Jinnah

The publication of the book under review opened up the wounds of partition which is still haunting the Indians after more than fifty years. When Mr. Singh released his book in Delhi, three days after the Indians celebrated their 63rd Independence Day, the entire Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leadership was conspicuous by its absence while BJP chief Rajnath Singh said in a statement that the views expressed by Jaswant Singh in the book ‘do not represent the views of the party’.

Jaswant Singh has come a long way from his home in the desert districts of Rajasthan. Commissioned in the Indian Army when barely nineteen, he participated in two wars whilst in service (1962 and 1965) before resigning his commission to pursue a political career. He has served seven terms in Parliament and, in the BJP-led governments of 1996 and 1998-2004, held office in six ministries of the Government of India, including External Affairs, Defence and Finance. In brief, Jaswant Singh is among the most respected politicians in India.