Patrick French’s forthcoming book, India: A Portrait—An Intimate Biography of 1.2 Billion People, takes up the story of India where he left it in Liberty or Death, examining the many unpredictable ways in which India’s vibrant democracy is unravelling. Excerpts from an interview with Sheela Reddy.
So what is new in your portrait of the emerging India?
The question I’ve tried to answer in this book is: Why is India changing the way it is? What are the historical roots of that process? There is a process of transformation happening in each of the three areas I write about—political, economic and social. And it seems to me that the social changes that stem from economic change are incredibly creative and unmatched by that in any neighbouring country in Asia. Whatever may be wrong with India, I don’t think there are many Indians who would rather be living in one of the neighbouring countries. It’s in the political sphere that there is stagnation because...
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