India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time

by Shashi Tharoor

SHASHI THAROOR is the bestselling author of fourteen previous books, both fiction and non-fiction, besides being a noted critic and columnist, a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and a former Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India. He served 29 years at the United Nations, culminating as Under-Secretary under Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s leadership. As India’s official candidate to succeed Annan as UN Secretary-General, he emerged a strong second out of seven contenders. On returning to India he contested the 2009 elections on behalf of the Indian National Congress, and was elected to Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram. Re-elected in 2014, he chairs Parliament’s External Affairs Committee.
Shashi Tharoor’s books include the path-breaking satire The Great Indian Novel (1989), the classic India: From Midnight to the Millennium (1997) and most recently, the visionary Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century (2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, was honoured as New Age Politician of the Year (2010) by NDTV, and pioneered among Indian politicians the use of Twitter, where he has over two and a half million followers, as of 2014.
Dr Tharoor earned his Ph.D. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at the age of 22, and was named by the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1998 as a Global Leader of Tomorrow. He was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, India’s highest honour for overseas Indians. [For more on Shashi Tharoor, please see www.shashitharoor.in. Follow him on Twitter @ShashiTharoor and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ShashiTharoor].

Genres: Nonfiction, India, Politics, History

490 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Shashi Tharoor is a member of the Indian Parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala. He previously served as the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information and as the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs.

He is also a prolific author, columnist, journalist and a human rights advocate.

He has served on the Board of Overseers of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva and a Fellow of the New York Institute of the Humanities at New York University. He has also served as a trustee of the Aspen Institute, and the Advisory of the Indo-American Arts Council, the American India Foundation, the World Policy Journal, the Virtue Foundation and the human rights organization Breakthrough He is also a Patron of the Dubai Modern High School and the managing trustee of the Chandran Tharoor Foundation which he founded with his family and friends in the name of his late father, Chandran Tharoor.

Tharoor has written numerous books in English. Most of his literary creations are centred on Indian themes and they are markedly “Indo-nostalgic.” Perhaps his most famous work is The Great Indian Novel, published in 1989, in which he uses the narrative and theme of the famous Indian epic Mahabharata to weave a satirical story of Indian life in a non-linear mode with the characters drawn from the Indian Independence Movement. His novel Show Business (1992) was made into the film 'Bollywood'(1994). The late Ismail Merchant had announced his wish to make a film of Tharoor’s novel Riot shortly before Merchant’s death in 2005.

Tharoor has been a highly-regarded columnist in each of India's three best-known English-language newspapers, most recently for The Hindu newspaper (2001–2008) and in a weekly column, “Shashi on Sunday,” in the Times of India (January 2007 – December 2008). Following his resignation as Minister of State for External Affairs, he began a fortnightly column on foreign policy issues in the "Deccan Chronicle". Previously he was a columnist for the Gentleman magazine and the Indian Express newspaper, as well as a frequent contributor to Newsweek International and the International Herald Tribune. His Op-Eds and book reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, amongst other papers.

Tharoor began writing at the age of 6 and his first published story appeared in the “Bharat Jyoti”, the Sunday edition of the "Free press Journal", in Mumbai at age 10. His World War II adventure novel Operation Bellows, inspired by the Biggles books, was serialized in the Junior Statesman starting a week before his 11th birthday. Each of his books has been a best-seller in India. The Great Indian Novel is currently in its 28th edition in India and his newest volume. The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cellphone has undergone seven hardback re-printings there.

Tharoor has lectured widely on India, and is often quoted for his observations, including, "India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay.". He has also coined a memorable comparison of India's "thali" to the American "melting pot": "If America is a melting pot, then to me India is a thali--a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each tastes different, and does not necessarily mix with the next, but they belong together on the same plate, and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast."

Reviews

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a mixed bag of articles written on a variety of issues. Given the command over the English language, Shashi Tharoor can perhaps write on anything. The articles range from a variety of emergent and not-so-emergent issues to his views on some relevant and not-so-relevant individuals. He has an inimitable style when he writes or speaks that makes for an interesting reading even when the topic is not-so-interesting or even irrelevant in the present day context. He comes up with quotable one-liners like "language is a vehicle, not a destination" and "language should be an instrument of opportunity, not oppression". He is in his element when he debates the issue of "The ravages of Colonialism", a speech that went viral on the net. This is the best article (as was the speech). He comes up with devastating statements like "Britain's rise for 200 years was financed by its depredations in India" and "No wonder the sun never set on the British Empire: even God couldn't trust the Englishmen in the dark"
Shashi Tharoor's tributes to great men like the Mahatma, the Gurudev and Vivekanand are eloquent as he quotes copiously from their writings and speeches. The description of the Taj Mahal by Tagore as 'teardrop on the cheek of time" says it all.
Shashi Tharoor is honest in his analyses of the actions of various political parties He even admits that "the Congress is rightly accused of having lost touch with the grass roots in many states".
Even though the book does not have the sustained brilliance of some of his previous offerings, it is worth reading as some of the articles are truly brilliant.

