Working a Democratic Constitution

Working A Democratic Constitution: A History Of The Indian Experience is a non-fiction book that deals with the four decades of the Indian Constitution.

Summary Of The Book

Granville Austin presents a monumental work in Working A Democratic Constitution: A History Of The Indian Experience. It takes the reader on a historical journey of the Indian Constitution from 1950 to 1985. The book presents a critical insight into these four decades, right from the euphoric idealism of the post-independence period, the turbulent years of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, to Rajiv Gandhi’s brief political tenure. It details how the social, legal, and political vicissitudes of democracy and the day-to-day realities of the Indian public have played a role in the making of the Indian Constitution. Besides presenting information from archival sources, Austin provides exceptional documentation and interviews with leading political and legal personalities. Moreover, it includes various first-hand interviews. It highlights the successful execution of democracy in India that is clearly reflected in the way the changing needs of the times have played a role in evolving the Indian Constitution.

Granville Austin is considered a renowned expert on the Indian constitutional law and his ability is seen through the elegance and clarity of his writing. Moreover, the author has ensured this book is jargon-free and has used a lively prose style to make it a pleasurable read.
Working A Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience opens with the inauguration of the Indian Constitution in January 1950 and ends with Indira Gandhi's death in 1984. However, it does include a brief introduction of various other significant events in the political history of India. These are the judicial activism of the 1990s, the Supreme Court's 1993 decision on the appointment and transfer of judges, the implementation of the Mandal Commission report in 1990, and even the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

The reader gets to know about Indian economics, politics, culture, conditions, civil servants, judges, lawyers, politicians, and journalists of that era. It talks about power, sacrifices, selfish and grand motivations, hope and despair, and success and failure. Additionally, the book highlights the important figures that acted upon the Constitution and explains how and why they did so. The book is designed for enthusiasts who are eager to know about India and its constitutional experience since its beginning to 1985. It can be used equally by students, researchers, as well as teachers of this subject.

About Granville Austin

Granville Austin is one of the leading world’s experts on the Indian Constitution. Austin has published two other books including The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone Of A Nation and Retrieving Times. This independent historian was born in 1927. He did his graduation in American Literature from the Dartmouth College. Later, he attended Oxford University to do his doctorate in Modern Indian History. He started his career as a photographer and journalist. He had served with various leading government organizations such as the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the US Information Service. For his contributions, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 2011. At present, he lives with his wife in Washington, D.C.