India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra

“India Since Independence” is a comprehensive and incisive analysis of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of India from 1947 to the present day. It is considered a standard text on the subject and is widely used in universities and colleges around the world.

The book is divided into four parts:

• Part I: The Nehru Era (1947-1964) examines the challenges faced by India in its early years as an independent nation, including the partition of the country, the consolidation of democracy, and the development of a planned economy. It also discusses the foreign policy of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was a key figure in the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Part II: The Quest for Stability and Change (1964-1977) covers the period after Nehru’s death, including the wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, the Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, and the rise of Janata Party government.
• Part III: The Challenges of the Eighties and Nineties (1977-1999) explores the rise of Hindu nationalism, the economic reforms of the 1990s, and the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
• Part IV: The Twenty-First Century (2000-present) discusses the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the terrorist attacks of 2001 and 2008, and the economic growth of India in recent years.

Chandra’s book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the complex history of modern India. It is well-written and well-researched, and it provides a balanced and objective perspective on the events that have shaped the country since independence.