India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time

Great read! Good reflection on Indian political history and current politics.

I found it to be an interesting insight into events in India as seen and experienced by a future leader of our countryinfluencing current events.

I am a German, who has to travel to India frequently for business.The book is really a collection of articles written by the author at different times, apparently updated from time to time. Hence, no need to read from cover to cover, just pick what seems interesting.One may agree or disagree with the author's point of view, but I feel most of them are argued with convincing logic, and in absolutely beautiful language!And still many articles show this "Indian-ness" which is so difficult for me to understand in educated Indians, even after many years of travel to India: This pride of being Indian (what is there to be proud of? If 15% of the world's population are in India, being Indian is not exactly exceptional - and in any way beyond ones control). This pride, if an "Indian" ( who has probably lived in the USA for most of his life and is a US citizen) is promoted to CEO of some large company. Again, with 15% of the wotld's population being Indians, these chances are nozt so small....A country with some many contradictions: A while ago, I waited at some construction site. There was perfect 3G reception - and the construction workers ( with their families!) lived in tents, which would be unsuitable and illegal for an animal in Germany....Also, these contradictions are described in some articles.One exception:I found his defence of 'democracy' in India poorly argued. There is no doubt, that some countries without Western style democracies, think about China or Vietnam, develop much faster. He does not explain, why the Indian regime is still better for the average Indian.All in all, a book for someone who has a good deal of interest in India.

In book "India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in our Time" parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor writes short essays on contemporary India, and more particularly Tharoor draws some of the contradictions and public debates in recent time during the early days of NaMo regime (NDA II). Few of the essays earlier appeared as blog posts and newspaper columns. Some of the essays also portray present day public debates, contradictions and pseudo-science emanated due to claims and counter-claims by different socio-politico-religious organizations, while some other essays compare NaMo regime with the UPA-II and earlier regimes. A nice book to know the other side of stories and worries, which comes from a brilliant narrator.

I got precisely what I expected from this book. A very wide coverage of developments in India over the past few decades, and all that together in a moderately sized book. Helped me quickly come up to speed on many topics. Everything in simple words, and yet, fun to read.Mr. Tharoor is a big fan of 'free-thought', 'open culture', 'liberalization' etc. and that is another thing I gained from this book (an unexpected plus). Especially for someone like me, coming from a socialist and religious/orthodox background, this was a needed perspective (still a long way to go of course). Thanks Mr. Tharoor for that too!

Bath Mat and Bath seat are good. The book is excellent.

The author mesmerizes with the command of language with valuable content.The font could have been a little bolder. A good book for home library.

It was a great book to read although a bit long. He had covered variety of topics as essays but still the flow was good. I recommend this Book

One star less for selling a political party in the book. Rest, the book is quite nice. Some revealations about the nation and insight in the functioning of modi government. Would have been better if it was in chapters rather than collection of essays.