The Sanjay Story  (English, Hardcover, Mehta Vinod)

The Sanjay Story details the rise and fall of Sanjay Gandhi and serves as an indispensable historical record of a time that changed the face of Indian politics.

Summary Of The Book

The Sanjay Story is an attempt by the author to demystify the Sanjay Gandhi phenomenon and present to the readers its impact on the present day political scenario of India. The beginning of the book is set in the Nehru household and gives a glimpse into the relationship of Feroze Gandhi with the Nehrus, and in particular the relationship of Indira and Kamala. The shadows of the marriage of Indira and Feroze characterized by various insecurities and complexes go on to describe the reason for their son’s volatile personality.

The author also dwells into the notorious side of Sanjay by talking about his Doon School days. Known to be a loner and mediocre, he had a weakness for pinching cars, taking them for short drives and bringing them back. This continued even after he shifted to Delhi and one such case of car theft in May 1964 made its way into the newspapers.

In a brutally honest way, the author traces the dramatic rise of Sanjay’s popularity soon after the declaration of the Emergency. His hold over the Youth Congress and the more than necessary stress on the sterilization campaign that he falsely believed would give him a rightful place in history are portrayed by the author in frank detail. Also addressed in the book is the role of the media in building the so called ‘Cult of Sanjay’ and the setting up of the Maruti factory given Sanjay’s craze for cars.

The Sanjay Story is the only biography of Sanjay Gandhi that gives its readers a rare insight into the life of Sanjay Gandhi.

About Vinod Mehta

Vinod Mehta is considered to be one of the most influential editors in India and has to his credit the launch of various successful publications. His other works include Lucknow Boy, Mr Editor, How Close Are You To The PM?, and Bombay: A Private View.

At the age of three, Mehta and his family fled to India from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, his birthplace. His Punjabi family settled down in Lucknow and here, he completed his schooling from La Martinere. After earning his B.A. degree, he took a couple of odd jobs including that of a factory helper in the suburbs of Britain. In 1974, he took up the job of an editor with the Debonair magazine, which was known for featuring erotica. The next thirty years saw his rise to becoming one of India’s top most influential editors. Currently, he is an advisor to Outlook India magazine and also appears as a panelist on TV shows on Times Now and CNN IBN. Mehta lives with his wife in New Delhi.