Indian political thought

The book attempts to bring out. through a selection of the Indian Political thought & thinkers the essentials of their intellectual development and their contribution to contemporary Indian political thought. These writings constitute a significant part of the historical debates contestations of ideas among the thinkers of the nationalist and the internationalist movements of the first half of the twentieth century. The book also brings out several commonalities in the thought of Indian. Political in spite of differences in their world views. Though they were all nationalists committed to India's freedom from colonial rule, they went beyond the concept of the nation (state). The attempt to reconstruct society and polity in terms of 'community' 'people' and, ultimtely, the freedom of the individual was common to all the thinkers. They supported the concept of decentralization and inter linkages among various levels of authority connecting peoples, communities and nations. Their arguments may answer, however partially, the democratic urge to reconcile the 'iron law of organization with the demand for power to the people of the Indian political thought. I must clarify that I am an incorrigible optimist. Yes, I am harsh towards the dead wood. I reserve my soft touch and kid gloves for the sprouts that are just springing forth from the ground, Unfortunately, Indian political thought, as it exists today, has more dead Pne. But before it does this, there is wood than it can carry. It needs to break out of the moulds of the past and seek new to understand the past and the present. Hope that the mini-book will help ou do this.