Now Reading: Kovind autobiography recounts journey from Dalit student to President
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Kovind autobiography recounts journey from Dalit student to President
Former president Ram Nath Kovind released his memoir Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 334-page book in Delhi. Kovind, the second…
The Story in Brief
Former president Ram Nath Kovind released his memoir Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 334-page book in Delhi. Kovind, the second Dalit president, writes that his election symbolises the greatness of Indian democracy. He backs the One Nation, One Election plan, saying it will cut costs and let governments focus on development. The book recounts his entry into the BJP, linked to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and his interactions with leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. Kovind recalls being denied water as a Dalit student in Uttar Pradesh.
The memoir covers his life from a village in UP to the presidency. It also details his work as head of the panel on simultaneous elections. Kovind writes approvingly of Modi as meticulous and methodical. He describes Vajpayee’s speech on tolerance as a catalyst for joining the BJP.
The Indian Opinion
The book’s claim that his presidency proves democracy’s greatness sits uneasily with the water-prohibition episode he himself recounts. That story, from the 1950s, shows a system where Dalit children needed permission to drink, hardly a triumph. The narrative of seamless upward mobility also ignores that political patronage, not just merit, lifted him. On One Nation, One Election, Kovind cites 32 of 62 parties supporting it, but omits that many opponents represent large vote shares. The real test will be whether any government actually risks simultaneous polls before building consensus.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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