The Other Country (book)
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}{{Short description|2012 book by Mrinal Pande}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title =
| name = The Other Country: Dispatches from the Mofussil
| image = The Other Country (book).jpg
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| alt =
| caption = First edition
| author = Mrinal Pande
| cover_artist =
| country = India
| language = English
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| subject = Development, cities, social and cultural changes
| genre =
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| published =
| publisher = Penguin Books India
| pub_date = 3 January 2012
| media_type =
| pages = 240
| awards =
| isbn = 9780143418252
| isbn_note =
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The Other Country: Dispatches from the Mofussil is a 2012 book by the Indian journalist, television presenter and writer Mrinal Pande.
Synopsis
The book examines the growing divides between small-town and big-city India, such as inequitable development and opportunities. Pande investigates the "Great Language Divide" between India's two official languages, Hindi and English, and analyses the water management issues facing India. Pande also writes about the increasing polarisation on social issues between urban areas and smaller towns.{{cite web|url=http://penguinqa.srijan-sites.com/en/content/other-country|title=The Other Country | Penguin Books India|publisher=Penguinqa.srijan-sites.com |date=2012-01-03 |accessdate=2015-11-05}} The book features various stories of women who have fought against societal expectations to achieve their goals. Pande also condemns the objectification of women in capitalist media and patriarchy in India.{{cite web|url=http://betweenthelines.in/2012/11/book-review-the-other-country-dispatches-from-the-mofussil-by-mrinal-pande/|title=Book Review: 'The Other Country - Dispatches from the Mofussil'|first1=Seema Khinnavar|last1=Pande|publisher=Betweenthelines.in|date=2012-11-07|accessdate=2015-11-05}}
Reception
In The Hindu Swati Daftuar praised the work, describing it as "a classic combination of hard-hitting reportage and anecdotal essaying". Daftuar also wrote that The Other Country is "essential read for anyone trying to understand some of the most vexing issues troubling our society today".{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/showcase-other-indias/article2795280.ece|title=Showcase: Other Indias|work=The Hindu|date=2012-01-14|accessdate=2015-11-05}}
In Between The Lines Seema Khinnavar write that the work is "a thought provoking insight into the myriad issues affecting the 'India Shining' image of our country".