Individuals and Ideas in Modern India- Nine Interpretative Studies By Jagdish P. Sharma

Book Description

PREFACE
Individuals and Ideas in Modern India traces its origins to a seminar at the University of Hawaii, inspired by outstanding student papers from James Wilson, Barbara Southard Choudhury, and Gerald Reardon. With the insightful feedback of my colleague, Dr. Lee Siegel, I invited contributions from scholars across the U.S. and India. This volume emerged from that collaborative effort, alongside another upcoming work focusing on the pre-modern period, Individuals and Ideas in Traditional India, set for completion next year.

This collection, Individuals and Ideas in Modern India: Nine Interpretative Studies, exclusively examines modern India—specifically its interactions with Western powers from the arrival of the Portuguese in 1498 to the political upheaval of the late 20th century, including the "Emergency" period (1975-1977) and the return of Indira Gandhi to power in 1980, as noted by Ambassador Palkhivala.

The contributors represent diverse disciplines and institutions, offering interdisciplinary perspectives from the Humanities and Social Sciences on key figures and ideas in modern Indian history. It is our hope that this volume will engage both general readers and scholars, providing valuable insights that encourage further exploration through comprehensive notes, references, and bibliographies.

INTRODUCTION
As Karl Polanyi suggests, the religious inclination can inspire profound revolts of the spirit. Crane Brinton asserts that significant historical facts are intertwined with ideas, highlighting the connection between human actions and their specific contexts. History captures the actions and interactions of people within their environments, where certain individuals and ideas rise to prominence, shaping events.

India has its own share of influential figures and concepts. In this volume, we explore a selection of these individuals and ideas, acknowledging that our choices may differ from those of other scholars. The essays span a transformative period of approximately 450 years, from the Portuguese arrival in 1498 to the tumultuous dictatorship of Indira Gandhi and her subsequent return in 1980.

These interpretative studies, authored by scholars from both India and the U.S., offer rigorously researched perspectives on significant ideas and individuals that have not been extensively examined in existing historical literature. Our aim is to present fresh insights through a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on initial research from seminars, dissertations, and conferences, with some pieces specifically crafted for this collection.