India, that is Bharat, is an entity, an existence and a continuity. India has not only been a civilisational legacy but also a legacy of mankind. The book is a collection of essays written by the author in last few years on different issues concerning religio-cultural and socio-political aspects of Indian state and Indian society. The book would induce questions in the minds of general as well as critical readers. Not only that young job-seekers would find it beneficial for their competitive examinations.

This book examines the land question in neoliberal India based on a cohesive framework focusing on socio-legal and judicial interactions in a point of departure from the political-economy approach to land issues. It sheds light on several complex aspects of land matters in India and evolves a critical and multi-dimensional discourse by mapping out exchanges between social and political actors, the State, elites, citizenry, and the legal battle or judicial interpretations on land as right to property. Based on the themes of socio-legal policy and perspective on ‘land’ on the one hand and jurisprudence on the land question on the other, the volume discusses topics such as conclusive land titling; urban land governance; governance of forest land; land-leasing practices, policies, and interventions from the perspective of women; land acquisition policies and laws; how land matters interface with environmental issues; and judicial debates on ‘compensation’ against land acquisitions. It covers a wide range of case studies from all over India by bringing together specialists from across backgrounds. Comprehensive and topical, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of development studies, political studies, law, sociology, political economy, and public policy, as well as to professionals in NGOs, civil society organisations, think tanks, planning and public administration, lawyers, civil services and training institutes, and judicial and forest academies. Those working on rural and urban land issues in India, land management, land governance, environmental laws and governance, property rights, resource conflicts, social work, and rural development will find this book to be of special interest.

Paying tribute to the late Native American scholar Vine Deloria Jr., "Destroying Dogma" follows the ripples of thought set in motion by Deloria's visionary words. This collection of essays by prominent writers and intellectuals demonstrates the breadth and influence of Deloria's life work. While covering a diverse array of topics, such as religious freedom, evolution, and the direction of leadership in Native communities, the essays all share Deloria's enduring notion that dogma is the enemy of critical thinking. Steve Pavlik teaches science at Tucson Preparatory School and is an adjunt faculty member in geopgraphy for Pima Community College. He has published extensively in the field of American Indian studies and is the editor of "A Good Cherokee," "A Good Anthropologist: Papers in Honor of Robert K. Thomas."

This book focuses on governance and management issues in the much publicized 'Ganga Rejuvenation Project', led by the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Attempts over the past three decades to clean up and rejuvenate one of the world's greatest rivers have proved futile. The major reasons for the lack of success are absence of long-term planning, poor co-ordination and failure to sustain whatever little infrastructure for water and sewage treatment could be developed. Focusing on these broad aspects, the book explores spaces for better governance through active community participation, knowledge management, prospects of Public-Private-Partnership, e-governance, youth education, waterfront development, lessons from past failures, comparative international analogies, utilization of external aid and global expertise in successful implementation of a sustainable long-term plan for a river basin's integrated development of both the economy and environment. A host of activities, such as, improving pollution monitoring systems, new development plans for tourism enhancement; river dredging and sewering riparian cities are already being carried in the hope of quick results. The Government of India has also appointed a task force for preparation of a long-term strategy. However, substantial knowledge gaps persist especially with regard to governance. This book aims to address the governance and policy issues and will be a very timely contribution to cleaning as well as rejuvenating Ganga, a river that is lifeline of millions of people.