Between our top <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/features/top-7-political-genre-books-of-2023-1700652509270">politics</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/features/ai-in-2023-top-7-technology-reads-of-the-year-1700786538795">technology</a> reads of 2023, we have had enough to write&nbsp;about the books that defined and sometimes even dominated the news cycle this year. At the end of 2023, we reached out to individuals across our newsroom to find out what books&nbsp;— old and new&nbsp;— they loved reading the most this year.&nbsp;

Here are the books that hooked WION newsroom in 2023.&nbsp;

Aprameya Rao, Business Journalist, WION Business Desk<img alt="Vajpayee by Abhishek Choudhary" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="946c8be5-39a0-4898-89d5-3197d84b44ef" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T121238.423.png" />

VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 by Abhishek Choudhary | Pan Macmillan 
 
Indian biographies often end up being too passionate and biased which defeats the purpose of critical evaluation. But former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's latest biography by Abhishek Choudhary 
defies the trend — quite comprehensively. Choudhary's book intertwines Vajpayee's&nbsp;early life with the rise of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) as a political party. Along the way, we also see how Vajpayee tried to mould the BJS into an acceptable political force. The book ends in 1977 when Vajpayee becomes the Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet. I am looking forward to reading the second part, expected to be released in 2024.

Eric Njoka, News Presenter, WION<img alt="Who ate my cheese" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="53c91e8b-73b0-4c6a-a0ba-f35a28c7c6c4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T130913.892.png" />

Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson | Vermilion London

When we have good times in life (enough supply of cheese), we tend to forget that situations may not be the same in the future. During food times, we tend to feel safe and&nbsp;secure, cosy in comfort zone, proud, and at times arrogant of our success. But when we face the challenges in our lives (when the cheese is moved away from us), the complex human brain tends to over analyse the situation. We start ranting and raving at the injustice. We feel depressed, frustrated, angry and even paralysed by our own fears of the unknown. This book has helped me balance my life

Prisha, Senior Sub-editor, WION Web Desk

<img alt="The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="27c8bcc1-e07a-4bf4-8869-87e2152b7216" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T121514.528.png" />

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy | EBURY Press 
 
This is an account of the most heartfelt conversation between a boy and his companion who are on a journey called 'life'. With every page, you are likely to find an answer to a question that has remained deep inside your heart. The book is a combination of multiple emotions including the feeling of warmth and love. It's a story to be told again and again, a lesson to be learned and revised till eternity.

Veer Vikram Mukherjee, Assistant Producer,&nbsp;WION Assignment Desk

<img alt="Lover Boy of Bahawalpur" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bcfe872a-c240-4e1f-a341-0d3ffa381916" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T122224.425.png" />

The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur: How the Pulwama Case was Cracked by Rahul Pandita | Juggernaut

For all that it's worth, the Balakot airstrikes after the Pulwama terrorist attack in 2019 were a watershed in India's policy to combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur, in that context, is the product of a remarkable journalistic observation. The book presents the world of anti-India jihad in an unputdownable format.

Mukul Sharma, Journalist, WION Web Desk<img alt="Putin life and times" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c6098944-eabe-43e6-8ad5-c8341ff7d375" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T122413.439.png" />

Putin: His Life and Times by Philip Short | Bodley Head

Longtime foreign correspondent Philip Short meticulously describes Russian President Vladimir Putin as a consequentially ruthless leader with scheming pragmatism. I began reading this one in June 2023,&nbsp;the time when the Kremlin was shaken by an unprecedented insurrection by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group fostered by Putin himself. In less than 36 hours, the armed uprising ended as dramatically as it had begun. By the time I finished reading this over 900-page book, Prigozhin was killed in a mysterious plane crash — a remarkable coincidence between the events Short mentioned in the book with the real-time news cycle.&nbsp;

Tapasya Iyer,&nbsp;Trainee Journalist, WION Production Desk

<img alt="Aanchal Malhotra book" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1175186-f508-4c9f-9ec6-8d16d763b2c0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T122544.331.png" />

Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided by Aanchal Malhota | C Hurst &amp; Co Publishers Ltd 
 
Having heard a lot about this book by Aanchal Malhotra, I picked it up with a desire to know more about the history of partition. Little did I know I would get an emotional rollercoaster ride. The stories and memories from different families made me understand how any political decision has a deep impact on the personal lives of ordinary&nbsp;people. The essence of the book is in its unique storytelling style which takes you in&nbsp;the past.

