A few articles on People's Republic of China in The Hindu made me a ardent fan of the former Foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale sir. During the Doklam crisis of 2017, I could never forget the powerful image of a smiling Vijay Gokhale shaking hands with his smirking Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. And so, when I came across this book in the Amazon, it was a foregone conclusion that I shall have to possess and read it. Which I did to my heart's content. Apart from the jingoistic frenzy that surrounds few border clashes, the average Indian's knowledge of China, especially in political and economic spheres is limited. That's what perhaps the author alludes to, when he wishes for a deeper understanding of our northern neighbor, in the prologue.
In short and simple terms, the book gives a ring side view of the events surrounding the Tiananmen Squre incident of 3rd-4th June, 1989 that shook China and the World. The small but detailed account lays bare the misjudged perceptions of the West and the International media regarding China of the Eighties. The description of places of interest in Beijing viz, the avenue of eternal peace is striking and it seemed as if I was a live witness to the mastery of Deng Xiaoping, just sitting at my home in Palakollu.
An authoritarian one party state is pitted against it's students and intellectuals regarding the so called 'Bourgeois Liberalism', but beneath the veneer of secrecy, in essence, it was a power struggle between various factions and personalities of the Communist party of China that shaped the destiny of events of 1989. One is chillingly reminded of George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, as the author brilliantly analyses the rise of China (1989-2010s), and how the West became an unintended and reluctant hand maiden in birthing the hegemony of 21st Century China, in the brilliant final chapter, 'Doubling Down'.
Overall, I loved the book, and I consider it as one of my favorites! It's a must read for anyone interested in learning about our northern neighbor without prejudice.
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