The Conjuror’s Trick: An Interpretive History of Paper Money in India
Author: Bazil Shaikh
Publisher:Marg Publications
Pages: 248
Price: 1,800
Talking about the new series of banknotes issued after demonetisation, the author says, “Conservatives found the colour palette of the entire series too bright and not quite in keeping with the gravitas and subtlety that a banknote demands. The more playful and jovial elements of society likened the colours to the play-notes of the board game Monopoly.” In one sense the sentence captures the myth of money we have built around ourselves, and it is fascinating to see how quickly (considering the history