Books: A call for hope against narrowness of spirit
In his latest book, ‘We the People of India: Decoding Nation’s Symbols’ TM Krishna turns his gaze from raga to republic, re-examining India’s flag, emblem, anthem, motto and Preamble
Updated At : 06:41 AM Feb 28, 2026 IST
We the People of India: Decoding Nation’s Symbols by TM Krishna. Westland. Pages 480. ~899
TM Krishna is a first-rate practitioner of Carnatic classical music but also a perceptive and often bracing critic of its social hierarchies and historical baggage. As a public intellectual, he has weighed in on urgent national concerns with rare courage. In his latest book, Krishna brings his artist’s eye for beauty and the critic’s scalpel for power to bear on the very idea of India. The result is a collection of five long, interconnected essays that examine the philosophical meaning and contemporary fate of the republic’s founding symbols.
