The Republic of India is the world's most reckless political experiment. It was born amidst a background of partition, civil war, economic scarcity and territorial fragmentation. The decision to yet promote a democratic political system, and promote linguistic and religious diversity, was an act of faith.

At this Understanding India lecture, Ramachandra Guha will analyse India's birthing crises and explain how they were overcome. He will also focus on the major challenges currently facing the country, which include corruption, religious and ethnic tension, environmental degradation, and social inequality.

Guha is the author of the bestselling history "India After Gandhi," and numerous other books on politics, environment and cricket. He has been described by the New York Times as "perhaps the best of India's nonfiction writers."