Book Review: In Praise of Coalition Politics — Chronicling Conscience and Giving Voice to the Oppressed

Drawing from years in the Upper House, Jha weaves together personal reflections, incisive policy critiques, and cultural insights to spotlight issues often neglected in mainstream discourse. The narrative spans the inhuman persistence of manual scavenging in India, the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, and the role of poetry in political expression, capturing moments from parliamentary debates that reveal the human face of governance.

Unmasking the Injustice of Manual Scavenging

In one of the book’s most powerful sections, Jha exposes the systemic neglect that allows manual scavenging to persist despite being outlawed. He describes the physical and social degradation endured by workers and the state’s failure to rehabilitate them with dignity. Grounded in empathy yet unflinching in indicting the bureaucracy and political class, Jha draws on social reformers and contemporary researchers to highlight this modern-day caste slavery. Their findings bolster his call for urgent legislative and administrative action. By framing manual scavenging as not just a policy failure but a moral collapse, he compels readers to grasp the urgency of ending it.

Palestine: A Stand of Solidarity Against Silence

In a searing address to the people of Palestine, Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha indicts the Indian government’s growing alignment with Israeli military and surveillance apparatus, lamenting the moral drift from India’s historic solidarity with the oppressed. He writes, “Forgive us. Not because we are unaware. But because we are helpless,” capturing both the anguish of an engaged citizen and the frustration at a political establishment unmoved by humanitarian catastrophe. His words lay bare an uncomfortable truth — that official indifference to Palestinian suffering stands in stark contrast to the empathy still alive among sections of India’s civil society.

Poetry in Parliament: The Language of Conscience

Perhaps the most unconventional chapter of the book is reflection on poetry as a tool of political expression within the austere walls of Parliament. Reflecting on the constraints faced by smaller party MPs, Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha notes that they must “master the art of brevity” to make their voices count. “Economy of language, born out of constraint, often speaks louder than lengthy prose,” he writes, recognising how short, sharp interventions — “sometimes moving and sometimes revolting” — can reveal the conscience and contradictions of the House.

For Jha, poetry is not a flourish but a force. Invoking writers and poets, he creates space for ideas “against the grain” that rarely find room in public discourse. “The role of poetry in political discourse should be seen as a nuanced and powerful means of connecting with the public, conveying not just words but the soul of political ideals,” he affirms — a reminder that, even in politics, art can still carry the purest truths into the hearts of people.

A Lawmaker with a Human Face

What unites these chapters is an unbroken moral thread — an unwavering commitment to human dignity. From defending Dalits to standing with Palestinians or using poetry to stir the House, Jha speaks with rare empathy. He shows Parliament at its best: not merely a lawmaking chamber, but a forum for protecting the voiceless.

In Praise of Coalition Politics and Essays on Indian Democracy is more than speeches and reflections — it is a moral testament. It urges readers to see public office not as a quest for applause, but as custodianship of justice, truth, and compassion, marking a rare contribution to India’s political literature.