Title: Undermining The Idea of India
Author: Justice Gautam Patel     
Genre: Law, politics
Publisher: Seagull Books
Cost: Rs 199

The idea of India has undergone a sea change since the architects of Independence enshrined it in the Constitution. Justice Gautam Patel of the Bombay High Court is perhaps the most appropriate person to examine it with a fair and studied perspective. His lecture, prepared for a talk hosted by the online journal Leaflet for Constitution Day, captures the complex nature of the dangers that threaten India’s democracy. Filled with humour and contextual touches of pop-culture, the speech, which is now available as a book, observes India’s democracy as a living organism that depends on the actions of its most important member — the people  —  for its survival.