This Too Is India: Conversations on Diversity and Dissent.

Indian Conversations: Culture, Politics and Society

📖 About the Book

Indian Conversations is a deep exploration of Indian politics, history and culture through thoughtful conversations with some of the most influential voices of our times.

Originally published in their full form on the Indian Cultural Forum, these conversations bring together a diverse group of writers, activists, historians, actors, musicians and translators. Each discussion offers a unique perspective on the realities of Indian society and the challenges of shaping its future.

Through insightful and candid conversations, the book examines important questions about identity, culture, politics, social change and democracy. The contributors reflect on subjects ranging from caste and contested texts to dissent, freedom of expression and social justice.

Featuring voices such as Bama, Nayantara Sahgal, Romila Thapar, Shanta Gokhale, Volga, T.M. Krishna and Sanjana Kapoor, this collection presents honest and engaging discussions that capture the complexity of contemporary India. The conversations are carefully guided and anchored by acclaimed writer Githa Hariharan.

✨ Key Highlights

• Thought-provoking conversations with leading cultural voices of India.
• Explores politics, history, literature, art and social movements.
• Addresses important issues such as caste, identity and dissent.
• A collection of diverse perspectives on contemporary Indian society.
• An insightful read for those interested in culture, democracy and public life.

✍️ About the Author

Githa Hariharan is an acclaimed Indian writer known for her novels, short stories and essays spanning over three decades. Her celebrated works include The Thousand Faces of Night, which won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book in 1993, along with The Art of Dying, The Ghosts of Vasu Master, When Dreams Travel, In Times of Siege and Fugitive Histories.

She has also written children's stories and edited several collections, including A Southern Harvest, From India to Palestine: Essays in Solidarity and Battling for India: A Citizen’s Reader. Her most recent novel is I Have Become the Tide.

Beyond literature, Hariharan has been an influential cultural commentator through her essays, lectures and activism. In 1995, she challenged the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act as discriminatory against women. Her case, Githa Hariharan and Another vs. Reserve Bank of India and Another, resulted in a landmark Supreme Court judgment in 1999 regarding guardianship rights.

📚 Why Read This Book?

Indian Conversations offers a powerful collection of ideas and reflections from some of India's finest thinkers. It is an essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of India's cultural landscape, political debates and social transformations.