Captain Amarinder Singh: The People's Maharaja: An Authorized Biography

Khushwant Singh

Feb 2017 · Hay House, Inc

About this ebook

An authentic, definitive and no-holds-barred narrative – packed with fascinating incidents and anecdotes – that brings alive the life and times of one of the most prominent, multifaceted and striking individuals (a former royal) in the sphere of Punjab politics Beginning with a historical background of how the Patiala kingdom came to be established, and ruled, over the centuries, the author moves on to describe the early years of Amarinder Singh (a scion of that kingdom). He then portrays the Indo?Pak war zone of 1965 (where the protagonist earned his spurs) and finally focuses on the combative arenas of Punjab politics, where numerous electoral and other battles have been (and continue to be) fought. This informative work unravels the subterfuges of politicians and others (including religious leaders) in trying to ensure their dominance. The pages reveal behind-the-scenes intrigues, plots and counter-plots even as Punjab was in the vice-like grip of terrorism in the late twentieth century. Operation Bluestar (June 1984) and its consequences have been objectively recorded. Besides tracing the career graph of Amarinder Singh, who reached his pinnacle when he became the chief minister of Punjab in February 2002, the author provides useful insights into crucial events that have made an immense impact on that state and the neighbouring areas over the past few decades. The text also throws light on Amarinder Singh’s five-year tenure as chief minister (marked by both positive and negative aspects) and on the following period, when Parkash Singh Badal regained that post. The contents are rounded off with an update on the Punjab scenario up to February 2017, which saw Amarinder Singh come back with a thumping victory. Here’s a saga that records history in the making in Punjab.

About the author

Khushwant Singh is the author of three books: the bestselling Sikhs Unlimited (2007), a travelogue featuring extraordinary Sikhs; the gripping Turbaned Tornado: The Oldest Marathon Runner Fauja Singh (2011) and the widely acclaimed novel Maharaja in Denims (2014), a story set in Chandigarh. Khushwant Singh’s works on the Punjabi, especially Sikh, diaspora are used extensively as research material by Western universities. His column, ‘Punjabi by Nature’ in the Hindustan Times (Chandigarh), has a huge readership, earning him the title of ‘a chronicler of stories of contemporary Punjab’. He lives in Chandigarh with his family.