Product Description: Political theory is widely seen in India as an esoteric inquiry unrelated to social and political practice and largely irrelevant to the urgent or enduring problems of our times. Contrary to this view, Rajeev Bhargava argues that it emerges from practices and has the potential to return to them-to stabilize, endorse, or challenge them...read more

Product Description: These essays are written over the last two decades by Rajeev Bhargava, one of the most insightful commentators on philosophical and historical questions around secularism. The topics covered are the democratic vision of the new republic of India, the evolution and distinctiveness of India's linguistic federalism, the distinctiveness of Indian secularism, India's secular constitution, and Muslim personal law and the majority-minority syndrome...read more

Product Description: This collection of essays analyzes the Indian Constitution as a political or an ethical document, from a political theory perspective, reflecting configurations of power and interest or articulating a moral vision. This study of the constitution provides a platform on which extensive political deliberations and arguments over procedural and substantive issues relating to Indian society can take place...read more

Bhargava carefully disentangles the different forms of methodological individualism, and then identifies the key assumptions of its most plausible version that beliefs are attitudes individuated entirely in terms of what lies within the individual mind. He argues that once this assumption is challenged, it is possible to rehabilitate a non-individuated methodology that permits a contextual study of beliefs and desires and even a study of social context relatively independent of the beliefs and desires of individuals.

Product Description: This book looks at concepts of justice from points of view of various religious and cultural traditions (Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Cosmopolitanism, Tribal Cultures) and different methodological perspectives (historical, theological, philosophical, sociological)...read more

Papers originally presented at a seminar organized by the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta.

With special reference to India.

Product Description: What is the political role of the Indian citizen today? What are his/her options, commitments and requirements within Indian civil society and its public sphere? What difference does it make if a person makes use of his/her democratic citizenship in a more active or passive way? Who is allowed to participate actively and who is denied access to democratic rights? What impact does civil society have on the Indian state today? Is there a predominant culture, and in which way does this predominance affect its responsibilities? While these questions have long been discussed both within India and abroad, the contributors to this volume seek to provide new points of view and enrich the ongoing debate...read more

Product Description: This volume provides a cross-disciplinary analysis by leading Indian social scientists of the transformations unleashed by the introduction of egalitarian and liberal principles of government within the context of the colonial legacy, hierarchical social order, group-based identities, and plural cultures...read more