Cultivating Democracy

Mukulika Banerjee's "Cultivating Democracy" offers a nuanced perspective on democracy in India, moving beyond formal institutions to explore its everyday manifestations.

The book challenges conventional understandings of democracy by examining how democratic values are cultivated within agrarian communities.

Banerjee's ethnographic research in two Bengal villages reveals how daily practices, from farming and religious rituals to conflict resolution, contribute to the cultivation of democratic values.

The work highlights the resilience of these practices even amidst political and economic pressures.

Ultimately, "Cultivating Democracy" provides a compelling argument for understanding democracy as a lived experience rather than an abstract ideal.