Half Lion by Vinay Sitapati
It’s more than a biography of former Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao, and less than historical narrative of first five years of decade of 1990s.
A prince must imitate the fox and lion, for the lion cannot protect itself from traps, and the fox cannot defend itself from lions.
These lines from 16th century Political Philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, were the starting lines of the book, which in essence very concisely describes the character of P.V.Narasimha Rao. Well, to add here, he often played like a mouse too!
1990s were a turning point for world politics, and also for India. There were seminal changes happening in and out India, which were going to shape the lives of future generations. Soviet Union collapses in 1991, ending Cold War that lasted for almost half a century, establishing a unipolar World order, neo-liberalisation is adopted by Marget Thatcher and Ronald Regale, bringing Washington Consensus, rise of capital markets worldwide, China was witnessing rapid economic growth, all thanks to its opening up of markets for foreign investors, and rising exports, policies brought by Deng XiopingTechnological developments in the field of computer, coming of Internet, and wireless communication, completely disrupted the modern world. All these developments had no comparable in the world history.
At the same time, India was facing balance of payments crisis, with foreign exchange reserves left for only two weeks of imports. Two former prime ministers were assassinated, and there was rising insurgency in border states of Punjab, Kashmir and Assam. There was threat to national integrity. The government welfare schemes were underfunded to support the lives of poor. Fourty-four years after independece, 36 per cent were classified as poor, 47% as illiterate and 26% as undernourished.The country did not had missiles that can carry nuclear weapons, to provide nuclear deterrence. The previous two minority governments did not last a year, providing instability to political system of country.
In the midst of all this, there comes P.V Narsimha Rao, and andhara Socialist, seen as politically weak,visibly ailing,who almost left politics to join Siddheswari peetham-a Hindu monastic order. But, he is sworn as Prime Minister in 1991, with an opposing leader sniping about ‘old wines in old bottles’, working in a minority government, having to face three non-confidence motions in Parliament.
Yet, by the time Narsimha Rao left office, the foreign exchange reserves almost multiped by 17 times! there had been a 22 per cent increase in Union government income, by 2010, totoal revenue almost tripled in size. An economy growing at mere 3 percent pre 1990s, started soaring at 7.5 percent. Behind all these numbers, there was psychological transformation. Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss Universe, while Sachin Tendulkar blasted 82 off 49 balls against New Zealand.
India made new friends, and deepened previous friendships. The results were Indo-US nuclear deal, an exclusive for a non NPT(Non Proliferation Treaty) member, as well as recently concluded S-400 missile defense system, from Russia. As of 2015, India is one of few countries in the world with dynamic relationship with US, Russia and East Europe as well as Israel.The ties with East Asian countries deepened, with Korean companies like Samsung and Hyundai having their some biggest plants in India, and Countries like Singapore, becoming top destination for foreign direct investment in country, and trade with China reached its all-time high $125BN in 2022.
If you get intrigued by how this all happened, and want to look deeper into how real policy decisions are made, how top leadership in country works under many constraints, then pick up this book. You will get know about the man himself, but more importantly, you will get to know the contradictions of running the world’s largest democracy.
As Narsimha Rao used to say
India is destined to walk on a razor’s blade
For as long Indians remains Half Lions, so must their representatives- Vinay Sitapati.
