Ajay's Book Review

In his latest work,  Secession of the Successful , noted political commentator and former media adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,  Sanjaya Baru , tackles a provocative question: why are India's most successful citizens increasingly choosing to invest their futures in other nations?.  Drawing on a mix of historical context and sharp contemporary analysis, Baru explores the phenomenon of "elite migration" and what it means for the future of "New India". The Four Waves of Migration Baru provides a helpful framework by breaking Indian migration into four distinct historical phases: The First Phase:  Large-scale  enforced migration of indentured labour  under British rule. The Second Phase:  Semi-skilled workers seeking employment in  West Asia and the Gulf . The Third Phase:  The 1970s and 80s "trickle" that became a flood of  professionals, mostly doctors and engineers , seeking better living standards in the West. The Fourth Phase:...

Men apart every man an emperor. Perhaps this single line by field marshal Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery best describes the special forces, which are the most elite and best soldiers of the Indian Army. These men undergo the harshest training there is in the world for soldiering. Having read the fantastic book “The force behind the forces” I was looking forward to reading this book by the author. I would be losing if I were to say that the book lives upto the expectations.  The book narrates the stories of the brave  Indian special forces operatives. Some of the heroes from these stories are well known in the popular media (YouTube, Instagram ) like Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat while the others live a quiet life away from all the limelight. The stories in themselves are thrilling and make you go in awe about these men in maroon. However the way the book is written, seems to have been rushed through and is not refined. So my recommendation would be to read t...

The true story of the father of Hindutva. Having been raised in a maharashtrian family you grow listening to the heroics of Veer Savarkar, this combined with some little text and media surrounding the freedom fighter at later stages always piqued my interest in the subject. After watching a movie on the subject I decided to read about the man the legend and also someone who is equally loved and equally dismissed by his supporter and opponents alike. On the very onset I must admit that finding a book on Veer Savarkar which is based on facts and no bias for or against him was difficult and this book just did that. The book brings to light so many facets of his life that are either unknown or known by very few like his ask to include the Ashoka Chakra on the Indian flag instead of the Charkha or the spinning wheel, which came as a complete surprise to me. Also Savarkar the poet which is something not usually talked about and is not known by many like his poem "Sagara Pran Talmalala ....

Bhagat Singh  is a name that became synonymous with revolution in India's struggle for Independence. This young boy brought about a change in the way people thought about freedom. He was well read and fought extensively for rights - his own, his comrades' and his countrymen's. A discussion with a friend soon turned into a matter of self-assessment for Bhagat Singh, leading to a discourse on why he chose to be an atheist. Even in the face of death at a very young age, his uncanny observation leads to his putting forth some pertinent questions. On another occasion, he was disappointed with his father's plea in court for his innocence and chose to write a letter to him. This book is a collection of eighteen of his valued writings from within the walls of prison and outside it, which show us the resolve in his words, and the bravery in his acts subsequently. About Bhagat Singh (1907-31): He was a revolutionary in the Indian Independence struggle. Post his graduation, he ...

An extraordinary book on the life of an extraordinary Indian This would be perhaps in my humble opinion the best single-line review of the book. Ever since Parrikar Ji became the defense minister of India with his simple living and a man known to get the job done, I have been intrigued by him. So when it came to choosing my next book I actively scouted for books on him and by far this book was the highest recommended. The moment you start reading the book you are struck by two things the objectivity of the authors and how well written the book is. On the objectivity part while reading the book it gives a 360-degree view of Mr. Parrikar and it gives the good and the bad about him in a completely subjective manner, without shying away from the shortcomings of the 4-time chief minister of Goa. On how well the book is written the authors have kept the language simple enough for the public to read while also using the appropriate words while required, which the reader may sometime need to l...

They live well below their means This single line could summarise the entire book and the lifestyle of the majority of American millionaires. This book has been an international bestseller for the reason that it breaks several stereotypes about the millionaires which are generally propagated by the media. The message, generally shown by them is about the lavish lifestyle they live, be it their luxury automobile or their mansions, so on. The authors armed with the data which was collected for research in the profiles of American Millionaires prove that these millionaires constitute a small portion of the millionaires. Most of the millionaires actually live in the normal middle-class neighborhood and drive in average automobiles. The book explains very well the difference between wealth and having a high income. The authors mention what actually motivates most of the American Millionaires which is Financial Freedom. The millionaire told them that the journey to wealth is much more sa...

"We sacrificed our tomorrow for your today." The force behind the forces is a collection of stories about the Indian army wives who as the title mention are the force behind the forces.  The stories narrated in the book are a roller coaster of emotions as they make you both happy and sad. What the book never fails to do is to motivate you, All the stories in the book are so inspiring and fill you with josh. The stories mentioned in the book move you and leave you speechless as they start with such happiness and almost always end with such pain. One story which touched me and was really inspiring was the story of Lance Naik Raj Kumar Mahto's wife. One has to read her story to believe how she rose against all odds with her perseverance. The stories also tell us about the role AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association) play in the life of these veer Narees. I would like to applaud the efforts of the author who brought life the stories and make the reader live through them as if w...

Research & Analysis Wing (India's External Intelligence Agency) A rare and first-hand view into the workings of the most secretive government agency Research & Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.  The book written by a retired R&AW officer B Raman who spent more than 3 decades working for the agency right from its inception in 1968, provides a detailed insight into the workings of R&AW and its work and relations with the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs and other foreign intelligence agencies. The book derives its name from its first chief R.N. Kao and the officers under him who were the cause of its success and came to be known as "Kao boys of R&AW". The book is in chronological order of the author's service in R&AW and the most outstanding thing about the book is how objectively it is written and by that, I mean the author has rightly praised but has also criticised various people right from the chief ...

Following up on the book "India's Most Fearless" this book brings more courage stories from the Indian Armed Forces. The points that strike you while reading these stories are the details and backstories to the simple news update which we get every few days about soldiers being martyred on the front lines. When we hear news about a soldier sacrificing his life for his motherland the news does not tell the details of the operation where the officer put his own life to protect his jawans. Deep down he knows that the life of the men he commands is his responsibility and that if something were to happen to them he would not be able to face himself. The stories of the 2 men who in order to save the submarine crew isolated themselves in the compartment with fire inside the submarine and kept battling the fire to save the submarine makes you wonder how one can put oneself in danger voluntarily. The story of a Garud commando who could not sleep until he avenged his fal...

The book gives the reader an insight into the minds and lives of those who sacrifice everything for their India and its citizen. The book begins with the thrilling third-person account of the Surgical Strikes on Pakistan based terrorist launch pads which is followed by Myanmar Surgical Strikes. The narration of the events beginning with the URI terrorist attack and ending with the press conference by the Army and government on the surgical strikes across the LOC (Line Of Control) grips the reader and keeps him on the very edge. The chapters are narrated from the perspective of Major Tango and Lt Col Delta who led the commandos on the strike on terrorist launchpads. The details of the attacks give an insight into the level of preparation and competence of the PARA SF Commandos. It highlights the mental strength and robustness of the men who make up the Para SF commandos. Indeed their valor and courage exemplify the saying for the para SF commandos “ Men apart every man an...

The holy grail of self-help books. This book is among the most recognised books ever written. It was written in 1936 has sold more than 15 million copies, went through 17 editions, and although was written in 1936 is still one of the best selling books of 21st century which effectively makes it the best selling book of all time. Having known these facts I would like to if I may present a concise review of this book.  The author in the book gives easy and simple tips to help one in interpersonal relations. Although they may seem basic and quite obvious, implementing them in daily life is a challenging task. The book is quite useful for everyone and cuts across all age groups and other differences. After reading the book I have tried to refrain from saying critical things to anyone. I try to put myself in other person shoes. What the book teaches you is to be able to see life and others from different perspectives. One of the things which bothered me was...

Karna the Mrityunjay Before I review the book I would like to admit that I do not frequently read or review fiction books, having said that I want to say I did not regret one bit of my decision to read this book. The story of the protagonist who embarks on the journey to retrieve the Kavach and Kundal of his Mahapurush is a great example of how sometimes the journey is in itself more rewarding than the destination. The protagonist rises up to the challenge of finding one of the most potent weapons that humankind has ever seen and stops them from falling into wrong hands. The author has beautifully woven together the characters from the past and the present that sometimes, it is hard to believe that they do not belong to the same time period. One of the things that reached out to me was the humanity in the heroism of the protagonist, he is pushed down multiple times. Wherein he doubts himself if the hunt is really worth it but every time he picks himself RIGHT up and cont...

A rare insight into America's prized possession, SKUNK WORKS. Skunk Works, the legendary R&D centre, a dream of so many aerospace engineers producing state of the art weapons and surveillance systems that are probably 8-10 years ahead of the world. From building the worlds first and only operational Mach 3 aircraft that could fly at altitudes just shy of space, needing the pilot to wear pressurised suits to the worlds first operational stealth fighter which remained a mystery to intelligence agencies around the world until it took out the most defended capital, Baghdad, during Operation Desert Storm. I have been wanting to read this book longer then I would like to admit. Having been a lifelong fanboy of the SR-71 blackbird and the F-22 Raptor I constantly stumbled upon the term "Skunk Works" in literature while reading about the planes. This book was literally the first suggestion I got as I started researching about Skunk Works. The book enchants you from...

