India’s tumultuous political history, revealing backroom stories, humorous anecdotes and invaluablelifeessons come together in Azaad, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s frank, unflinching autobiography about hislife and career alongside some of the most powerfuleaders from India and the world. As GhulamNabi charts his political odyssey, he showcases the grand arc of the great India story through themost dramatic political transformations of theast five decades.The heart of this autobiography is devoted to his half a century-old association with the Congressparty. He offers candid, captivating accounts of his relationship with the members of the GandhiParivar—former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay, Maneka, Sonia Gandhiand her children, Rahul and Priyanka. From devising a strategy with Indira Gandhi to bring Rajivinto politics and convincing Sonia to become the party chief to his mediation efforts in the tusslebetween Rahul Gandhi and Himanta Biswa Sarma—Ghulam Nabi explores the challenges ofeadershipand the consequences of daring to bring fresh thinking into the politicalandscape.He also offers a personal perspective of working in government and in Opposition. He does notpull his punches, offering his unvarnished opinions oneading politicians from across the politicaldivide—from his confrontation and comradeship with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao andSitaram Kesri, political tricks played by N.D. Tiwari and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to his personalequation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Insightful, intimate and utterly entertaining, Azaadis Ghulam Nabi’s own journey, in his own words.It is a book that belongs on the readingist of every political aficionado.