Maharashtra Maximus: The State, Its People and Politics

by Sujata Anandan

What is Maharashtra? What has been the contribution of various communities and castes in making the Maharashtra of today? What makes Mumbai a centre of political power? Why is it that rampage can be unleashed if the city is called by its old name, Bombay? Who is a Maharashtrian?
Sujata Anandan delves into history to unravel multiple layers that explain the complexity of Maharashtrian politics and its impact on the Indian State.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2018

Reviews

[Suman Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about the state that I have called home for the last three decades. This book combines history, economics and modern politics to help you get a deeper understanding into current events around the state. Candid portrayals of the major current political leaders. I wonder if the author will get interviews with these leaders after they have read her book.

[Apurva Vurity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sujata Anandan has beautifully woven together the history and economy of Maharashtra, along with the sentiment of its people and how these dynamics influenced who came to power, why, and when. The state's history of drought, agricultural distress, and the disproportionate focus on Mumbai's infrastructure has screwed the lives of a majority of its population. One of the most interesting part of the book is its exploration of the trajectories of political players like the NCP, Shiv Sena, MNS, and BJP, as well as the careers of their stalwarts. While the book includes a degree of narrativization and perspective, blending facts and figures with a personal analysis of the author, it does not make it any less fantastic.

[Anuj · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book graduated from WhatsApp university driven by political bias of the author. The author claims that Vajpayee came to Parliament on bullock cart to protest against introduction of computers by Rajiv Gandhi. Fact is that Vajpayee did so ten years before Rajiv Gandhi became PM and that too to protest against high fuel prices. Read with an understanding of biases of the author https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/fact-ch...

[Meenaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A panoramic view of Maharashtra Politics

The author gives us a panoramic view of the politics of the state, from its historical core issues to their contemporary manifestation. It's a good detailed introduction for anyone wanting to make sense of Maharashtra's polity.

The journalistic style of writing makes for an easy read.

[Uzair Qadri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the book's simplicity and lucidity. The author has succeeded greatly in ensuring that the nitty-gritty of life and times of the state of Maharashtra come to the fore. But there is a unidimensional pulpit in the book that the line of thought and argumentation becomes way too predictable. But, overall, a good book.

[Karthik Ram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-researched. Lots of new information. The author's knowledge is evident. She also covers a wide range of topics. Found the content on agriculture particularly insightful. Not a 5 only because I believe it could have done with tighter editing.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty meh, not very well structured.

[Diwakar Selvam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It will be good if there are more left oriented books written on maharashtra politics which can help in the politicisation of people in the state...

[Nitin Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that needed to be written. You'll learn quite a bit. But the writing would benefit with better editing. A very quick read and I got through it in a weekend.