In praise of coalition politics: and other essays on Indian democracy

In a time of democratic backsliding and institutional erosion, Manoj Kumar Jha’s collection of essays offers a stirring and necessary voice of conscience. At once political and personal, reflective and sharply polemical, the essays in this volume interrogate the state of Indian democracy after a decade of majoritarian rule. They speak to the dismantling of constitutional safeguards, the marginalization of minorities and the retreat of federalism in the face of a hyper-centralized state. All is not lost, however, as the lead essay on the return of coalition politics suggests, arguing that the half-hearted mandate to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, putting the brakes on its majoritarian juggernaut, points to the essentially inclusive nature of India’s democracy. Written with clarity, conviction and empathy, this is a book that refuses to normalize the destruction of our democratic republic or surrender to cynicism. At its heart lies a simple yet, at present, radical idea: that India’s greatness lies not in uniformity or power, but in plurality, debate and the constant struggle towards social and economic justice. A vital book for our times.