This is a work of both theoretical sophistication and vivid ethnography that takes us into the everyday life of rural Bengal as we follow the rhythms and tempos of political allegiances, enmities, compromises, and hopes that portray the lived experience of democratic politics. With an eye on minor characters as well as major players in the political field Banerjee's receptivity to unforeseen events within the everyday, and her attention to the small events of history, together stitch theory and ethnography and make for unforgettable moments in the text. The author's commitment to the project of a democratic India, even and especially in these dark times, is evident in every scene, hopeful or not, that animate the book.
Mukulika Banerjee is Associate Professor in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics. Her books include Why India Votes?, The Pathan Unarmed, The Sari, and the edited volume Muslim Portraits.