INDIAN PRESIDENT Hardcover

"The Indian President: An Insider's Account of the Zail Singh Years" by K.C. Singh is a compelling and meticulously observed study of the institution of the President of India, based on the author's direct experience as Deputy Secretary to the seventh president, Giani Zail Singh (1983-1987). This book delves into the crucial role the President plays, particularly when authoritarian governments with overwhelming majorities come to power, as was the case with Zail Singh and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Through rich anecdotes and incisive analysis, Singh recounts how Zail Singh managed to partly resurrect the constitutional "guardrails" painstakingly established by the first two presidents, Rajendra Prasad and S. Radhakrishnan, making a strong case for why this period is essential for understanding both the limits and possibilities of India's highest office and the functioning of its democracy.