RASHEED KIDWAI is a journalist, author, columnist and political analyst. He is Visiting Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi. Formerly Associate Editor at The Telegraph, Kidwai is a keen observer of government, politics, community affairs and Hindi cinema.

I felt that to remain in politics and keep fighting for the principles was my calling. So; I thought that working with the people of similar ideology might be more fruitful. I felt affinity with those parties which were neither corrupt nor power-drunk…. Ideologically; I found myself close to Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party. I was in a dilemma to choose between the two. So; I decided to contest the election on the ticket of both these parties. I became candidate of Jana Sangh from Karera constituency of Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Tihar is not a jail; it is hell on earth. And those people were pushed in this hell whose penance threatened to dethrone Indiraji. There were piles of filth at different places in Tihar jail. It would make the inside air polluted which was stifling. While eating one had to constantly drive away the flies with one’s hands. The ears would be abuzz with the sounds of insects. In the darkness the brooch would glow and crickets would speak. Life was difficult. But despite that we would have sound sleep. Ayodhya is not a city made of bricks and mortars. It is a symbol of India’s soul and national identity. That’s why when the Rath Yatra was taken out; Hindus and Muslims participated in it alike. This national integration caused heart burns to those vested interests that were in the habit of taking the advantage of social division. Royal to Public Life by Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia with Mridula Sinha: This book likely offers a memoir or autobiography of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, a prominent Indian political figure and member of the Scindia royal family. Co-authored with Mridula Sinha, the book may provide insights into Rajmata Scindia's life journey, her transition from royalty to public life, and her contributions to Indian politics. Key Aspects of the Book "Royal to Public Life": Personal Memoir: Offers a firsthand account of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia's life, experiences, and political career. Political Legacy: Explores her role in shaping Indian politics and her commitment to public service. Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and Mridula Sinha likely share a personal and political journey in "Royal to Public Life." This book sheds light on the life of a remarkable Indian leader.

This is a description of contemporary India and some of its recent history in the form of an autobiography. Rajmata Scindia is a member of the Indian Parliament. As a maharani she had thousands of servants and several enormous palaces. Since Independence, which marked the end of the supremacy of the Maharajas, she has emerged as one of India’s most popular political leaders, first with the Congress party and now with the opposition. Her appeal to the masses, who see her as an image of Mother India, amazes both her admirers and her critics.

543 Lok Sabha seats. More than 4,000 state constituencies. Over 800 million voters. The world's largest democracy . . . From the time of its inception, democracy in India has been dubbed 'miraculous' by the world's media, and its elections as a spectacular exercise in human management. In Ballot, Rasheed Kidwai takes us through his pick of seminal elections that have shaped Indian democracy both at the centre and in select states. Highlighting the unique challenges faced by a country that adopted universal adult franchise at the very outset, profiling personalities who have triggered ground-shifts, and analysing the causes and consequences of key electoral episodes, he traces the very evolution of India's democratic process. Combining insightful commentary and colourful anecdotes, Ballot provides a brief, incisive examination of India's most momentous elections.

In a nation singularly obsessed with politics on the one hand and cinema on the other, the point where the two intersect arouses avid curiosity and interest. What draws the larger-than-life personalities who entertain us on screen to the world of governance and politics off-screen? Neta Abhineta: Bollywood Star Power in Indian Politics traces this phenomenon through intimate and compelling portrayals of some of the most popular actors in Hindi cinema who have, from the years leading up to India?s independence in 1947, entered Indian politics for reasons ranging from a sense of social commitment to a desperate quest for a second chance at fame when their star power dimmed. Dilip Kumar, Nargis and Sunil Dutt, Rajesh Khanna, Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Mithun Chakraborty, Jaya Prada, Vinod Khanna, Govinda, Raj Babbar and Paresh Rawal are some of the more prominent names that feature in this engaging account involving film veterans, superstars and also-rans. Blending history with hard facts and entertaining anecdotes about personal and professional rivalries, clandestine romantic liaisons and cruel betrayals, Rasheed Kidwai?s latest offering presents a potent cocktail. With its clear-eyed perspective on the peculiar nature of Indian politics and its newfound addiction to social media, as well as fresh and fascinating insights into the power games that drive show business and politics, this book reveals what ensues when the two worlds ? as intensely alluring as they are dangerously fickle ? merge.