A worthy tribute to one of the greatest daughter of India. I came across the book after watching Raazi movie and wanting to know more about this girl and her family who sacrificed so much for India. The novel is based on the real-life story of a young Indian Kashmiri girl who sacrificed everything to serve her motherland by becoming a spy for India’s external intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) by marrying into a high ranking Pakistani army family. The girl's father had been working for RAW for some time setting up the network in Pakistan to gather intelligence and send it across the border. But when during a routine health checkup is informed of having cancer and knowing he has very time left decides to ask his daughter to finish the mission he started. His wish becomes stronger when he realises that Pakistan is preparing for something big for war. Sehmat is married to the Pakistani army family where she quickly gains the affection of all the family member...

KINDNESS IS WHAT FLOWS THROUGH THE BOOK. When I started looking for a book on spirituality, Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi” was the most recommended book on the subject. Indeed the book was outstanding and left me intrigued about Yogananda and I began looking up more about him on the internet. During this research, I came to know about Swami Kriyananda and stumbled on this book. This book is a collection of experiences of people with Swami Kriyananda mostly through Ananda. Through the book, the reader gets an insight view into the lives of people living in Ananda. The book is a tribute to one of the greatest disciples of the master. The reader gets an understanding of how the smallest decisions made by Swami Kriyananda always had master's (Yogananda) teaching embed in them. The book brings out the conflict between SRF and Ananda, and how Swami Kriyananda handled the legal process gracefully while keeping the master’s teachings for peace in his conscious. The book is a gr...

Ordinary People Extraordinary Lives. The book is a collection of real-life stories of people around Sudha Murthy. The stories are experiences of people around her which are quite incredible. Some stories make you laugh other's make you cry but one thing is for sure and that is each one of them is an inspiring tale form which we can all take away some learning. The stories from her childhood days in Hubli are quite interesting and fascinating, as they remind us of an era when all people of a village knew each other and lived together. There is a very heart warming story responsible for the title of the book, which is about the Devdasi system in India wherein young girls were forced into prostitution in the name of god. The book ends with the worthy mention about alcohol anonymous which helps people with alcohol addiction. This book is a good light read and is similar to Chicken Soup for the soul series books. Author :  Sudha Murty Published : 2017 Pu...

If there is one book that brings positivity and smile to millions of people its undoubtedly Hanuman Chalisa.  Composed by Shree Tulsidas four centuries ago in the Gangetic plains in avadhi language, it is composed of 43 chaupai and 3 dohas, it has an appeal across the economic strata and the length and breadth of the country. The author takes the reader through the chaupais of hanuman chalisa sequentially and explains the literal meanings of the chaupais and he also elaborates on the subtle and hidden meanings of the chaupais. The way Devdutt elaborates the chaupais it resembles the ancient Indian tradition of guru explaining the hidden meaning of chaupais, shlokas, etc. In the book Devdutt cites an example where through the rebirth cycles of life and death, Hanuman as a kid narrated the story of Ramayan to his mother Anjana about how they created the bridge and defeated Ravana she was not impressed and asked why he didn't just swing his tail and destroyed Lanka instead of ...

The life of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Extremely well researched, the book is a delight to read as it provides detailed facts and insights into the life of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. One of the things which stands out while reading the book is the level of details the author has provided about the Civil and Military structure of Shivaji’s kingdom and also of Mughals comparing the merits and demerits of both the systems. The book begins with the era of Shahaji Bhosale’s rise in the court of Adilshahi kingdom, the birth of Shivaji Bhosale and then takes the reader through the various life events of Shivaji Maharaj. The really interesting part is that even though the author has stuck to the facts regarding the life events still they appear as if they have been extracted right out of some daredevil hero story, such was the life of the Legend Shivaji Maharaj.  In the book the author writes " In those times when soldiers fled from battlefield moments after their k...

The story in the book is an good example of how when some people while helping others end up helping themselves. The book follows the journey of young lady in England who in interest of helping old age woman most of them widow’s from the Indian community who have no place to be free, to be themselves start a class and through the classes goes through a journey of self discovery and is also exposed to some of the darkest of secrets of the British Indian Community in Southhall. The book gives a stark reality check as to how even after moving to England the orthodox mentality of few Indians remains the same. How honor of the family is still hold higher then the independence and free thinking of ladies in the community. Th book touches brilliantly on the forcefully mandating of traditions sometimes by force and the silent support of the community elders to the enforcers. All in all the book is quite an interesting read and takes the reader through a journey through the st...

An aircraft that flew faster then a rifle bullet!!! Indeed a very detailed insights into one the best aircrafts ever to be designed and flown. In terms of uniqueness the aircrafts outperforms all be it the special titanium structure designed to withstand high temperatures of sustained supersonic flights to the very special JP-7 fuel. It was the worlds first stealth aircraft which still holds the all major speed and altitude records for air breathing aircrafts. Must read for anyone interested in military aviation special built aircrafts or even someone who wants to know about an aircraft that still fill the imagination of the people with wonder