From the lanes of Old Delhi to the Election Commission, from war zones to world capitals, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi distils a lifetime of public service into 100 unforgettable memories—each told in just two pages.

History is often remembered through elections won, governments formed and policies announced. But S.Y. Quraishi believes the real story of India lives elsewhere—in fleeting conversations, unexpected encounters and seemingly ordinary moments that quietly shape extraordinary lives.

In India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir, the former Chief Election Commissioner invites readers into those moments. Eschewing the traditional memoir format, Quraishi recounts a hundred stories, each crafted in exactly two pages, offering intimate glimpses into a life that unfolded at the crossroads of public service and personal reflection.

The book travels effortlessly across time and geography. It begins in the bustling bylanes of Old Delhi before moving into the corridors of the Indian Administrative Service and the Election Commission, where some of India’s most significant electoral reforms took shape. Along the way, readers accompany Quraishi on journeys through conflict-ridden Sri Lanka and Myanmar, diplomatic missions across continents, and meetings with Nobel laureates, political leaders, artists and everyday citizens.

Yet the most memorable stories are not always about those in positions of power. A conversation with a gardener, a chance encounter during an overseas visit or a split-second administrative decision becomes as meaningful as discussions in the highest offices of government. Together, these episodes reveal how public life is often shaped by human connections rather than official files.

Without claiming to be an autobiography, India and I becomes something more intimate—a mosaic of memories that captures the evolution of both a public servant and a nation. Through candid anecdotes, insider accounts of governance and reflections on India’s democratic journey, Quraishi offers readers a rare backstage pass to the making of modern India.

Compact in form but expansive in spirit, India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir promises an engaging read for anyone interested in politics, governance, leadership or simply the stories that history books often leave untold.