Moohita Kaur Garg, Journalist, WION Web Desk<img alt="Lies Our Mothers Told Us" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4637c5e-aa85-4752-a3de-4300b27d462a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T122656.155.png" />

LIES OUR MOTHERS TOLD US: The Indian Woman's Burden by Nilanjana Bhowmick |&nbsp;Aleph Book Company

We have all heard the phrases glass ceiling and gender inequality, but for many of us, it is a hard pill to swallow. Are Indian women toiling away under a burden? I, an Indian woman, didn't think so. After all, I'm an opinionated, well-educated person, pursuing a career I love. Above all, I'm the daughter of a strong woman who lived her life by her own rules. However, this book, 'Lies Our Mothers Told Us', opened my eyes to the invisible burden my mother carried and passed on to me. Everyone, irrespective of gender you identify as, must read this to gain insight into the gender dynamics women in India face every day.

Shomini Sen, Associate Editor, WION Entertainment Desk<img alt="How I taught my grandmother to read" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8ef3b63-7cc9-4a0b-904a-5023ec27791c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T123029.898.png" />

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read: And Other Stories by Sudha Murty | Penguin Books Limited

Although the book is aimed for young adults, the author takes readers back to her childhood and her native village in Maharashtra and narrates some heartwarming stories of hope and learning. Truly for all ages.

Parul Rajwanshi, Assistant Producer,&nbsp;WION Programming Desk<img alt="City of Djinns" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e6920d7f-d5fb-4bfd-ad53-17dd0f2e08a8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T135817.957.png" />

City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple | Bloomsbury India

“Delhi stands on seven cities and all of us, like the seven cities, are at once several and singular," Dalrymple writes.

This gripping travelogue is the outcome of Dalrymple’s six-year-long stay in the city. It tells you about how New Delhi came to be, who all ruled over its ever-expanding contours and built it from within too, and all races of people who’ve set foot and settled in this mighty, mighty metropolis.&nbsp;

New Delhi’s history is never in its past, and if this timeless city had to write its own memoir, it would’ve written it exactly so.

Shashwat Swaroop Garg, Trainee Journalist,&nbsp;WION Production Desk

<img alt="The Bells of Old Tokyo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8f8d57e-bcc9-4dbd-ae4e-94858b2679bf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T145119.569.png" />

The Bells of Old Tokyo: Travels in Japanese Time | Picador

It was the one book this year that blew me away. Not because of my love for Tokyo or Japanese culture, but because of how personal and grounded in realism the book felt. Sherman did an amazing job at capturing the feeling of being in Tokyo which in itself is a melting pot of culture, heritage, art, and everything in between. It truly made me feel like I've always been a part of Tokyo and its rich and wonderful history and culture.

Hanshika Ujlayan, Assistant Producer, WION Business Desk

<img alt="Murakami" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9141e5dc-77e9-4960-a870-58ff45b6cbc0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T123307.129.png" />

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami | Vintage

This year, I was drawn to 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami, a thoughtful memoir that weaves the author's enthusiasm for long-distance running with his life as a writer. Murakami humanises the road, making it a partner on his trip. The Japanese literary genius describes the symbiotic relationship that exists between running and creativity. The book's introspective narrative reveals the discipline and attention needed in both endeavuors. Murakami's expressions of self-discovery make this book a captivating investigation of the intersections of physical and creative endurance, connecting with individuals who value isolation and tenacity.

