He was born in the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on 25 August 1955. He did his M.A. in Political Science from Jiwaji University (Gwalior) in 1977 and then moved to Delhi where he got an M.A. in Hindi literature at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was awarded a Ph.D. degree by Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1985 on the topic of The Social Meaning of Kabir's Bhakti under the supervision of Prof. Namvar Singh. Between 2 July 2007 – July 2013, he was a member of the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. He was the anchor and interviewer on the TV show 'Kitab', telecast on Rajya Sabha TV (now Sansad TV).
<p>Suket, Raghu and Shams are no strangers to taking on powerful political interests. They’ve never shied away from speaking their minds, with words or on the streets. And they’re used to a few bones being broken every now and then for it.</p><p>But something feels wrong about the state of affairs in the country now which they can’t quite put their finger on. Increasingly hard living conditions are met with breathless praise for the great work of development by the government. A politics of identity—of the religious kind—has all but replaced the pursuit of social justice. And people’s sentiments are so easily hurt that just about any divergent word you speak may bring a mob to your door. What has gone so wrong? Why does it feel like the entire nation has been lobotomized?</p><p>There are days when the three friends think they are close to an answer. But they have no idea how little they know.</p><p>In any case, their time’s up. They’re going to find out tonight. The National Commission for Hurt Sentiments is bringing them in for a ‘friendly interaction’.</p>
