Hope In A Challenged Democracy: An Indian Narrative

Challenged and vibrant at the same time; noisy yet deafeningly silent on critical issues in the same instance and successful yet inefficient in matching the steps of a young nation–are dichotomies that succinctly sum up the state of Indian democracy today.
The book goes beyond semantics and critically analyses issues of fundamental importance in the framework of the dignitarian goals of the republic, the role of a 'living Constitution', the necessity of equilibrium between executive, legislature and judiciary, the role of media, importance of equitable growth, a responsive justice system and a rising India's engagement with the world. It provides a statesman's perspective on addressing challenges and optimising responses with a view to transforming our democracy as a true reflection of the collective conscience of the nation. Seeking to espouse a non-partisan view, the author–a distinguished lawyer, former parliamentarian and union minister–provides not only a practitioner's view on challenges faced by Indian democracy in the twenty-first century but also a thinker's substantive vision of the qualities of democratic leadership across the world.
Hope in a Challenged Democracy is a must-read not just for practitioners of statecraft and politics, scholars and intellectuals, but everybody who is concerned about the state of our nation and the world today.

Dr Ashwani Kumar, an eminent lawyer, author and veteran parliamentarian was member of the Rajya Sabha for fourteen consecutive years till his retirement in April 2016. During this time, he held various ministerial positions including Minister for Law and Justice, Special Envoy of PM Manmohan Singh to Japan (2013) and chaired several important parliamentary committees. Dr Kumar represented the Indian government at the highest forums of diplomacy including in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the World Economic Forum.