India: The Definitive History

Description

This book deals with the sweep of traditional Indian history as well as with the post-independence events, judicially balancing narrative and analysis in the conceptual framework of postcolonial and postmodernist approaches, covering the process of change in India through the centuries. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Chronology Preface 1 Land and the Human Fabric Geography Climate Dress and Cuisine Political Structure Secularism and Religious Tolerance Population Languages 2 India in Prehistoric Times The Indus-Saraswati Rivers Civilization 3 The Vedic Age ca. 1200 BCE–600 BCE Post-Harappan Early History of Indian Source Material Vedic Literature Conclusion Appendix to Chapter 3: Vedic People and the Aryan Invasion Theory Conclusion 4 Birth of Two Religions: Buddhism and Jainism Buddhism Jainism 5 State and Politics in Ancient India Alexander’s Invasion The Mauryas The Rise of the Kushanas The Guptas Harshavardhana Conclusion 6 The Era of Consolidation: Political and Cultural The Epics and the Puranas Hinduism The Bhakti Movement The Caste System Women in Ancient India Education in Ancient India Higher Learning in Ancient India 7 Early Islam: The Sultanate Islam The Sultanate of Delhi The Khalji Dynasty 8 Peninsular Kingdoms: Vijayanagar and Bahmani The Vijayanagar Empire The Bahmani Kingdom 9 The Great Mughals: Babar to Aurangzeb Babar Humayun and Sher Shah Akbar Jahangir Shah Jahan Aurangzeb Mughal Administration The Later Mughals—Empire Only in Name Persian and Afghan Invasions 10 The Rise of the Marathas and the Sikhs The Rise of the Marathas Shivaji The Peshwas The Sikhs and Their Relations with the Mughals 11 The European Powers in India The Age of Commerce 1498–1757 The Age of Conquest 1757–1848 The Blackest Chapter in British Indian History 12 Reaction to British Rule Agents of Change The Great Uprising 13 The Indian Nationalist Movement 1850–1919 Nationalism in Europe and Asia Compared Special Characteristics of Asian and Indian Nationalism India’s Unity and Beginnings of Nationalism Indian Reaction to the Christian Missionary Challenge Establishment of the Indian National Congress Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 14 The Road to Freedom Through Partition The Two Nationalisms The Khilafat or Caliphate Movement The Simon Commission and the Muslims Irwin’s Declaration and Call for a Roundtable Conference Gandhi Breaks the Salt Laws The Communal Award and Gandhi’s Reaction The Problem of the Princely States The Act of 1935 Congress the Muslim League and World War II Interim Indian Government Formed Free at Last but Through Partition 15 The March of Indian Democracy Part I Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister The Question of Portuguese Colonies in India The Making of the Constitution and How It Works Nehru’s Death Lal Bahadur Sastri Imperious Indira The Janata Interlude Indira’s Rule Again 16 The March of Indian Democracy Part II Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister Viswanath Pratap Singh Prime Minister Rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party Narasimha Rao Prime Minister The Babri Masjid–Ram Mandir Dispute The BJP in Power—Three Times The Congress Party in Power Again 17 The Princely States and the Kashmir Question Legal Basis for the Independent Status of the Princely States The Princes and the Nationalist Movement British Dealings with the Princes Just Before India’s Independence Sardar Patel Heads the Ministry of States The Kashmir Question 18 Toward Economic Freedom Political and Economic Background of India’s Economic Development Industrial Policy and Socialist Pattern of Society Failure of Socialist Planning Population and Planning Failure of Planning New Economic Policy Conclusion 19 India’s Foreign Policy The Nehru Era India’s Neighbors and the Superpowers Selected Bibliography Index