Today I finished reading a book titled “The Coalition Years 1996-2012” by Pranab Mukherjee. Pranab Mukherjee entered parliament at the age 34,and rose to become 13th President of India. A person of unparalleled experience in governance, and had distinction of having held portfolios of Defence, External Affairs, Commerce, and Finance. He was 5 time member of Rajya Sabha and 2 time Lok Sabha.  He was Member of Congress Working Committee, the highest policy making body for 23 years, till he became President of India. The book starts with 1996 with lot of ups and downs that characterised 16 years of one of the most tumultuous periods in the nation’s political history. The book covered the defeat of Congress in 1966, and the rise of regional parties, to its withdrawal of support to I K Gujral, and its eventual alliance with diverse political parties, in UPA 1&2. Mr Mukherjee remained a key figure, and an active participant in shaping the course of India’s political, economic, and social development.

He mentioned minute details of many important events, including that of a path breaking meeting he had, with Henry Kissinger, in 2004, that altered the course of Indo-US treaty on strategic partnership. He has even given the details of his differences with D Subba Rao RBI Governor on the structure of FSDC This is his 3rd volume of Autobiography, the most authoritative, account of contemporary Indian politics, which I would recommend everyone to read once.