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Price of the Modi Years
Columnist, author and political commentator, Aakar Patel has long been a close observer of the political scenario. In Price of the Modi Years, he seeks to explain the data and facts on India’s performance under Narendra Modi.
Modi’s predecessor as prime minister, Manmohan Singh, had once said that Modi would be a disaster as prime minister. This book shows how. It concedes Modi’s popularity; this is an accounting of the damage he has wrought. It is the history of India since 2014 assessing the damage across the polity from the economy, national security, federalism, foreign relations, legislations and the judiciary to media and civil society.
Our memories are not long, news cycles are transient and incidents are forgotten or misclassified as being only episodic, unless documented, unified and placed together as a record. And therefore this book—a history of these present times.
Modi’s predecessor as prime minister, Manmohan Singh, had once said that Modi would be a disaster as prime minister. This book shows how. It concedes Modi’s popularity; this is an accounting of the damage he has wrought. It is the history of India since 2014 assessing the damage across the polity from the economy, national security, federalism, foreign relations, legislations and the judiciary to media and civil society.
Our memories are not long, news cycles are transient and incidents are forgotten or misclassified as being only episodic, unless documented, unified and placed together as a record. And therefore this book—a history of these present times.
496 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 20, 2021
Aakar Patel is a man of detail. He does not write any word lightly. Everything has a source; one he can defend in a court of law. The book is an awe inspiring record of the last seven years. Everyone needs to read this book. As my friend, Chandar said, it is exhausting. But if you are to be a good citizen, then it is important that you be fully informed.
December 15, 2021
Staggering! Patel has put together the most excruciatingly detailed and exhaustive (and exhausting!) compilation of the tragedy of the last 7.5 years! Including every arcane acronym constructed to name government projects, tar political opponents or hector international gatherings to 'align' them with Indian national interests!!! In this age of digital records, where not only the future but also the past is in the making, it is important to have a record of what actually happened once upon a time.
February 12, 2022
This is a librandu bible
March 17, 2022
A magnum opus. Chronicles the disasters of post 2014 India. We have regressed in all conceivable parameters of improvement. And most sadly, the vast majority of population under the cult of Modi are happy with slogans and catchy phrases without holding the government accountable on progress. This book will serve as a relic for the historians of the future when they talk about India's new dark age.
December 8, 2021
A very well documented analysis of Modi's years as India's Prime Minister commencing 2014 and the state of the nation over the next 7 years. It is not a finger-pointing exercise; literally every statement in the book is backed by citations.
A must read. But, tunnel vision might still deter some to see things as they actually are!
A must read. But, tunnel vision might still deter some to see things as they actually are!
December 8, 2021
Good read
Meticulously written with a detailed ensemble of facts. It’s consolidation of lot of events, information and actions of recent years. However would have been nice if the author also covered anything good that happened in these years. Else it ends up looking like a one-sided tirade and tends to appear personal at times. But all in all well written.
Meticulously written with a detailed ensemble of facts. It’s consolidation of lot of events, information and actions of recent years. However would have been nice if the author also covered anything good that happened in these years. Else it ends up looking like a one-sided tirade and tends to appear personal at times. But all in all well written.
January 22, 2022
Price of the Modi Years is really a very special book. Cynics will say "We already know and Bhakts don't care, so what's the point?". But this murderous shitshow had to be documented. The comprehensiveness of this piece of work is mind-boggling. The accuracy too.
I hope this becomes a prosecution exhibit in some court someday in which the last ever trial for sedition will take place against the two main accused.
I hope this becomes a prosecution exhibit in some court someday in which the last ever trial for sedition will take place against the two main accused.
January 17, 2022
If you are not a news hound (or even if you think you are), this book is an essential account of the rot that has set in and accelerated in India over the last few years. Chilling, essential, and very frequently dizzying reading.
August 23, 2023
Garbage 💩💩💩
May 13, 2022
Thanks to the author to do this vast research and put the facts on paper. I hope atleast the educated and who have access to books will read the book and get the pure facts on Modi and his Modinomics and not just blindly believe in the image he is presenting.
Though I knew about a number of things, but dots get joined in this book. Sad to say, but, giving a very gloomy picture. Are we loosing our democracy? Are we moving towards a fascist regime? The facts had an eerie resemblance to George Orwell's 1984.
The book left me thinking- Today, Muslims are the enemy, who would it be tomorrow?
Though I knew about a number of things, but dots get joined in this book. Sad to say, but, giving a very gloomy picture. Are we loosing our democracy? Are we moving towards a fascist regime? The facts had an eerie resemblance to George Orwell's 1984.
