This book deals with the sweep of traditional Indian history as well as with the post-independence events, judicially balancing narrative and analysis in the conceptual framework of postcolonial and postmodernist approaches, covering the process of change in India through the centuries.
Author(s): Damodar Ramaji SarDesai
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2008
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Chronology
Preface
1 Land and the Human Fabric
Geography
Climate
Dress and Cuisine
Political Structure
Secularism and Religious Tolerance
Population
Languages
2 India in Prehistoric Times
The Indus-Saraswati Rivers Civilization
3 The Vedic Age ca. 1200 BCE–600 BCE
Post-Harappan Early History of Indian Source Material
Vedic Literature
Conclusion
Appendix to Chapter 3: Vedic People and the Aryan Invasion Theory
Conclusion
4 Birth of Two Religions: Buddhism and Jainism
Buddhism
Jainism
5 State and Politics in Ancient India
Alexander’s Invasion
The Mauryas
The Rise of the Kushanas
The Guptas
Harshavardhana
Conclusion
6 The Era of Consolidation: Political and Cultural
The Epics and the Puranas
Hinduism
The Bhakti Movement
The Caste System
Women in Ancient India
Education in Ancient India
Higher Learning in Ancient India
7 Early Islam: The Sultanate
Islam
The Sultanate of Delhi
The Khalji Dynasty
8 Peninsular Kingdoms: Vijayanagar and Bahmani
The Vijayanagar Empire
The Bahmani Kingdom
9 The Great Mughals: Babar to Aurangzeb
Babar
Humayun and Sher Shah
Akbar
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb
Mughal Administration
The Later Mughals—Empire Only in Name
Persian and Afghan Invasions
10 The Rise of the Marathas and the Sikhs
The Rise of the Marathas Shivaji
The Peshwas
The Sikhs and Their Relations with the Mughals
11 The European Powers in India
The Age of Commerce 1498–1757
The Age of Conquest 1757–1848
The Blackest Chapter in British Indian History
12 Reaction to British Rule
Agents of Change
The Great Uprising
13 The Indian Nationalist Movement 1850–1919
Nationalism in Europe and Asia Compared
Special Characteristics of Asian and Indian Nationalism
India’s Unity and Beginnings of Nationalism
Indian Reaction to the Christian Missionary Challenge
Establishment of the Indian National Congress
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
14 The Road to Freedom Through Partition
The Two Nationalisms
The Khilafat or Caliphate Movement
The Simon Commission and the Muslims
Irwin’s Declaration and Call for a Roundtable Conference
Gandhi Breaks the Salt Laws
The Communal Award and Gandhi’s Reaction
The Problem of the Princely States
The Act of 1935
Congress the Muslim League and World War II
Interim Indian Government Formed
Free at Last but Through Partition
15 The March of Indian Democracy Part I
Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister
The Question of Portuguese Colonies in India
The Making of the Constitution and How It Works
Nehru’s Death
Lal Bahadur Sastri
Imperious Indira
The Janata Interlude
Indira’s Rule Again
16 The March of Indian Democracy Part II
Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister
Viswanath Pratap Singh Prime Minister
Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party
Narasimha Rao Prime Minister
The Babri Masjid–Ram Mandir Dispute
The BJP in Power—Three Times
The Congress Party in Power Again
17 The Princely States and the Kashmir Question
Legal Basis for the Independent Status of the Princely States
The Princes and the Nationalist Movement
British Dealings with the Princes Just Before India’s Independence
Sardar Patel Heads the Ministry of States
The Kashmir Question
18 Toward Economic Freedom
Political and Economic Background of India’s Economic Development
Industrial Policy and Socialist Pattern of Society
Failure of Socialist Planning
Population and Planning
Failure of Planning
New Economic Policy
Conclusion
19 India’s Foreign Policy
The Nehru Era
India’s Neighbors and the Superpowers
Selected Bibliography
Index
