From the foreword: Elections have grown upon public imagination in India. No wonder they are called the festival of democracy. To the political parties elections are worth their results. But for us, at the Election Commission of India, elections are worth the voters turnout. It is the voter’s turnout in the elections that nourishes the living tree of democracy. If democracy has remained vibrant in India, the credit goes to popular elections.

This coffee table book ‘Unfolding Indian Elections: Journey of the living democracy” celebrates the spirit of participatory democracy through elections. Its story unfolds through the visuals election photographs taken across the decades. The election Commission has periodically brought out narratives reports on the general elections, annual reports, and reports of the initiatives to make elections more inclusive. But we felt there was a need for a book that felts the story of elections from the beginning till now through pictures. It was envisaged as a tribute to India’s democracy as we advance towards 70th year of Independence.