This is an invitation to all the esteemed readers of the ‘Security Wise’ blog to join in the event to launch my latest book – ‘Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition’ published by Penguin, scheduled for Thursday, August 30, at 6:30 PM, at the new Multi-purpose Hall, Seminar rooms 1,2 & 3, 1st Floor, India International Centre.
The book is both an analysis of Modi’s persona, leadership qualities, and method of governance in the context of the other strongmen-alpha male leaders on the international stage, in the main, Trump, Putin, Xi, Erdogan and Shinzo Abe, and a critique of his government’s foreign and military policies, including the ‘Make in India’ programme relating to defence and attaining arms self-sufficiency.
The event will feature a panel discussion with Yashwant Sinha, Jairam Ramesh, Shivshankar Menon, Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) and the author, and moderated by Col. Ajai Shukla (Retd), consulting editor on strategic affairs with Business Standard.
Mr Sinha, a stalwart BJP leader and sharp critic of the Modi regime and Mr Ramesh of the Congress Party, with the quicksilver intellect, should make this a particularly interesting occasion! And the former NSA, Menon, and ex-CNS, Admiral Prakash will no doubt provide the ballast
Those among the readers of this blog in the Delhi capital region, hope you will all be able to make it to the event.
Security Wise 
Let me congratulate you on the occasion of book launch. I am sure it will catch attention of many of us. Regrettably I would be outstation and will not be able to make it.
Warm regards Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Retd
Bharat,
Why do you invite politicians, especially retired ones, for book launches? Don’t you have renowned Professors, policy analysts and academicians for these occasions?? What kind of academic experience these politicians have?? Its very rare in Aussie academic world to see this happen.
India is not Australia.
Sir will the event be livestreamed on youtube or be available for viewing later ?
Penguin is exploring the possibility with some news outlets for livestreaming and videographing of the launch event for subsequent uploading to the Net. Hope something works out.
Just got your book yesterday and started reading.
Have to ask, Mota bhai ko kyu nahi bulaya, kya pata isi bahane Buddhi khul jati.
Congratulations, Mr. Karnad. I look forward to attend the launch of your book in Bombay.
@bharat karnad
Are you in Twitter ?
If live streaming is available please provide us link in blog before lauching
Congratulations on the launch of this new book, Mr Karnad – I’m sure it will offer some interesting insights. Besides any live-streaming of the launch itself, if you do likewise happen to make any appearances on news programs in connection with book promotion, etc, I do hope you’ll try and keep us posted in advance of such events so that we can similarly tune in.
Thank you all, will try and comply.
@BharatKarnad,
Congratulations on the launch of your new and timely book. Keep us updated about any plans for livestreaming the New Delhi launch. Alternatively, it would be nice if your publishers uploaded a video of that event to YouTube later.
Unfortunately, out of India only kindle edition available at amazon. Why staggering forward (hardcover) is not international (yet)…
It is available internationally from Amazon, USA, and other sites.
Best wishes for the launch of your book… I am sure it will be a huge success.Cant wait to get my hands on it.
You have invited people who agree with your viewpoint.
It is an open invitation actually to anybody in NCR who’s interested and can make it to the event.
Actually No. The launch event panel has former IAS-man, Yashwant Sinha, when one of the main themes of the book is that the generalist IAS-led bureaucracy is the pits and the real hindrance to India’s rapid economic growth and transformation. True, that as a senior BJP leader his trenchant criticism — but in the political realm — of Modi matters. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress Party stalwart, is a rare intellect and worth hearing on any subject — Modi and the BJP govt being one of his favourite targets. Former NSA Shivshankar Menon, remains a good friend despite my severe criticism of the policies he devised during the 2nd Manmohan Singh term, and of the shortfalls of his service — the Indian Foreign Service that I have expounded on (in both my last book — ‘Why India is Not a Great Power (Yet)’ and the new ‘Staggering’ book. Admiral Prakash is a genuine thinker from among the military’s ranks, but we disagree on many of the most important issues the book deals with — including carrier aviation which he, as a decorated naval aviator and CNS, has pushed hard, and the best way to realize arms self-sufficiency.