The Image Of Contemporary India Abroad

This title was first published in 2001. An important analysis of the links between the Indian Diaspora and the state and how this Diaspora can influence economic and foreign policy making in their country of origin. M.C. Lall focuses on India, presenting an unusual case whereby the Indian government in post- independence years ostracized its Diaspora despite the need for outside help with India’s economic development. This in-depth study of the failure of the Indian government to make good use of its Diaspora looks at the reasons why India did not cultivate a relationship after independence; why there was still no change even in light of its economic liberalization and what have been the consequences of this missing relationship.

Edited by Neera Chandhoke and Praveen Priyadarshi, Contemporary India addresses issues facing the nation-state and civil society from diverse perspectives: those of political science, sociology, economics and history. The book is thematically divided into three parts Economy, Society, and Politics and includes discussions on topics as wide-ranging as poverty, regional disparities, policies, social change and social movements, the elements of democracy, dynamics of the party system, secularism, federalism, decentralization, and so on. The common thread of democracy, which strings together different aspects of contemporary India, serves as the framework of understanding here and underlies discussions in all the chapters. The book includes 23 original, well-researched and up-to-date chapters by authors who teach different courses in the social sciences. Without compromising on the complexity of their arguments, the authors have used a lucid, conversational style that will attract even readers who have no previous knowledge of the topics. The contributors have also provided a glossary, questions and further readings lists with students examination needs in mind.

The changes in the global environment such as the demise of the socialist system, initiation of globalization, the declining position of international organizations and reduction in the importance of forums like NAM have made it imperative for India to review its old foreign policy nuances. For long, India hardly regarded the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific as priority areas despite the latter's cultural, political, economic and strategic significance. The long spell of mutual alienation understandably gave way to mutual distrust and suspicion. This dark period in India's relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and South Pacific was, however, brought to an end following the reshaping and reorientation of India's foreign policy, manifest in the vigorous pursuit of 'Look East' policy, it was Prime Minister Narasimha Rao who concentrated on forging links and enhancing cultural, economic, political and strategic cooperation with Southeast Asia and transformed this important urge into India's foreign policy initiative that culminated in 'Look East' policy. India's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) started with its Look East Policy in the year 1991. ASEAN has a membership of 10 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and full dialogue partner in 1996. In November 2001, the ASEAN-India relationship was upgraded to the summit level. Consequently, the latter had already registered impressive progress in the field of economy, strategy and cultural relations between India and ASEAN.

Image-Making-India explores the evolving meaning of images in a digital landscape from the vantage point of contemporary India. Building upon long-term ethnographic research among image-makers in Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities, the author interrogates the dialogue between visual culture, technology and changing notions of political participation. The book explores selected artistic experiences in documentary and fiction film, photography, contemporary art and digital curation that have in common a desire to engage with images as tools for social intervention. These experiences reveal images’ capacity not only to narrate and represent but also to perform, do and affect. Particular attention is devoted to the 'digital', a critical landscape that offers an opportunity to re-examine the significance of images and visual culture in a rapidly changing India. This volume will be of particular interest to scholars of visual and digital anthropology and cultures as well as South Asian studies.

Akira Kurosawa said of the great director: 'Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.' Martin Scorsese remarked on Ray's birth centenary in 2021: 'The films of Satyajit Ray are truly treasures of cinema, and everyone with an interest in film needs to see them.' Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye is the definitive biography, based on extensive interviews with Ray himself, his actors and collaborators, and a deep knowledge of Bengali culture. Andrew Robinson provides an in-depth critical account of each film in an astonishingly versatile career, from Ray's directorial debut Pather Panchali (1955) to his final feature Agantuk (1991). The third (centenary) edition includes new material: an epilogue, 'A century of Ray', about the nature of his genius; a wide-ranging conversation with Ray drawn from the author's interviews; and an updated comprehensive bibliography of Ray's writings.

Transcript of speeches and comments made in debates.