A book on India’s election and democracy

Book: INDIA’S EXPERIMENT WITH DEMOCRACY | Author: S.Y. Quraishi

As India gears up for the next general elections comes the most comprehensive book yet from S.Y. Quraishi with a 360-degree view of Indian democracy. It posits reasoned argumentation, objective enquiry, secularism, civil liberty and compassion as indispensable features of a democracy.

Over the years, the tussle between historical reality and theoretical idealism ensured that the social contract was disrupted at times, with conflicts obstructing a complete achievement of democracy. In India’s Experiment with Democracy, former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi examines critical questions that face India today: What foundational principles must be definitive to our ideas of nationhood, citizenship and democracy? How may we enliven our national discourse with a renewed spirit of inquiry, imaginative erudition, and mid-course correction?

Ultimately, the underlying thrust of this book is to posit reasoned argumentation, objective enquiry, secularism, civil liberty and compassion as indispensable features of a democracy.

S.Y. Quraishi joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1971 and rose to become the seventeenth chief election commissioner of India, says, “Elections and electoral politics are characteristic features of a vibrant democracy. Since elections keep happening in some parts of India or the other throughout the year, electoral issues and debates are always in the news. This book provides a solid analysis of electoral, legal and regulatory issues that the people of India need to know. A significant aspect of the book is pure, authentic data from elections from the beginning till now.”