3 Review(s)

Through The Corridors of Power charts the career of P.C. Alexander, one of India’s best known bureaucrats. At the same time, this autobiography throws light on the inner workings and calculations that often take place in the corridors of power. Summary Of The Book In his book, Through the Corridors of Power, P.C. Alexander writes about his glorious days. He enjoyed a distinguished career as one of India’s highest serving bureaucrats. Often seen as being extremely loyal to Indira Gandhi, he had an unblemished career record. Post retirement, he was looked upon as a likely candidate for the Presidential election too. At the same time, he makes no attempt to hide his disillusion and bitterness at the workings within the Congress party that saw his candidature for presidency coming to nought. This refreshing candour extends throughout the book. P.C. Alexander was one of the key figures present in the Indian government through momentous events like Operation Blue Star and the dismissal of the Farooq Abdullah government in Kashmir. Both these events had long-lasting repercussions on the Indian state. P.C. Alexander’s narration of the events is a true eye-witness’ account of the circumstances and the thoughts that went into making these decisions. Given his long bureaucratic career, the book explains how exactly the business of governance takes place on a day-to-day basis. While this may interest students of political science, the book also provides glimpses into the personal habits and lives of our political leaders. For example. Indira Gandhi’s love for dressing meticulously, her habit of doodling, and other little anecdotes give the book a personal touch. Given his long bureaucratic career and his role as the Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra post retirement, P.C. Alexander’s book is an accurate retelling of India’s contemporary history. About P.C. Alexander P.C. Alexander started his career as a civil servant in 1948 and served as principal secretary to two Indian prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Other books by the author include My Years With Indira Gandhi, The Perils of Democracy, and India in the New Millennium. Alexander also worked with the UN. Post retirement, he was the Indian High Commissioner to UK. He also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. He was a candidate for the post of the Indian president in 2002. He died in August 2011 after a lengthy battle with cancer.