Malevolent Republic

Malevolent Republic by K.S. Komireddi is a searing critique of the socio-political shifts that have shaped modern India, from the nation's post-Independence era to the present day under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With meticulous research and impassioned prose, Komireddi takes readers through the tumultuous history of the world's largest democracy, exposing the deep-rooted dynamics that have facilitated the rise of Hindu nationalism. The book explores the disintegration of Nehru's secularist vision and the onset of demagogic populism, charting a troubling journey that sees Indian democracy transforming into a vessel for extremism.

After decades of imperfect secularism led by an often corrupt Congress establishment, the diverse republic envisioned by India's founding fathers has given way to a menacing majoritarianism. Since 2014, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unleashed forces that seem to be irrevocably altering the nation. Religious bigotry has surged to the mainstream, with anti-Muslim sentiment flooding public discourse, while India's religious minorities live in constant fear of a vengeful majority. The opposition—mainly the Congress Party—has floundered, often mimicking Modi's tactics in a desperate bid for survival.

Komireddi's examination is not limited to recent events; it rolls back through history. He delves into the leadership mistakes of India's founding leaders, such as Jawaharlal Nehru's ideological rigidity, the political betrayals of Indira Gandhi and her progeny, and the technocratic overreach of Manmohan Singh's tenure. Komireddi argues that these missteps paved the way for Modi's absolutism. The book warns that if secularists are unable to reclaim the republic, India risks disintegrating into an ethno-religious dystopia akin to the former Yugoslavia.

Enhanced by a newly added chapter, Malevolent Republic unfolds as both a gripping historical narrative and a powerful call to action. Komireddi contends that the dark path India is on can only be altered through resolute and immediate intervention, emphasising that the stakes are frighteningly high.

A Financial Times Summer Book Pick

A Times Literary Supplement Summer Book Pick

"Written with passion and savagery, this is a polemical and highly readable short history of modern India from Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi." - Gideon Rachman, The Financial Times

"[E]loquent on the subject of religious tolerance, communal harmony and human decency, all of which appear to be in harrowingly short supply among the acolytes who surround Modi." - The Times

"In precise and sharp language Malevolent Republic takes readers on a terrifying and yet illuminating journey through the rapidly transforming political, social and religious landscape of Modi's India." - Times Literary Supplement

"Kapil Komireddi ranks high among the wisest, most astute, and most humane observers of modern India. I rely heavily on his insights to form my own understanding of the past, present, and future of the subcontinent." - David Frum, Senior Editor, The Atlantic

"A timely intervention at a dangerous moment... both the times and the subject demand anger, argument and urgency." - The Observer

"Dazzling prose... arresting, essential, devastating." - The Spectator

"[F]or anyone trying to understand [India's] momentous transformation, Malevolent Republic should be a must read." - The Indian Express

"Kapil Komireddi is one of the most thoughtful and thorough journalists writing today. His range of interests is impressive in its breadth and cosmopolitanism; his is a rare voice that can comment on global affairs from a truly comparative perspective." - Amitav Ghosh

"Komireddi is a writer of flair, originality, and, above all, an absolute independence of mind... his ability to see through posturing and prejudice makes his work both distinctive and compelling. This book deserves to be widely read." - Ramachandra Guha