Folk Wisdom enlivens the book’s pages.
“Democracy on the Road” by Ruchir Sharma, of Morgan Stanley Global Strategy, is a ground-breaking book in many senses of the term. It focuses on the Dance of Democracy in India, and has over 2 decades of Ruchir Sharma’s observations of the polls in India ,behind it. It is,in that sense, not an over night phenomenon of a cut & paste compilation .
Ruchir Sharma belongs to a small town, Bijnor, in UP, from where he spread his wings globally. Hence, he is rooted in the heartland of India, and is able to look at the Indian poll-scene, through a global lens, without letting the heat and dust of a small town, fog the lens.
What is noteworthy about Democracy on the Road, are the many incisive insights which pepper the book. The author has his ear to the ground,and identifies many local and regional trends that influence state polls. Caste and local rivalries need to be taken into account,as he says,that India may have changed,but not fast enough or deep enough. Alliances seldom last, and usually are region-specific. The author discerns an anti-incumbency factor, that over-rides party politics,and is a long-lasting trend in Indian politics. He has a knack for recording pithy folk wisdom, that rings true.For instance, never get too close to a politician,because, like coming close to the sun, you may get singed.
All in all, the book makes interesting reading. Also available on Kindle.
I run a book review blog,and I published this review there.