This week we look at the basics of living in a democratic society through a curated series of books
Every five years when India votes, everyone prepares for the “world's biggest election”. 'India watchers' like to tell you 'everything you need to know', X analysts give quick fixes and people publish outdated lists of 'books to understand India today'. Democracy, at its core, is about equality – and that's not just about politics, it's also about the way we live. Or rather, choosing how we want to live is actually a deeply political decision, and even those who say they are “apolitical” are still making the political choice not to care. So this week we're looking at the basics of living in a democratic society through a curated series of books we think you'd like to read. That doesn't mean we chose 1000-page doorstops. Instead, we decided to focus on comedy, fiction, parody, poetry and stories that have shaped people's ideas about democracy.
Twelve writers tell us about their favorite stories that changed their view of the world and shaped their personal beliefs about equality, identity and nationalism, all while being an engaged member of a larger community or country. At our request, they have chosen to write in languages other than English to reflect the diversity of mores that characterize India.
Film critic Raja Sen selects shows from past and present, witty and dramatic, all available in India, that make you think about the challenges facing a democracy. From the evergreen classic political comedy Yes, minister until the hard blows Maharani starring Huma Qureshi, these shows contain lessons about the state of the country. While each of these books and programs are good for weekend reading and viewing, we also hope they will help you look inward and think about first principles before you vote.
Elsewhere in this issue we discuss the other big concern of the month: summer. One columnist advocates being a little kinder to make rising temperatures somewhat bearable, another story delves into the dessert cocktail trend, while our compilation of products to keep you cool is inspired by the shades and shapes of mangoes.
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