Book Review: India Since 1980
| Published date | 01 June 2013 |
| Author | Milan Vaishnav |
| DOI | 10.1177/2321023013482793 |
| Date | 01 June 2013 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Studies in Indian Politics, 1, 1 (2013): 109–126
Book Reviews 111
To quibble with the selection of topics covered is unwarranted; nevertheless there are two issues
worth stating. The OCPI gives us an image that India has reached a stage of what Stefano Bartolini and
Peter Mair call ‘conflict encapsulation’, as it deals only with the conventional politics, those which are
constrained by the rules and procedures of the system. It leaves out the non-conventional or what may
be considered ‘illegitimate’ modes of political action and behaviour as well as claims and demands
which often question the fundamentals of the system itself. The form and substance of the politics of a
wide variety of groups in particular parts of the country does not fit into the dominant pattern of politics.
The editors do recognize the absence of a separate essay on violence; nevertheless it is a void that cannot
be brushed away.
Another issue is that politics at the state level has not only received scant attention but also been
inadequately conceptualized by the editors in their narrative. A large body of literature has argued that
the last decade of the century gone by has been one in which states have come out of the shadow of
national politics and in fact have started shaping them. A more nuanced understanding of Indian politics
according to this school requires a closer focus on politics in states. The rise of state politics certainly
merited consideration.
Not that this should take away any shine from the OCPI, which is undoubtedly an excellent resource
that could appeal to multiple audiences. It can serve as a valuable instructional material for class room
teaching at both the undergraduate and post graduate level. For those intending to pursue research, the
OCPI would serve as good first cut into the mass of scholarship on politics in India. The bibliography at
the end of each chapter, though not exhaustive, should provide adequate direction. There is also a useful
index at the end of the book.
For those who bought the hardback copy, which is incidentally 7 times the cost of the Student edition,
the preface attempts to put a finger on the continuous and rapid transformation of Indian politics. It not
only outlines the contours of the major changes taking place under various themes but also raises many
pointed questions intended to not only provoke but also throw light on future directions of research.
Going by recent events—the role of the middle class and urban politics—it must be mentioned that the
editors have been fairly successful in anticipating political change. The OCPI should definitely find
space on the bookshelf of anyone who follows politics in India. Like any companion would, it will serve
as a handy guide.
K. K. Kailash
Panjab University, Chandigarh
E-mail: kailashkk@gmail.com
Sumit Ganguly and Rahul Mukherji, India Since 1980. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press India.
2012. 200 pages. ` 595.
DOI: 10.1177/2321023013482793
Sumit Ganguly and Rahul Mukherji manage, in the few pages and structure dictated by a series format
(theirs is the latest entry in the broader Cambridge University Press series, ‘The World Since 1980’), to
provide dilettantes and Indian scholars alike with a self-assured assessment of a pivotal period in Indian
history.
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