Routledge Indian Political Theory: Laying the Groundwork for Svaraj

Explore the complexities of Indian political thought with this academic work from Routledge. Indian Political Theory: Laying the Groundwork for Svaraj examines the current nativist turn in Indian political discourse. The book addresses the common assumption that indigenous thought is easily accessible by simply ignoring the colonization of the mind and polity. This text provides a deep analysis of the concept of svaraj, or authentic autonomy. Rather than viewing it through the lens of indigenous elites, the author defines svaraj as a thick conception. This definition links the concept to exclusivist notions of spirituality and profound anti-modernity. It offers a necessary critique of how researchers approach the return to indigenous traditions in a post-colonial context. Ideal for students, researchers, and academics interested in Asian history and political science, this book challenges standard interpretations of autonomy and tradition. It provides a framework for understanding how political identity and indigenous thought intersect in the modern era.