Britain and Indian Nationalism: The Imprint of Amibiguity 1929-1942

by D. A. Low

Overview

On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of Indian independence Anthony Low examines anew the distinctive character of perhaps the most momentous struggle of the twentieth century. He shows how the struggle was conditioned by the ambiguity of the British position, determined to hold fast to their Indian empire yet reluctant to offer unyielding resistance to their nationalist opponents. Britain and Indian Nationalism makes a major contribution to the historiography of modern India, to Britain's relations with its empire, and to the history of decolonization in the twentieth century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521550178
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/18/1997
Pages:	378
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.98(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction: contemporary encounters; 2. Vortex debate: the Purna Swaraj decision 1929; 3. Holds barred: anatomy of a Satyagraha, Lucknow May 1930; 4. Peace with conflict: the Gandhi-Emerson talks, March-August 1931; 5. Thrust and parry: the Mahatma at bay 1932–3; 6. Which way ahead? Nehru and congress strategy 1936–7; 7. The spider's web: congress and provincial office 1937–9; 8. Working with the grain: Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and the antecedents to the Cripps Declaration 1942; Bibliographical notes; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Author and editor of more than 15 books on British Empire and Commonwealth history, Low has produced a number of works in which his analysis of India is contextualized by his mastery of Asian, and especially African, history....this valuable work encapsulates Low's thinking and research on the topic." Choice

"Low has written a meticulously researched and tighly reasoned book analyzing the defining thirteen years of what is often called the Indian struggle for freedom." Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"...represents fresh archival investigation, and the list of these archives is as long as your arm. No question but that this is a very scholarly peice of work. I can only hope that in time it will be on the shelves of all those with a serious interest in Western colonial experience generally, in Britain's Indian experience particularly..." Peter Ward Fay, The Journal of Asian Studies

"Britain and Indian Nationalism is a thoughtful and judicious study, and will figure prominently in discussions about the end of Britain's Raj." Douglas M. Peers, Journal of Asian History

"...this is an engaging series of essays on the encounters between Britain and the Indian nationalists—one that will be of great interest and value to students in this area." Sankaran Krishna, Journal of Asian & African Studies

"Low's study in its finer nuances brings us a step closer to fathoming the depths of British colonial ambition in India." Sudipta Sen, Journal of Modern History

From the Publisher