Book: Inspite of the Gods

I am half way through the book by Edward Luce, "Inspite of the Gods" and I couldn't resist until I finish the book to comment about it on my blog. I was all the more inspired by Edwards' appearance a couple of weeks back on KQED(public radio) on the Forum program. What a fascinating book!

What impresses me most about his writing is the way he talks about the core values of an Indian family like he is one among us. Many of my Western friends have asked me about caste and religion and how life is in India. When I try explaining to them, I realize that what I am telling them is not totally exactly the 'Indian' way but just the way they do it in my part of India, in my religions, in my caste, in my subcaste. This is a very hard thing to explain and that's what Edward captures perfectly in his book.

Yet another fascinating point is his great perspective of why India despite its diverse castes, religion and languages, still flourishes as the single largest democracy in the world is a very deep thought. Freedom in 1947, was not only freedom for colonial power that our then national leaders wished for, but freedom of speech, thought and practice that they wanted every Indian to put to use. Despite all its misgivings, the very fact that India has survived it to be largest demoractic power, instills hope in our country.

I've to mention about a caller on the radio show. He has a Phd from a reputed college in the United States and has been without a job for some time now. He was asking if he should try looking for a job in India. I was quite surprised with the answer Edward gave him..."Yes, go and get inspired"! Coming from a Westerner, I swelled in pride. There is hope for our country and I believe in it.