The Politics of India since Independence

A comprehensive study of the major political, cultural and economic changes in India since gaining independence.

The Politics of India since Independence provides a comprehensive study of the major political, cultural, and economic changes in India since gaining independence. Paul Brass focuses on the consequences of the centralising drives of the national leadership to create a strong, unified nation, and a dynamic economy, all of which have been put into jeopardy in recent years by increased inter-caste conflicts, the rise of militant Hindu nationalism, and the worst communal massacres since Independence. In the second edition of his book, the author takes account of recent events to ask whether the country can find the right leadership to restore a political and communal balance in state and society.

List of figures and tables; Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction: continuities and discontinuities between pre- and post-Independence India; Part I. Political Change: Introduction; 2. Political change, political structure and the functioning of government; 3. Parties and politics; 4. State and local politics; Part II. Pluralism and National Integration: Introduction; 5. Language problems; 6. Crises of national unity: Punjab, the northeast and Kashmir; 7. Communal and caste conflict: secularism, Hindu nationalism and the Indian state; Part III. Political Economy: Introduction; 8. Politics, economic development and social change; 9. Political aspects of agricultural change; 10. Conclusion: problems and prospects; Bibliography; Index.

In this edition, Paul Brass looks at political, cultural and economic changes since gaining independence and considers recent events, asking whether the country can find the right leadership to restore a political and communal balance in state and society.