Reflections Along a Political Journey

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This collection of Prem Bhatia’s writings covers the social and political documentation of the ‘Middle Period’ of India’s post-independence history. His unique knowledge and acquaintance of the luminaries of that period (1987-1994) provide richly varied and often highly entertaining insights, of value to both the historian and lay person. But even a decade back public perception of, and tolerance for, the guardians of the state was radically different. Because of an intimate, almost cosy, familiarity with their background, their habits and peccadilloes, weaknesses and strengths, Prem Bhatia introduced the reader to his subjects’ mindsets, taking for granted his or her involvement and curiosity. How much has changed and how little has changed. Twelve years ago, in 1990, writing about communal rioting, Prem Bhatia pondered on the overriding national mood which he read as a mixture of depression and anger. The difference between the killings in Ahmedabad, Aligarh, Kanpur, Meerut and the Partition in 1947 was that the present "does not arise from deep religious feelings but from a spirit of revenge by proxy. He linked this lawlessness to a deep-rooted malaise in the fabric of society, and especially within the tentacles of political life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prem Bhatia

Prem Bhatia lived a life enriched by varied experience, which ranged over such diverse fields as journalism, radio, the Army, Civil Services and Diplomacy. Educated at Government College, Lahore (1928-34) he started his professional life as an apprentice Sub-Editor with The Civil and Military Gazette of Lahore. He was with All India Radio as newseditor before he joined the army in 1942 as an officer in the Public Relations Directorate. In 1946 he joined The Statesman as its Political Correspondent and stayed with it for twelve years. He was the top Indian member of the Editorial Staff which was still dominated by British expatriates. In 1958 he edited The Tribune in Ambala for one year. He returned to Delhi as Resident Editor of the Times of India and later Delhi Editor of the Indian Express and India's Correspondent of the Gardient London. From 1965 to 1973 he was high Commissioner in Keneya and later in Singapore. Back to journalism he edited The Tribune as Editor-in-Chief from 1977 to 1986.