Santanu Borah's Key Ideas from The End of India
by Khushwant Singh

Drawing from his own experiences of witnessing the Partition of India in 1947, Singh vividly recalls the horrors of communal violence and the human cost of religious hatred. He sees disturbing parallels in contemporary India, where he believes similar forces are at play, threatening to tear the country apart once again.

Singh is openly critical of political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for promoting divisive ideologies and eroding India's secular ethos. He also points to the failure of institutions, including the judiciary and law enforcement, to protect vulnerable communities from violence and discrimination.

Alongside religious tensions, Singh highlights the deep socio-economic divides in Indian society, which he sees as further destabilizing the country. The rich-poor gap, caste-based discrimination, and lack of opportunities for marginalized communities only compound the growing unrest.

Despite his often bleak assessment, Singh does not entirely lose hope. He believes that India's strength lies in its diversity, and that it is still possible to restore harmony and rebuild the nation's secular, pluralistic identity. However, this requires a concerted effort from civil society to stand against intolerance and divisive forces.

"The End of India" is a passionate and sobering reflection on the challenges facing India at the turn of the 21st century. Singh's writing is unflinching, pointing out uncomfortable truths about religious violence, political opportunism, and social inequality. His central message is a call to action: unless India addresses these deep-rooted issues, the country risks an existential crisis that could undermine its democratic and secular foundations.