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Monday, September 22, 2025
TopicMani Shankar Aiyar

Topic: Mani Shankar Aiyar

My pick of best books I read in the grim year of 2023: Kapil Komireddi

Azerbaijani novelist Akram Aylisli describes books as our 'salvation from the dirt of the outside world'. And so, here's a small selection of titles from the works I read in 2023.

Gorbachev once asked Rajiv what keeps India together. Then IB chief Narayanan prepared note for him

Narayanan, who was chief of IB then, said PM Rajiv Gandhi asked him to prepare the brief at Gorbachev’s request. But Soviet leader didn’t even ‘glance’ at it later.

‘Narasimha Rao was first BJP PM, doing puja when Babri Masjid fell’—Mani Shankar Aiyar

He was speaking at the launch of his autobiography to a high profile audience that included former VP Hamid Ansari, Sonia Gandhi, former foreign secretaries and MPs.

I told Rajiv Gandhi to visit Pakistan. It was like Prince Edward visiting France: Mani Shankar Aiyar

In 'Memoirs of a Maverick', Mani Shankar Aiyar writes about Rajiv Gandhi's 1988 visit to Pakistan, the first by an Indian PM in 28 years since Nehru went in 1960 for the Indus Water Treaty.

‘Gandhis, Kharge believe I’m a dinosaur, loose cannon’— Mani Shankar Aiyar on being kept out of CWC

Aiyar, whose autobiography ‘Memoirs of a Maverick’ was released Monday, says he won’t leave Congress but laments party’s drift from ‘secularism of Gandhi & Nehru kind'.

‘Vishwaguru’ should look in mirror: Why Ram Navami riots & bulldozers won’t help India’s stature

Can we aspire for moral stature if we respond to criticism with prickliness? The partisan would cheer, but it doesn't mean we lose ability to look within. Or stop listening to friends.

Surprise guest list at Congress G-23 ‘dinner meet’ — Tharoor, Aiyar, Preneet Kaur, Vaghela

G-23 leaders meet for 2nd time in week at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s house after poll results declared. Former CMs Prithviraj Chavan, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also spotted.

Can’t deny top Congress leadership inaccessible — Aiyar, Chacko, Shastri back letter to Sonia

Senior Congress leaders Mani Shankar Aiyar, P.C. Chacko, Anil Shastri and others said they are in “full and complete agreement” with the demands raised in letter.

Congress doing politics only sometimes, says Sandeep Dikshit, echoes Sanjay Jha’s concerns

Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says he hopes leadership gives Sanjay Jha 'a patient hearing' and doesn't shut him up.

Happy if Rahul returns as Congress chief else Priyanka should take over: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Mani Shankar Aiyar, a senior Congress leader, also says no space in the party to express views and so Congress should hold camps like it did at Pachmarhi in 1998. 

On Camera

Skin cancer is no more an ‘old person’s disease’

The sun isn’t acting alone—it has an accomplice in pollution. Environmental toxins weaken our skin’s natural barrier.

Market regulator SEBI clears Adani Group of impropriety alleged by Hindenburg Research

SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.

60 yrs on, veterans recall lessons from 1965 India-Pakistan war. ‘Equipment alone doesn’t win battles’

A common thread runs through the memories of soldiers of the 1965 war—ingenuity, courage and camaraderie that withstood an apparently technologically superior foe.

India doesn’t give walkovers to Pakistan in war. Here’s why it shouldn’t do it in cricket either

Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.