Rajiv Gandhi Son of a Dynasty ( Used, Average Condition, Hardcover)

 As a BBC commentator on India, Nugent demonstrates a superb grasp of the Indian political milieu in which Gandhi served as prime minister from 1984 to 1989. Completed prior to Gandhi's assassination on May 21, the biography avoids the sentiment of tragedy and focuses on a devastating analysis of the airplane pilot turned prime minister. Nugent concludes that Gandhi was mainly the tool of the Congress Party and lacked the preparation essential for a national leader. For example, Gandhi's constant shuffling of the cabinet reflected poor personnel decisions and actually reduced its level of expertise. On the economic issues, problems with the Sikhs and Tamils, and the scandal over arms purchases, Gandhi was indecisive and often reversed his position. Moreover, Nugent shows Gandhi to lack the political savvy required of a national political leader; he lost numerous state elections. Without vituperation Nugent simply indicates that Gandhi was a basically nice man, but he was entirely out of his element as India's national leader. For informed laypersons.