Riya Teotia, Journalist, WION Web Desk<img alt="Jhumpa Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0ae7fa1f-afb1-47b7-b67e-a0f8658ae808" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T123709.411.png" />

Whereabouts: A Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri |&nbsp;Penguin Hamish Hamilton

Jhumpa Lahiri's 'Whereabouts'&nbsp;was the best book that I read in a long time. It is a captivating book that delves deep into the complexities of human emotions and the nuances of solitude. Its episodic way of writing makes the novel easy to relate to and makes one feel more close to the narrator. In today's world of hustle-bustle, the book stands out as a place of comfort. It almost feels like a deep study of human observations, experiences, and perspectives when they are lonely in life.

Ishita Mittra, Trainee Journalist, WION Output Desk<img alt="Morrie" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0175630-55c3-4918-9ab6-abaf5e87fc79" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T130756.357.png" /> 
Tuesdays With Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson by Mitch Albom | Sphere

If yellow crayon could speak, it would say what the book Tuesdays with Morrie speaks. A book richly peppered with all emotions on the spectrum leaves you longing. Longing to live more, longing to be loyal to the moment, and longing to experience more. In short, it tells you it's okay to be sad, but you have to meet your sad self, and once you do that, it's just another emotion. I would recommend this book to everyone. Once you begin reading it, you'll find yourself running through the pages with a constant smile on your face. 
 
Manas Joshi, Journalist,&nbsp;WION Web Desk<img alt="Gentleman Bastards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="69582254-46dc-45bc-b380-267db77985ae" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T131413.485.png" />

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch | Del Ray

The book, first in a trilogy named the 'Gentleman Bastards' is perfect for a fantasy fan who is tired of the usual 'good versus bad' and is in a mood to explore the path of an anti-hero. This book with 'Ocean's Eleven'-esque vibes has some great world-building that any fantasy series requires in the first place. As you read about the heists that ultimately come together in a grand story unfolding (and continuing) in the background, you'd wish you were living in Camorr, the fictional city built by a mysterious alien race but now infested with con men, rich people, and power brokers, all of whom have vices very very human.

<h2>This book remained a constant across WION newsroom in 2023</h2>

All through 2023 starting in February, Declan Walsh's 'Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Divided Nation'&nbsp;went to places across multiple&nbsp;departments in the WION newsroom.<img alt="Nine Lives of Pakistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c745d6ac-bcec-4013-b71b-aca52ec49b95" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-30T135626.800.png" /> 
The Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Divided Nation by Declan Walsh | Bloomsbury Publishing 
 
As Pakistan loomed large in the news cycle of South Asia, Walsh's work served as a reference to&nbsp;the country's&nbsp;chequered&nbsp;history in a way&nbsp;that only one of the nine subjects is still alive by the end of the book. Walsh's description of Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-arrest-how-isi-angels-rule-pakistan-590710">farishtey</a>&nbsp;(or angels) caused spirited discussions on the functioning of Islamabad's corridors of power — especially after former Prime Minister Imran Khan's first arrest in May and subsequently an unprecedented <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/to-coup-or-not-coup-pakistan-armys-options-after-imran-khans-mini-intifada-592986">attack by Khan's supporters</a> at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The book closes with the description of a 2013 attack by Baloch separatists over juniper-covered hills in Quetta in the country's restive Balochistan province. The separatists had attacked the&nbsp;residence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s conflicted and complicated founding father where he had spent his final months in 1948.&nbsp;

Walsh finally describes a video showing the attack on Jinnah's Quetta house.&nbsp;

"The militants gather the paintings into a bonfire, douse it with petrol and set it alight. Moving outside, they tear down a Pakistani flag and run a revel standard up the flagpole. Behind them, the wooden structure crackles as flames lick its walls. A window shatters. Dogs bark. The masked men vanish into the night as the house of Jinnah burns silently."

Between our top politics and technology reads of 2023, we have had enough to write about the books that defined and sometimes even dominated the news cycle this year.