The book left me thinking- Today, Muslims are the enemy, who would it be tomorrow?
December 4, 2021
An excellent account and chronology of the gross mismanagement by India's governing party since 2014 on every possible sphere, comprehensively supported by data and media reports. This book should be translated into every Indian language and disseminated far and wide.
September 9, 2022
Very competently written and makes brilliant use of facts to push forward it's central thesis. However, the book could have done with less cherry-picking of data. Selective objectivity cost it a star.
June 12, 2024
A brave, detailed description of the assault on India’s institutions, the media, and civic society over the last decade. And gives a little more context to why India pushed back in 2024
June 23, 2022
Extremely well documented account of the Indian government since 2014. Simultaneous tragedy and comedy (mostly former). Oddly, the book made me optimistic thanks to the 2nd last chapter.
Aakar Patel is right up there with Snowden, Assange and others; taking on huge personal risk to reveal the insanities of power.
Aakar Patel is right up there with Snowden, Assange and others; taking on huge personal risk to reveal the insanities of power.
January 11, 2022
Overall, this is a good and factual book. Aakar Patel has backed his statements with data and appears to have done exhaustive research while writing the book.
It's vital to keep in mind that this book seeks to prove that the Modi years have been detrimental to India's prospects. It is, therefore, one-sided.
It is, overall, a well-argued book, but one that does become exhausting at the end.
It's vital to keep in mind that this book seeks to prove that the Modi years have been detrimental to India's prospects. It is, therefore, one-sided.
It is, overall, a well-argued book, but one that does become exhausting at the end.
December 20, 2021
Many doubts cleared
January 31, 2022
This is a detailed account of how we have ended up where we are as a nation. More importantly, how it could have been easily avoided.
October 31, 2022
Pure propaganda. Case of creating a narrative. The data is correct but the context is ill provided.
March 19, 2024
Recommended in a podcast I follow, this is the most excited I've been to buy, read and finish a non-fiction book! For the ones who do not realise what grim times we live in, this book serves as an eye opener. And for the rest of us who are sane and vigilant, this book is a guiding light.
Mr. Patel writes about all facets of the supreme dictators' reign as you'd expect him to cover in a title like this - the government's report card on human development indices, governance, economy, jobs, foreign policy, national security, judiciary, media, Make In India, COVID, demonetisation, religious fanaticism etc. The book is flooded with data and examples on all of these, which numb the reader into total submission.
However, no book is perfect and these are the two glaring flaws I noticed -
1. The author is overtly critical and negative of everything the Modi government has done and continues to do. If you're expecting an unbiased, balanced report card, this book may not be it.
2. The book is poorly edited - the numbers and examples are numerous and take away the edge off the pace of reading. A lot of this could have been tucked away in the annexure section or in footnotes. Maybe the author wants us to register the enormity of the damage (as I did) and hence kept all of it in one place. Eg: Pages 14 to 33 list down ALL the human development indices that we are performing very poorly at.
Perhaps the best summary the book can have is the lines the author himself provides in multiple places - "Our memories are not long, news cycles are transient, and incidents are forgotten or misclassified as being only episodic, unless documented, unified and placed together as a record. Hence this book - a history of these present times."
A must read. Read it before you vote.
Mr. Patel writes about all facets of the supreme dictators' reign as you'd expect him to cover in a title like this - the government's report card on human development indices, governance, economy, jobs, foreign policy, national security, judiciary, media, Make In India, COVID, demonetisation, religious fanaticism etc. The book is flooded with data and examples on all of these, which numb the reader into total submission.
However, no book is perfect and these are the two glaring flaws I noticed -
1. The author is overtly critical and negative of everything the Modi government has done and continues to do. If you're expecting an unbiased, balanced report card, this book may not be it.
2. The book is poorly edited - the numbers and examples are numerous and take away the edge off the pace of reading. A lot of this could have been tucked away in the annexure section or in footnotes. Maybe the author wants us to register the enormity of the damage (as I did) and hence kept all of it in one place. Eg: Pages 14 to 33 list down ALL the human development indices that we are performing very poorly at.
Perhaps the best summary the book can have is the lines the author himself provides in multiple places - "Our memories are not long, news cycles are transient, and incidents are forgotten or misclassified as being only episodic, unless documented, unified and placed together as a record. Hence this book - a history of these present times."
A must read. Read it before you vote.
