KAMBLE SWAPNIL SUNIL , Assistant Professor
Dept. of Communication and Journalism, MMCC
Marathwada Mitra Mandals College of Commerce Pune

In The Accidental Prime Minister, Sanjay Baru offers an insider’s perspective on the inner workings of Indian politics, particularly focusing on the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2014. Baru, who served as the media advisor to Singh, delivers a candid account of the complex political dynamics within the UPA government. The book is a memoir that paints a picture of a Prime Minister who, according to Baru, was often overshadowed by his political mentors and colleagues, particularly Sonia Gandhi, the then-president of the Congress Party.
The book is based on the administrative working of the former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh. Dr Manmohan Sigh has appointed Mr Sanjay Baru as a media adviser of the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr. Baru has written the book in a lucid way. The Precise detailing, the humane and down to earth nature of the Prime Minister and his diellema and determinations written well.
Initial Impression: The reason behind the selection of the book is the recent incident that took place. Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on 26th December 2024. The next day the media and the press wrote extensively about his achievements. Most of the writings highlighted his genuine nature and his economic visionary. The book was purchased immediatly and I started reading it.
Summary: As the book is written by Mr. Sanjay Baru who is basically a journalist. The book gives you the background and the intoward situations in which the leading congress party caught in a situation for the nomination of the prime minister thought they had received a massive vote.
Theme: Dr Manmohan Singh was a real hero of his contemporary and always thought about the nation’s priority. He also tried to develop strategically good relationships with Pakistan to reduce the tensions of the borders. Dr. Manmohan Singh was a real visionary. It took a long time to understand the importance and relevance of his role as a prime minister.
Setting: Dr Manmohan Singh was a real scholar and a professor hence he was very much meticulous about his political-economic decisions. He admitted that the position of the prime minister is accidental in real sense as the author has aptly given the title for the book.
Characters: The prominent character is Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India. His family members which the role of his wife Mrs Gursharan Kaur, Congress Party president is indirectly portrayed in the book. The book contains several names of the ministers, prime ministers and presidents of the other countries prominently the president of the United States of America (USA) Mr. Barack Obama, the president of Pakistan, Parvez Musharraf and other names are mentioned in the book. The book is a non-fiction one so there is no proper leading character other than the prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Plot and Structure: The book does not follow a conventional plot as it is based on the real incidents that happened in the professional life of Mr. Manmohan Singh.
The strength of this book lies in its revelations. Baru provides readers with an intriguing glimpse into the corridors of power, detailing the tension between Singh’s leadership style and the interference from the Congress Party’s high command. The narrative uncovers the delicate balance Singh had to maintain between being an economist with a vision and a politician constantly working under the influence of the party’s power structure.
While the book offers valuable insights into Indian politics, it has been met with criticism for its one-sided portrayal of the former Prime Minister. Some argue that the portrayal is too harsh on Singh, while others feel it fails to adequately account for the broader challenges he faced. Nevertheless, The Accidental Prime Minister is an engaging read for those interested in the intricacies of political manoeuvring in India and provides a nuanced perspective on the challenges faced by a leader caught in a web of party politics and national governance.