India Since Independence

790 Pages·2011·3.96 MB·English

by  Chandra Bipan

Table of Contents
Copy right
Preface to the Revised Edition
Acknowledgem ents
Introduction
The Colonial Legacy
The National Movem ent and its Legacy
The Evolution of the Constitution and Main Provisions
The Architecture of the Constitution: Basic Features and Institutions
The Initial Years
Consolidation of India as a Nation (I)
Consolidation of India as a Nation(II): The Linguistic Reorganization of the
States
Consolidation of India as a Nation(III): Integration of the Tribals
Consolidation of India as a Nation(IV): Regionalism and Regional Inequality
The Years of Hope and Achievem ent, 1951–1964
Foreign Policy : The Nehru Era
Jawaharlal Nehru in Historical Perspective
Political Parties, 1947–1964: The Congress
Political Parties, 1947–1965: The Opposition
From Shastri to Indira Gandhi, 1964–1969
The Indira Gandhi Years, 1969–1973
The JP Movem ent and the Em ergency : Indian Dem ocracy Tested
The Janata Interregnum and Indira Gandhi’s Second Com ing, 1977–1984
The Raj iv Years
Run-up to the New Millennium and After
Politics in the States (I): Tam il Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Assam
Politics in the States (II): West Bengal and Jam m u and Kashm ir
The Punj ab Crisis
Indian Econom y , 1947–1965: The Nehruvian Legacy
Indian Econom y , 1965–1991
Econom ic Reform s Since 1991
The Indian Econom y in the New Millennium
Land Reform s (I): Colonial Im pact and the Legacy of the National and Peasant
Movem ents
Land Reform s(II): Zam indari Abolition and Tenancy Reform s
Land Reform s (III): Ceiling and the Bhoodan Movem ent
Cooperatives and an Overview of Land Reform s
Agricultural Growth and the Green Revolution
Agrarian Struggles Since Independence
Revival and Growth of Com m unalism
Com m unalism and the Use of State Power
Caste, Untouchability , Anti-caste Politics and Strategies
Indian Wom en Since Independence
The Postcolonial Indian State and the Political Econom y of Developm ent: An
Overview
Disarray in Institutions of Governance
The Dawn of the New Millennium : Achievem ents, Problem s and Prospects
Notes
Select Bibliography
A Note on Sty le
1 m
30
n.’2

A thorough and incisive introduction to contemporary India
The story of the forging of India, the world’s largest dem ocracy , is a rich and
inspiring one.
This volum e, sequel to the best-selling India’s Struggle for Independence, analy
ses the challenges India has faced and the successes it has achieved, in the light
of its colonial legacy and century -
long struggle for freedom .
The book describes how the Constitution was fram ed, and also how the
Nehruvian political and econom ic agenda and basics of foreign policy were
evolved and developed. It dwells on the consolidation of the nation, exam ining
contentious issues like party politics at the Centre and the states, the Punj ab
problem , and anti-caste politics and untouchability .
This revised edition offers a scathing analy sis of the growth of com m unalism
in India and the use of state power in furthering its cause. It also docum ents the
fall of the National Dem ocratic Alliance in the 2004 General Elections, the
United Progressive Alliance’s subsequent rise to power and the Indo-US Nuclear
Deal that served to unravel the political consensus at the Centre.
Apart from detailed analy ses of Indian econom ic reform s since 1991 and wide-
ranging land reform s and the Green Revolution, this new edition includes an
assessm ent of the Indian econom y in the new m illennium . These, along with
obj ective profiles of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Jay aprakash Naray an,
Lal Bahadur Shastri, Raj iv Gandhi, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Atal Bihari Vaj
pay ee and Manm ohan Singh, constitute a rem arkable overview of a nation on
the m ove.
‘An outstanding book...the best of its kind. It is a m asterly overview of political
and econom ic developm ents in India over the last fifty y ears.’ —Prof. Atul
Kohli, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
‘As an introduction to the history of post-Independence India, it is non-pareil.’
—M.V. Kam ath ‘The book fills a m aj or gap in the literature on contem porary
history and is a m ust read for the general public, especially students of history ,
sociology , econom ics and politics.’ — The Tribune ‘A com prehensive volum
e...These scholars have succeeded in presenting the story of an extrem ely
difficult and challenging j ourney .’ —C.P. Bham bri, form er Professor of
Political Science and Distinguished Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru
‘Rewarding reading for students of Indian politics and econom y .’— Business
Standard
Cover photograph courtesy Dinodia Photo Library
Cover illustration by Geetika Alok
PENGUIN BOOKS
INDIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE
Bipan Chandra was born in Kangra, Him achal Pradesh. He was educated at
Form an Christian College, Lahore, and at Stanford University , California. He
was Professor of Modern History at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New
Delhi, where he is currently Professor Em eritus. He is also National Professor
and Chairperson of the National Book Trust. Prof. Chandra is the author of
several books on nationalism , colonialism , and com m unalism in m odern
India.
Mridula Mukherj ee was educated at Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi and at
JNU. She is Professor of Modern Indian History at the Centre for Historical
Studies, JNU and Director, Nehru Mem orial Museum and Library . Her areas of
special interest are agrarian history , peasant m ovem ents and the national m
ovem ent.
Adity a Mukherj ee was educated at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and at JNU.
He is Professor of Contem porary Indian History at the Centre for Historical
Studies, JNU and Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study at
Jawaharlal Nehru University . His research interests are in m odern business
history and capitalist developm ent, and contem porary econom y and politics.
India Since
Independence
Bipan Chandra
Mridula Mukherjee Aditya Mukherjee
PENGUIN BOOKS
Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL,
England First published as India After Independence, 1947–2000 in Viking by
Penguin Books India 1999
Published in Penguin Books 2000
Twelfth reprint 2007
This revised edition published as India Since Independence by Penguin Books
India 2008
Copy right © Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherj ee, Adity a Mukherj ee 2008
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-01-4310-409-4
This Digital Edition published 2011. e-ISBN: 978-81-8475-053-9
Digital conversion prepared by DK Digital Media, India.
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To
Late Professor V.D. Mahajan
Contents
Copy right
Preface to the Revised Edition
Acknowledgem ents
1. Introduction
2. The Colonial Legacy
3. The National Movem ent and its Legacy
4. The Evolution of the Constitution and Main Provisions
5. The Architecture of the Constitution: Basic Features and Institutions
6. The Initial Years
7. Consolidation of India as a Nation (I)
8. Consolidation of India as a Nation(II): The Linguistic Reorganization of the
States
9. Consolidation of India as a Nation(III): Integration of the Tribals
10. Consolidation of India as a Nation(IV): Regionalism and Regional Inequality
11. The Years of Hope and Achievem ent, 1951–1964
12. Foreign Policy : The Nehru Era
13. Jawaharlal Nehru in Historical Perspective
14. Political Parties, 1947–1964: The Congress
15. Political Parties, 1947–1965: The Opposition
16. From Shastri to Indira Gandhi, 1964–1969
17. The Indira Gandhi Years, 1969–1973
18. The JP Movem ent and the Em ergency : Indian Dem ocracy Tested
19. The Janata Interregnum and Indira Gandhi’s Second Com ing, 1977–1984
20. The Raj iv Years