India: A Portrait, By Patrick French

 

Christopher Hirst
Friday 27 January 2012 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This epic diorama is a mosaic-like combination of close-ups. In a section on India's new wealth, we learn that the south is the centre for innovation. This trait is typified by an innovator who, shocked that his wife couldn't afford sanitary towels, invented a low-cost alternative.

On society, a DNA expert's research reveals, "India is like a melting pot." Bad news for caste fundamentalists. Noting that the prevalence of servants is the "most significant cultural difference between India and the West", French explores a murder case in which the lives of two innocent dentists were destroyed due to "lack of knowledge about people in their home" and "administrative dystopia". This book does justice to its vast subject.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in