Unravelling India's Past: Essays on Society, Politics Culture and Identity

This engaging edited volume explores the rich and complex history of India from the late medieval to the colonial period through a diverse collection of scholarly essays. Covering themes such as political change, social structures, cultural interactions, economic life, and intellectual traditions, the book offers fresh insights into a transformative era in South Asian history. The essays examine the shifting dynamics of power and identity across the subcontinent – from the politics of the Maratha court to the expansion of colonial rule, and from evolving social hierarchies to resilient cultural practices that negotiated tradition and modernity. By focusing on subjects such as agrarian economies, urbanization, trade networks, religious and literary expressions, and colonial interventions, the volume highlights the interconnectedness of regional and global histories. Bringing together rigorous scholarship and wide thematic range, the book also foregrounds voices and experiences often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives, presenting a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of India’s past. Accessible to scholars, students, and general readers alike, this volume demonstrates the continuing relevance of historical inquiry in under­standing the legacies of India’s complex historical experience.

• Publication date: 1 August 2026
• Page count: 358
• Dimensions: Height 230 mm; Width 150 mm
• Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9789374510704