India After Gandhi Revised and Updated Edition: The History of the World's Largest Democracy

These are the kind of history books I most like to read: broad overviews of vast stretches of history, written in an accessible yet scholarly and well-researched manner. Guha points out in the intro that historians have traditionally focused more on the colonial period than on recent Indian history, as if that period was more interesting. He makes a good case for recent Indian history's importance and drama, telling a tale of religious upheaval, political turmoil, a few insurgencies, idealistic heroes, cynical scoundrels, social change, some horrible riots, economic growth, wars with Pakistan and China, and a few interesting figures with multiple sides to their personalities (namely, Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay). Although it's a huge, long book, Guha rarely conveys the impression that he's dwelling for too long on any particular topic. I did think he gives the Nehru era a little more coverage considering its duration, but considering that this is when the foundation of modern India was laid, it's justifiable. He also devotes two whole chapters to the Jayaprakash Narayan movement and the ensuing Emergency, but since this was a dramatic time when India's future as a democracy was imperiled, it's also understandable. He does a weird thing for the last volume and focuses on the last two decades thematically rather than chronologically; I'm not sure why. This has its ups and downs; although we can follow certain themes more clearly when they're not cluttered with other issues, it also sacrifices that 'timeline' feel that's so important to history books, and we sadly lose the political narrative. He never discusses the prime ministers during this period except in other contexts, for instance. I would've liked a little examination of A.B. Vajpayee. Finally, I appreciate the chapter about pop culture in the end. Pop culture is as important to defining a nation's character as anything else and has a great deal of impact on ordinary people, but historians, fixated on politics and society, usually overlook it. My complaints are minor. Guha is Indian, so unsurprisingly he is somewhat biased at times. His main thesis, which opens and ends the book, is that India doesn't get enough credit from foreigners for its triumphs. True, he makes a good argument, but you could also argue that it doesn't get enough criticism from locals considering its many, many problems. (When your main defence is essentially, "Hey, at least we haven't fallen apart"... you've got issues.) His coverage of the Indo-Pakistani conflict is (subtly) biased towards India. Pakistan is always shown in a negative light. Also, he is very nostalgic, and always full of praise for Nehru and his cohorts, against whom modern politicians are nothing but a bunch of scumbags. These complaints aside, this is still a fascinating, informative read, which covers pretty much all the bases and strikes the right scholarly-but-not-boring tone. I recommend it to anyone with any kind of interest in India.

This is the book I had been waiting for most of my adult life, but never knew it had already come into existence a few years back. Somehow, all my life all I could remember about reading "Indian" history was the ancient glory that India was, the dynamic multicultural land it became during the middle times of the great Mughals, and the emaciated mess it became under the later British imperialism. True to what Guha mentions, "Indian" historical studies somehow stopped their narratives at the stroke of midnight of August 15, 1947. But, what happened thereafter from 1947 to the late 80s? Despite being an educated and enlightened citizen of my country, I was unaware, admittedly. Until I read this work of extraordinary scholarly persuasions. This books touches upon so many different aspects that the newly created state of "India" had to undergo and suffer. While the more well known north Indian and Bengal specific issues (namely, the ills of partition between India and Pakistan on Punjab, and the mess between East Pakistan and Bengal) are usually talked of in the context of the immediate aftermath of Independence and partition, numerous other (and dare I say equally important, if not more) issues like the ceding of north-eastern States into the Indian republic, the demands of people based on linguistic identities across the country, and the issue of independence of Kashmir, amongst many others, are brilliantly retold in Guha's magnificently succinct and clear style. Guha is unabashedly a Gandhian, a Marxist and a Nehruvian. This great book is no doubt influenced from that particular orientation. But, in all fairness, Guha has done a commendable job of being as objective as humanly possible. After all, all "history" is what the historian says. If you ever wished to know how the fleeting and fluid concept of "Bharat" metamorphosed into a coherent and distinct republic called "India", which incidentally at the time of independence consisted of roughly 530 distinct, independent and separate princely states, your journey stops here.

Dr. Guha has captured the muddled wonder that is India--a country that defies logic but works in its own exuberant fashion. Contradictions abound but seem to sort themselves out in an odd way. It is impossible for those who did not grow up in those giddy post-Independence years to realize how exciting it was. To those of us who were in school, the future was bright, all seemed possible. The leaders did not hide themselves behind walls of security--Nehru, in particular, was visible and cheered wherever went. I played cricket in the backyard of Dr. Radhakrishnan's home when he was VP and casually walked through his bedroom. Things fell apart later as Dr.Guha details in this richly detailed book.

Good objective and detailed history of post independence period. Highly recommended!

Probably the best history book I have read. I am of Indian origin but I have never lived in India (I moved to the UK at a young age). While I have visited India for business reasons many times in the past, I am now frequent tourist/traveller to India. As I traveled more to India, and became more in touch with my ancestral origins, I wanted to get a better understanding of contemporary Indian history. This book achieved that perfectly. Superbly researched, appropriately detailed coverage of the key episodes of India's recent past and written in a such an engaging style that it was hard to put down. The book has given me a good understanding of the key individuals that shaped/are shaping India and the (almost existential) crises that India has faced since Independence. Now that I have a feel of contemporary Indian history, so much of what I see/read/hear when in India makes more sense. The author is excellent at giving a balanced view during (almost) the entire book, drawing on testimony form various viewpoints so that the reader has a broad appreciation of all of the perspectives at the time. This makes his coverage of Kashmir, Emergency Rule, China's invasion, war with Pakistan, market reforms in the 1990s, rise of the BJP etc. etc. so much more interesting and informative. If I have one criticism it is that the author goes too much into editorial mode towards the end of the book when he covers Modi (spoiler - he is not a Modi fan!).

This is my perosnal views. But author was completely biased towards Congress. I am not BJP supporter. Rather interested in facts but the facts presented is just to prove that how others are wrong and only good work is done by Congress. There was all negative about BJP and Modi. Last few sections which mention about Modi but linked with half truth.

I loved this book and the way Mr. Guha has covered different topics it is impressing. I have started reading lots of book about India after reading this one and getting different perspectives. It gives you a really in depth view about the events that took place in duration of 40 years after Independence.