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DescriptionWhen the British Imperialists left the Indian subcontinent in 1947, they leftbehind a legacy of governance based on communal and ethnic polarization.Since then, India has been engulfed by religious and ethnic violence—fromthe Partition to the more recent Gujarat riots of 2002 and Delhi riots of2020. This trajectory is in direct opposition to the ideals of ‘justice, liberty,equality and fraternity’ enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Our increasinglypolarized society is now faced with the Will India follow the ethnicnationalist route that seems to be becoming a global phenomenon?Reconciling Difference is the attempt of a concerned citizen and scholar tounderstand the nature of hate and violence prevalent in India, and findpractical ways to restore peace and harmony. In his analysis, Rudolf C.Heredia urges citizens to seek frameworks beyond retributive justice. Hesuggests returning to the Gandhian ideas of ahimsa—non-violence andcompassion—in order to repair the fraying fabric of our society. And recallsNehru’s ideas of a pluralist and inclusive India, as well as Ambedkar’s idea ofthe republic in order to restore the country’s damaged polity. Finally, drawinginspiration from the Truth and Justice Commission set up in post-ApartheidSouth Africa, he urges consistent and reflective dialogues between polarizedcitizens in order to heal past wounds of collective violence.Thoughtful, dialogic and painstakingly researched, Reconciling Difference is abook every citizen interested in preserving the secular and democratic idealsof India must read.