India Engelska 2011

This book in two volumes is about India in the course of a century, traversing varied phases and developments, some undoubtedly momentous and several others quite distressful or saddening. In 1947-48, both happened together in the form of Independence and the Partition of India accompanied by unprecedented communal combats. The principal themes are political developments, economy and labour which together comprise most of the cumulative change that has occurred in the main period covered, 1918-2007. Preparation for these changes, of which the first notable outcome was the constitution of 1919, began earlier. To facilitate understanding, a brief review of the preceding decade is provided. The leadership of Gandhi is the most extraordinary facet of the long period which is marked by satyagraha and civil disobedience, followed by repression and state violence. This is the reason for giving Volume I the sub-title, The Age of Gandhi. Following Independence, it stretched for about a decade longer until 1957. Volume II is about political shaping of India under a democratic constitution. It has governed the actions of strong and weak alike. Under its wide sway, people have learnt to take part in politics, make and unmake governments and now demand action against the corrupt and respect for law.