About the Book A tour de force in understanding the failure of democracy in providing human well-being. Has democracy ended human suffering, a task that the political system set out for itself? Or is democracy incompatible with modernity and, therefore, fails to achieve human well-being? If so, are we left with any option? The book asks these acutely political questions and states emphatically that democracy has failed to ensure the well-being of humanity as a whole. Further, it tries to answer this by exploring the Gandhian alternative to modernism and democracy in contemporary times. In the words of the authors themselves, ‘We are aware that in a world divided into a number of ideological camps, the way out suggested in this book will invite ridicule and accusation of orthodoxy. However, the truth has to be told, no matter what the reaction. About the Author Ramashray Roy, an eminent political scientist, earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1965. One of the founding members of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, he functioned as its Director from 1976 to 1982. Professor Roy was also associated with the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, as its Director. Among many academic achievements credited to his name, some include National Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, 1993–96, Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, as well as Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He taught at the University of Delhi, University of Texas at Austin and University of California, Los Angeles. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Survey Research Centre, University of California, Berkeley and Columbia. An academic expert on diverse themes ranging from political philosophy to development studies, party system, Gandhian studies, Vedic philosophy, Indian tradition and culture, he has authored more than 40 books. Few of his important books include Relation between Politicians and Administrators at the District Level; Uncertain Verdict: 1969 Elections in Four States; Dialogues on Development; Self and Society: A Study in Gandhian Thought; Gandhi: Soundings in Political Philosophy; Understanding Gandhi; Democracy in India: Form and Substance; Economy, Democracy and the State: The Indian Experience; Beyond Ego’s Domain: Being and Order in the Veda; Samsakaras in Indian Tradition and Culture; Perspective on Political Order: East and West; India’s 2009 Elections (co-edited with Paul Wallace), etc. He has also contributed papers and articles to numerous seminars, conferences and journals. Ravi Ranjan is a Political Science faculty at Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi. Till very recent, as a Fellow at Developing Countries Research Centre, University of Delhi, he has coordinated many research projects, supported by UGC, London School of Economics and Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. He is also a Member of the Advisory Committee for the Indian Council of Social Science (ICSSR, New Delhi), Commissioned State Level Studies on "Educational Status of Schedule Castes: Attainments & Challenges in Delhi." He is an executive member of the Indian Association for Asian & Pacific Studies and was an IUC-IIAS Associate at the Indian Institute of Advance Study, Shimla. He is a regular contributor to various Hindi and English newspapers that include Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujjala and the Hindustan Times. He recently published chapters in the book edited by Paul Wallace titled India's 2014 Elections. He has also contributed research papers to peer-reviewed, referred academic and research journals like Gandhi Marg and Social Action. He has also presented papers at national and international seminars in India and abroad.
Ranjan, Ravi: - Ravi Ranjan is a Political Science faculty at Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi. Till very recent, as a Fellow at Developing Countries Research Centre, University of Delhi, he has coordinated many research projects, supported by UGC, London School of Economics and Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. He is also a Member of the Advisory Committee for the Indian Council of Social Science (ICSSR, New Delhi), Commissioned State Level Studies on "Educational Status of Schedule Castes: Attainments & Challenges in Delhi." He is an executive member of the Indian Association for Asian & Pacific Studies and was an IUC-IIAS Associate at the Indian Institute of Advance Study, Shimla. He is a regular contributor to various Hindi and English newspapers that include Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujjala and the Hindustan Times. He recently published chapters in the book edited by Paul Wallace titled India's 2014 Elections. He has also contributed research papers to peer-reviewed, referred academic and research journals like Gandhi Marg and Social Action. He has also presented papers at national and international seminars in India and abroad.
Roy, Ramashray: - Ramashray Roy, an eminent political scientist, earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1965. One of the founding members of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi, he functioned as its Director from 1976 to 1982. Professor Roy was also associated with the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, as its Director. Among many academic achievements credited to his name, some include National Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, 1993-96, Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, as well as Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He taught at the University of Delhi, University of Texas at Austin and University of California, Los Angeles. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Survey Research Centre, University of California, Berkeley and Columbia. An academic expert on diverse themes ranging from political philosophy to development studies, party system, Gandhian studies, Vedic philosophy, Indian tradition and culture, he has authored more than 40 books. Few of his important books include Relation between Politicians and Administrators at the District Level; Uncertain Verdict: 1969 Elections in Four States; Dialogues on Development; Self and Society: A Study in Gandhian Thought; Gandhi: Soundings in Political Philosophy; Understanding Gandhi; Democracy in India: Form and Substance; Economy, Democracy and the State: The Indian Experience; Beyond Ego's Domain: Being and Order in the Veda; Samsakaras in Indian Tradition and Culture; Perspective on Political Order: East and West; India's 2009 Elections (co-edited with Paul Wallace), etc. He has also contributed papers and articles to numerous seminars, conferences and journals.
