Pen, Power, Memoirs and Republic

Vijay Hashia iamvhashia@gmail.com Books are intellectual treasures. They challenge assumptions, broaden understanding and expand the boundaries of our world. Yet some books written by political leaders, senior bureaucrats or military commanders have become an eye of storm because of authors’ personal experience, inside stories of governance as they reveal institutional tensions or challenge official narratives. When such memoirs touch upon sensitive national security, historical memory, or party leadership, they cease to be mere recollections of the past. Instead they become flashpoints, sparking intense debates and widespread public controversies. The recent controversy surrounding former Army Chief General M. M. Naravane’s memoir,…