India Since 1947

Looking Back at a Modern Nation

Black and white; 358 pages; Flexiback
ISBN-10: 9381523924 | ISBN-13: 978-93-81523-92-6

 395 |  15 |  7.99

Writing contemporary history can be an adventure, especially in a country as diverse as India, where much happens but little is documented due to the lack of a culture of documentation. This anthology is an attempt at looking at India’s history through the eyes of an Indian – through the writings of eminent scholars and budding talent – and offering a perspective and viewpoint that is unbiased, analytical and introspective but basically Indian as opposed to a western viewpoint of India and Indian history. The thirty essays included in this volume penned by India’s leading scholars and insightful young writers, whose names feature on the cover, will establish interfaces in diverse domains and present an overview of modern India from the social history angle. 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 in order 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 dealt with cover a wide 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 by the nation in its march forward. A collection every discerning reader will love to own.

Atul Kumar Thakur
Atul Kumar Thakur

Atul K. Thakur is a public policy professional, management consultant, journalist and writer who specialises in the interface of politics and economics. His research and writing interests extend to macroeconomic policies and international affairs, with a special focus on South Asia. He is an alumnus, inter alia, of Banaras Hindu University and has worked across sectors, spanning policy research, management consultancy, publishing and media. India Now and in Transition is his second book as an editor. He has previously edited India since 1947: Looking Back at a Modern Nation (Niyogi Books, 2013), a significant work on modern India. He is currently working on a book on Nepal’s complex political-economic transitions and ethnicity issues. As a journalist and columnist he has written extensively for many prominent newspapers and websites. He is also a literary critic, having reviewed hundreds of books for leading publications in India and abroad.