The Politician: A Novel by Devesh Verma is a work of political fiction rooted in central Uttar Pradesh. It follows Ram Mohan, an ambitious young man in newly independent India, while its account of his life unfolds through notes and diaries his son Deena leaves to his friend Kartik Verma. The novel’s distinctive focus is the way regional life, caste and political ambition meet in the Hindi heartland.
What is The Politician about?
Penguin Random House India describes the story as beginning at the peak of the Nehruvian era and ending in the early 1970s. At its center is Ram Mohan, a college teacher whose ambitions grow alongside the changing political life of the country. The novel brings that personal story into contact with political events and figures of the period.
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The narrative is framed through Kartik Verma, who encounters notes and diaries left by his deceased friend Deena. Those records open a window onto the life of Deena’s father, Ram Mohan. The framing device makes the story not just a portrait of a politician in the making, but also an account passed between people and generations.
Why is its Uttar Pradesh setting significant?
Reviewer Mohammad Asim Siddiqui describes the book as “unabashedly a north Indian novel,” and, more specifically, one about a particular region in central Uttar Pradesh. That regional focus sets it apart from political fiction that treats India’s politics mainly through national institutions or major metropolitan centers.
#1 Best Overall
Small-town life is part of the political story rather than mere scenery. Siddiqui points to everyday interactions, local disorder and political maneuvering in the novel’s portrayal of the region. The review discusses election campaigns around Fatehpur and Kanpur, bringing the reader close to the local calculations through which political power is contested.
How does the novel connect caste and electoral politics?
Caste is one of the novel’s central political concerns. The review highlights Kurmi influence around Fatehpur and Kanpur and the role of caste in shaping electoral politics in the Hindi heartland. The emphasis is on how political contests take form in a particular place, where community identity and local power relations affect campaigning and political strategy.
Rank #2
This makes the book useful for readers interested in the intersection of Indian politics and caste, especially in a regional setting. It is not presented simply as a political chronicle: its focus on Ram Mohan’s ambitions and the people around him keeps political history connected to individual lives and ordinary surroundings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who might want to read The Politician?
- Readers seeking an English novel set in Uttar Pradesh, with central Uttar Pradesh at its core.
- Readers interested in how caste, elections and local political influence intersect.
- Readers who prefer political fiction grounded in small-town life as well as national history.
- Readers looking for a character-led story that spans the Nehruvian era into the early 1970s.
The Politician: A Novel is by Devesh Verma and was published by Penguin Viking. The publisher’s description and Siddiqui’s review establish the book’s identity, setting and broad historical span; they do not establish current stock, edition formats or prices.
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Sources
- Mohammad Asim Siddiqui’s review in Scroll.in, published 29 August 2021.
- Penguin Random House India’s The Politician entry.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
