Captain Amarinder Singh: The People’s Maharaja – An Authorized Biography

102 Rating

Author: Khushwant Singh Category: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political ISBN: 9789385827433 Binding: Hardback Dimensions: 228.6x152.4 mm Number of Pages: 392 pages +12 colour inserts

Also available as ebook:

An authentic, definitive and no-holds-barred narrative, packed with fascinating incidents and anecdotes, that brings alive the life and times of one of the most prominent and striking individuals (a former royal) in the sphere of Punjab politics.

Beginning with a historical background of how the Patiala kingdom came to be established and ruled over the centuries, the author moves on to describe the early years of Amarinder Singh, a scion of that kingdom. He then portrays the Indo‒Pak war zone of 1965, where the protagonist earned his spurs, and finally focuses on the combative arenas of Punjab politics, where numerous electoral and other battles continue to be fought.

This informative work unravels the subterfuges of politicians and others, including religious leaders, in their attempts to ensure dominance. The pages reveal behind-the-scenes intrigues, plots and counterplots, even as Punjab was in the vice-like grip of terrorism in the late twentieth century. Operation Blue Star (June 1984) and its consequences have been objectively recorded.

Besides tracing the career trajectory of Amarinder Singh, who reached his pinnacle when he became the chief minister of Punjab in February 2002, the author provides insights into crucial events that have immensely impacted the state and neighbouring areas over the past few decades. The text also examines his five-year tenure as chief minister, marked by both positive and negative aspects, and the subsequent period when Parkash Singh Badal regained the post. The account concludes with an overview of the situation in Punjab, as all political parties were gearing up for the 2017 assembly elections.