Dynasty: Nehru-Gandhi Story

This book and the corresponding PBS television documentary offer an incredible look at the sacrifices of this family. Whatever one's personal feelings are in regards to the politics of Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, one cannot help but to recognize the incredible sacrifices made by this family. Covering 4 generations of the family, the book details the virtues and mistakes of this political dynasty. What the book addresses best is that despite the fact that the family is called a "dynasty," it faced great political opposition, which ended the lives of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. The succesive family members did not merely inherit the post of Prime Minister like it was their birthright. They had to fight for it, and both Indira and Rajiv lost elections and were thrown out of office, forcing them to make comebacks. However the book has a flaw that it shares with many others. It is oudated. Despite being a recent publication, it fails to cover one important aspect that leaves informed readers hanging. In January 1998, Rajiv's widow Sonia began to actively campaigning for the party in which her family was such an active force. In March, Sonia Gandhi became the Congress Party Presidentwhich continues this so called "dynasty."