Stepping beyond Khaki - Revelations of a real-life Singham - K. Annamalai - Book Review
Why Annamalai is the phenomenon that he is - reading his autobiography will help us understand that. As we leaf through his life and the challenges he faces, the learnings he draws out of each of these challenges, it all becomes clear (at least for me) why he receives such adulation.
Right from how he cracked his CAT to successfully writing the civil services mains and his MBA final exams (the exams clash) on the same days left me speechless.
All through the book, he talks about making the police force better, the question of bribery and there are lessons he picked from each instance, each situation summarised at the end of each such chapter.
This book would be a great read for aspirants who wish to join the police force. But for civilians like you and me, it gives a peek into his thought process.
The book is written in very simple English and I read it as though Annamalai was giving a lecture in his own voice (in my head).
He covers different aspects of the police force, right from helping us understand what a beat policeman or a constable goes through on a daily basis to looking at a politician's day/life from a different perspective. It shows all of them in a new light, something we may have not have had a chance to do before, thanks to the stereotyping by movies.
One chapter that I absolutely loved reading was about fighting the underbelly of our society.
He pinpoints the problems with our administration, the way states manage budgets, the underlying problem with selecting officers/police force etc and also offers valid solutions for each of them. He even analyses how a criminal like Mukhtar Ansari is able to win elections from inside the jail and where the fundamental problem lies with others. I liked the analysis and it underlines one very important point - helping/caring for people as a leader when they are in need.
While reading the book, we realise that having empathy is one very important quality and Annamalai displays that to the fore through his anecdotes and the way he thinks through things.
In the last chapter he writes about the future of our country, the way it is run and how it can be changed. That when there is a mindset change, we all will change and ultimately the way our society functions and how the country is run will also change, an inspiring last chapter infact.
Special mention to Satish Acharya for the cartoons, nailed them.
This is the first time I am reading an autobiography and was able to finish it too. Also my first time writing a book review. I managed to bookmark these lines, which I think are important to me, at least.
Annamalai talks about deviants and how research shows that it was in their nature to be offenders. It is Annamalai's nature to be the role model that he is. Grounded, empathetic, thought leadership, identifying problems and offering solutions from the grass root level - that's what he is and the perfect icon for today's youth.
On the whole, a must read for Annamalai fans as well as his detractors.
Just a couple of negatives which can be rectified in future editions - There are some glaring typos (which I am not able to overlook), the language could have been polished a little bit. One other thing that kept bothering me was the cover - although fantastic, the pink lips ugh!
That said, I am already a fan girl so I might sound a bit biased. But he needs bhakths and believers to propel his growth in TN and hopefully to lead Bharat one day. His inclination towards politics and its workings are seen quite at the beginning itself and it is no wonder why he is where he is today.
Annamalai is a huge ray of hope for TN and we wish to see him lead the state to glory soon.
P.S - being a first timer pls do excuse the mistakes made. Comments welcome.
Comments
Post a Comment