Independent India, 1947-2000

Wendy Singer’s book is a clear and concise look at post-independence India, addressing all the key themes of the period – industrial development versus the agrarian sector; religious conflict; the rise of political parties; caste tensions. All issues are discussed in a chronological framework, beginning with the making of the constitution in the first five years of independence, through to India’s role in the 1971 civil war in Pakistan, the two-year Emergency declared in 1975, the rise of the middle class in the 1980s, and economic and local government reforms in the 1990s. The Assessment section of the book draws the themes together and reflects on recent events – such as the testing of nuclear weapons.

Independent India is an exploration of India’s national history from independence in 1947 to the end of the twentieth century. Wendy Singer charts the rapid development of this emerging world power by following a series of different narratives crucial to the history of post-independence India: national integrations, the ongoing development of arts and culture, social movements, and political change.

In telling the broader history of political movements and cultural transformations from different perspectives, this book provides key examples that demonstrate the experiences of women and men from the many classes and cultures that comprise modern India. In keeping with the series as a whole, this text also provides a range of primary source documents both to illuminate that history and to show the rich resources and unique challenges involved in writing contemporary history.

Key features include:

    Thematic chapters within a chronological structure, incorporating different approaches to the study of history
     A varied range of primary sources, demonstrating the diversity of material available
    In-depth social, cultural and political analysis, including the study of regional identities, film, literature, gender, politics and economic change

Investigating India’s recent national history from a range of angles, this new Seminar Studies volume is an essential introduction for anyone who wishes to learn more about the important place that India, the world’s largest democracy, has in our global age. .