This book investigates the erosion of secularism in contemporary India by analyzing the intersection of Hindu nationalist ideology and the legal system. Authors Brenda Cossman and Ratna Kapur, both established legal scholars, utilize a critical legal studies framework to examine how the Hindu Right has successfully challenged the foundational secular traditions of the Indian state. They argue that the law has been instrumentalized to reshape the national identity, moving away from pluralistic constitutional values toward a majoritarian framework.

Experts in South Asian studies and legal theory frequently cite this work as a critical examination of the shifting political landscape in India. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous analysis of how legal institutions can be leveraged to alter the secular character of a nation.