Why should anyone be interested in Pagal Patrakar’s story? Because this is not faking news, but real, and the story of an entire generation that questions shibboleths such as socialism, secularism and liberalism (defined in a certain way), which were unquestioningly accepted as axiomatic.
It is this questioning that junked the former ecosystem and brought Narendra Modi and the BJP to power in 2014, and again in 2019. Though junked, the former empire still tries to strike back, and instead of disowning the winds of change, it would benefit from learning how and why Rahul Roushan became a Sanghi who has never been to a shakha.
The book is evocatively written and portrays India’s metamorphosis beautifully, with the underbelly of the former ecosystem also thrown in.
Bibek Debroy Author and Chairman, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council
Remarks by Bibek Debroy
Why should anyone be interested in Pagal Patrakar’s story? Because this is not faking news, but real, and the story of an entire generation that questions shibboleths such as socialism, secularism and liberalism (defined in a certain way), which were unquestioningly accepted as axiomatic.
It is this questioning that junked the former ecosystem and brought Narendra Modi and the BJP to power in 2014, and again in 2019. Though junked, the former empire still tries to strike back, and instead of disowning the winds of change, it would benefit from learning how and why Rahul Roushan became a Sanghi who has never been to a shakha.
The book is evocatively written and portrays India’s metamorphosis beautifully, with the underbelly of the former ecosystem also thrown in.
Bibek Debroy
Author and Chairman, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council
More remarks on the book by other dignitaries
Kanchan Gupta
It offers a post-mortem report on the causes that led to the unmourned demise of pseudo-secularism.
Smriti Irani
Story of the coming of age of an average Indian who dared to break the shackles of a Nehruvian past.
Anand Ranganathan
Roushan has written something that is unputdownable.
Sanjeev Sanyal
Many a newly minted ‘Sanghis’ will identify with this journey.
Vivek Agnihotri
This is not just the story of Rahul, it’s the story of modern India and it is about you.
T.V. Mohandas Pai
The book is an eye-opener for all of us.
Anupam Kher
Very interesting and quite relevant to our times.
R. Jagannathan
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand changing India, and emerging Hindutva.
Amish Tripathi
Read this book, and get a microcosmic understanding of the massive social changes taking place in India.