Indian Society and the Secular: Essays

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction: the role of religion in political conflicts Indian society and the secular. 2. Redefining the secular mode for India. 3. Is secularism alien to Indian civilization? 4. Historical interpretations and the secularizing of Indian society. 5. Understanding secularism. 6. Contemporary politics and the rewriting of history in India. 7. Communalism and the historical legacy: some facets can genetics help us to understand Indian social history? 8. Rethinking the concept of civilization as history. 9. The politics of religious communities. 10. Justice in Gujarat. 11. Past as present and the present as past. Index.

The rich oeuvre of historical literature that Romila Thapar has authored holds a mirror to her remarkable personality. Like her writings do, she exudes confidence, conviction and commitment. She is honest, forthright and passionate. These qualities have made her the most articulate advocate of secularism and nationalism. She is neither a feminist nor a Marxist, but a humanist in whom all isms enter into a dialogue.