Nehru: The Invention of India Paperback – 23 October 2003

Fabulously written.From being a nehru hater in past decade,to nehru sympathizer in current to an ardent fan of nehru; i am overwhelmed by this excellent magnum opus by tharoor.Lucid style but pretty often you need to check into a dictionary to understand some words.The life & career of nehru has been very nicely depicted.Master story teller,tharoor weaves an cocoon of sorts to his readers.You feel all the action racing in your mind while going thru this book.It also highlights nehru's shortfalls, failures and miseries.Tharoor also goes 1 step ahead in critically assessing the likes of mahatma,patel & nehru himself.Overall excellent and riveting read.I surely recommend this book to all nehru ji fans & ardent followers.Happy reading -Nitin.S,pune

Nehru’s life is admirable in a way that he had the option to live a rich life, but he still chooses to live a life, sacrificing his personal luxuries for Independence. Unfortunately, Nehru today is criticized for his economic policies while his immense struggle for the independence of India is often overlooked. This book is a reaffirmation of Nehru’s struggle.There is a scope for lot of things that could be imbibed from his life such as his perseverance during hardships, his detachment to wealth despite being privileged, his commitment to work, his tolerance to difference in beliefs as well as in opinions.The first part of the book, Nehru before his political entry, is very interesting. However, the details of politics in the later part of the book can be a little boring to readers who are not politically inclined. But, the book is certainly worth the read. And, you tend to develop a small dislike for Jinnah and his brash and devious ways.As for the writing style, this book can be effortlessly read.

The media could not be loaded. This is a spectacular book on Pandit Nehru. Short, to the point and brilliantly written.SHASHI has produced the Great leader in his terms and highlighted his thinking.It’s a must read.

Nehru the creation of India by Shashi Tharoor....Let me answer the biggest question first!!...No, I did not have to reach to my dictionary now and then to read this one!...I guess this one was before the vocabulary attack!.... Literally!!.....Another perspective from a member of the same party trying to score some browny points while cleverly indicating a lot by saying very little!!.... That's what is the book which though non fiction is fiction to a point of view of the man who himself is under a cloud of suspect nowadays!....While freedom at midnight gave so much importance to Lord Mountbatten and while Azad's autobiography gave it to himself and am sure while the hordes of books on the Mahatma give the onus to Gandhi, this one is Nehru everywhere!...The clever manipulations by the father of the nation to give post to his protégé might have in effect given us a weak, temperamental, communistic and naive first leader of the country...... Imagine the strong Bose or the iron Patel as the more stronger alternates...... At this point it's only a matter of have been and nothing else......And how innocently Tharoor glides over the women in the pundit's life giving ample space for imagination is why the book had to be written by Shashi....Had picked up this one too see one more opinion if that would change mine..... About dynasty that is.... But safe to say that this one is nowhere close....Read to know another view point though don't expect it to change your point of view!!...... So exasperating!!!.....

Its just mesmerising.From Jawaharlal to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s journey is as dramatic, passionate and anticlimactic as a bollywood movie.A person who in that days had 24 hrs electricity and running water and to my astonishment a private swimming pool and tennis court in his house.That was the kind luxury Jawaharlal had.This man goes on to serve almost 10 years in jail in the most pettiest conditions ever.From length and breadth of India it describes Pt Nehru’s popularity in India and the kind of respect the world leaders had for him.The visionary that India had produced has left his imprint on the world.The book also covers the negatives of Nehru from socialism to idealism and his romanticism of the Chinese civilisation leading him to coin the term Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai.Its absolutely worth reading.

Not the best biography of Nehru, but the best concise biography. A balanced assessment. Tharoor doesn't hate Nehru, nor is he in awe of him. One missing subject is Nehru's disastrous first amendment to the constitution.

His thoughts and writting are quite beautiful amazing visualisation, study of the each subject very meticulous attention before he writes

Excellent book for modern history to review and lucid presentation of Nehruvian era in a very delicate balanced style. Shashi sir' s using of vocabulary in any of his book attract the readers to engage and compelled the readers to complete the book as soon as possible to grab another book to read and engage. It is just like the appetite for food.

Great!

Great read. Gives a lot of details of the mans thinking and the consequences which put India back for decades.

gibt ausgezeichneten Einblick in die Hintergründe des Unabhängigkeitskampfes Indiens und in die Spaltung des Landes.Dr Einkauf verlief glatt und einwandfrei

This book gives a very good idea of what Nehru the man was like as well as the politician, and the role he played along with other key figures of the time in the partition of India. There are plenty of quotes and the author doesn't avoid contentious areas. Very readable which is aided by a favourable font size. While some biographies word-wash the subject, this book provides a constant flow of information without the bluster or the dusty recesses of the English language being used. A very interesting and informative read!

This is a very good book for those who do not know much about Nehru. Mr. Tharoor's style is simple and brings out the essential facts in a simple understandable manner. People who know more about Nehru may take issue with him as they might feel he is too kind towards him. But, this book I think is factual and certainly not a scholarly work as Mr. Tharoor himself mentions. I liked it.