India’s Founding Moment: The Constitution of a Most Surprising Democracy
by Madhav Khosla (Harvard University Press, £36.95)
A couple of winters ago, I was asked to take part in a public debate in Delhi entitled: “Is India a ‘rule of law society?’” I made the case that India was not, contrary to its self-image, a rule- or law-based society. I was supported by a young scholar from a national law school. Our foes were formidable: establishment intellectuals close to the Narendra Modi government, one a Supreme Court lawyer, another a journalist turned parliamentarian. This David versus Goliath debate was refereed by a television celebrity presenter. At the end of 90 minutes, the argument was decided by a popular vote: my side won the big crowded hall overwhelmingly. The schoolgirl debater in me was thrilled. But a deeper disappointment soon overwhelmed me.