Ink & Paper
GQ India|May 2019

For seven decades, one commission has presided over one of the greatest human experiments on Earth: the Indian election. Ex-chief election commissioner SY Quraishi’s recent compilation of essays is a unique assessment and celebration of its evolution

Arun Janardhan
Ink & Paper

The SY Quraishi-edited The Great March Of Democracy: Seven Decades Of India’s Elections was nearly a decade in the making. A collection of essays that was initiated when Quraishi was the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from 2010 2012, it was revived recently and arrived this spring, appropriately ahead of India’s 2019 general elections.

“It needed more articles, so I wrote to more people, and all immediately said yes. As CEC, my success rate (with writers) was 50 per cent; as former CEC, it was 100 per cent,” he says, laughing. With 27 essays, including one from the editor, the book is divided into four parts, breaking down the Election Commission’s foundation, evolution, perspectives and the future.

Dressed in a kurta-pajama in a Mumbai hotel room, the amiable 71-year-old, who believes he was the first Muslim from Old Delhi to get into the civil services, often refers to the EC as “us” as he talks about the book, working on elections and playing music with Sharon Prabhakar.

Who did you seek out to contribute to this book?

The idea with this book was to celebrate our democracy and to commemorate Indian elections. I wrote to election experts and eminent citizens: Ratan Tata, for example, is a citizen, a voter and a financier. The actor Kabir Bedi, the banker Naina Lal Kidwai and Ela Bhatt of SEWA, were some others. We wanted them to write on different aspects of the elections. We wanted TN Seshan (CEC from 1990-96) to tell us how he transformed the Commission. There is also a chapter on Seshan himself by [Christophe] Jaffrelot.

Which are your favourite essays?

この記事は GQ India の May 2019 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は GQ India の May 2019 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

GQ INDIAのその他の記事すべて表示
The 30 Best Watches Of 2024
GQ India

The 30 Best Watches Of 2024

Rounding up the best shapes, materials, complications and sizes from this year's horological novelty treasure chest.

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...
GQ India

Wes Lang's Heroes of Love...

Last month, LA-based artist Wes Lang unveiled The Black Paintings, a monumental series of works that play like storyboards to a raucous midnight horror movieand a spiritual quest. Here, GQ collaborates with the artist on a fashion story that brings his stylish characters off the canvas.

time-read
8 分  |
October - November 2024
The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame
GQ India

The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre Dame

In 2019, a fire nearly destroyed the crown jewel of France-and the nation set a breakneck five-year deadline to bring it back from the ashes. This is the story of how an army of artisans turned back centuries to restore Notre-Dame by hand, and wound up reviving something even greater than the cathedral itself.

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."
GQ India

"IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. IT'S ABOUT BEING REVOLUTIONARY."

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter talks business, legacy, art, and family

time-read
10+ 分  |
October - November 2024
The Wedding Singers
GQ India

The Wedding Singers

Madboy Mink's dynamic duo, Saba Azad and Imaad Shah, redefine festive style.

time-read
5 分  |
October - November 2024
A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face
GQ India

A Watch Is More Than Just a Pretty Face

As collectors look to make their grail watches stand out, they're turning to unique vintage bracelets and paying thousands on thousands for straps on the secondary market.

time-read
3 分  |
October - November 2024
The Fluidity of Cartier
GQ India

The Fluidity of Cartier

Why Gen Z stars are obsessed with this historic maison.

time-read
2 分  |
October - November 2024
A Princess with Passion
GQ India

A Princess with Passion

From restoring monuments to reviving hereditary crafts, Bhavnagar's Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has her sights on the future.

time-read
6 分  |
October - November 2024
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
GQ India

THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ

The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.

time-read
10 分  |
August - September 2024
DEMNA UNMASKED
GQ India

DEMNA UNMASKED

He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.

time-read
10+ 分  |
August - September 2024