Between our top politics and technology reads of 2023, we have had enough to write about the books that defined and sometimes even dominated the news cycle this year. At the end of 2023, we reached out to individuals across our newsroom to find out what books — old and new — they loved reading the most this year. Here are the books that hooked WION newsroom in 2023. Aprameya Rao, Business Journalist, WION Business Desk VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 by Abhishek Choudhary | Pan Macmillan Indian biographies often end up being too passionate and biased which defeats the purpose of critical evaluation. But former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's latest biography by Abhishek Choudhary defies the trend — quite comprehensively. Choudhary's book intertwines Vajpayee's early life with the rise of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) as a political party. Along the way, we also see how Vajpayee tried to mould the BJS into an acceptable political force. The book ends in 1977 when Vajpayee becomes the Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet. I am looking forward to reading the second part, expected to be released in 2024. Eric Njoka, News Presenter, WION Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson | Vermilion London When we have good times in life (enough supply of cheese), we tend to forget that situations may not be the same in the future. During food times, we tend to feel safe and secure, cosy in comfort zone, proud, and at times arrogant of our success. But when we face the challenges in our lives (when the cheese is moved away from us), the complex human brain tends to over analyse the situation. We start ranting and raving at the injustice. We feel depressed, frustrated, angry and even paralysed by our own fears of the unknown. This book has helped me balance my life Prisha, Senior Sub-editor, WION Web Desk The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy | EBURY Press This is an account of the most heartfelt conversation between a boy and his companion who are on a journey called 'life'. With every page, you are likely to find an answer to a question that has remained deep inside your heart. The book is a combination of multiple emotions including the feeling of warmth and love. It's a story to be told again and again, a lesson to be learned and revised till eternity. Veer Vikram Mukherjee, Assistant Producer, WION Assignment Desk The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur: How the Pulwama Case was Cracked by Rahul Pandita | Juggernaut For all that it's worth, the Balakot airstrikes after the Pulwama terrorist attack in 2019 were a watershed in India's policy to combat Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur, in that context, is the product of a remarkable journalistic observation. The book presents the world of anti-India jihad in an unputdownable format. Mukul Sharma, Journalist, WION Web Desk Putin: His Life and Times by Philip Short | Bodley Head Longtime foreign correspondent Philip Short meticulously describes Russian President Vladimir Putin as a consequentially ruthless leader with scheming pragmatism. I began reading this one in June 2023, the time when the Kremlin was shaken by an unprecedented insurrection by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group fostered by Putin himself. In less than 36 hours, the armed uprising ended as dramatically as it had begun. By the time I finished reading this over 900-page book, Prigozhin was killed in a mysterious plane crash — a remarkable coincidence between the events Short mentioned in the book with the real-time news cycle. Tapasya Iyer, Trainee Journalist, WION Production Desk Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided by Aanchal Malhota | C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd Having heard a lot about this book by Aanchal Malhotra, I picked it up with a desire to know more about the history of partition. Little did I know I would get an emotional rollercoaster ride. The stories and memories from different families made me understand how any political decision has a deep impact on the personal lives of ordinary people. The essence of the book is in its unique storytelling style which takes you in the past. Moohita Kaur Garg, Journalist, WION Web Desk LIES OUR MOTHERS TOLD US: The Indian Woman's Burden by Nilanjana Bhowmick | Aleph Book Company We have all heard the phrases glass ceiling and gender inequality, but for many of us, it is a hard pill to swallow. Are Indian women toiling away under a burden? I, an Indian woman, didn't think so. After all, I'm an opinionated, well-educated person, pursuing a career I love. Above all, I'm the daughter of a strong woman who lived her life by her own rules. However, this book, 'Lies Our Mothers Told Us', opened my eyes to the invisible burden my mother carried and passed on to me. Everyone, irrespective of gender you identify as, must read this to gain insight into the gender dynamics women in India face every day. Shomini Sen, Associate Editor, WION Entertainment Desk How I Taught My Grandmother to Read: And Other Stories by Sudha Murty | Penguin Books Limited Although the book is aimed for young adults, the author takes readers back to her childhood and her native village in Maharashtra and narrates some heartwarming stories of hope and learning. Truly for all ages. Parul Rajwanshi, Assistant Producer, WION Programming Desk City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple | Bloomsbury India “Delhi stands on seven cities and all