Author: Bipin Chandra
Mridula Mukherjee/Aditya Mukherjee
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 773
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9780143104094
Description
A thorough and incisive introduction to contemporary India.
The story of the forging of India, the world's largest democracy, is a rich and inspiring one. This volume, a sequel to the best-selling India's Struggle for Independence, analyses the challenges India has faced and the successes it has achieved, in the light of its colonial legacy and century-long struggle for freedom.
The book describes how the Constitution was framed, as also how the Nehruvian political and economic agenda and basics of foreign policy were evolved and developed. It dwells on the consolidation of the nation, examining contentious issues like party politics in the Centre and the states, the Punjab problem, and anti-caste politics and untouchability.
This revised edition offers a scathing analysis of the growth of communalism in India and the use of state power in furthering its cause. It also documents the fall of the National Democratic Alliance in the 2004 General Elections, the United Progressive Alliance's subsequent rise to power and the Indo-US Nuclear Deal that served to unravel the political consensus at the centre.
Apart from detailed analyses of Indian economic reforms since 1991 and wide-ranging land reforms and the Green Revolution, this new edition includes an overview of the Indian economy in the new millennium.
These, along with objective assessments of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, constitute a remarkable overview of a nation on the move.
COMMENTS:
“An outstanding book… the best of its kind. It is a masterly overview of political and economic developments in India over the last fifty years.”
--- Prof. Atul Kohli, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
“As an introduction to the history of post-independence India, it is non-pareil.”
--- M.V. Kamath
“The book fills a major gap in the literature on contemporary history and is a must read for the general public, especially students of history, sociology, economics and politics.”
--- The Tribune
“A comprehensive volume… These scholars have succeeded in presenting the story of an extremely difficult and challenging Journey.”
--- C.P. Bhambri, former Professor of Political Science and Distinguished Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
“Rewarding reading for Students of Indian Politics and economy.”
--- Business Standard
Contents
Preface to the Revised Edition
1. Introduction
2. The Colonial Legacy
3. The National Movement and its Legacy
4. The Evolution of the Constitution and Main Provisions
5. The Architecture of the Constitution : Basic Features and Institutions
6. The Initial Years
7. Consolidation of India as a Nation (I)
8. Consolidation of India as a Nation (II) : The Linguistic Reorganization of the States
9. Consolidation of India as a Nation (III) : Integration of the Tribals
10. Consolidation of India as a Nation (IV) : Regionalism and Regional Inequality
11. The Years of Hope and Achievement, 1951-1964
12. Foreign Policy : The Nehru Era
13. Jawaharlal Nehru in Historical Perspective
14. Political Parties, 1947-1964 : The Congress
15. Political Parties, 1947-1965 : The Opposition
16. From Shastri to Indira Gandhi, 1964-1969
17. The Indira Gandhi Years, 1969-1973
18. The JP Movement and the Emergency : Indian Democracy Tested
19. The Janata Interregnum and Indira Gandhi's Second Coming, 1977-1984
20. The Rajiv Years
21. Run-up to the New Millennium and After
22. Politics in the States (I) : Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam
23. Politics in the States (II) : West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir
24. The Punjab Crisis
25. Indian Economy, 1947-1965 : The Nehruvian Legacy
26. Indian Economy, 1965-1991
27. Economic Reforms Since 1991
28. The Indian Economy in the New Millennium
29. Land Reforms (I) : Colonial Impact and Legacy of the National and Peasant Movements
30. Land Reforms (II) : Zamindari Abolition and Tenancy Reforms
31. Land Reforms (III) : Ceiling and the Bhoodan Movement
32. Cooperatives and an Overview of Land Reforms
33. Agriculture Growth and the Green Revolution
34. Agrarian Struggles since Independence
35. Revival and Growth of Communalism
36. Communalism and the Use of State Power
37. Caste, Untouchability, Anti-caste Politics and Strategies
38. Indian Women since Independence
39. The Postcolonial Indian State and the Political Economy of Development: An Overview
40. Disarray in Institutions of Governance
41. The Dawn of the New Millennium: Achievements, Problems and Prospects
Notes
Select Bibliography
A Note on Style