Several books have been written by justly famous authors and
historians of India’s struggle for freedom which is the major
strand in any consideration of the history of Modern India.
But these volumes are extensive and in-depth studies, and
often suffer from an overemphasis on one aspect at the cost
of another. The present small effort, however, brings together
various aspects of the turbulent period (from the arrival of
the Europeans on Indian soil and the establishment of British
rule in India to the day India won independence and the early
years of freedom) in a systematic and succinct manner: major
and important details and milestones are effectively discussed
while several relevant but little known details are also
highlighted.
It is not just the mainstream freedom struggle that has
been considered; the disparate efforts—small but significant—
of several groups have also been discussed. The political and
socio-economic developments that have influenced the growth
of modern India have been dealt with in independent chapters.
The endeavour has been to present complex and truly
vast material in a brief and easy-to-understand manner, and
we hope our readers find the book of use and interest.
The present revised edition includes chapters on the advent of the Europeans in India and the British consolidation
of power in India besides incorporating additional information
under several chapters. There are also chapters on the
challenges that a newly independent nation faced in the wake
of a brutal partition. The Nehruvian era is also briefly
discussed. A survey of personalities associated with various
movements, peasant and tribal movements, tables and charts
are also given for quick reference.
Suggestions for improvement are welcome.
