About the Book
Regionalism and provincialism in politics is not new in India. The problems of linguistic and cultural identity, ethnicity and autonomy demands have led to violent expressions like Dravidaland, Khalistan, Nagalim, Jharkhand, Gorkhaland, Kamtapur, and the like. Far from disrupting the democratic structure, the autonomy movements not only extend the base of democracy, but also develop language, script, improvise symbols of identity, leading to new awareness of community history. Framed in five chapters on Regional Dimensions, Politics of Provincialism, Politics of Ethnicity, Politics of Secular Mobilisation and Figments of Left Politics, this study intends to analyse different aspects of democratic politics and movements in India. In the appendices, clippings on movements and the issues of immigration, influx of Bangladeshis, identity, political murders, starvation deaths, facts and fictions of left politics have been included to make this anthology meaningful both to the liberal, leftist supporters and general readers.
Contents
About the Author / Editor
Sajal Basu is former Senior Fellow of Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. Once President of Amnesty International, Kolkata and an Activist of PUCL, he is now editor of a Bengali newspaper and chief of a news agency.