of us, like the seven cities, are at once several and singular," Dalrymple writes. This gripping travelogue is the outcome of Dalrymple’s six-year-long stay in the city. It tells you about how New Delhi came to be, who all ruled over its ever-expanding contours and built it from within too, and all races of people who’ve set foot and settled in this mighty, mighty metropolis. New Delhi’s history is never in its past, and if this timeless city had to write its own memoir, it would’ve written it exactly so. Shashwat Swaroop Garg, Trainee Journalist, WION Production Desk The Bells of Old Tokyo: Travels in Japanese Time | Picador It was the one book this year that blew me away. Not because of my love for Tokyo or Japanese culture, but because of how personal and grounded in realism the book felt. Sherman did an amazing job at capturing the feeling of being in Tokyo which in itself is a melting pot of culture, heritage, art, and everything in between. It truly made me feel like I've always been a part of Tokyo and its rich and wonderful history and culture. Hanshika Ujlayan, Assistant Producer, WION Business Desk What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami | Vintage This year, I was drawn to 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami, a thoughtful memoir that weaves the author's enthusiasm for long-distance running with his life as a writer. Murakami humanises the road, making it a partner on his trip. The Japanese literary genius describes the symbiotic relationship that exists between running and creativity. The book's introspective narrative reveals the discipline and attention needed in both endeavuors. Murakami's expressions of self-discovery make this book a captivating investigation of the intersections of physical and creative endurance, connecting with individuals who value isolation and tenacity. Riya Teotia, Journalist, WION Web Desk Whereabouts: A Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri | Penguin Hamish Hamilton Jhumpa Lahiri's 'Whereabouts' was the best book that I read in a long time. It is a captivating book that delves deep into the complexities of human emotions and the nuances of solitude. Its episodic way of writing makes the novel easy to relate to and makes one feel more close to the narrator. In today's world of hustle-bustle, the book stands out as a place of comfort. It almost feels like a deep study of human observations, experiences, and perspectives when they are lonely in life. Ishita Mittra, Trainee Journalist, WION Output Desk Tuesdays With Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson by Mitch Albom | Sphere If yellow crayon could speak, it would say what the book Tuesdays with Morrie speaks. A book richly peppered with all emotions on the spectrum leaves you longing. Longing to live more, longing to be loyal to the moment, and longing to experience more. In short, it tells you it's okay to be sad, but you have to meet your sad self, and once you do that, it's just another emotion. I would recommend this book to everyone. Once you begin reading it, you'll find yourself running through the pages with a constant smile on your face. Manas Joshi, Journalist, WION Web Desk The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch | Del Ray The book, first in a trilogy named the 'Gentleman Bastards' is perfect for a fantasy fan who is tired of the usual 'good versus bad' and is in a mood to explore the path of an anti-hero. This book with 'Ocean's Eleven'-esque vibes has some great world-building that any fantasy series requires in the first place. As you read about the heists that ultimately come together in a grand story unfolding (and continuing) in the background, you'd wish you were living in Camorr, the fictional city built by a mysterious alien race but now infested with con men, rich people, and power brokers, all of whom have vices very very human. This book remained a constant across WION newsroom in 2023 All through 2023 starting in February, Declan Walsh's 'Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Divided Nation' went to places across multiple departments in the WION newsroom. The Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Divided Nation by Declan Walsh | Bloomsbury Publishing As Pakistan loomed large in the news cycle of South Asia, Walsh's work served as a reference to the country's chequered history in a way that only one of the nine subjects is still alive by the end of the book. Walsh's description of Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as farishtey (or angels) caused spirited discussions on the functioning of Islamabad's corridors of power — especially after former Prime Minister Imran Khan's first arrest in May and subsequently an unprecedented attack by Khan's supporters at army headquarters in Rawalpindi. The book closes with the description of a 2013 attack by Baloch separatists over juniper-covered hills in Quetta in the country's restive Balochistan province. The separatists had attacked the residence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s conflicted and complicated founding father where he had spent his final months in 1948. Walsh finally describes a video showing the attack on Jinnah's Quetta house. "The militants gather the paintings into a bonfire, douse it with petrol and set it alight. Moving outside, they tear down a Pakistani flag and run a revel standard up the flagpole. Behind them, the wooden structure crackles as flames lick its walls. A window shatters. Dogs bark. The masked men vanish into the night as the house of Jinnah burns silently."

