Synopsis Indian society is often described as one with ‘unity in diversity’ and as a composite culture. Since independence, India has also been termed ‘democratic’ and ‘secular’. However, the discernible cracks that have appeared in recent years in these conceptualizations have led to contentions debates about the very nature of Indian society. Focusing on different facets of this exacerbating crisis, this book analyses the various issues confronting India’s society and policy today which can assume crisis proportions if not tackled judiciously and expeditiously. The author discusses seven internal threats that are antithetical to the democratic order: Secessionist movements that question both the legitimacy of the Indian state and a single ‘Indian’ identity; Irredentist movements that reject the artificial vivisection of tribal or linguistic communities across different political units; the inadequate autonomy conceded by the central government to the provincial states; threats faced by the inhabitants of certain regions where a disproportionate number of immigrants tend to dominate them; threats posed by Hindu fundaments and their ‘nation-building’ anchored in religion to minority communities, exemplified by the Gujarat carriage of 2002; The threat posed by upper-caste hegemonic identity to traditionally oppressed castes; Elite and patriarchal hegemony, which between them subordinate women and the loss well-off. Professor Oommen argues that these threats can be contained by providing the requisite political and cultural autonomy within the federal framework, and advocates the endorsement of democratic values that incorporate a shared vision of the nation and its polity. Incisive and timely, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars in departments of anthropology, sociology, political science and history, as well as the concerned citizen.