A New Idea of India: The Civilizational Republic

India being a complex country, no single Idea of India should hold monopoly forever, and must be open to make amends from certain tenets with changing times. But for decades, a certain Idea of India, mostly shaped by the Nehruvian brand of thinking has dominated views on Secularism, National identity, Foreign policy and Economics. It was pushed as "The idea of India.This book challenges this notion and presents a refreshing counternarrative, on lines of India being a Civilizational State, and makes a strong case for greater individual right, liberal values and pro-free market. The authors provides very interesting commentary on Indian politics, Judiciary, Economics and Society, and suggests to relook into our institutions. Upgrade our policy doctrines.They have brutally taken down on Indian establishment's obsession with Socialism, and presents a really strong argument in favor of free-market economics, while not dissing welfare. They have also provided some hard hitting critique of the Indian judiciary, beyond talking about their inefficiency, but also exposes other aspects like nepotism in higher courts and on how courts have gifted powers to themselves beyond what was intended in our Constitution.Cons: This book does has its negatives though, they are mostly praising and hardly critical of the current govt. Mostly ignored faults of this govt's policy implementation and poor economic performance. Would have been better if they had spoken more about it.Having said, it is definitely a refreshing read, with a right of center perspective. I genuinely root for the policy suggestions made here and am personally in sync with their views mostly. Good read.

I think its a good book however there are some glaring factual inaccuracies. First of all, the book talks about invaders coming from Central Asia, which refers to the 'Aryan invasion Theory'. This has been falsified by numerous DNA research papers from scientists and archaeologists in India and France as well. Second, the book tries to convey the message of India being a people of 'modernity while sticking to our roots'. Well, this shows the colonial mindset of the author. This statement implies that Bharatiya culture isn't modern. Although, our culture hasn't been full fledged yet in the external scientific fields like before the Mughal Invasions, we have always 'inner engineered' ourselves, as Sadhguru always says. So we are modern in that respect. We must also give credit to our past scientific inventions: numeral system, calculus, and trigonometry, and much much more from astronomy to Ayurveda. Due to British colonization we couldn't take it forward in a big way, but even the Industrial Revolution was started by our ideas. This also implies that somehow Western cultures are more modern. Any hint of technological success throughout history has Indian brains behind it. What did the Westerners add? Plaigiarism - not acknowledged the source. In social respects, Indian women have been revered - goddesses and their temples. Discrimination against women is unheard of in our culture. We revere transgender gods and accept homosexuals as part of society. We wrote the Kamasutras too! I agree, we need to educate ourselves more on this, but this is a wrong perspective the author is taking. Third, there is so much praise about the Narendra Modi government that is sounds like a political thesis. There hasn't been much criticism of DeMo other than a few negative words, no criticism of GST regardless, and even the horrible economic performance in the last few years. The GDP growth has fallen to 5%. Since they claim the title 'A New India of India' with all its pomp and aesthetics seeming to represent the people of this country, the authors should not only learn more about the Bharatiya culture but also address properly the current social and economic needs of the country and criticism this government unabashedly.

For far too long, the Indian left has enjoyed supremacy in the intellectual discourse of India. A handful of elites deciding what India was and what India should be whereas the fact is there can never be "the" Idea of India given its diversity. This book provides an alternate idea but does not imply in any way that it is the only idea. With two consecutive mammoth victories, the BJP today is poised to take further away from the failed Nehruvian idea yet keeping it close to its civilizatioal ethos. Years down the line, this book will act as an anchor for the Indian non left. A must must read!

The authors of this book are what can be best described as Rajiv Malhotra's intellectual Khshtriyas. Young, Well read, articulate, very well informed. The book is very well written and lays out an idea of India which must be a baseline and well understood by people like us and communicated to next generation. I find it difficult to bring this up to them while they are busy making and living their lives, but will leave them my book collection and if I ever got disciplined may be write short notes that would contain the essence of book. This would be one of those books. Hope you're all mighty fyne🙏

Rajeev and Harsh's book is bold, commanding and well researched - it urges you to consider the political debate from so many different angles. Some parts I agree with easily while others challenged my own assumptions. Fantastic and much needed. Bravo, guys!

If you consider yourself at all interested in Indian policy-making, politics, and socio-economics this book is a must read. You simply cannot form an opinion on the aforementioned topics, without having read the arguments in this book

A blueprint for how India's mosaic culture can continue to balance individual rights that don't trample on the cultural heritage of the land. At this price, the Kindle version is a steal.

Brilliant book! Must read for gen z

This book comes at a crucial period for India. The post millennial generation (as much as the millennials) will have to decide if they want a liberal, free, plural, progressive and wealthy Indian State or do they want to continue the failed status quo of decades past, that stifled innovation with immovable red-tape and vote bank politics? The book argues how India's Dharmic civilisational history actually makes the nation a natural fit for a truly liberal open Democratic Republic - one that respects individual rights, freedom of expression, free markets and where all citizens are treated equally under law. This is a well written book, and is a fast read. Do read it with an open mind.

A New Idea of India is an amazing narrative of concrete steps to be taken by the people, Gov, Judiciary & Society to take India to its potential socially, econonmically & in global politics.It articulates a vision of modern vibrant India that coexist with its rich culture & traditions.Harsh Gupta & Rajeev Mantri hv articulated their ideas of inclusive growth in a very crisp manner giving statistical data & references.A must read book for all Indians to understand why we hv underperformed to our potential & what we need to do to make India attain its potential.

The book is one of the most detailed and comprehensive articulation of what India is, should aspire to be. It will go a long way in filling the gap to what India should be rather than the current right/nationalistic view of what India should not be (Nehruvian)."The tide of heightened aspirations has created singularity exerting insurmountable forces that are crushing & inescapable.Without deep introspection, the cynics long accustomed to shaping India's self image & direction will be unable to emerge from singularity they find themselves in"

Well I bought this book seeing the foreword writer Sanjeev Sanyal and also the list of luminaries showering praise on the book. However the book doesn't seem to offer any new thought or way out of the current political narrative. As a common man, this book does not throw or show any insight, which they are not already aware of. While most problems faced by India in Judiciary, executive and political are highlighted, there are no concrete steps towards the solution shown. The book goes on and on about the failures and fault lines of UPA 2, which everyone are aware of. I personally felt this book would help to set the narrative for the right India that we can aspire within the existing systems and policies or by creating new one's, which I think is not completely met. Somehow I feel the book didn't give me any 'Aha' moment or enlightenment.

Wonderfully authored. Very informative with a huge repository of references...