About the Book
A Feast of Vultures – The Hidden Business Of Democracy In India
“An irritatingly brilliant book [told] with considerable competence and style.”
Harish Khare, Editor, The Tribune
A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India is a powerful journey into the heart of modern India, where the daily struggles of the poor intertwine with the schemes of the wealthy. This tour de force by Josy Joseph clinically examines and unmistakably documents the crisis afflicting the world’s largest democracy, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of contemporary India.
The book begins in a humble village, ultimately leading to the palatial homes of India’s wealthiest. Between these pages, Joseph presents the tales of both the anonymous poor and well-known elites, revealing the challenges at the core of India’s democracy. Through meticulous reportage, he sheds light on the hidden networks of middlemen and brokers who facilitate access to power, manipulating government decisions for profit. This caste of intermediaries perpetuates a culture of corruption that spans every level of Indian society, from local police posts to the offices of top officials on New Delhi’s Raisina Hill.
Zooming in on segments of the Indian economy, the book exposes how vulnerable democratic institutions are to the influence of ambitious, well-funded business leaders. These powerful figures seek preferential treatment, often directly or through intermediaries tied to the criminal underworld. Through a gripping investigation, Joseph uncovers how certain new-generation entrepreneurs have secured their fortunes through bribery, manipulation, and, possibly, murder.
In its final chapters, A Feast of Vultures reveals the true beneficiaries of this broken system. India’s elite class, composed of lawmakers and lawbreakers alike, leverages its financial and political power to shape policies and legislation, safeguarding their business empires and sidelining competitors. These puppet masters sit atop a bankrupt system of governance, wielding unchecked influence over both politics and the economy, unburdened by democratic accountability or regulatory oversight.
In January 2018, A Feast of Vultures was named the best book of 2017 by the jury in the non-fiction category of the Crossword Book Award. Competing entries included books by Amitav Ghosh, Pradeep Damodaran, Pankaj Mishra, and Shashi Tharoor.
