Book Review: The Identity Project – The Unmaking of a Democracy by Rahul Bhatia
1 min read
Shevlin Sebastian reviews Rahul Bhatia’s book, The Identity Project — The Unmaking of a Democracy (Published by Context, 2024) and analyses how through narrative, anecdote, research and on-the-spot reporting explains why India is the way it is today.
- ISBN: 978-9360458195
- Title: The Identity Project — The Unmaking of a Democracy
- Author: Rahul Bhatia
- Publisher: Context (Westland Books)
- Pages: 449.
- Price: 899
In the book’s introduction, author Rahul Bhatia talks about an aunt’s partner who told him to be careful about Muslims. ‘They don’t see themselves as Indians,’ the man said. “Jaat hi alag hai (they are made of something different).” His aunt butted in, “You don’t know. They’re savages. I’ve seen what they are capable of.” Two friends told Rahul about the howling of the ‘mozzies’ minarets near their home.
Disturbed, Bhatia decided to investigate what had happened. He did six years of research and met all kinds of people. The result is a memorable 449-page book, The Identity Project — The unmaking of a democracy.
