Mrityunjay Sharma traces the post-Independence socio-politics of Bihar and the momentous events leading up to the '90s: the unravelling of long-standing Congress governments, the rise of OBC assertion with Lohlaite politics, the JP movement that put the spotlight on young leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Karpoori Thakur's reservation formula, the rise of Naxal movements and the entry of socialist governments.
10 March 1990, the day Lalu took oath, was one of hope for millions in the state battered by poverty. caste atrocities and inequality. The political triumph of a vociferous champion of the marginalised, a reaction to centuries of oppression, ushered in the hope of upliftment and inclusion. Ironically, the Lalu Yadav years worsened the state's socio-economic disparities. and were accompanied by grave misgovernance. flourishing crime syndicates and caste armies. and the centre-staging of formidable bahubalis in politics.
Remarkably engaging and richly insightful. Mrityunjay Sharma's Broken Promises is not just a book about Bihar for Biharis. It is an eye-opening account of a large and socially complex participant in India's democracy, any shift within which sends ripples across national politics.
Firstly, I express my sincere thanks to Minakshi Thakur and Karthika V.K. at Westland Books, and Dipti Patel, my literary agent, for their unwavering support and dedication in bringing the essence of this book to life.
In 2021, during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself gasping for breath in the ICU at Medanta, Ranchi, for an agonising fifty-five days. I am grateful to have lived to see this book fructify. My gratitude extends to the medical team led by Dr Tapas Sahoo and all those who played a crucial role in helping me overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds. It was the same time that Covid took away Nilankan, one of my closest friends for two decades. I miss him dearly.
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