Indian Political Thought: A Reader - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415562945 ISBN 13: 9780415562942

Publisher: Routledge, 2010

Synopsis

This Reader provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of contemporary Indian political theory. Tracing the development of the discipline and offering a clear presentation of the most influential literature in the field, it brings together contributions by outstanding and well-known academics on contemporary Indian political thought. The Reader weaves together relevant works from the social sciences ― sociology, anthropology, law, history, philosophy, feminist and postcolonial theory ― which shape the nature of political thought in India today. Themes both unique to the Indian political milieu as well as of universal significance are reflected upon, including tradition, secularism, communalism, modernity, feminism, justice and human rights. Presenting a canon of names and offering a framework for further research within the broad thematic categories, this is a timely and invaluable reference tool, indispensable to both students and scholars.

About this title

About the Author

Aakash Singh Rathore is a professor, author and an Ironman triathlete. He is International Fellow of the Centre for Ethics and Global Politics-LUISS, Rome, Italy and Director of the International Research Network for Religion and Democracy. His scholarly interests range from comparative political philosophy to liberation theology and applied critical theory. 

Silika Mohapatra teaches Philosophy at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. Her research interests include classical metaphysics, phenomenology, semiotics and the ethics of self and society.

From the Inside Flap

Contents

Foreword

Introduction: What is Indian Political Thought?

Aakash Singh and Silika Mohapatra

Part 1: Provocation

1. The Poverty of Indian Political Theory
Bhikhu Parekh

Part 2: Evocation

2. Gandhi's Ambedkar

Ramchandra Guha

3. The Quest for Justice: Evoking Gandhi
Neera Chandhoke

4. Tagore and His India

Amartya Sen

Part 3: Secularization

5. Is Secularism Alien to Indian Civilization?
Romila Thapar

6. Secularism Revisited: Doctrine of Destiny or Political Ideology?

T.N. Madan

7. The Distinctiveness of Indian Secularism
Rajeev Bhargava

Part 4: Communalization

8. The Blindness of Insight: Why Communalism in India is about Caste

Dilip M. Menon

9. In Search of Integration and Identity: Indian Muslims since Independence

Mushirul Hasan

10. Sikh Fundamentalism: Translating History into Theory

Harjot Oberoi

Part 5: Modernization

11. Gandhi, Newton and the Enlightenment
​Akeel Bilgrami

12. Scientific Temper: Arguments for an Indian Enlightenment

Meera Nanda

13. Outline of a Revisionist Theory of Modernity

Sudipta Kaviraj

Part 6: Reconstruction

14. Reconstructing Childhood: A Critique of the Ideology of Adulthood

Ashis Nandy

15. Subaltern Studies as Postcolonial Criticism
​Gyan Prakash

16. The Commitment to Theory

Homi Bhabha

Part 7: Emancipation

17. Justice of Human Rights in Indian Constitutionalism

Upendra Baxi

18. Emancipatory Feminist Theory in Postcolonial India

Ratna Kapur

19. Righting Wrongs

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Part 8: Conclusion

20. The Poverty of Western Political Theory: Concluding Remarks on Concepts like 'Community' East and West

Partha Chatterjee

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415562945
• ISBN 13: 9780415562942
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 326
• Editor: Rathore Aakash, Mohapatra Silika