Author: Paul R Brass
Publisher: Cambridge University press
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 404
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0521543053
Description
The first edition of The Politics of India since Independence argued that the Indian state, society, and economy were in the midst of a systematic crisis produced by the centralizing drives of a national leadership determined to transform the country into a modern, industrialized, military strong state. In the three yeas since this edition was published, this crisis has intensified, revealing itself in secessionist movements and in increased inter caste conflicts.
The country has witnessed the rise of Hindu nationalism and the worst communal massacres since Independence following the destruction of the mosque in Ayodhya. The issue before the country now is whether or not it can find within its won traditions and moral material resources leadership to restore a political and communal balance in state and society.
REVIEWS
This is the most significant book for understanding India in the 1900s.
-Judith Brown, History
Paul Brass is a distinguished political scientist who has done some pathbreaking work on India.
-Maurice Zinkin, International Relations
Contents
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
PREFACE
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Continuities and discontinuities between pre and post-Independence India
PART I: POLITICAL CHANGE
INTRODUCTION
Political change, political structure, and the functioning of government
Parties and politics
State and local politics
PART II: PLURALISM AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION
INTRODUCTION
Language problems
Crises of national unity: Punjab, the northeast, and Kashmir
Communal and caste conflict: secularism, Hindu nationalism, and the Indian state
PART III: POLITICAL ECONOMY
INTRODUCTION
Politics, economic development, and social change
Political aspects of agricultural change
Conclusion: problems and prospects.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX