I don’t write politics or fight about it. But a few weeks back, my friend Sonal suggested me a podcast. One of its episodes had Vinay Sitapati talking about his book Jugalbandi. The book is about the Advani-Modi relationship and running BJP. But it predates old history as well. I am not sure how much of it is true, but it was a good refresher.
The book starts with the origin of RSS and ends with the Modi-Shah duo. If you are unhappy with everything happening now, the book has a detailed explainer for it. It covers the formation of Hindu Mahasabha to Jan Sangh to Janta Party and the BJP.
Other incidents which it also covers are:
- The assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Banning of the RSS
- Indra Gandhi’s emergency era.
- Sikh Riot in Delhi
- Mandal movement
- Babri masjid demolition
- Gujarat Riot.
Apart from this, the book also talks about RSS/BJP relations, the elevation of Modi as a national leader, Vajpayee-Advani relationship covering personal and political life.
The most surprising part for me was knowing Vajpayee. His style of leadership not aligning with RSS. And how RSS did not like his rule, where Advani was the wall for him.