Ballot books: A reading list for election season
Editor’s note: The election may often seem unappetising, maybe even boring. But this eclectic reading list—which includes fiction, non-fiction and a graphic novel—will help you appreciate Indian democracy. This selection was curated with the help of book aficionados Priyanka Kumar and Shreya Punj.
English, August: An Indian Story by Upmanyu Chatterjee: A satirical masterpiece—Chatterjee writes best on what he knows—the Indian Civil Services and Indian government. The former IAS officer has crafted a light-hearted novel rooted in reality around a privileged young man who lands up in a small, scorching town dodging incompetent bureaucracy, cranky officials and straight-up insane folks. What follows is a journey of self-discovery in a refreshing voice of inspiration and humour.
Chatterjee’s best work is considered an Indian alternative to Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’—for its slacker protagonist and comical tonality. A bit of trivia: The book was adapted into a film—an award-winning 1994 Rahul Bose starrer—however the film is declared as lost today–though you can see the first five minutes here:
True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society by Farhad Manjoo: The 2008 book is more relevant than ever before. Based on propaganda and fake news in America, Manjoo argues that society today is divided into echo chambers that bounce back their own versions of facts that may or may not be congruent with the larger culture. In the age of electronically and visually documented events—this divide seems to have grown further instead of close. The book addresses these gaps in the worlds of science, current affairs, business and politics. Pertinent in a post-internet world and in any country today, this is an essential read to understand the current zeitgeist.
How to Win an Indian Election by Shivam Shankar Singh: This is a 360 degree breakdown of how the electoral process works in our country. Singh worked as an election consultant for both the BJP and the INC—working with well-known strategist Prashant Kishore—before quitting in 2018. The book came out the next year with some revealing and specific information on how our personal data is used for political targeting, the conversations in election war-rooms and the allocation of resources in elections. It might make you question the institution of democracy in the country—however the truth is rarely comforting, is it?
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor: A witty retelling of the Mahabharata set during the Indian freedom struggle, this book came out in 1989. It might not be able to have been released today—perhaps for its irreverent humour towards India’s greatest political leaders—or its reimagination and parallels to the Indian epic in question. Tharoor’s debut work of fiction deftly laces in the Quit India movement, the Dandi March and other pivotal landmark events of our freedom movement within the narratives of characters from the epic. This one is one of Tharoor’s most entertaining reads—so dive right in!
When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics by Milan Vaishnav: Field work, large-scale surveys and interviews with party workers on the ground make this a comprehensive offering on the relationship between crime, money and power in the world’s largest democracy. A question we repeatedly ask as citizens of this nation is—why do parties continue to pick and field political candidates who have several pending criminal charges against them—is answered finally in this detailed study by political scientist Milan Vaishnav. Academically written, it’s surprisingly not a heavy read.
Why India Votes? by Mukulika Banerjee: The subjects of this book are the ordinary voters of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Deep insight and ethnographic exploration by Banerjee presents almost a blueprint of the voter’s psyche and the motivations and desires of the common man. If nothing else, this serves as a great sociological report in accessible language.
Curfewed Night by Basharat Peer: This memoir by Kashmiri journalist Basharat Peer has accounts from his childhood and adolescence in the conflict zone of Kashmir. He was all but 13-years-old in 1990 when Indian troops marched into his homeland and fired on pro-independence protesters. He vividly describes the violence and the hero worship of militants he witnesses while also giving it an emotional gravitas not found in usual writings about Kashmir.
Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrape: Illustrated by the graphic novelist and master visual storyteller Marjane Satrape—best known for ‘Persepolis’—this book is a visual retelling of how Iranian women came together and protested against the theocratic regime—adopting the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”—triggered by the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022. She was arrested for refusing to wear the headscarf. Satrapi collaborated with 17 Iranian and international comic-book artists, journalists, academics and researchers to put this book together. FYI: You can also check out our explainer on the significance of the movement in this Big Story.
