"India in Chaos, Only Judiciary can Save" by K.C. Agarwal

The following review is also published in onlinebookclub.org, on 30 November 2019 [written as per the guidelines of the host platform].

India in Chaos, Only Judiciary can Save appears much like a timely publication. Given the perplexity that the general public expresses in terms of grappling with the judiciary, this book comes across as a guideline to many who are at least making their debut in understanding one of the core entities that define democracy.

In an elaborate fashion of three-part engagement, Agarwal delineates the perpetual failures of our government with a sincere attempt to provide certain guidelines in abiding the basic law and to ensure smooth functioning of the judiciary. The book serves as an index which charts various disparities that emerge in the system of courts which interprets and applies law. It is here that one must note the ambiguities and absurdities that get conveyed, unintentionally though, through the several interpretations of the codes of law.

Agarwal's argument runs parallel to the ills of an only monetary profit-oriented society or economy. He argues that the scams and the financial mismanagement have led to a regressive economy which in turn has inflicted colossal inflation and the common man is forced to bear the brunt. The book reveals many such stands where Agarwal has charged directly at the incapability of the guardians in creating means and avenues to counter the impediments which hinder development.

The first two parts of the book become an attempt to briefly historicise the many mismanagements and misrepresentations of the conduct of the government. While, the third part provides a well-thought proposal which demands the interested readers and thinkers to probe into several fields right from the grassroots. The multifarious areas addressed closely are the optimum use of resources, improvements in education sector, water and disaster management, population control, building of city centres and improving the environment at large.

India in Chaos, though it serves as a beginner's guide into understanding how judiciary's role becomes indispensable, Agarwal ends up discussing isolated perspectives in terms of restricting to a particular discipline of study. It is here that a reader belonging to a different discipline would find the one-sided engagement problematic. It is perhaps difficult for one to follow what development is in today's demands of the many. Agarwal's work would have gained more weight if there was an engagement with how most terms are perceived today and whether they ought to be redefined. There is an absence of investigation of the univocal meanings or interpretations that get associated with terms and examining how these meanings then get consolidated as well-established norms which are ought to be followed.

In all the other aspects of a debut learning of the role of judiciary, Agarwal's India in Chaos contributes much in terms of research. However, the constant emphasis of a mere opinion under the guise of an argument appears jarring and at times seems like the writer is conveniently dismissing the varying voices and thereby unconsciously and unintentionally adding to the further marginalisation of the other. Having made the aforementioned comment, India in Chaos is given three out of four stars.