A monograph on PM Narendra Modi was launched at the Sharjah International Book Fair. The 62 pages monograph, Written by Mihir Bose a British-Indian author and journalist, was originally launched in the United Kingdom in February.
The book, named "Narendra Modi: The Yogi of Populism", is as described by David Smith, Economic Times editor of The Sunday Times "a fascinating and original take on one of the mostinteresting political leaders of our age".
In an interactive session at the 11-day long Book Fair at Sharjah Expo Centre which will end on Saturday, the BBC's first sports editor told how he first got the idea of writing the book after reading a graffiti at Kemp Corner in Mumbai back in 1981 which read : "Mrs Gandhi save the Hindus."
"That was the start of the idea that you have lost your country and that you needed someone to salvage it. (Donald) Trump used it,Boris Johnson has used it and so has (Narendra) Modi," said Bose whilecomparing the former US President's 'Build the Wall' narrative with Modi's'Build the Temple' before elaborating on why he thought the Indian PrimeMinister's playbook for winning elections provided a template for both Trumpand Johnson.
"There's this strong belief that India was once a great nation and that the greatness that was lost because of misadministration by the previous government for decades is now being reclaimed by Modi'sgovernment," Bose said while talking about Modi and contemporary India.
Bose, who started his journalism career with London Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) in the late 1970s, also discussed cricket, itsfuture and how India has come to dominate world cricket, based on his book"The Nine Waves: The Extraordinary Story of Indian Cricket".
"I would have loved for India to go on and win the ICC World T20 here in UAE but sadly that isn't to be anymore and I will have toupdate my book with those disappointing results," he said while referringto India's string of poor performances in their group matches that saw themlose to Pakistan, first time in a world cup game, and then New Zealand beforecrashing out of the tournament.
Talking about the proliferation of T20 and 100-ball cricket,Bose said: "T20 is a nice appetizer but Test cricket to me is the maincourse. Yet we do need the appetizer and it only enhances overall skills."
