|Politicians & Literature|
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo | 38 | Odisha
MP, Biju Janata Dal
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo Photo: Vijay Pandey
MY FAVOURITE BOOK is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read the book when I was 10 years old, and re-read it about seven times after that. The book is a wonderfully written account of the experience of a child seeing first-hand the hardships faced by African-Americans in the era of segregation before the Civil Rights Act was passed. It has a simple storyline, but as I revisited the book while growing up, I began to understand the underlying themes that I had missed as a child. It is a different experience every time I read the book.
I read all kinds of books, but generally prefer non-fiction. I read a lot of political biographies and accounts in order to better understand this complex nation. I’m an avid reader of books that give an account of modern Indian history, especially the era between the turn of the 20th century and Independence, an era that shaped India as we know it today.
Currently, I’m reading Roderick Matthews’ Jinnah vs Gandhi, as well as Indian Summer, Alex von Tunzelmann’s account of the relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten.
It is very important for a politician to read. Although my public life was inspired by my family, my knowledge of economics and sociology, and my understanding of world events have come from the books I read over the years. To understand politics, I think, one needs to have a sound understanding of human behaviour. Whatever genre you read, it makes you aware of emotions and human behaviour, it makes you aware of yourself. It determines what you would do if you were put in the same situation as in the book.
Reading is a wonderful habit to have, and books have kept me evolving all my life.
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