How India Became Democratic tells the untold story of the preparation of the electoral roll on the basis of universal adult franchise in the world's largest democracy and offers a new view of the way democracy captured the political imagination of its diverse peoples.
Indians became voters before they were citizens-by the time the constitution came into force in 1950, the notion of universal franchise and electoral democracy were already grounded. Drawing on rich archival materials, Shani shows how the Indian people were a driving force in the making of democratic citizenship as they struggled for their voting rights.

Contents

List of Figures
Aknowledgement
Introduction
1.Designing for Democracy : Rewriting the Bureaucratic Colonial Imagination
2.The Pursuit of Citizenship in the Making of the Electoral Roll : Registering Partition Reguges
3.The Roll as 'Serialised Epic' and the Personalisation of the Universal Franchise
4.Disciplining the Federal Structure
5.Shaping the Constitution from Below and the Role of the Secretariat
6.The Limits of Inclusion
Conclusion : A 17 Crore and 220 Yard Democracy
Figures :


1.Postcard from the Election Commission of India Record Room Files
2.Article base on the first press note from the Constituent Assemble Secretariat on the preparation of rolls
Source: The Hindustan Times, 18 July 1948
3.Reports in The Hindustan Times and letters to the editor on the preparation of electoral rolls and voter registration source: The Hinsustan Times, 26 July, 26 August, 19 October, 23 October, 17 November, 22 December 1948
4.News article on the preparation of electoral rolls in the State of Baroda. Source: The Hindustan Times, 4 July 1948
5.B.N.Rau, the Constitutional Adviser of the Constituent Assembly of India of India. Source : Courtesy of Dr. Anil Seal
6.S.N. Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Constituent Assembly Secretariat, Source