 Biography's Cover | |
| Author | Shantanu Gupta |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing (India)[1] |
Publication date | 25 August 2017 |
| Publication place | India |
| Media type | E-book, Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 164 pp. |
| ISBN | 9789386606426 |
The Monk Who Became Chief Minister : The Definitive Biography Of Yogi Adityanath is abiography ofYogi Adityanath, the 22ndChief Minister ofUttar Pradesh.[2] It is written byShantanu Gupta, an Indian author and political analyst. The book has been published byBloomsbury Publishing, India and came out on 25 August 2017. The cover of thebiography was released on 23 July 2017 at an event of CREDAI atLucknow.[3][4][5]
The biography has four sections. The first section is about the current role ofYogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister ofUttar Pradesh and his first days in office. The second section discusses his tenure as parliamentarian from theGorakhpur constituency. It elaborates on his electoral victories, interventions in parliament, controversial speeches, and his thoughts onLove Jihad, religious conversion,Hindu Yuva Vahini, and his relationship with theBharatiya Janata Party.[6] The third sections discusses Yogi's life asmahant ofGorakhpurmutt and his yogic routine. Section also talks about the gurus ofnath panth and socio-political activities of mutt over decades.[7][8][9] The last section discusses Adityanath's youth and his upbringing as Ajay Mohan Bisht in the hinterlands ofPauri,Uttarakhand among cows, farms and mountains.[6][10]
In August 2017,Hindustan Times categorised book in the five books of August reading list.[11]
Nistula Hebbar, writing forThe Hindu, found the book full of "interesting vignettes" about Yogi Adityanath.[10] She noted that rise of Yogi Adityanath to prominence raised curiosity about him which this book may go some way in fulfilling.[10]
Talha Ashraf reviewed work forThePrint.[12] He noted that author gives a detailed account of Adityanath's record as parliamentarian and administrator against his firebrand image.[12] In addition, he wrote that "it [book] praises him for injecting discipline into Lucknow’s bureaucracy, waiving farm loans and cracking down on crime."[12] According to Ashraf, book loses steam when it comes to "so-calledLove Jihad" issue.[12] In his observation, book starts on promising note but fails to give an objective portrayal of leader.[12]
A film titledAjey: The Untold Story of a Yogi is reportedly in development, inspired by Shantanu Gupta's biographyThe Monk Who Became Chief Minister. Announced in March 2025, the film aims to portray the life of Yogi Adityanath, focusing on his journey from a monk to a prominent political figure.[13][14][15]