Book Review — DEMYTHSIFYING MYTHS : Demystifying 18 Myths about India
DEMYTHSIFYING MYTHS : Demystifying 18 Myths about India — by Amit Bagaria
Publisher: Notion Press
Pages: 222
Price: Rs. 399 INR(Paperback), Rs. 125 INR(Kindle Edition)
ISBN: 978–1642499223
Buy here: https://amzn.to/32Ihu8l
The four and a half hours read changed my views about many things spoon-fed into our mind from childhood days. The book, as the name suggests, demythsified many myths with concise but great insights about many leaders and important events in history about which we were taught half-truths to make someone look better. Not only it answers many inconvenient questions but will also make you ponder about many things like the problem with India’s electoral system and the mysterious deaths in Indian political history. A must-read book to know about the real Indian politics, History books are full of lies. I being so much involved in reading about politics didn’t know many things. The book is very well researched and all the important topics are covered. Great insights. Really loved it!
— Ankur Singh
Digital Media Consultant, Columnist, Political Commentator
This masterclass from Amit Bagaria provides a refreshing and new perspective on the most important and game changing events in India’s past. It makes you stop, think about and question everything you’ve learned through the years. This book gives one insight into an alternate reality than the one we’ve been fed through our school history books, the media and politicians — from little known facts about Gandhi to the astonishing ineffectiveness of our parliamentary governance and electoral systems. It’s definitely an eye opener and a must read for anyone that wishes to have a holistic picture of our nation and its real history.
— Ritansha Patni
M.Sc., Warwick Business School, UK, Sr. Business Analyst, TARGET
Head of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships (MEA), HEADOUT
The absolute truth! In the case of most Indians, a lot of unquestionable information has been drilled into us and we have been forbidden to question the same. If ever, there was an alternate thought, it was hushed up saying “…but that is not what History says.” However, this book has brought all those thoughts and questions to the surface. It makes me wonder if we are really the people who need to be told the contradictory point, even though our minds nudge us to believe otherwise. This book has dealt with various issues and has smacked the Indian political world on its bottom. It helps lift the veil of questions that have been unanswered for so long. The author has done in-depth research on separating fact from fiction and that is commendable in the India of today. It is a very well written book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is willing to take a breath of fresh air in this tamasha-heavy Indian policical circus.
— Archana Samtani
Head of Business Development, SOCH
About the author:
Amit Bagaria is a serial entrepreneur based in Bangalore. An out-of-the-box thinker, thought leader and marketing whiz, he excels at challenging fixated mind-sets of the majority in India.
My take on the book:
Demystifying 18 Myths about India is author Amit’s attempt to provide his point of view on few of the common beliefs in the country about prominent personalities and about the country. Some of the topics picked by the author have been in vogue for too long that they are trusted by ordinary people as facts and truths. Hence some of them are risky and controversial topics to even pick up and then provide very contrasting views to what has been the popular opinion. Like the question of ‘is Gandhi a Mahatma’ and who bestowed that title on him, what are the qualities that prove him worthy of the title and the author’s counter arguments on why he believes it may be totally the opposite.
Almost all the 18 topics picked by the author are hence controversial if you go by the sentiment of common people in the Indian society. Also, since most of the topics have either political, historic or religious inclination, the opinions expressed by the author may not be in line with what the reader may have grown up believing in. Especially for the millennial's who wouldn’t have been around when these political events happened, if their personal opinions can be kept aside, then the book gives a completely different perspective. Also, the author discussing mostly about leaders from only one political party may not appeal to the party fans and might look like targeting a few people.
The author covers a plethora of events and prominent personalities in Indian history and politics and provides his arguments with precise thoughts. If you are inclined towards these topics, and love reading nonfiction books, then this book is a must read. A gutsy, risky, and interesting compilation.
My rating:
4/5.
