HINDI STUFF: A look at the ‘dirty stories’ of the country’s most influential political leaders

The most influential people in India’s politics are not exactly known for their self-deprecating wit and witless sarcasm, but that’s exactly what is found in the latest edition of The Dirty Stories, a series by the influential and award-winning journalist and columnist Avi Issacharoff. 

The series, published in March, is based on interviews with India’s most powerful political leaders. 

Among the topics covered are how the ruling party has attempted to contain the growth of its rival, BJP, and how the two parties have struggled to deal with the fallout from the Delhi gang rape. 

And while the authors don’t shy away from tackling the political establishment, the topics on the agenda are often the topics that have captured the imagination of the readership.

The authors discuss, for instance, the recent controversies over the alleged collusion between the police and the opposition party, the allegations of corruption in the Delhi police, the corruption charges levelled against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and the rise of the Shiv Sena.

The Dirty Files also examines the rise in anti-corruption activism and political activism in India, from the protests of 2015 to the ongoing protests. 

Issacharoffs own political leanings are as well-known as his own work.

He was a senior editor at Newsweek and he served as a writer for The New Yorker and The Atlantic. 

In the past decade, he has written more than 70 books, including a series on China and India titled A China-India Peace Treaty.

He also co-authored The Dirty Wars: America, China and the Making of the Modern World, which is available in ebook format and is available on the App Store and Google Play.