Derek O’Brien, Rajya Sabha member
Derek O’Brien, leader of the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha, was left with “one big conflict” after completing his new book, Inside Parliament: Views from the Front Row—should he present the first copy to his leader, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, or to his wife, Tonuca Basu? He will not tell us how he resolved it, but the quizmaster-turned politician was more than forthcoming on issues pertaining to politics and policy in an exclusive interview.
How did the journey from conducting quiz shows to politics happen?
As a journalist for a year, then in advertising for eight years, and then as a quizmaster, I was in the business of making knowledge interesting— understanding issues and communicating them. I am doing the same thing in Parliament. The scale is different. Here there is interaction with domain experts, you distil knowledge, then you convey it in the form of a speech or an essay or policy. I joined the Trinamool in 2004 and worked for the party till 2011. Mamatadi made me a spokesperson in 2006. Those were the Singur years. She was on a 26-day hunger strike. Though not part of the hunger strike, I was with her all the time. Those were important learning years.
What is the difference between the UPA 2 and the NDA?
This story is from the December 10, 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 10, 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Between hospital and home
Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system
EFFORT VS EFFECT
The government's attempts to ensure quality drugs is evident, but how well new policies can be monitored on the ground remains to be seen
A way to let go of fear
Accepting the use of adult diapers is a journey with various stages-denial, concealment, rejection and reluctance
Mandeeps & a miracle
Two strangers, one deadly disease and an act of kindness. How Mandeep Mann saved Mandeep Singh, an acute leukaemia patient, by donating his stem cells
The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery
Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?
Vaccines and meningitis
In sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and encompassing the northern part of Nigeria, there exists a region known as the African Meningitis Belt (AMB).
Celebrating diversity and inclusivity
As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.
Defendant: an Hermès handbag
When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.
A legacy, bound
Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical
Cutting-edge chronicle
In his new book, Salman Rushdie's pen is mightier than the knife
