An examination of the evolution of the office of prime minister in the world's largest democracy. Given the long terms in office of two of the incumbents - Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi - they naturally receive particular attention. However rather than discussing the achievements of individual office-holders, it is the varying dimensions of the prime minister's role and authority that are assessed - in relation to institutions such as parliament, the bureaucracy, the judiciary, the foreign and defence establishment, and also in relation to important social and political forces such as the Hindu Right, the communist Left and the Centrist ruling parties. The book thus breaks new ground in its analysis of political change in India and provides students of comparative Third World politics with an introduction to this country of 850 million people.