In recent times, our understanding of state and society has been considerably enriched by the introduction of a framework that draws upon a set of nuanced distinctions between civil society, political society and public sphere, and which has had a profound impact on the way we understand ideas of nationhood and citizenship. The original, exploratory essays brought together in this volume work within this framework without accepting it uncritically. The contributors examine the relationship between the state and society in India, discuss ideas of citizenship, and study the broad area known as the public sphere. Among the questions addressed are: How do we understand the terms civil society and public sphere and what are their differences in the Indian context? What impact does civil society have on the Indian state today? Who are allowed to participate actively in the public sphere and the workings of the state and who are denied access? What is the role of the Indian citizen today? The eminent scholars who have contributed to this volume provide numerous fresh insights into these and related issues which have been the subject of extensive debate in recent years. This is perhaps the first book to deal simultaneously with civil society, the pubic sphere and citizenship in contemporary India, while providing at the same time a comparison with western experience.
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