India in slow motion - Mark Tully

I was gifted this book by my aunt about 8 years earlier during her visit to Ratnagiri. She is an elite Bengali retired principal with doctorate in Tagore litrature. Naturally , her choice could not be ignored. When I enquired about her choice, she mentioned the popularity of the Author. I was always interested in social science and regional political movements especially after the Bombay riots which I had witnessed, but it remained limited. A nation wide perspective needs greater reading and I had kept it aside as course material for those who wanted to appear for UPSE. Mark Tully in probably known to all of us, is a legend and was awarded the Padmashree (1992) and padmabhushan for his work as a journalist. He was born in India and worked for the BBC till 1991. Tully was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and knighted in 2002. He has also received the Richard Dimbleby Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He received most of his honour in India during the periods of congress governance. 
This book deals with contradictions, challenges and opportunities in the Indian society at the end of the twentieth century. The book presents ten well described and wonderfully presented essays related to our country's everyday problems and yet we may be uaware of many of the details of the matter. The first essay stirs our minds as we read about the event which we today look back from the time of the Ayodhya Mandir era of modern India established by all the proper constitutional methods and even more. The writing was of a time when the verdict was for those who appeared to be sympatized due to their minority status  forgetting a past which was buried by force and abuse by generations of rulers who were not capable of understanding Sanatan the the ability to protest was weakened by the discord within the Hindu community. The essay is beautifully written and presented in a tasteful manner. I felt as if I am in front of the Babri masjid being demolished. 
I loved the essay titled ' Altered Alter' describing the christen community of Goa. The integration of the religion in to the process of India is in particular interesting. Contrary to my understanding, it is the Vatican which suggested the readaptation of the methods adapted by the catholic Church to maintain the followers. The observations of the charismatic church was interesting and an important understanding to the social dynamics of readaptation in new cultural environments.
Farmer's reward is a poignant chapter on the plight of Indian farmers. But reading that essay and knowing the change that has occured during the last 10 years, I know things are changing iny country. All the chapters are worth reading more than once.
The last chapter, Paradise lost , is another particularly impressive writing about the kashmir in trouble. There was no interest in restoring it. Today I am proud to be in the time of PM Narendra Modi, my country's paradise has been restored. Every chapter of a country's sad history, stands witness to the happening change and the potential for more. Group of great men ascend from those who suffer to make things change for good of humanity. I hope Mr Tully revisits and brings forth the present day progress and contemporary issues with same spirit as he did 20 years earlier and maintain the same nature of transparency. Journalism of such kind help social movements fuel up for the next mammoth change.
I managed to read some of the chapters more that three times and relished the images evoked by Tully 's wonderful and tasteful language. 



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