Publisher: Harper Collins India
It is a book about a country the world is keenly watching at present vis-à-vis Covid 19. And the subject is one which has always aroused intrigue and interest.
The protests at Tiananmen Square by students in China in May-June 1989 has been a matter of great debate: courage and bravery of students, of democracy being smothered, historic protests ….always a topic of curiosity, but masked over by China….. forgotten and never talked about.
Vijay Gokhale , the author of the book and previous Ambassador to China and Former Foreign Secretary of India was posted in the Indian embassy at the time when this momentous event took place taking the world by storm.
This book is an account of the run-up, culmination and the end of the protests by the students. Vijay Gokahle has written a book which is a fast, quick and easy read. A lesson in Chinese politics against the backdrop of the incident.
This book makes interesting reading as it is like peeping behind one of the world’s most secretly guarded system and governance. In fact, at some places, the protest recede into the background as the China’s political machinations come forth.
All important characters on China’s political landscape, hitherto just names, come to life as their roles and political and personal ambitions are sketched in the book. Hu Yaobang whose death fuels the protests and Zhao Ziyang who desperately gets involved in a power struggle with Li Peng and loses out to fade into oblivion.
Two interesting notes about the book:
One, China was always firmly committed to economic reforms. But the supremacy of Communist party of China could never be infringed upon. Political Reforms were never an option.
Second, the questionable role of Western media covering the event. In Mr Gokhale’s opinion, the Western media was far removed from the happenings, reporting miscalculated facts to the rest of the world.
Also, Mr Gokhale hints at the double standards of the Western powers in dealing with China…. the economics and politics far outweighed the necessity to strongly condemn and deal with a rising economic super power.
Deng Xiaoping emerges strongly as the powerful leader of China who deals with dissent, global distrust and yet goes on to set off the fast-paced economic progress of the country.
This is a book which should be read to understand and get a peek behind the closed curtains of the country.
Preeta Chag 