In sixty and more years as a free nation, the Republic of India has faced three major threats, writes Ramachandra Guha. These are right-wing Hindu fundamentalism, leftwing Maoist extremism, and seccessionist movements seeking up the break-up of India. In recent years, to those three longstanding threats have been added three more:inequality, corruption, and envronmental degradation.Guha analyses each of these six threats in turn, explaining their origins and course, and suggesting ways in which theymay be tamed or overcome.