Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political EconomyThe South Asian subcontinent is home to nearly a billion people and has been the site of fierce historical contestation. It is a panoply of languages and religions with a rich and complex history and culture. Drawing on the newest and most sophisticated historical research and scholarship in the field, Modern South Asia is written in an accessible style for all those with an intellectual curiosity about the region. After sketching the pre-modern history of the subcontinent, the book concentrates on the last three centuries from c.1700 to the present. Jointly written by two leading Indian and Pakistani historians, it offers a rare depth of historical understanding of the politics, cultures and economies that shape the lives of more than a fifth of humanity. In this comprehensive study, the authors debate and challenge the striking developments in contemporary South Asian history and historical writing. The book provides new insights into the structure and ideology of the British raj, the meaning of subaltern resistance, the refashioning of social relations along lines of caste, class, community and gender, the different strands of anti-colonial nationalism and the dynamics of decolonization. This book is a work of synthesis and interpretation covering the entire spectrum of modern South Asian history - social, economic and political. The authors offer an understanding of this startegically and economically vital part of the world. |
Contents
South Asian history an introduction | 1 |
Modernity and antiquity interpretations of ancient India | 8 |
Premodern accommodations of difference the making of IndoIslamic cultures | 17 |
The Mughal empire state economy and society | 27 |
India between empires decline or decentralization? | 38 |
The transition to colonialism resistance and collaboration | 45 |
The first century of British rule 1757 to 1857 state and economy | 53 |
Company raj and Indian society 17571857 reinvention and reform of tradition | 60 |
The Depression decade society economics and politics | 120 |
Nationalism and colonialism during world war II and its | 128 |
The partition of India and the creation of Pakistan | 135 |
1947 memories and meanings | 157 |
Postcolonial South Asia state and economy society and politics 1947 to 1971 | 167 |
Postcolonial South Asia state and economy society and politics 19712003 | 182 |
Decolonizing South Asian history a view form the new millennium | 201 |
Glossary | 207 |
1857 rebellion collaboration and the transition to crown raj | 70 |
High noon of colonialism 1858 to 1914 state and political economy | 78 |
A nation in making? Rational reform religious revival and swadeshi nationalism 1858 to 1914 | 86 |
Colonialism under siege state and political economy after World War I | 102 |
Gandhian nationalism and mass politics in the 1920s | 109 |
Common terms and phrases
achieved administration agrarian all-India army Asian attempt authority Bangladesh became Bengal Bose British Calcutta called Cambridge capital caste central centre century challenge chapter civil claim colonial Congress constitutional continued cultural decade Delhi demand dominance early East economic elections electoral empire English especially European forces Gandhi groups hand Hindu historians identities important independence India Indian National industrial institutions interests Islam Jinnah land late leaders League majority Maratha military minority movement Mughal Muslim nationalist Nehru nineteenth century northern organization Oxford Pakistan party peasants period Persian political provinces Punjab reforms regional relations religion religious remained resistance revolt rule rulers separate social society South Asia sovereignty structure subcontinent took trade tradition turn University Press urban West Western World