India is a land of contrasts. It is the world's most populous democracy, but still upholds the caste system. It is a burgeoning economic superpower but one of the poorest nations on earth. It is the home of the world's biggest movie industry after Hollywood as well as to still-practiced religions that are millennia old. As India celebrates fifty years of independence in 1997, the world will want to know, more than ever before, just what India is all about.As she has proved in three previous books - her wry take on the marketing of the mystic east in Karma Cola; the rich historical saga of Raj; and the beguiling tales of and "A River Sutra and " - there is no better guide to India's multi-hued mosaic than Gita Mehta. She knows India in all its rich detail - its folkways and history, its culture and politics, its ancient traditions and current concerns. In and "Snakes and Ladders, and " she gives a loving but unflinching assessment of India today, entertaining, informative, and wholly personal.Combining a topic that will be in the news all year with a high-profile writer known for her sharp tongue and brilliant observations, and "Snakes and Ladders and " is sure to be one of the most talked-about and reviewed books of 1997.