Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition .

BOOKMARK ‘THE TRUTH ABOUT US: THE POLITICS OF INFORMATION FROM MANU TO MODI’ BY SANJOY CHAKRAVORTY AN ESSENTIAL READ FOR EVERY THINKING INDIAN A PROVOCATIVE AND TOPICAL BOOK ABOUT THE SYSTEMATIC SPREAD OF (MIS)INFORMATION ABOUT INDIAN SOCIETY ‘India…has an information space packed with numerous sources and agents – from politicians and activists to profi teers and extortionists – all competing for attention and legitimacy in a growing information market…Whom does one believe?’ The political manipulation and simpliﬁ cation of information about a dizzyingly complex society have fashioned certain ‘truths’ about India. These truths have resulted in the creation of major religious and caste identities, which have been the deﬁ ning features of the country’s politics and history for over 200 years. An unsparing study of how this situation has come about, ”The Truth About Us” explores answers to crucial questions: Is India a homogeneous Hindu nation sprinkled with minorities, or a pluralistic, heterogeneous one? Is our knowledge of the inequalities in our society founded on facts or perceptions? What are the real origin stories of India’s social categories, and how are they being constructed and challenged today? At a time when India is in the throes of an existential debate, convulsed by contesting claims over identity and history, Hindutva and Dalit consciousness, nationalism and freedom of speech, and the rights and realities of minorities, this deeply provocative book is urgent reading for every thinking Indian.  ‘Brilliantly argued… Exposes the many flawed assumptions shaping India’s narratives and destiny.’ – Josy Joseph, author of A Feast of Vultures ‘An important book on the making of truth – a book to be read by all those who are interested in preserving India’s democracy from any form of domination.’ – Christophe Jaﬀ relot, Sciences Po, Paris, and author of Majoritarian State ‘Rarely have we been given so ﬁ ne an analysis and categorization of India’s inequality and its consequences, let alone one that has such clarity, passion, and timeliness.’ – Philip K. Oldenburg, Columbia University, New York, and author of India, Pakistan, and Democracy ‘Dazzling in the material it presents for analysis, [this book] also provides a brilliant instance of how genuine scholarship can present social complexity inaccessible, rather than simplistic, ways.’ – Sanjay Srivastava, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, and author of Entangled Urbanism Sanjoy Chakravorty has written several acclaimed books on critical issues. The Price of Land: Acquisition, Confl ict, Consequence was shortlisted for the Crossword Prize in 2013; The Other One Percent: Indians in America was awarded the Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2017; Fragments of Inequality and Made in India are ground-breaking works on vital subjects. He is the author of one novel, The Promoter, and is working on two edited collections, on land and Delhi. He teaches at Temple University and splits his time between Philadelphia and Kolkata. For more visit https://sanjoychakravorty.com/ Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 7 • July 2019, Noida • 53

Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition . | Page 53