Though the narrative prominently bears Vajpayee’s name and image, it is, in effect, a history of the Hindu Right. Both the volumes of your book, though focused on Vajpayee, are clearly a story of the rise of the Hindu Right. Why did you choose Vajpayee to tell the story of the Hindu Right in India? I chose Vajpayee partly because he was not the most doctrinaire figure of the Hindu Right. The Congress diluted it over the decades, especially during 1975–89, preparing conditions ripe for the Hindu Right – always lurking in the background – to take over.

Source: The Hindu December 25, 2025 03:38 UTC