The book explores the history and development of India's reservation policy, highlighting the intellectual debates that occurred within the Constituent Assembly, the Supreme Court, and Parliament. It examines the complexities and implications of the policy, providing insights into the various perspectives that shaped its evolution. Through detailed analysis, it sheds light on the ongoing discussions surrounding social justice and equity in the context of reservation in India.
The book delves into India's legal and political evolution regarding free speech from the colonial era to modern times. It argues that the 1950 Constitution did not meaningfully enhance freedom of expression, as colonial restrictions on speech, including sedition and obscenity, were not only preserved but intensified post-independence. Abhinav Chandrachud presents insightful and original arguments that challenge existing narratives about free speech in India, making this work a significant contribution to the discourse on civil liberties in the country.
The biography explores the remarkable journey of Soli Sorabjee, a Parsi lawyer whose life intertwines diverse influences, from Roman Catholicism to Bahai beliefs. It chronicles his ascent from a challenging childhood to becoming India's Attorney General under a Hindu nationalist government. Sorabjee's career highlights include defending pivotal government decisions in the Supreme Court and advocating for free speech. The narrative offers insights into his complex character, legal expertise, and significant contributions to Indian constitutional law, making it an engaging read.
How did India aspire to become a secular country? Given our colonial past, we derive many of our laws and institutions from England. We have a parliamentary democracy with a Westminster model of government. Our courts routinely use catchphrases like 'rule of law' or 'natural justice', which have their roots in London. However, during the period of colonial rule in India, and even thereafter, England was not a 'secular' country. The king or queen of England must mandatorily be a Protestant. The archbishop of Canterbury is still appointed by the government. Senior bishops still sit, by virtue of their office, in the House of Lords. Thought-provoking and impeccably argued, Republic of Religion reasons that the secular structure of the colonial state in India was imposed by a colonial power on a conquered people. It was an unnatural foreign imposition, perhaps one that was bound, in some measure, to come apart once colonialism ended, given colonial secularism's dubious origins.