Sanjaya Baru, a prominent Indian figure, has had a multifaceted career spanning academia, journalism, and political advisory. This post delves into his life, career, and the controversies that have surrounded him.

Biography/Wiki

Born in 1954 in Hyderabad, India, Sanjaya Baru’s early education was at St. George’s Grammar School and The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet. He pursued higher education, earning a Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, followed by an MPhil from the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, and finally a PhD in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Physical Appearance

• Height: 5′ 7″
• Weight: 75 kg

Family, Wife & Caste

Hailing from a Hindu family, Sanjaya Baru’s father, B. P. R. Vithal, served as the Finance and Planning Secretary under P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government. His mother’s name is Seshu Vithal. He is married to Rama V. Baru, and they have a daughter, Tanvika Baru.

Career

Baru’s career began in academia as a professor of Economics. He held positions at the University of Hyderabad, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. After about a decade in academia, he transitioned to journalism.

His journalism career included significant roles at the Economic Times, Business Standard, and Financial Express. He also served as a Media Advisor and Chief Spokesperson to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008.

Following his time as media advisor, he held senior positions at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and served as a Non-Executive Independent Director of Wockhardt Limited. Later appointments included Secretary General of FICCI and Additional Independent Director at Artemis Global Life Sciences Limited.

His contributions extend to authorship, with publications such as “The Political Economy of Indian Sugar,” “Strategic consequences of India’s economic performance,” “The Accidental Prime Minister,” “1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History and India,” and “India and the World: Essays on Geoeconomics and Foreign Policy”.

Controversies

The publication of “The Accidental Prime Minister” in 2014 sparked considerable controversy. The book portrayed Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister as being significantly influenced by Sonia Gandhi. This led to accusations of disloyalty and the book being labeled “fiction” by some.

The timing of the book’s release, coinciding with the 2014 general elections, further fueled the debate. The book’s claims led to political questions about Dr. Singh’s leadership. The PMO issued an official statement criticizing the book as a potential misuse of privileged information for commercial gain.

Facts

Here’s a summary of key facts about Sanjaya Baru:

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