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Keeping the Faith: Memoirs of a Parliamentarian, by Somnath Chatterjee, is a book that presents the veteran Indian politician’s experiences as a parliamentarian. Summary of the Book Somnath Chatterjee became a Member of the Lok Sabha in 1971. He served as a Member of Parliament in all successive Lok Sabhas till the year 2004. He became the Speaker in 2004 and remained so, till he retired from active political life in 2009. He is one of the house’s longest-serving members. In this heartfelt and candid memoir, Somnath Chatterjee talks about four decades of his life in the Indian Parliament, an eventful journey of highs and lows. He discusses how a nation’s history has been shaped through the years, along with several behind-the-scenes stories that weren’t told before. He also describes one of the most tumultuous periods in the entire history of the Lok Sabha. The book is not just about his individual journey as a revered parliamentarian, but is also a tale of the paradoxes and wonders of a system called democracy in a nation as complex as India. About Somnath Chatterjee Somnath Chatterjee is a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of People). He had been associated with the Communist Party of India as a politician. He was born in Assam, and completed his B.A. and M.A. in law. Chatterjee was called to the bar from the Middle Temple in London. He had taken up legal practice as an advocate at the Calcutta High Court, before getting actively involved in politics.