Lollipop Street: Why India Will Survive Its Politicians

by Tavleen Singh

The intriguing title of this book derives from a crowded stretch of the highway from Mumbai's airport into the city where a series of concrete lollipops have been constructed to serve as advertising a wasted aesthetic gesture—and an expensive one—to make in an expanse of slum. Our politicians have a gift for the useless gesture, and these lollipops serve as a metaphor for many others that have been offered to gullible voters since independence. Thus politicians have come and gone offering promises of drinking water, schools, health facilities, jobs and numerous other things to justify their election to power, but all they have left behind are collapsing foundation stones as markers to their intentions. In Lollipop Street, a series of hard-hitting and sometimes hilarious profiles of the leaders of contemporary India, Tayleen Singh explodes the myths that surround many of them and highlights the achievements of a few who may actually make a difference. There are profiles here of prime ministers, chief ministers and others who have been or are in power, as also of icons from areas outside politics. Among those profiled are lnder Kumar Gujral, George Fernandes and Rabri Devi. There are also Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, M. F. Husain, Amjad Ali Khan, Adi Godrej and a host of other achievers in the arts, entertainment and the business world—people, the author avers, who are truly in touch with the spirit of the nation. It is they who have shown that India will survive despite the bumbling efforts of its leaders. Tavleen Singh is a noted political columnist and television personality. As a correspondent she has covered political events in the subcontinent and troubled, states like Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir for various newspapers and magazines including the Telegraph, Sunday, India Today and the Sunday Tines, London. She is a recipient of the Sanskriti award for journalism in 1985 and the Chameli Devi award for best journalist in 1987.

329 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Tavleen Singh is the author of three books, Kashmir: A Tragedy of Errors, Lollipop Street: Why India Will Survive Her Politicians and Political and Incorrect. She spends her time between Delhi and Mumbai and writes four weekly political columns, in Hindi for Amar Ujala and Jansatta, and in English for syndication and an exclusive column for the Indian Express.

Reviews

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like the transcript of the author's show - 'Ek Din Ek Jeevan' and unfortunately doesnt have the depth and content i was looking for. A couple of profiles were really interesting - Chandrashekhar (the first in the book) or G.Fernandes, but mostly mediocre.

[Shahenshah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous. Very enlightening 'human interest' stories that render Barbara Walters a blind hag with a torch. Singh is sharp and a tad-bit cheeky; it adds the fun of it all.