India's democracy before the democratic discontent, 1940s–1970s

The last decade and a half saw what we can call historical turn in the study of India's democracy. By drawing on some these new works archival materials, this article offers way thinking about rooting workings democracy India its endurance. explores how Indians produced concrete convincing notion shared functioning purpose, common good, for their deeply plural society, while allowing meaningful space conflicts inherent contradictions that underlay I suggest persistence was important resilience examine three interrelated processes with independence contributed to outcome: nature constitution making; first election preparation them between 1947 1952; articulation principle state resource distribution development projects. conclusion reflects significance our understanding post-independence India.