Quraishi's Insightful Book On Indian Election

There are publications with simply momentary or transitory values in the sense that their utility starts to fade, if not totally vanish, with the exigency of the situation or time lag. Some are exceptions, as they have a longer shelf life. With their intrinsic importance and issues, they tend to shed light, remaining relevant and pertinent for quite a longer period. 

In the list of such rarer books comes the publication made by Dr. Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi, senior Indian Administrative Service bureaucrat of the 1971 batch, secretary, and later 17th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. The book assumes added significance in light of the recently concluded 18th Indian General Elections, which have surprised both the ruling dispensation and opposition.

Quraishi, a prolific writer and known for strong social advocacy of issues and things, and who is also quite well-known in Nepal, was CEC for almost two years from July 30, 2010 to June 10, 2012 making him the first among two Muslims (the other being Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi who was 20th in the roll) among a total of 25 CECs who have so far served to supervise elections in the world's largest democracy. 

A product of St. Stephen's College and Jamia Millia Islamia of Delhi, he is an expert in communications and social marketing. Quraishi's book, AN UNDOCUMENTED WONDER: THE MAKING OF THE GREAT INDIAN ELECTIONS, carries a powerful message. First published in 2014 and later reprinted in 2019 with a focus on general elections in India in general and the 2009 elections in particular, the monumental work has recently undergone a second impression with important revisions and updates. 

Among some other important books authored by Quraishi is his editing of a widely read work, The Great March of Democracy: Seven Decades of India's Election, published in 2019, that can be taken as a supplementary exercise for the book under review. 

The writer has aptly borrowed the title of the book from an article of the same heading finding it more pertinent and appropriate as elections in India are known both for enormity and complexity, as well as time-consuming and complicated to an outsider not oriented to Indian geographical extremity and demographic variety. The book is replete with greater details about Quraishi's own personal perceptions on many recurring and innovative issues afflicting Indian elections.

Gopalkrishna (G.K.) Gandhi, an intellectual, prolific writer, historian, administrator, state governor, candidate for vice president of the country, and diplomat rolled into one, has written a very substative but succinct foreword that is in itself an important attribute of the book. 

At least two points mentioned by G.K. are noteworthy. First, he calls elections "our pride." Second, he quotes one landmark judgement made by the Supreme Court of India calling some major organs of the Indian constitution, including the Election Commission of India (ECI), as 'integrity institutions'. It is interesting to note that the ECI is one day senior to the Constitution of India itself and the seniormost constitutional organ of the country, as it was established on January 25, 1050, just a day before the declaration of the republic and the coming into force of the constitution.

With an impressive family lineage, G.K. is well-known as one of the most constructive thinkers in India and is the grandson of two stalwarts, Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, and Chakrabarty Rajagopalachari (known as Rajaji or simply CR). Rajaji is taken as one of the most brilliant political brains and freedom fighters who played a critical role in India's independence. He was India's second-last but first-and-only Indian Governor-General.

The book is divided into 15 chapters. The first 13 chapters cover elections prior to the 16th General Elections held in 2014, with the 13th chapter amounting to conclusive observations in the form of reflections and afterthoughts. The last two chapters, 14th and 15th, cover General Elections 2014: Key Highlights and New Years, New Issues, 2014-2018, respectively. 

The first 13 chapters concentrate on the modality, exercise, and complexity of Indian general elections, which are hailed as a unique phenomenon by many people, including the First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who call them a gold standard. The last two chapters make the work still more relevant, and the new edition came out when India was in the throes of the 18th General Elections.

Quraishi had a long stint in the ECI, first as Election Commissioner on June 30, 2006, and later as CEC for about two years during 2010–2012. In his former capacity, he was involved in the 2009 general elections, and as CEC, he conducted a number of state assembly elections. It is in this aspect that the book can be considered to be an exercise from a man both from the ringside and saddle.

While all his observations are thought-provoking, Quraishi's major role as CEC was curbing the use of illicit money to the extent possible, which G.K. has appropriately highlighted in the foreword as not disappointing. The book also deals with issues like one nation, one poll that has been recommended to the government by a panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, and electoral bonds supposed to create transparency but struck down by the Supreme Court as illegal.

The writer has critically scanned other matters like positive and negative aspects of social media, freebies galore in the manifestoes of political parties to lure voters in their favour, horse-trading, and anti-defection laws, among several others. 

The work has a passing reference to Nepal that seems not fully updated, as it speaks of constitutional democracy in place of the executive role of the monarchy and the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections. In his short references to various practices in the region and beyond, Quraishi seems to toe the official line to laud Bhutan's fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk's, constitutional initiative.

While people may have subjective interpretations of the contents of the book that actually reflect the thinking of the writer on issues pertaining to the mammoth exercise of the world's biggest and most populous democracy, Quraishi deserves special accolades for his keen sense of research and comprehension that have distinguished his must-read work. I congratulate the erudite scholar on his endeavour.

(Dr. Bhattarai is a former foreign secretary, ambassador, and author.)