What is it to be an Indian, asks Ansari

Former PM Manmohan Singh, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and others during the book release of former Vice-President Hamid Ansari in the Capital.

Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Tuesday cautioned that India’s electoral democracy could “metamorphose into an illiberal ethnic democracy, based on the principle of a socio-political philosophy called Hindutva.” Speaking at the launch of his book Dare I Question , Mr. Ansari said, “Our electoral democracy is a success story but it has not transformed into a substantive, inclusive and participatory democracy.”

Former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, who released the book, said Mr. Ansari’s latest work has deep understanding of the challenges “we have in our times.”

‘Not a kiss-and-tell tale’

Mr. Ansari said the book was not a kiss-and-tell tale, but instead he has raised question on “What is it to be an Indian?”

He underlined the “meaning of nationalism in the context of India’s plural society, our composite culture, and resultant need to be inclusive and move beyond mere tolerance to acceptance of diversity.”