Mona G. Mehta – författare

The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and the land that produced Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, Gujarat has been at the centre-stage of South Asia’s political iconography for more than a century. As Gujarat, created as a separate state in 1960, celebrates its golden jubilee this collection of essays critically explores the many paradoxes and complexities of modernity and politics in the state. The contributors provide much-needed insights into the dominant impulses of identity formation, cultural change, political mobilisation, religious movements and modes of communication that define modern Gujarat. This book touches upon a fascinating range of topics – the identity debates at the heart of the idea of modern Gujarat; the trajectory of Gujarati politics from the 1950s to the present day; bootlegging, the practice of corruption and public power; vegetarianism and violence; urban planning and the enabling infrastructure of antagonism; global diasporas and provincial politics – providing new insights into understanding the enigma of Gujarat. Going well beyond the boundaries of Gujarat and engaging with larger questions about democracy and diversity in India, this book will appeal to those interested in South Asian Studies, politics, sociology, history as well as the general reader. This book was published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.

The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and the land that produced Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, Gujarat has been at the centre-stage of South Asia’s political iconography for more than a century. As Gujarat, created as a separate state in 1960, celebrates its golden jubilee this collection of essays critically explores the many paradoxes and complexities of modernity and politics in the state. The contributors provide much-needed insights into the dominant impulses of identity formation, cultural change, political mobilisation, religious movements and modes of communication that define modern Gujarat. This book touches upon a fascinating range of topics – the identity debates at the heart of the idea of modern Gujarat; the trajectory of Gujarati politics from the 1950s to the present day; bootlegging, the practice of corruption and public power; vegetarianism and violence; urban planning and the enabling infrastructure of antagonism; global diasporas and provincial politics – providing new insights into understanding the enigma of Gujarat. Going well beyond the boundaries of Gujarat and engaging with larger questions about democracy and diversity in India, this book will appeal to those interested in South Asian Studies, politics, sociology, history as well as the general reader. This book was published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.

This book brings together critical discussions on the challenges of urban transformation and the limited opportunities available to marginalized youth in contemporary India. Against the backdrop of neo-liberal policies, globalization, and assertive privatization, the book explores how youth from disadvantaged social castes and rural backgrounds navigate the urban landscape in pursuit of education, skills, and secure futures. While cities are seen as spaces of aspiration, they also exacerbate precarity due to the dominance of a globalized middle class and diminishing prospects for stable employment. Through multi-disciplinary perspectives from sociology, anthropology, human geography, political economy, and development studies, the contributors provide a nuanced analysis of these dynamics, grounded in the lived experiences of India's youth.This volume is an essential read for students, scholars, researchers in sociology, anthropology, urban studies, development studies, and human geography. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding the intersection of urban change, youth aspirations, and social inequality in contemporary India.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.

This book brings together critical discussions on the challenges of urban transformation and the limited opportunities available to marginalized youth in contemporary India. Against the backdrop of neo-liberal policies, globalization, and assertive privatization, the book explores how youth from disadvantaged social castes and rural backgrounds navigate the urban landscape in pursuit of education, skills, and secure futures. While cities are seen as spaces of aspiration, they also exacerbate precarity due to the dominance of a globalized middle class and diminishing prospects for stable employment. Through multi-disciplinary perspectives from sociology, anthropology, human geography, political economy, and development studies, the contributors provide a nuanced analysis of these dynamics, grounded in the lived experiences of India's youth.This volume is an essential read for students, scholars, researchers in sociology, anthropology, urban studies, development studies, and human geography. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding the intersection of urban change, youth aspirations, and social inequality in contemporary India.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.

This book brings together critical discussions on the challenges of urban transformation and the limited opportunities available to marginalized youth in contemporary India. Against the backdrop of neo-liberal policies, globalization, and assertive privatization, the book explores how youth from disadvantaged social castes and rural backgrounds navigate the urban landscape in pursuit of education, skills, and secure futures. While cities are seen as spaces of aspiration, they also exacerbate precarity due to the dominance of a globalized middle class and diminishing prospects for stable employment. Through multi-disciplinary perspectives from sociology, anthropology, human geography, political economy, and development studies, the contributors provide a nuanced analysis of these dynamics, grounded in the lived experiences of India’s youth.This volume is an essential read for students, scholars, researchers in sociology, anthropology, urban studies, development studies, and human geography. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding the intersection of urban change, youth aspirations, and social inequality in contemporary India.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.

The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and the land that produced Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, Gujarat has been at the centre-stage of South Asia’s political iconography for more than a century. As Gujarat, created as a separate state in 1960, celebrates its golden jubilee this collection of essays critically explores the many paradoxes and complexities of modernity and politics in the state. The contributors provide much-needed insights into the dominant impulses of identity formation, cultural change, political mobilisation, religious movements and modes of communication that define modern Gujarat. This book touches upon a fascinating range of topics – the identity debates at the heart of the idea of modern Gujarat; the trajectory of Gujarati politics from the 1950s to the present day; bootlegging, the practice of corruption and public power; vegetarianism and violence; urban planning and the enabling infrastructure of antagonism; global diasporas and provincial politics – providing new insights into understanding the enigma of Gujarat. Going well beyond the boundaries of Gujarat and engaging with larger questions about democracy and diversity in India, this book will appeal to those interested in South Asian Studies, politics, sociology, history as well as the general reader. This book was published as a special issue of South Asian History and Culture.