Understanding Contemporary India is an interdisciplinary book designed for use both as a core text for "Introduction to India" and "introduction to South Asia" courses and as a supplement in a variety of discipline-oriented curriculums. There are few books for classroom use that introduce students to India as a whole rather than focusing on a specific discipline. Understanding Contemporary India fills this gap. The twelve authors, writing with clarity and precision, address a range of crucial issues facing India as it moves into the twenty-first century: there are chapters on history, politics, economics, international relations, the status of women, religion, caste, population growth and the environment, and the arts and popular culture. Each chapter provides an up-to-date-and engaging-description and analysis, along with bibliographies. Maps and photograph enhance the text.
