A Rich Harvest Of Ideas Has Emerged In Contemporary India On Some Fundamental Political Issue Of Social Transformation. Political Statements Of Leaders Social Movements And Scholarly Investigations By Social Scientists Have Thrown Significant Insights Into Such Core Issue Of Political Theory As State, Power, Equality, Freedom, Justice And The Concept Of Politics Itself. The Philosophical Discussion In India On The Nature Of Scientific Enquiry Has Also Been A Serious Contribution To Social Theory.

At present, a nativist turn in Indian political theory can be observed. There is a general assumption that the indigenous thought to which researchers are supposed to be (re)turning may somehow be immediately visible by ignoring the colonization of the mind and polity. In such a conception of svaraj (which can be translated as ‘authentic autonomy’), the tradition to be returned to would be that of the indigenous elites. In this book, this concept of svaraj is defined as a thick conception, which links it with exclusivist notions of spirituality, profound anti-modernity, exceptionalistic moralism, essentialistic nationalism and purism. However, post-independence India has borne witness to an alternative trajectory: a thin svaraj. The author puts forward a workable contemporary ideal of thin svaraj, i.e. political, and free of metaphysical commitment. The model proposed is inspired by B.R. Ambedkar's thoughts, as opposed to the thick conception found in the works of M.K. Gandhi, KC Bhattacharya and Ramachandra Gandhi. The author argues that political theorists of Indian politics continue to work with categories and concepts alien to the lived social and political experiences of India's common man, or everyday people. Consequently, he emphasises the need to decolonize Indian political theory, and rescue it from the grip of western theories, and fascination with western modes of historical analysis. The necessity to avoid both universalism and relativism and more importantly address the political predicaments of ‘the people’ is the key objective of the book, and a push for a reorientation of Indian political theory. An interesting new interpretation of a contemporary ideal of svaraj, this analysis takes into account influences from other cultures and sources as well as eschews thick conceptions that stifle imaginations and imaginaries. This book will be of interest to academics in the fields of philosophy, political science, sociology, literature and cultural studies in general and contemporary political theory, South Asian and Indian politics and political theory in particular.

This book is an unconventional articulation of the political thinking in India in a refreshingly creative manner in more than one way. Empirically, the book becomes innovative by providing an analytically more grasping contextual interpretation of Indian political thought that evolved during the nationalist struggle against colonialism. Insightfully, it attempts to unearth the hitherto unexplored yet vital subaltern strands of political thinking in India as manifested through the mode of numerous significant socio-economic movements operating side by side and sometimes as part of the mainstream nationalist movement. This book articulates the main currents of Indian political thought by locating the text and themes of the thinkers within the socio-economic and politico-cultural contexts in which such ideas were conceptualised and articulated. The book also tries to analytically grasp the influences of the various British constitutional devices that appeared as the responses of the colonial government to redress the genuine socio-economic grievances of the various sections of Indian society. The book breaks new ground in not only articulating the main currents of Indian political thought in an analytically more sound approach of context-driven discussion but also provokes new research in the field by charting a new course in grasping and articulating the political thought in India. This volume will be useful to the students, researchers and faculty working in the fields of political science, political sociology, political economy and post-colonial contemporary Indian politics in particular. It will also be an invaluable and interesting reading for those interested in South Asian studies.

This Reader provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of contemporary Indian political theory. It gives students a clear introduction to the most influential literature in the field. Tracing the development of the discipline, it brings together contributions by outstanding and well-known academics on contemporary Indian political thought. Presenting a canon of names and offering a framework for further research within the broad thematic categories, this is a timely and invaluable reference tool.

The twenty stimulating and original essays in this volume provide a comprehensive analysis of the main strands of modern Indian political thought. The thinkers dicussed are Rammohun Roy, Dayananda Saraswati, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Ranade, Phule, Tilak, B R Ambedkar, Tagore, Sri Aurobindo, M N Roy, Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi. Separate essays are devoted to the Hindu and Muslim traditions in Indian political thought, Hindu nationalism, and the ideologies of the Communist and Sarvodaya movements. A significant feature of these essays is that they study each thinker or movement in the relevant socio-historical context as also examine the consequences and impact of modern Indian political theories, These are analysed from a world-hostorical and, to some extent, a political economy perspective. The essays in this collection highlight two major streams in modern Indian political thought—one which favoured the adoption or adaptation of western political traditions and the other which sought to evolve indigenous or alternative formulations. The overall conclusion that emerges from this volume is that in order to formulate an adequate political philosophy for the modern age, both the western and Indian traditions have to be taken into account. In this context, some of the essays highlight the contemporary global relevance of Gandhi’s socio-political ideas. This book is a major contribution to modern political philosophy. It will be of great value to students and teacher of political science.

For A Proper Understanding Of Indian Political Scene As We Find It Today, A Thorough Study Of The Prominent Political Thinkers Is Very Essential. The Book Depicts A Beautiful Picture Of The Indian Political Thinkers, Their Career, Political Life And Political Thoughts. It Studies Many Great Leaders From Raja Ram Mohan Roy To Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. The Introduction Provides The Readers A Peep Into The Manner In Which The Indian Political Ideas Were Adopted From Time To Time By The Political Leaders. Impact Of These Ideas On The Political Action Of The People, Particularly, During The Ram Mohan Roy, Gandhi And Nehru Era Has Been Specially Emphasised. Chapter 12 Lays Overwhelming Stress On The Political Thought Of Mahatma Gandhi. His Ideas Are Always The Guiding Principles Of The People Of The World, In General, And The People Of India, In Particular, For All Ages I.E., Past, Present And Future. Chapters 17 To 20 Deal With The Political, Social And Economic Ideas Of The Socialist And The Communist Leaders Of India In An Excellent Manner. The Book Would Be Of Great Value For The Students As Well As The Teachers. Even Laymen Would Enjoy Reading The Book Because Of Its Simple Style.