be
quiet and serve.

Shouldering all the Party ups and downs

Was silence the way to combat situations, being the Prime Minister? Singh could have left the
position but he chose to shoulder all the ups and downs alongside the party, which in turn
resulted in media calling him “Sin is King”, compared to the term “Singh is King” which he
received in his first tenure. Leaving would have meant more allegations and party accusing him
of deceiving them. Hence, he chose to be quiet yet in attendance until he seemed like a burden to
them. The author of this book highlights how Singh himself chose a different path for himself
when he could have decided to leave and kept the tag of being a successful Prime Minister of the
UPA-1.

The Sonia Gandhi-Manmohan Singh joint venture had differences but still the relationship
endured for a long time. Baru tries to answer whether or not it was a thriving partnership and
why did the partnership flourish in spite of the complexities. But the reader is not able to get the
exact answer to this question. There were differences especially in the second tenure of Singh
when Rahul Gandhi came into the picture and Baru explains it to the readers that Singh as a
Prime Minister was omitted from important decisions and his faithfulness remained unrewarded.
Was it the reason for Singh’s failure in UPA-2?

Gandhi family – prime hinderance

The Accidental Prime Minister by Baru shows that it was the Gandhi family that resulted in a
barrier between Singh’s prominence and his position as the Prime Minister but he also makes it
clear that it was not the only reason. Singh’s inability, failing to possess a strong hold for himself
at such a big position from the time when he started under PV Narasimha Rao in the 90s, proved
fatal too. Singh’s apparent commitment to ensuring Rahul’s succession was even more
misplaced. As Baru mentions, there are gaps in the book because of information that he could not
publish or did not have access to. An uneven narrative of the Gandhi-Singh partnership is given
in this book by Baru.

Politics within the Congress and attempts to weaken the Sonia-Singh partnership was evident but
the book also attempts to enlighten how Sonia Gandhi refused any alteration in leadership and
mentioned that Singh was the only leader they had in the second tenure. The Congress president
constantly met Singh at his residence and tried to clarify things, but Singh hardly went to 10
Janpath except for attending committee meetings. As per media and other sources, Singh was
burdened and came to be known as the UPA president’s puppet. The book poses a question on
the reader’s mind: Whether it was Singh’s incapability and meekness or Sonia Gandhi’s
interference in governing the country. The book to an extent lines reasons for Singh’s collapse in
the second term but there are enough gaps to comprehend anything.

Full freedom in management of coalition

The reader clearly gets to know that the Prime Minister had full freedom in the management of
the coalition without intrusion. Baru as a media adviser to Singh had suggested to keep the
young leaders in the circle but acceptance to the idea isn’t mentioned in the book. As corruption
hit UPA-2, readers look for answer as to why a relationship with ministers like A Raja was
maintained as the 2G scam leaked out. The downfall had started gradually!

Though Baru has written this book in support of his master and shows him in a positive light, he
does not forget to mention the drawbacks and shortcomings of Singh. Undoubtedly, Sonia
Gandhi was the highest power even when Singh held the position for the only reason that he
could not be a politician – one like Sonia Gandhi! He was mentioned by Narasimha Rao as a
successful economist rather than a politician in one of his interviews.

According to Baru, Singh might have had two exceptionally contradictory terms: UPA 1 and
UPA 2, but his inputs, contributions and attempt to keep the party intact will be historical. When
Baru talks about Singh’s power as a mere power without any force in his ‘Responsibility without
Power’, the reader is left wondering whether Singh was meek and submissive to take any action
and why was it so. Well, according to Baru, Singh did what he could and felt right!

“You see, you must understand one thing. I have come to terms with this. There cannot be two
centres of power,” Manmohan Singh had said.