Vishnu's Crowded Temple: India Since the Great Rebellion

Vishnu's Crowded Temple. India since the Great Rebellion. Maria Misra.I am not into the history of India; rather, I am concerned deeply with how earlier social institutions, the dynamic within Indian society, have developed into the political culture witnessed today. My interest falls not only on India, but also on former British colonies in East and Southeast Asia. Maria Misra gives a very comprehensive discussion and sensitive treatment of the processes, as institutions and dynamic of Indian society move forward, leading to the political culture today. Indian society long preceded the British, and the Raj played with its institutions and dynamic, as did Indians to counter the Raj. The focus is kept throughout on the formative process, quite different from conventional historical accounts. In her capable hands what have previously always seemed contradictory, mutually exclusive and intransigent features in Indian society, begin to assume dynamic and adaptive facets. I cannot think of another work that is comparable in value to my own interest. I believe her justification for departing from the liberal-academic, Marxist and subaltern conceptualizations is fully warranted. I do not hesitate to give it four stars.