Essays by the noted political economist collectively arguing for the importance of Indian heterogeneity, particularly as regards history and religion. The author considers Indian views of themselves and others, ways of reasoning, and such ‘real world’ issues as poverty, class and sex, nuclear weaponry, etc. The title refers to the subcontinent’s pluralistic sociocultural traditions. However, the book fails to grapple with the violence of partition: why should it be ascribed to the British? Rabindranath Tagore figures prominently, and appears worthy of future exploration. At times self-referential and repetitive, the book is nonetheless a useful introduction to Indian sociopolitical thought.