Democracy on the Road

On the eve of a landmark general election, Ruchir Sharma offers an unrivalled portrait of how India and its democracy work, drawn from his two decades on the road chasing election campaigns across every major state, travelling the equivalent of a lap around the earth. Democracy on the Road takes readers on a rollicking ride with Ruchir and his merry band of fellow writers as they talk to farmers, shopkeepers and CEOs from Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu, and interview leaders from Narendra Modi to Rahul Gandhi.

No book has traced the arc of modern India by taking readers so close to the action. Offering an intimate view inside the lives and minds of India's political giants and its people, Sharma explains how the complex forces of family, caste and community, economics and development, money and corruption, Bollywood and Godmen, have conspired to elect and topple Indian leaders since Indira Gandhi. The ultimately encouraging message of Ruchir's travels is that, while democracy is retreating in many parts of the world, it is thriving in India.

In ajunul unor alegeri generale de referinta, Ruchir Sharma ofera un portret de neegalat al modului in care functioneaza India si democratia sa, extras din cele doua decenii pe care a urmarit campaniile electorale in fiecare stat major, calatorind echivalentul unei ture in jurul pamantului. Democratia pe drum ii ia pe cititori intr-o plimbare draguta cu Ruchir si cu formatia sa vesela de colegi scriitori, in timp ce vorbesc cu fermierii, comerciantii si directorii executivi din Rajasthan pana in Tamil Nadu si intervieveaza liderii de la Narendra Modi la Rahul Gandhi. Nicio carte nu a urmarit arcul a Indiei moderne, luand cititorii atat de aproape de actiune.