" What is patriotism and why is it given so much importance in today’s politics? That is the question generations of Indians born after 1947 have tried to grapple with and comprehend as we are faced with much graver problems of climate change, pandemics, poverty and the rise of warring ideologies. Saket Suman tries to find an answer here, and posits the question within the larger context of what humankind seeks today. For itself, and for its future generations. —Pritish Nandy, Veteran editor and Former MP

Saket Suman has been an impassioned commentator on the arts and society. His new book, The Psychology of a Patriot traces the socio-political history of India through the eyes of three protagonists: Arundhati Roy, Narendra Modi and Shashi Tharoor. A vital argument about the very essence of patriotism and its consequences has been awakened in the Indian Polity. —Sanjoy Roy, Producer of Jaipur Literature Festival and Managing Director at Teamwork Arts

In The Psychology of a Patriot, Saket Suman traces the meaning of patriotism through a readable, often anecdotal account of India’s recent history, charting its double-edged power: a force that inspired the Independence struggle, and yet has been misused to foment intolerance and disunity. As a journalist who has written the ‘first draft’ of the recent history, Suman artfully uses the lives of some Indians, from Romila Thapar to Arundhati Roy and even myself, to delineate his vision of patriotism. Timely and important. —Shashi Tharoor, Noted author, MP and Former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations"

Saket Suman is a writer, journalist and literary chronicler. He has worked at The Statesman, Indo Asian News Service and Times Group, besides being published extensively on popular culture, politics and human rights in reputed newspapers, magazines and news portals. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of Delhi.