In Pursuit of Democracy: Beyond Party Lines

Unrelenting, focused, resourceful, and fierce—these are just a few words that define Najma Heptulla, a towering figure who has shaped India’s political landscape for decades. In Pursuit of Democracy chronicles her journey, a path marked by self-discovery and goal setting, as well as by struggle, determination, hard work, and enterprise. With a career spanning over four decades, Heptulla has ushered in pivotal changes in the Indian polity. After 17 years as Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, she became synonymous with the upper house of Parliament. Having worked with prime ministers from Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi, she offers readers a ringside view of Indian democracy at play. With hindsight, she traces her growth in politics, her interpersonal relationships with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Y.B. Chavan, Pranab Mukherjee, P.V. Narasimha Rao, L.K. Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Sharad Pawar, among others. Further, she finally puts paid to the speculations behind her controversial departure from the Congress and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. Woven into her political life are personal stories—the untimely death of a beloved brother, a fulfilling marriage, and the demands of balancing motherhood with a successful career. Heptulla contemplates love, loss, tragedy, jealousy, ambition and the grey areas where these emotions reconcile. In Pursuit of Democracy goes beyond a typical autobiography, becoming a living document of history.