The book describes grassroots politics in India with specific reference to how leadership emerges from bottom-up from village and district levels. This is a case study of Andhra Pradesh, one of the two states relied by Selig S. Harrison then New York Times correspondent in India who wrote, (1960) controversial “India: The Most Dangerous Decades” book. Rao’s book debunks Harrison’s outlook by bringing out that India’s democratic foundation is much deep-rooted and panchayat level dynamics is far more vital. The book indicates that what happens between political parties in New Delhi and State Capitals and in the Parliament and Assemblies is not full reflection of India’s directions. The book reflects 1950-60’s period when a new leadership was emerging from out of shadows of leaders of Independence movement. Dr John Thomas director of Martin Luther King Jr School of Social Change, Chester, Pennsylvania, where Rao was a fellow (1967), wrote foreword for this book.

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, reviewed this book and described (then) it as rare for offering insights on grassroots political process.