Patriots and Partisans by Ramachandra Guha

“Patriots and Partisans” is a book by Indian historian and writer Ramachandra Guha, published in 2012. The book examines the history of Indian politics through the lives of eight figures, four of whom Guha calls “patriots” and four he calls “partisans.”

The “patriots” include Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation; C. Rajagopalachari, an early leader of the Indian National Congress; Jayaprakash Narayan, a socialist activist; and Ram Manohar Lohia, a politician and social reformer. Guha argues that these figures shared a commitment to democracy, pluralism, and social justice, and that their ideas continue to be relevant in contemporary India.

The “partisans,” on the other hand, include M.S. Golwalkar, the leader of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; K. M. Munshi, a Hindu nationalist and founding member of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh; Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a conservative politician who opposed Gandhi’s vision of a secular India; and V. D. Savarkar, a writer and activist who advocated for Hindu nationalism and opposed the Indian independence movement. Guha argues that these figures espoused a narrow and exclusionary vision of Indian nationhood that has contributed to the country’s current political problems.

Through these eight biographical sketches, Guha examines the complex and often contradictory nature of Indian politics, and argues that there are multiple traditions and ideologies that have shaped the country’s political landscape. He also critiques the simplistic narratives that often dominate Indian political discourse, and offers a more nuanced understanding of the country’s history and politics.