An ambitious project

The renowned Indian economist Amartya Sen probably isn’t used to hearing his writing described as ‘the logic of the clever school boy’ but, in India:A Portrait, this is Patrick French’s response to academic notions that don’t ring true. In his new book about the evolution of India since Independence, French amalgamates history, biography and reportage to create a dynamic and immediate commentary. He has no interest in applying scholarly statements to the state of modern India; his method is all about deducing information from the experiences he himself has had.

‘I don’t find theoretical writing very appealing’, said Patrick French during a conversation I had with him about his new book. ‘There are large intellectual, political and moral questions in India: a Portrait, but I’ve looked at these through personal stories.’ This is true throughout the book, from the unexpected rise of female politicians like Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati, to the tragic death of a middle-class girl whose life looked full of promise; from the double life of a Hindu pimp to the neglected nightmare of an imprisoned dalit quarry worker.