[Sundeep Supertramp · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I couldn't believe I had accepted to review a book such as this one. I don't mean that in a negative sense, but I never shown any interest in non-fictions. They kind of appear dry to me. Humorous non-fictions are okay. But this one is worlds away in resemblance to humor. It is darn serious and purely journalistic. Perhaps, a collection of random essays categorized and published.

This is last in the non-fictional trilogy by Tharoor - the others being, India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Pax Indica.

I have never read Tharoor before. The titles of his book sound too threatening to a thrill-seeking reader like me. How can I go on like that? I finally decided it was time I concentrate and get to know something of the country that I live in............................ (Read the whole review on my blog.)

The original review of this book is posted on my blog...


To read the original review of this book, click here...

[Natasha G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. For someone who has been following his writings and columns for more than a decade, this particular book displays a marked transition in Tharoor's writing from that of an intellectual author, to a Congress politician. That whole 'we Congress/I did this or said that before they did' kind of sentiment is reflected too often in the pages. I came to the book looking for the former Tharoor, was let down by the latter.

[Vivek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read this book after finishing "era of darkness" , which set the bar pretty high in favour of tharur already. Was disappointed to see almost quarter of book dedicated for modi bashing. That's sad from such an accomplished writer.

[Vasanth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snobbish, Patronising. Drivelling, Elitist etc

Author mocks middle class ppl choosing engineering over other professions. He goes to the extent of quoting Oxford research which tries to correlate terrorism and engineering.

Pretty negative book. Highly recommend this book to to know the mindset of some of our politicians.

[Anup Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice book to know the other side of stories and worries
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.

[Jaseena AL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating : 4 stars

[Raghu Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of a hundred essays, articles and adapted newspaper columns by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, the accomplished Indian Parliamentarian. Dr. Tharoor is a liberal, believes in political liberty, social freedoms and social justice. He believes that India is a land of plurality and diversity with vast economic potential. He is a strong believer in the need for political democracy in India to realize this economic potential. The book is a perspective on India in 2014, on issues that have consumed Tharoor’s mind in the recent past. The essays have been grouped in eight different sections under appropriate titles. Needless to say, the book will be of most interest only to people who are interested in Indian democracy, politics and culture. I found ‘Section 3’, called ‘The Legacy’, quite interesting to read. The first two sections on PM Modi and his policies were of the least interest to me because I don’t care much for Modi’s party or his politics. The other sections on Tharoor’s tenure in the UN and his vision for India were good to read without being exceptional. I would like to mention below a few passages which captured my interest.

In the essay, ‘Politics and the Indian Middle class’, Tharoor makes an observation on the attitudes of the middle-classes in India and the US towards politics and politicians. Most Indians, he says, accept, indeed assume, conduct on the part of politicians they would never condone in their neighbours. While fellow-citizens are held to middle-class morality, marital fidelity, honesty and adherence to law, politicians in India get a societal carte-blanche on lies, adultery, tax-fraud, dissembling and cheating. In the US, he says, the middle class for the most part lives in a sexually permissive environment, with divorces not being uncommon. Yet, they expect their politicians to be models of moral rectitude, punctuated by long-lasting faithful marriage. Hence, Tharoor makes the conclusion that Americans idealize their political leaders whereas we in India, disparage them! Perhaps, Tharoor should have added that the American media lampoons their politicians, including their President, a lot whereas ours in India is too afraid to take them on.

In the essay ‘India’s Obama Moment?’, Tharoor disagrees with the Indian middle class boast of our own ‘Obama Moment’ when the Congress party in 2004, headed by a Roman Catholic, elected a Sikh as PM and was sworn in by a President, who was a Muslim, in a country of 80% Hindu population. Tharoor says that only when a Dalit (formerly ‘Untouchables’) becomes the PM, India can claim to have its ‘Obama Moment’. I agree with him partially on this. I think he must give some more credit to his own party and the nation. After all, the most popular leader of the nation, Mrs.Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by Sikh militants in 1984. It shows great maturity on the part of the Congress party to elect a Sikh unanimously as PM within a short span of 20 years in 2004. It is such acts which give secular Indians hope for India’s future. Someone like Tharoor should be more encouraging of such acts and other similar ones at other times in India.

The piece on C.N.Annadurai, the erstwhile leader of the DMK party in Tamilnadu, is one of the finest essays in the book. Tharoor recounts the elements of humility, probity and discretion in Anna’s character that made him such a phenomenally popular leader in the 1960s in TN. He brings to our attention that Anna was unique in contemporary Indian politics as the only leader in any political party to encourage the emergence of a second line of leadership in his own lifetime! Things like subsidized rice and legalized ‘self-respect’ marriages without a Brahmin priest are Annadurai’s contributions to society. In passing, Tharoor also points out that K.Kamaraj, the Congress party leader and Chief Minister in the 1960s, had performed the incredible feat of visiting each of the 16000 villages in Tamilnadu, not once but twice!

On corruption in India, Tharoor makes a telling point that it is a middle-class pre-occupation when its biggest victims are in fact, the poor. He remarks insightfully, “..for the affluent, it is at best a nuisance. For the middle-class, it can be an indignity and a burden but, for the poor, it is a tragedy”. Quoting the Global Financial Integrity organization, he says that India has lost $462 billion in illicit money since 1948. Looking at these numbers, we can see that the Indian PM, Mr. Modi, was flying kites as usual, when he claimed that he will deposit 1.5m rupees in each Indian family’s account after unearthing all the black money. If he does that, he would cover only 20m Indian families. What about the remaining hundreds of millions of families?

There are a few essays in the book where Tharoor slips from his usual high standards and says things that are uncharacteristic of him. In the essay ‘Astrology and the aspiring Indian’, he tells the story of the British PM, Margaret Thatcher, being impressed by the mind-reading abilities of an Indian guru, Chandraswami. The guru prophesies to her that she will become PM within four years and serve for nine, eleven or thirteen years. After she becomes PM, Mrs.Thatcher tells the Indian High Commissioner ‘to keep the matter under wraps’. Tharoor remarks then that we Indians may be superstitious but not hypocritical. I thought this is a rather sweeping and arrogant assertion. In fact, he contradicts himself later in the book in another essay, ‘Prohibition in Kerala’, where he approvingly quotes his late father as saying, “India is not only the world’s largest democracy; We are also the world’s largest hypocrisy’. In the essay on ‘Frugal Innovation’ in India, it is a bit out of place to see praise for Tata’s Nano car and Datawind’s Akash tablet. By 2014, both have been considered as failed products by the consumers and the market. Looks like Tharoor’s editors are slacking! In another essay, he refers to ‘M.F.Husain as India’s Picasso’. Though Husain painted in a modified Cubist style, he has surely done enough to stand on his own merits without needing the prop of being India’s Picasso. It is surprising to see Tharoor, who has written so much on the damaging impact of Colonialism on the Indian mind, falling prey to such comparisons. In the essay ‘Flying while Brown and other joys of airport security’, Tharoor curiously makes the now politically incorrect usage of ‘air hostess’ repeatedly for ‘flight attendant’ or 'cabin crew' (UK). Though it is a minor issue, I am surprised that this also escaped the scrutiny of his editors.

Overall, I would say that the book is good in parts but not one of Tharoor’s better ones.

[Utkarsh Modi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book # 37 India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation In Our Time

Patriotic Fervour (or maybe the music?) got the better of me on a rainy morning which happened to be in the middle of August as picked I did this rather voluminous and magnificent work by Mr Tharoor. The book (written in early 2015) is a collection of 100 articles and commentaries by Tharoor in the recent past on India, divided into eight parts - he calls it the concluding book of his India Trilogy starting from India: Midnight to Millennium and The Elephant,Tiger and Cellphone.

The first two parts start with his reflections on the first 6 months of the then new NDA Government. What strikes through is his objective, fact driven logical arguments sans any contumely towards the right or for that matter the left.

We need a healthy civil debate in our political landscape today, more so at a time when our tolerance for views contrary to ours, borders towards an instant hatred and barrage of invectives on all available media platforms. Does this polarity define our cultural zeitgeist today? I personally feel No. Is it an exaggeration backed by multiple agendas? Yes - and it has always been so. What then defines our national consciousness? What defines India? It is a state of pluralities and will always be so. This book will give you the answers and much more.

The (objective) political commentary in Parts 1 and 2 evaluates the work of the Government and puts in valid suggestions on governance and foreign affairs - something that Tharoor excels at. The remaining parts cover myriad contemporary topics (reminding you of Nilekani’s Imagining India) ranging from the role of print media, education sector reforms, Indian Economy, role of UN, Energy economics, Globalisation, China, Land reforms, Social media, Left vs Right and his own experiences with Indian statesmen,St Stephens and UN over the years.

And yes as goes with all his books, there is the usual Kipling bashing to go with the occasional self endorsement of his earlier works. That aside, Tharoor has always been an eloquent writer with a flair that (occasional annoyance apart) keeps the reader fixed to the pages.

Great Read.

#52BooksIn2018 #15ToGo

[Kaustubh Kirti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great package full of articulated and balanced articles. Shashi Tharoor is a great writer and he has an eye for detail. Sitting in 2015 he has probably analysed every lingering topic that could be discussed about India. His depth and understanding are visible when he is critical of the current government policies, critical of his time at UN and how it functions, probably talking of women and poverty in India etc. There are various issues and the author has done great justice to most of them.

What is most interesting is definately his years at the UN and probably his years in the external affairs ministry and HRD. Talking about the current state of INdian bureucracy he has probably talked somethign that he himself might have faced after joining the government. A few of the essays like the one on Twitter, cyber security, world being flat?? are just great. His arguements against capitalism being just a Friedman phenomenon and far from reality are thought provoking. After all what decisions taken within closed doors hardly reflect reality on ground.

What is wrong in the book? The point of this book still remains unclear. There is lot of India in it, some similar content from Pax Indica but did not see much of shstra in it. Probably author wated to say this is the new shastra??? Author has used much of the first part of the book to take a hit at the Modi government. Though various articles he try to hit at how probably the COngress rule and leaders were the true visionaries and these BJP goondas are only claminig credit for Congress policies. I mean for the first half of the book it is a clevery written election manifesto..GST, MGNREGA etc were after all COngress's brainchild. Here and there the author makes sure to praise the BJP for reaching out to Afganistan or the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan but lashes out at them on each decision made in the last 6 month like - Reaching out to PAKISTAN !!!!! Phew...!!

I would like the author to rewrite with 2 more years of Modi content and now he tries to put the COngress policies into perspective.

[Ayush Boruah · Rating 4 out of 5]

India Shastra is a collection of essays and is the third installment in "a de facto trilogy of works attempting to explore what makes my country what it is". The essays included in the book go beyond merely being a collection of his published articles and work cohesively to present to the reader the writer's perspective on myriad issues that, I personally believe, all Indians, and especially the younger generation, should be more aware of.

The book is effectively divided into seven different sections. These are named, accordingly, to condense various essays to fit into a general idea under which they seem to fall. The first two can be roughly identified as the most recent as they deal with India post the 2014 Parliamentary elections.

Even though Mr. Tharoor tries his best to give a non-partisan and objective evaluation of his chosen topic, he often fails by citing the achievements of the UPA government. But thankfully, he does not proceed to ingratiate his superiors in the "grand old party". Rather, I feel it is much required for the nation to be reminded of the fact that not all things done by the UPA government was a failure (the multiple scams and policy paralysis of the last years, leading up to the 2014 loss, has erased their work from the fickle minds of the general populace).

Mr. Tharoor has shown himself a quite knowledgeable individual over the years as his books have effectively demonstrated. His prose in this book is succinct, cogent and crisp. Although one may find that the book proceeds in a haphazard direction to nowhere, she/he will just need to take a quick glance at the section and book title to dispel her/his doubts about the tenor of its content.

[Prasad GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a collection of Shashi Tharoor's essays and articles written over a few years, this is an odd sort of a book.

Firstly, there is the problem of a lack of uniformity and flow that takes effort adjusting to. There is also a lack of a central theme that one is used to in a nonfiction book. The effort at grouping the essays under different sections is only partially successful.

Then we have the problem of many of the essays - especially the political ones - appearing dated. This is compounded by the fact that the collection is also peppered with a few timeless ones.

And towards the end of the book, Tharoor's prescriptive essays are a definite put-off, as they adopt an academic tone, better suited for college journals.

The other thing I noticed was that he has literally lifted several passages from his own earlier works, lock, stock and barrel, creating a sense of déjà vu. In fact, I picked up his biography of Nehru, just to confirm my doubt! In a way, this is cheating, because I do not buy a second book to read the same thing.

Ironically enough, I enjoyed the flippant-sounding slice-of-life pieces that were both original and funny. And what is constant in the book is his famous elegance and felicity. For that reason alone, one can make allowances for its deficiencies. Of course, there are also some valuable insights that are worth one's time, if one is sensible enough to skip pages when necessary.

[Dhirendra Mishra]

Nice collection. Tharoor doesn't keep away from appreciating what deserves appreciation, even when the subject in question belongs to the opposition; doesn't mind condemning all in the open when the subject belongs to even his own party. And this rather 'calling a spade a spade' stands him away from the breed of politicians at the higher level this nation has. But the fact that 'you cannot copy a concept without first copying the culture' haunts him more often then not and gets him in news for 'apparently' wrong reasons even when he deserves applause. Well, many a time...

[Akash Parakh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative chronicles about contemporary India. Her trepidations, opportunities, achievements & threats. Seen from the eyes of a sitting MP and former Union MoS it offers unbridled view of democratic India complete with its share of humor and sarcasm. Very well written but a tad too long with some subjects getting repetitive towards the end. That is why 4 stars !!!

[Savio Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Shashi Tharoor is a great communicator. He uses humor very well to describe the issues of the day. Great read for understanding the current political dispensation of India and also some history of how we got here as well.

[Amrit Pradhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immaculately written and a must read for every Indian to delve into the inner spheres of our Nation.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meget analytisk og interessant første del, mens andre del i stor grad generelle hastverksarbeid av begrenset interesse. Så første del en klar 4'er, andre del en 2

[Sachin Kamboj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book touches various contemporary issues of Indian politics and the opinion given by the author is relevant in present context!!!

[Krupal Sathyanarayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

One star less for trying to present everything from congress viewpoint else a very lively book with many chapters having Mr.tharoors touch.

[Layacharan Sandadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 6/10

[Arun Pandiyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

INTRIGUING!

I had great admiration for Shashi Tharoor ever since his entry into active national politics from 2009. Apart from his plethora of experience and knowledge as a Economics graduate and an International diplomat at the United Nations, his views on national development and various other subjects of national interests are highly commendable. Even though he spent most of his life time working for the United Nations and Human Rights Commission and Refugee Organisations outside India, he showcased his immense knowledge on well known personalities of India including C.N. Annadurai, then chief minister of India in his essays. The 100 essays covered here include wide range of discussion on the Indian economy, education, security, women empowerment, religion and much more.

As a prolific writer, he ensures that the reader of his book shouldn't be deceived only through his impeccable vocabulary, but also he manages to squeeze in all the data regarding whichever topic he likes to cover. Few of his essays on the Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, Natwar Singh, Bengal, Kerala were of top notch analysis.

Highly recommended for anyone who is pursuing the Indian Union Public Civil Service Examination.

[Indrajit Chakraborty · Rating 3 out of 5]

India Shastra is an intriguing collection of essays and speeches that reflect Shashi Tharoor’s articulate and erudite take on Indian politics, culture, and identity. The book is intelligent and engaging in parts, but it also wears its political leanings on its sleeve. A recurring theme seems to be “Congress did it better, Modi is bad” — a narrative that gets repetitive after a while, especially if you’re looking for a more balanced analysis of recent political shifts.

That said, Tharoor’s reflections on religion and secularism were surprisingly refreshing — candid, thoughtful, and nuanced, especially coming from someone in mainstream politics. His assessments of prominent leaders are detailed and often insightful, though at times, they carry an unmistakable bias.

The most compelling parts of the book, however, are where he steps away from the day-to-day political commentary and dives into broader subjects like technology, cultural identity, and history. His arguments about Britain's colonial legacy and the case for reparations, for instance, are so well-framed that they feel like they deserve a standalone book.

Overall, India Shastra is worth a read if you're interested in Tharoor's worldview, but be prepared for a political tilt and moments where sharp analysis gives way to party-line rhetoric.

[Debjani Banerji · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book of Shashi Tharoor and I really liked his writing style. Also made me realize about different facets of Governmental departments and the UN and the foreign affairs department and how they work. The chapter in Education in India is particularly helpful and insightful. Then there are essays on Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindra Nath Tagore and of course some scathings on the Modi Government. Emerging Powers and Global Governance has some very startling facts and issues about a Pandemic so close to what is happening now. The SARS Epidemic and the Ebola is explained and you wonder if things are getting worse! Tharoor expound about Internationalism and No boundaries World and Global Governance. It does make sense in some respects. He also talks about the UN, where he worked a number of years and saw its good and the bad side. If you love history and Political Science, you will find this book interesting. Except for a boring chapter or two, the book is an interesting eye opener for a lot of issues, departments you were not aware of. Loved also what he says about people who reach their 50s.. Alas. Or is it a new beginning. #djreads #Shashitharoor

[Jaseena AL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating : 4 stars

[Dinesh Nallathamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

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

[Mg Thamizhvalavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Current affairs critique.