The Political Imagination

Through the last five decades, Nayantara Sahgal has constantly responded to the changes that enveloped India and the world through her wide-ranging works of fiction and non-fiction. This book collects her writings and lectures on subjects ranging from literature and the arts to international relations and imperialism, written through some of Indias most turbulent phases- Independence, the Emergency, globalization, terrorism. Her astute social commentary is laced with personal wisdom that comes from first-hand knowledge of Indian politics and diplomacy. Known for her refusal to compromise with attempts to subvert modern India’s democratic and multicultural tradition, Sahgal has watched some of Indias most historic moments unfold in her own backyard and has always appraised the situation with a critical eye and analytical acumen. The Political Imagination draws from Sahgals rich body of work and includes letters and commendations written to her that have never been published before. Combining public history with personal reflections, Sahgal reveals the politics of her own imagination in this collection of her most culturally insightful and socially conscious writings.