January 31, 2023
This is a very frank and detailed look at "the Modi years" so far in India. The editorial position is quite clear from the introduction chapter: a portrait of a populist authoritarian leader. Modi is presented as dangerous while seeming to operate out of the pages of the well-known fascist playbook: make vague popular promises, control the media, build a cult of personality, avoid accountability, distract, deny, and divide. His strategy of stoking sectarian animosity instead of trying to build cohesion seems at odds with the founding Indian concept of "unity in diversity". This book makes strong use of data and every chapter is followed with a copious bibliography for a factual look at the Modi government's track record behind the propaganda. While there may definitely be some loaded language and editorial slant to the presentation, it is particularly refreshing to read perspectives largely based on verifiable data and not the jaundiced reporting of India's largely 'captured' media, that rarely holds the BJP to account.
December 13, 2021
Brand vs Product. Did the product deliver?
This book examines where we stand on global indices, peeling each layer meticulously and revealing the truth. Well, the truth is stranger than fiction:)
This book is depressing, but at least it is got to know the truth. What has happened to our country over the last 7 years, and what will happen to it in the next 3 years. Those of you are who are interested in politics are purely academically minded and need some data on where it is that India has come since 2014.
This book examines where we stand on global indices, peeling each layer meticulously and revealing the truth. Well, the truth is stranger than fiction:)
This book is depressing, but at least it is got to know the truth. What has happened to our country over the last 7 years, and what will happen to it in the next 3 years. Those of you are who are interested in politics are purely academically minded and need some data on where it is that India has come since 2014.
March 13, 2023
This really is a sobering read. The issues the book discusses are divisive and clouded in so much noise and obfuscation that it is hard to navigate this space. Yes, the book has a stand/position and is written provocatively but for an intelligent, reasoned and removed assessment of what went wrong and continues to go wrong in India with Modi as PM, this is a good base. The government is stunningly incompetent, and operates in a very different place from what elites in India have been used to engaging with. None of it inspires hope but it helps to clarify thought. The end is scathing.
February 25, 2022
The Price of Modi Years by Aakar Patel – On the basis of figures and charts, the book analyses the policy decisions by Government of India after year- 2014 and its effect. Study and analysis of facts and data has been meticulously depicted written. However, would have been better if the book covered positive results of the policies. We hope that the author takes note of this so that his next publication enlightens on the next steps necessary to take to develop a Five trillion economy for India.
March 17, 2023
Ready wreckoner for the Modi's governance.
I do believe, that having Mr. Modi, whatever his merit, as the Prime Minister, will be a disaster for India.-Dr. Manmohan Singh. With different facts and figures, this book established that, prediction of Dr.MMS as true. Speciality of the book is that it quoted the references for every facts. So no one can claims that authenticity of the facts are ambiguous.
I do believe, that having Mr. Modi, whatever his merit, as the Prime Minister, will be a disaster for India.-Dr. Manmohan Singh. With different facts and figures, this book established that, prediction of Dr.MMS as true. Speciality of the book is that it quoted the references for every facts. So no one can claims that authenticity of the facts are ambiguous.
April 19, 2022
A detailed and elaborate collection of data, metrics, and news reports (both local and international) to serve as a parameter of the current, but the most controversial government. People from both camps should read this book. Even those in support of the government should read this, if not for anything else, simply to counter the facts.
December 30, 2022
What a book.
Mountains of data, valleys of analyses, and gushing rivers of conclusions. Like Shakira's hips, data doesn't lie. The case of incompetence that he mounts is unassailable... unless you wear different lenses..;-)
Read this and try building cases to challenge the conclusions that Patel draws. Will be a good exercise.
Mountains of data, valleys of analyses, and gushing rivers of conclusions. Like Shakira's hips, data doesn't lie. The case of incompetence that he mounts is unassailable... unless you wear different lenses..;-)
Read this and try building cases to challenge the conclusions that Patel draws. Will be a good exercise.
February 23, 2023
Painstakingly researched and incredibly detailed, this book presents an unflattering report card for Modi's administration from 2014-2021. Some of these details have been reported on through Indian and international media, but as Aakar points out, it was done so in passing and in pieces.
May 7, 2023
Took me a while to finish reading this. Meticulously researched with a lot of hard hitting revelations. Because this is very data heavy, the storytelling might seem to be a bit dry - but that isn't a concern.
January 11, 2024
In this day of WhatsApp University graduates dominating the discussions, here comes a book (among many recent books) that puts forward hard data. Ultimately it is upto the reader to form judgements based on facts rather than virally transmitted WhatsApp factoids.
March 15, 2022
An extremely detailed book with facts and figures, backed by sources for everything. Must read to get an understanding of the current affairs and intact future ones too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews