In our time of globalization, people in the West are increasingly looking beyond the
limits of the West for insights and teachings. It is very important and fascinating to find
out what is happening today in India in terms of political philosophy. This reader is
timely and very much needed as there is simply no comparable text available. The
group of texts presented bring together simply the most outstanding and most well
known Indian political thinkers today. It is in fact a ‘who’s who’ in contemporary
Indian political thought.’
Fred Dallmayr, Notre Dame University, US
‘A significant attempt to construct a foundational text for contemporary Indian poli-
tical thought, this volume meets a deeply felt need. Singh and Mohapatra have put
together a first-rate reader that will challenge, educate and provoke. It will serve as an
indispensible source of reference to students and teachers alike.’
Shashi Tharoor, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
This reader provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of contemporary
Indian political theory. Tracing the development of the discipline and offering a clear
presentation of the most influential literature in the field, it brings together contribu-
tions by outstanding and well-known academics on contemporary Indian political
thought. The reader weaves together relevant works from the social sciences – sociol-
ogy, anthropology, law, history, philosophy, and feminist and postcolonial theory –
which shape the nature of political thought in India today. Themes both unique to the
Indian political milieu as well as of universal significance are reflected upon, including
tradition, secularism, communalism, modernity, feminism, justice and human rights.
Presenting a canon of names and offering a framework for further research within
the broad thematic categories, this is a timely and invaluable reference tool, indis-
pensable to both students and scholars.
Aakash Singh is Research Professor at the Center for Ethics and Global Politics, Luiss
University, Italy. His scholarly interests range from comparative political philosophy to
liberation theology and applied critical theory.
Silika Mohapatra is Research Scholar in the Department of Philosophy at the
University of Delhi, India and currently Visiting Researcher at the Department of
Philosophy, University of Ottowa, Canada. Her research interests include classical
metaphysics, phenomenology, semiotics and the ethics of self and society.
