What explains the peculiar spatial variation of Maoist insurgency in India? Mukherjee develops a novel typology of colonial indirect rule and land tenure in India, showing how they can lead to land inequality, weak state and Maoist insurgency. Using a multi-method research design that combines qualitative analysis of archival data on Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh states, Mukherjee demonstrates path dependence of land/ethnic inequality leading to Maoist insurgency. This is nested within a quantitative analysis of a district level dataset which uses an instrumental variable analysis to address potential selection bias in colonial choice of princely states. The author also analyses various Maoist documents, and interviews with key human rights activists, police officers, and bureaucrats, providing rich contextual understanding of the motivations of agents. Furthermore, he demonstrates the generalizability of his theory to cases of colonial frontier indirect rule causing ​ethnic secessionist insurgency in Burma, and the Taliban insurgency in Pakistan.

In India, for many empirical questions, states have been the standard unit of analysis and they are a natural starting point for research using official data sources because state governments set political agendas and budgets and administer a wide range of services. The use of more disaggregated district data allows the study of outcomes across regions with similar historical contexts and political regimes. Most district-level studies, however, have relied on cross-sectional analysis because district comparisons over time are complicated by multiple boundary changes. As providing information on boundary changes across districts will facilitate the construction of district level panel data sets, this article provides data on the composition of all Indian districts over the 1971-2001 period that can enable the construction of district panels.

Post Independence India India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947, but the British provinces, under the crown, were partitioned into two dominions of India and Pakistan and all princely states acceded to either of the two dominions. After Independence, a new era began. Pt. Nehru took the reins of the newly independent nation. Nehru era made a new history. Later, came on the scene, Indira Gandhi. Her eventful period was followed by Janata Party rule and thus, the story went on. There are a lot of books on Indian History, already published and stacks in libraries are packed with them. But, it is always felt that a seriously composed, compact and not so lengthy book on the subject could always create a niche for itself. Hence, this endeavor. Contents: Introduction • India before Independence • Dawn of Freedom • Significant Developments after Independence • Prime Ministers • Indo-Pakistan Conflicts and Wars • System of Governance in India • National Symbols of India