Who is the author of the political memoir "A Journey"?

Introduction / Context:
The question asks about the author of the political memoir "A Journey". Political autobiographies and memoirs are significant because they provide insider perspectives on governance, diplomacy, and leadership. Competitive examinations include questions on these titles to test awareness of global leaders and their published works. "A Journey" is particularly associated with British politics and the tenure of a former Prime Minister, which is important knowledge for candidates preparing for general awareness sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The title mentioned is "A Journey". • It is a political memoir rather than a novel. • Four potential authors are listed, including both political and literary figures. • Only one of these names correctly corresponds to the former leader who wrote this memoir. • The question concerns authorship, not the detailed content of the book.

Concept / Approach:
"A Journey" is the memoir of Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It covers his time in office, including major events such as the Iraq War and domestic reforms. The correct approach is to remember that this title is not related to Indian literature or fiction but to modern British political history. By matching the nature of the book to the profession of the listed individuals, you can identify Tony Blair as the correct author and eliminate others who are either novelists or unrelated historical figures.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recognize that "A Journey" is not described as a novel but as a work that fits the category of a political memoir. 2. Recall that Tony Blair, as former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, wrote a memoir titled "A Journey" after leaving office. 3. Examine option a, Tony Blair, and associate it with this widely publicized book. 4. Evaluate option b, Vikram Seth, an Indian English novelist and poet who wrote "A Suitable Boy" but not a memoir titled "A Journey". 5. Evaluate option c, Janardan Thakur, a journalist and writer on Indian politics, not the author of this specific international political memoir. 6. Evaluate option d, Harisen, a historical court poet associated with ancient Indian texts rather than modern political writings. 7. Conclude that Tony Blair is the only plausible and correct author among the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be achieved by recalling international news coverage at the time of the book's release. "A Journey" generated discussion about Tony Blair's decisions, particularly on foreign policy. Bookstores and library catalogues list Tony Blair as the author under the biography and memoirs section. No standard literature or current affairs source attributes this title to Vikram Seth, Janardan Thakur, or Harisen, which confirms that those names are included merely as distractors.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Vikram Seth writes fiction and poetry, not this specific political memoir about British governance. • Janardan Thakur is known for political reporting within the Indian context, but he did not write "A Journey". • Harisen is associated with ancient Indian history and court poetry, completely unrelated to the contemporary political narrative in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to assume that the book must be by an Indian author because many exam questions focus on Indian writing, leading some candidates to choose Vikram Seth or Janardan Thakur by default. Another mistake is not recognising that the word "Journey" in the title indicates a life or political journey, which fits a memoir by a leader like Tony Blair. To avoid such errors, students should maintain a clear mental list of political memoirs by international leaders and avoid mixing them up with Indian literary works.

Final Answer:
The political memoir "A Journey" was written by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair.