Ballot: Ten Episodes that Have Shaped India’s Democracy

by Rasheed Kidwai

'543 Lok Sabha seats. More than 4,000 state constituencies. Over 800 million voters. The world’s largest democracy.'

From the time of its inception, democracy in India has been dubbed ‘miraculous’ by the world’s media, and its elections as a spectacular exercise in human management.

In Ballot, Rasheed Kidwai takes us through his pick of seminal elections that have shaped Indian democracy both at the centre and in select states. Highlighting the unique challenges faced by a country that adopted universal adult franchise at the very outset, profiling personalities who have triggered ground-shifts, and analysing the causes and consequences of key electoral episodes, he traces the very evolution of India’s democratic process.

Combining insightful commentary and colourful anecdotes, Ballot provides a brief, incisive examination of India’s most momentous elections.

Genres: India, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2018

About the author

Rasheed Kidwai is a non-fiction Indian writer and journalist. He has authored SONIA - A Biography and 24, Akbar Road, a book based on Congress party headquarters.


Kidwai graduated from the reputed St. Stephen's, Delhi and studied Mass Communications from Leicester University, UK. He was awarded an 'India Scholarship' by the British Council and Commonwealth office in U.K. He has worked with reputed newspapers, like the National Herald, Asia News International, The Asian Age. Presently, he is currently working as an Associate Editor with the Delhi Bureau for The Telegraph.

Now he lives in Delhi, India.

www.facebook.com/rasheed.kidwai

Reviews

[Ayush Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't quite understand the purpose of this book. It doesn't have enough anecdotes to be anecdotal, it's not comprehensive enough to be a political account, it's not personal enough to be a memoir. I consider myself as centrist as they come, leaning to the left, but some of the hero worship in the initial chapters, especially for Indira, can get a little annoying.
Three stars for being short, and for the chapters on regional leaders, which also could have been much better.
Feels like someone made the author write the entire book in one week on gunpoint.

[Vampire Who Baked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick light read. Fun little anecdotes, without anything in the sort of profound insights or groundbreaking commentary. Ultimately, you read this for the political vignettes rather than to get an intimate understanding of either Indian history or political ideology, or to get a window into the thinking of specific political actors.

Strongly needs a proofreader-- the book is filled with typos, with entire words missing at several places; a better editor would have great, too, since the narrative flow isn't much of a flow due to disjointedness. But it's not super distracting.

Cute little book.

[Md Ilyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best balanced book about the democracy and the political events of India, which lets the reader take quick response about one of those famous political episodes of the country through which the country's democracy had been strengthened.

[Nithal Rahman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completed reading fourth book of the year Ballot - Ten episodes that have shaped India's democracy by Rasheed Kidwai. I came across this book unintentionally. However the read helped to get a gist of Indian political and electoral history. In book, he discusses the electoral politics, major events and personality cult happened until 2017. His prowess as a journalist are reflected in the lucid language used. Someone with deep interest in politics or basic knowledge of political events can consider.

[Iqra Tasmiae]

Started in the morning c. 12 am or 1 pm. Finished by 2:01 am. Seems like an achievement! :D
Though I'm not very impressed with the book. There were many instances when the author almost seemed favoirably biased towards some of the people, mostly Congressmen. But it's a good read for those who have no idea of what happened in the past. Through the book at least one gets introduced to the various incidents and names which one may not have come across or not paid much attention to.

[Tanzeel haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a bird flying above in the sky and looking at the city below. It would not have a complete view of everything below. It may be able to see some of the top buildings. That is what the book tries to do. Just a cursory glance of the Indian politics since independence in just 140 pages. Nevertheless, the author does a good job to make the reader interested. The book is a good starting points to get to know about the Indian political history.

[Pranav Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst delving into certain characters and certain phases of Indian history is always more pleasurable, its nice to time and again fall back and get a birds eye view of our political democracy over the last 70 years. Good 1 day read for someone looking to jog their memories on the key people and phases that have influenced Indian politics since independence.

[PranaB Hait · Rating 3 out of 5]

very SHORT but does put light on facts of some big events and happenings of indian politics. I think the writer is a little Congress supporter but maybe the Congress has been in Centre for most of the independent indian political time that's why I don't know.

[Sarah Afraz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evident Congress sympathiser but a very decent snapshot of post-independence Indian politics nevertheless.

[Arpana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete summary of the elections, and how democracy took shape in india,how election commission strengthen it's power