WION newsroom on books it loved in 2023—this one emerged as clear winner

During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history. Others call it the literature in hurry, which stands true for any given story that is published with a breaking news urgency.&nbsp;

Often, when experienced journalists with a lifelong body of work sit back and return to write a serious piece of history, they stand out.&nbsp;In February 2023, Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani military ruler died an oblivious death in the United Arab Emirates. Days later, I picked up journalist Declan Walsh's 2021 book 'The Nine Lives of Pakistan'.<img alt="The Nine Lives of Pakistan by Declan Walsh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6294d150-0af4-483c-b940-32085f2dae04" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T132538.479.png" />&nbsp;&nbsp; 
"Musharraf was like a drunken uncle at a family wedding, nursing a bottle in the corner, desperate to be taken seriously," Walsh, a former New York Times correspondent in Pakistan in the 2010s, wrote of Musharraf.&nbsp;

The phrase is not just the precise description of a military ruler dearly abhorred in and beyond South Asia but is also the product of a remarkable journalistic acumen cultured over years of intensive reporting experience.&nbsp;

In 2022, veteran Indian journalist Arun Shourie's memoir, 'The Commissioner for Lost Causes' (a journalistic honorific bestowed to him by The Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka) had a similar last word on a crucial episode of police brutality in Indian history: The Bhagalpur blindings. In Bhagalpur district of India's Bihar state, prisoners were blinded by the police for their alleged crimes between 1980 and 1983. When the English newspapers based out of New Delhi reported on it, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was 'physically sick'.&nbsp;

"I could not believe that such a thing could happen. I was physically sick and even now cannot talk about it," Gandhi was quoted as saying by Shourie.&nbsp;

"But making rulers 'physically sick' was the objective," Shourie wrote.

A year before that in 2021, Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi's memoir, 'A Rude Life' hit the shelves. On the breakup of The Beatles&nbsp;— arguably the biggest pop culture moment of the 20th century&nbsp;—&nbsp;Sanghvi had more than a few beans to spill.

This year, Indian journalist Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide', a detailed tell-all account of the decision-making dynamics of Indian prime ministers, from Indira Gandhi to Dr Manmohan Singh, stood out on bestseller charts. Chowdhury revives the scribbles from her reporter's diary with rare anecdotal brilliance across the tenures of six prime ministers lasting 47 years.<img alt="Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea610a37-5bec-420c-abf6-64818e35a5dd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T134227.979.png" />

Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release

As 2023 nears its end, the novel 'Prophet Song' by Paul Lynch, a former deputy chief sub-editor at Ireland's Sunday Tribune newspaper, has won the publishing world's most coveted honour: The Booker Prize. The jury described it as a 'crucial book for our current times' given its relevance in context to the rising totalitarianism across the world.&nbsp;

In his acceptance speech, Lynch used a biblical phrase that uniquely enough, does not originate from any of the twelve men chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his teachings.

Lynch said: "If you use what is within you, it will save you. If you do not use what is within you, it will destroy you. My writing has saved me."

<img alt="Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bb7fa33-2fc4-4dab-8855-bb9c1b94cdc8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T133917.394.png" />

Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP

The ability of a journalist to draft history is what secures their sense of being. Not all stories make to the front page or prime time. Even the ones that do, may not necessarily have all the details scribbled within a reporter's diary or an iPad. They lay within a journalism professional, and once the dust has settled, must be watered with an acumen of storytelling; for the seed of history to take root.&nbsp;

That's the reason, after a lifelong career in journalism, India's Arun Shourie is the commissioner for lost causes and Neerja Chowdhury is able to tell the world how prime ministers decide, and Vir Sanghvi's 'A Rude Life'&nbsp;is an essential journalistic read for anybody starting out to tell relevant stories that matter.&nbsp;<img alt="Books of 2020s" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="90b7e10e-8366-44b9-bbca-86462390b2d8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-12-19T160334.410.png" />

As the drafters of history in real time, journalists remain the most equipped individuals to draft the defining pieces of contemporary history.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history.

During the first few classes in journalism in a typical journalism school, there comes a time when you are told that journalism is the first rough draft of history. Others call it the literature in hurry, which stands true for any given story that is published with a breaking news urgency. Often, when experienced journalists with a lifelong body of work sit back and return to write a serious piece of history, they stand out. In February 2023, Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani military ruler died an oblivious death in the United Arab Emirates. Days later, I picked up journalist Declan Walsh's 2021 book 'The Nine Lives of Pakistan'. "Musharraf was like a drunken uncle at a family wedding, nursing a bottle in the corner, desperate to be taken seriously," Walsh, a former New York Times correspondent in Pakistan in the 2010s, wrote of Musharraf. The phrase is not just the precise description of a military ruler dearly abhorred in and beyond South Asia but is also the product of a remarkable journalistic acumen cultured over years of intensive reporting experience. In 2022, veteran Indian journalist Arun Shourie's memoir, 'The Commissioner for Lost Causes' (a journalistic honorific bestowed to him by The Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka) had a similar last word on a crucial episode of police brutality in Indian history: The Bhagalpur blindings. In Bhagalpur district of India's Bihar state, prisoners were blinded by the police for their alleged crimes between 1980 and 1983. When the English newspapers based out of New Delhi reported on it, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was 'physically sick'. "I could not believe that such a thing could happen. I was physically sick and even now cannot talk about it," Gandhi was quoted as saying by Shourie. "But making rulers 'physically sick' was the objective," Shourie wrote. A year before that in 2021, Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi's memoir, 'A Rude Life' hit the shelves. On the breakup of The Beatles — arguably the biggest pop culture moment of the 20th century — Sanghvi had more than a few beans to spill. This year, Indian journalist Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide', a detailed tell-all account of the decision-making dynamics of Indian prime ministers, from Indira Gandhi to Dr Manmohan Singh, stood out on bestseller charts. Chowdhury revives the scribbles from her reporter's diary with rare anecdotal brilliance across the tenures of six prime ministers lasting 47 years. Rewind 2023: Neerja Chowdhury's 'How Prime Ministers Decide' topped the bestseller chart soon after its release As 2023 nears its end, the novel 'Prophet Song' by Paul Lynch, a former deputy chief sub-editor at Ireland's Sunday Tribune newspaper, has won the publishing world's most coveted honour: The Booker Prize. The jury described it as a 'crucial book for our current times' given its relevance in context to the rising totalitarianism across the world. In his acceptance speech, Lynch used a biblical phrase that uniquely enough, does not originate from any of the twelve men chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his teachings. Lynch said: "If you use what is within you, it will save you. If you do not use what is within you, it will destroy you. My writing has saved me." Irish writer Paul Lynch with his specially bound book copy 'Prophet Song' on the red carpet of Booker Prize Award announcement ceremony, at the Old Billingsgate, in central London, on November 26, 2023 | AFP The ability of a journalist to draft history is what secures their sense of being. Not all stories make to the front page or prime time. Even the ones that do, may not necessarily have all the details scribbled within a reporter's diary or an iPad. They lay within a journalism professional, and once the dust has settled, must be watered with an acumen of storytelling; for the seed of history to take root. That's the reason, after a lifelong career in journalism, India's Arun Shourie is the commissioner for lost causes and Neerja Chowdhury is able to tell the world how prime ministers decide, and Vir Sanghvi's 'A Rude Life' is an essential journalistic read for anybody starting out to tell relevant stories that matter. As the drafters of history in real time, journalists remain the most equipped individuals to draft the defining pieces of contemporary history. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Here's why journalists are the finest drafters of history

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Here's why journalists are the finest drafters of history