POLITICAL THOUGHT IN MODERN INDIA

Course Name: Political Thought in Modern India

About the Course:

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• The paper remains useful for students in developing theoretical insights and perspectives to explore political ideas and its Indian context. Such theoretical This paper is a core paper that intends to introduce students to the texts, thinkers and ideas in Modern India.

• It seeks to develop insights among students on the relevance of political ideas in Modern India by exploring the themes, concepts and issues that are integral to the understanding of Political Thought in Modern India.

Course Outcome

• The paper remains useful for students in developing theoretical insights and perspectives to explore political ideas and its Indian context. Such theoretical perspectives and insights assume importance for students if they wish to pursue research programme.

• The paper has utility for students preparing for UGC NET-JRF exams, SLET exams and other competitive exams like civil services.

Course Plan: Political Thought in Modern India

Session Plan:

Unit 1. : Reformist and Liberal Constitutionalism:

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Social Reform; Political ideas

• Dadabhai Naoroji: Economic Critique of Colonialism

• Pandita Ramabai: Social Reform and Women’s issues

Unit II. : Nationalism and Liberation

• Gandhi: Critique of Modern Civilsation, Satyagraha, Swaraj, Religion and Politics

• Nehru: Socialism, Secularism, Parliamentary Democracy

• B.R.Ambedkar: Caste and Untouchbility, Constitutional Democracy, Social Justice

Unit III. : Contending Perspectives on Nationalism

Aurobindo Ghose: Philosophical and Spiritual Foundations, Nationalism

Savarkar: Social Ideas, Theory of Hindutva

M.A. Jinnah: Two Nation Theory

Reading List:

Unit: I

1. Guha Ramchandra (ed.) Makers of Modern India, Penguin, Viking 2010

2. Pantham, Thomas ‘The Socio-Religious Thought of Rammohan Roy’, in Panthom, Thomas and Deutsch, Kenneth I. (eds.) Political Thought in Modern India. New Delhi (1986): Sage,pp.32-52.

3. Ganguli B.N., ‘Dadabhai Naoroji and the Drain Theory’, The Journal of Asian Studies, Cambridge University Press, Aug.1967

4. Doctor Adi H., ‘Political Thinkers of Modern India Mittal Publications, New Delhi 1997

5. Kosambi, Meera ‘Women’s Emancipation and Equality: Pandita Ramabai’s Contribution to Women’s Cause’, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 23, No. 44: Oct, 1988, pp. 38-49.

6. Chakravarty, Uma, Rewriting History: the Life and Times of Pandita Ramabai, Zubaan, New Delhi, 2013

Unit: II

1. Nehru Jawaharlal, Discovery of India, Meridian Books, London 1956.

2. Parel, Anthony J, Gandhi: Hind Swaraj and Other Writings, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, 2009

3. Parekh, Bhikhu, Gandhi: A Brief Insight. OUP, New York, 2001

4. Jaffrelot, Christophe, Analysing and Fighting Caste: Dr Ambedkar and Untouchability, Permanent Black, New Delhi, 2005

5. Dennis Dalton, ‘Mahatma Gandhi: Non-Violent Power in Action’, Columbia University Press 1993.

6. Gopal S. (ed) Jawaharlal Nehru, An Anthology, Oxford University Press, 1980.

7. Parekh, Bhikhu, Nehru and the National Philosophy of India, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 26, No. 1/2 (Jan. 5-12, 1991), pp. 35-48.

Unit: III

1. Pantham Thomas, Deutch Kenneth, Political Thought in Modern India, Sage Publication, New Delhi, 1986.

2. Appadorai A., Documents on Political Thought in Modern India, Vol. 1 Oxford University Press, 1970.

3. Hay S., Sources of Indian Tradition, Penguin, 1997.

4. Chousalkar Ashok, Hindutva: V.D. Savarkar and M.S. Golwalkar in Bidyut Chakravarty(ed) Social of Political Thought in Modern India New Delhi 2004.

5. Dennis, Dalton, The Idea of Freedom in the Political Thought of Vivekananda and Aurobindo, WPSA Conference, March 22-24, Portland, Oregon

6. Hoodbhoy, Pervez, Jinnah and the Islamic State: Setting the Record Straight, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 42, Issue no 32, August 2007

7. Noorani, A.J., Jinnah’s Commitment to Liberalism, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 25, Issue 2, Jan 1990

Unit: IV

1. Chandra Bipan, India’s Struggle for Independence, New Delhi, Penguin 1989.

2. Chousalkar Ashok, Hindutva: V.D. Savarkar and M.S. Golwalkar in Bidyut Chakravarty(ed) Social of Political Thought in Modern India New Delhi 2004.

3. Jaswant, Singh, India, Partition, Independence oxford, 2005.

4. Prasad, Bimal, A Revolutionar’s Quest: Selected Writings of Jayaprakash Narayan, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Manohar, New Delhi, 2003

5. Pantham Thomas, Deutch Kenneth, Political Thought in Modern India, Sage Publication, New Delhi, 1986