A Cultural History Of Modern India

Presents a brief account of Indian culture in the nineteenth century. The work reveals an inner consistency by examining the entire cultural tradition in the light of the two fundamental principles that have shaped India's destiny throughout her long history: unity in the midst of diversity, and continuity at the heart of change. The author has shown the simultaneous working of these two basic features in all the important areas of Indian culture in the nineteenth century' philosophical and religious thought, literature, and the arts.

'Cultural History Of Modern India Edited By Dilip M. Menon Definitely Qualifies For Interesting Reading&The Different Approach Attempted Through The Book Indubitably Is A Fresh Endeavour For A Multidisciplinary Approach With Sociologists, Art Historians And Music Theorists Working Within A Historical Paradigm.' The Statesman, 9 December 2006 The History Of Modern India Has Been Narrated Largely In Terms Of The Nationalist Movement, Personalities And What Has Been Seen As The 'High' Politics Of The State. Recent Shifts In History Writing Have Tried To Bring In Subordinated Histories Of Regions And Of Groups. We Are Moving Towards A Wider Understanding Of Politics, History And Of The Ordinary People Who Make History. This Collection Tries To Push The Emerging Paradigm Further By Moving Away From Conventional Notions Of The History Of The Nation And Indeed Of The Political. The Six Essays In This Collection Present Original And Pioneering Forays In The Study Of Cricket, Oral History, Gender Studies, Film, Popular Culture And Indian Classical Music. Whether Looking At Issues Of Caste On The Seemingly Level Playing Field Of Cricket In Early Twentieth Century India; Or How A Nineteenth Century Housewife Comes To Pen The First Autobiography By An Indian Woman; Calendar Art Reflecting Deeper Notions Of Religion And Community; Or How An Idea Of Pure Classical Music Faces The Challenge Of Technology, These Essays Show How Ideas Of Self, Community And Art Are Formed Within A Larger Politics. Moreover, Culture Far From Being A Refuge From The Political Is Also The Space Within Which Politics Comes To Be Worked Out.

In a second edition of their successful Concise History of Modern India, Barbara Metcalf and Thomas Metcalf explore India's modern history afresh and update the events of the last decade. These include the takeover of Congress from the seemingly entrenched Hindu nationalist party in 2004, India's huge advances in technology and the country's new role as a major player in world affairs. From the days of the Mughals, through the British Empire, and into Independence, the country has been transformed by its institutional structures. It is these institutions which have helped bring about the social, cultural and economic changes that have taken place over the last half century and paved the way for the modern success story. Despite these advances, poverty, social inequality and religious division still fester. In response to these dilemmas, the book grapples with questions of caste and religious identity, and the nature of the Indian nation.

Praise for the hardback edition: 'an impressively scholarly and immensely detailed text... a welcome and strongly recommended contribution to World History and India History collections.' Library Bookwatch "Recommended" -- Choice A History of Modern India provides a comprehensive chronological analysis of India's vibrant and diverse history. As well as examining the evolution of the relationship between the society and the state in its various economic, social, cultural and political forms, A History of Modern India analyses the major empires in modern India from the Moghuls (1580-1739) to the Raj (1818-1947), and discusses the economic, social and intellectual dynansm that accompanied intervening periods of political fragmentation. The book explores the difficulties confronting the rise of Indian nationalismand the consequent confrontation between religious communities: what should have been the crowning victory of a pacifist anti-colonial movement was instead brutally resolved with the violence of Partition in 1947.

This book examines the nature and function of history-writing in India by focusing on early modern traditions of historiography with particular reference to Bengal. Situating distinctive cultures of history vis-à-vis their relevant political and cultural contexts, it highlights the richness, variety and politically sensitive character of a range of oral and textual narratives. Kumkum Chatterjee also makes a significant contribution to the intellectual and cultural history of early modern India by exploring interactions between regional, vernacular cultures on the one hand and the Islamicate, Persianized culture of the Mughal Empire on the other. Strongly grounded in primary sources, The Cultures of History in Early Modern India re-examines the concepts of authority, evidence and method in early modern historiography. It also discusses the debates surrounding the culture of history writing in India.

This is a comprehensive survey of Indian culture, covering such aspects as religion, philosophy, social organisation, literature, art, architecture, music and science.

The Book Has Been Thoroughly Revised By Incorporating Fresh Materials In The Light Of Recent Researches On The Subject. Apart From Meeting The Requirements Of The Students For Plus Two Level Or Higher Secondary, The Book Will Be Helpful To The Candidates Appearing In Competitive Examination Of Both Central And State Civil Services, Including Indian Administrative And Allied Services.Historical Research During The Last Four Decades Has Led To New Insights Into The Study Of Modern Indian History. The Book Incorporates The Major Developments In Historical Research Since Independence. Besides Dealing With The Political Convulsions In India, The Book Furnishes The Socio-Economic Problems With Impoverishment Of The Country, The Cultural And Religious Revival In India, A Brief Survey Of Constitutional Developments, The Genesis And Growth Of Indian Nationalism And An Outline Of Freedom Struggle From Its Inception To The Attainment Of Independence.