India, that is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution by J Sai Deepak

Book Summary

This deep, 484page foundational volumefirst in a trilogytraces the shaping of Bharat from the 15th-century Age of Discovery to the drafting of the Britishinfluenced Government of India Act of 1919. Deepak argues that European “colonial consciousness”rooted in Christian political theologyintroduced concepts like toleration, secularism, and humanism into India through constitutionalism, in ways that displaced original Indic civilisational values .

He also examines earlier Middle Eastern colonial influences and their interplay with European ideologies in subverting indigenous thought. He calls for decolonialitya civilisational realignment across domains such as nature, religion, education, language, culture, and especially constitutional lawto restore Bharats distinctive identity

About the Author

J. Sai Deepak (b. 1985, Hyderabad) is a mechanical engineer turned Supreme Court litigator and constitutional scholar. He holds degrees from Anna University and IIT Kharagpur and has argued significant cases involving Sabarimala, Padmanabhaswamy, and Basmati GI rights.

Deepak writes frequently for outlets like The Indian Express and The Open Magazine. In 2024, he was designated a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court. India, That Is Bharat marks his debut into decolonial scholarship, laying groundwork for a trilogy examining colonial impact on Indian civilisation, polity, and international relations