A good book should plant a new idea, and propose a new theory that can make a reader think. Precisely, this is what the book, “Bharat: India 2.0” authored by Prof Gautam Desiraju has successfully accomplished. Prof Desiraju, a world leader in crystallography with several scientific contributions to his name has always advocated for Indianness. While it would be rather unconventional to begin the review of the book based on the professional training of the author. The copious amounts of footprints, replete with scientific terminology and atypical definitions of terms like nation-state and civilisation state in a refreshingly new perspective assert the same.

As a concerned citizen, marshaling his attributes as a researcher, the author embarks on a quest to identify the incongruities, fractures and divides in the body politic of the nation and gets convinced of the root cause of these maladies to the Constitution. Indeed, over 105 amendments to the constitution over seven decades of independence have further strengthened this conviction. Meticulously delving into the antecedents of the Constitution, the author rightly identifies the ominous shadow of the partition on its promulgation. In this book, Prof Desiraju lists out seven major concerns and notably, he raises a flag over – “the fact that our 5000-year civilisation and more pointedly Sanatana Dharma is not within the warp and woof of the document with only fleeting, even token, acknowledgments, say through the well-known illustrations by Nandalal Bose for the page borders” (p-101).

Sanatana Dharma is the defining feature of India and is built on the foundation of Dharma. Dharma coded in the shastras is the Sanatana Dharma which Westerners call Hinduism. Deploying his domain expertise, Prof. Desiraju profoundly articulated thus- “Dharma is fundamental to our existence as is its converse in the physical world, the second law of thermodynamics which governs the progression of things from order to randomness. Like the second law, there will be many definitions of dharma”. (p-98)

Spanning over 340 pages, the book is divided into five chapters. Aflush with logical thinking, the free-wheeling discussion style of writing, generously peppered with major European historical events and with appropriate references from Upanishadic excerpts -Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Shukraneeti, Lalithasahasranamam (dharmadhara-dhandkyaksha-dhanadhanavivardhini) the book makes for a delightful read.

Among the inherent flaws, Prof Desiraju rues framers’ overarching importance to the constitution than the future of the country and the absence of any vision. Unfortunately, the Constitution, which should be a document reflecting the aspirations, anxieties and offering governing solutions in the Indian way, has been a “patchwork quilt” of Western frameworks.

Among the many inherent maladies of the constitution, the book makes an interesting mention of Nehru’s reply to JB Kriplani who chides the former for his strident attack on Hindu communalism and soft-peddling of Muslim communalism.

During the passage of the Hindu Code Bill (1955), Nehru defends his stance terming, “because majority communalism is far more dangerous since it could easily pass off as Indian nationalism”. This political preference dominated and continues to dominate the Indian political landscape fervidly buttressed under the façade of secularism even now. This penchant eventually paved way for the sly insertion of secularism in the preamble two decades later by his daughter.

Distilling the Constitution into an easily understandable format, devoid of critical legal jargon, Prof Desiraju has succinctly brought to the fore various flaws that are to be remedied. In chapter 4, he describes the causes of illness that afflicted the body politic of India, the symptoms and nature of the disease, offers a medication and suggests a cure, instinctive of a seasoned researcher.

Expounding “our civilization is a powerful glue”, Prof Desiraju proposes that attempt must be made to “link civilization with the overwhelmingly rich diversity”. To reinforce how critically diversity can be captured to foster the feeling of one whole, he broaches about revolutionary painting technique Pointillism or impressionism pioneered by Georges Seurat. Also called Divisionism, this modern art form involves the use of small and sharper dots to create aesthetic paintings.

India can adopt the Pointillist approach of creating 75 small states based on a common ethnicity, language, and culture that enhances self-worth, linguistic pride and self-development. Redrawing of the states should be carried out in a way to prevent the political control from falling into the hands of regional satraps, facilitate easy administration and also pave way for healthy interaction with the Centre. Centre-state at loggerheads and states arm-twisting the centre marauded the federal nature of the constitution. Hence small states with optimal population size and diversity besides augmenting the country’s potential can promote true federalism.

Practically giving shape to his idea, the book puts forth a map containing states with names mentioned in the Mahabharata- Hastinapur, Braj, Panchal, Awadh, Kasi, Magadh, Avanti, Vidharba. This attempt to connect the ancient with the modern is the true essence of Santana Dharma, which is timeless, ancient and eternal.

Prof Desiraju says “civilisation is hard power” and for India to evolve as a major power, the country must consciously make an attempt to decolonise and positively affirm our civilisational identity. At 75, India is on a cusp of a new change. Notwithstanding the fractures and fissures within, aspirational India is pregnant with a new hope. It is heartening that his new change is kindled by a body of scholarly works authored by a tribe of passionate thinkers, scholars, change-makers and intellectuals from various walks of life. This book is a wonderful addition to this existing body of new genres of scholarship that is unequivocally catalysing a new churn and a latent renaissance to reassert our identity and civilisational values.

Postulating a need for coherence and cohesion through a hybrid of Bharatiya and Anglosphere, Bharat: India 2.0 puts forth a new framework “for re-establishment of dharma in this ancient land as a means for its exponential rise as a nation in years to come”. Prof Desiraju summarises- “in the context of this book, two laws have been invoked, the second law of thermodynamics from the physical world and the Law of Dharma from the metaphysical one. The first takes a system from order to dissipation. The second, its converse, takes a system from disorder to a perfect organisation. The equilibrium between these two laws literally controls the deconstruction and integration of the entire universe” (p-339).

Image provided by the author.