India Since 1947:Looking Back at a Modern Nation

Writing contemporary history can be an exciting adventure, especially in a country as diverse as India, where a great deal happens. Still, little is documented due to the lack of a culture of documentation. This anthology is an attempt to view India’s history through the eyes of an Indian – through the writings of eminent scholars and budding talent – and offer a perspective and viewpoint that is unbiased, analytical, and introspective, yet fundamentally Indian, as opposed to a Western view of India and Indian history. The thirty essays included in this volume, penned by India’s leading scholars and insightful young writers, whose names are featured on the cover, will establish interfaces in diverse domains and present an overview of modern India from a social history perspective. Modern-day India is very different from what it was in 1947, when it faced the challenges of existence. Now it struggles to develop, improve and clean up its systems to maximise its potential. Through first-hand accounts, this work attempts to describe how India handled the trauma of Partition and progressed further with radical changes in its socio-economic and political order. The topics covered span a broad spectrum and include issues related to economic, political, socio-cultural, literary, and artistic spheres. The essayists are looking back and taking stock of the progress the nation has made since independence, the reasons for the lack of it in some sectors, and the advances the country has made in its march forward—a collection every discerning reader will love to own.