In this comprehensive study, the authors debate and challenge the striking developments in contemporary south asian history and history writing, and cover the entire spectrum of modern south asian history--social, economic and political this second edition has been thoroughly updated taking into account the newest and most sophisticated historical research on the subject it offers significant insights on the last millennium in subcontinental history and provides a new chronology of events written accessibly, this book will be useful to students and teachers of history, cultural studies and politics as well as general readers interested in the history of south asia a new and authoritative synthesisintroduces the reader not merely to new interpretations of topicsbut to new perspectives on the subject -- peter j marshall, reviews in history manages to offer a distinctive comparative interpretation of the storyvaluable to both students and lay readers -- sudipta kaviraj, the times higher education supplement this book is a tour de force that admirably synthesizes much of the historical research without falling into the trap of new orthodoxies -- lakshmi subramanian, the telegraph a thorough studyit is a tribute to where south asian historiography can now find itself that this book has been written -- alexander evans, asian affairs