India: Forty Years of Independence

by Mark Tully, Zareer Masani

Offers a brief chronology of democratic India, describes the problems that have developed during the first forty years of independence, and shares the comments of Indian politicians, historians, and political analysts

Genres: History

174 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 1988

About the author

Sir William Mark Tully was the Chief of Bureau for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in New Delhi for 22 years. Schooled in England, he stayed mostly in India covering all major incidents in South Asia during his tenure. He was made an Officer of The Order of the British Empire in 1985 and was awarded the Padma Shree in 1992, a rare distinction for a non-Indian. He was knighted in the 2002 New Year Honours. In 2005 he received the Padma Bhushan.

Reviews

[Sagar Sabharwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caught hold of this book from a magazine shop for just 30 bucks (89 print), but the book was worth my time.

Chapter 'Neta Babu Raj' was the best chapter but one also gets to know the authoritarian nature of Indira Gandhi and what caused Emergency in '77. It the same context it highlights the biggest social blunders/decisions made by our 'Indian Margret Thatcher'. Plus some hints about how dynasty politics started (Indira being very liberal to Sanjays stupid decision making) in India.

Over all worth a read coz what really stands out in the book is the fact or irony that every thing written in the book some 2 and a half decades back is still part of our system, our lives. Our system hasn't changed one bit.

[Hardeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is now dated (India gained independance in '47), it gives insight into the first 40 years of independance. Further, a lot of what Tully/Masani discuss are still issues in todays India.

I think it is sometimes difficult for people outside of India to appreciate the incredible magic that is a United/Independant India. I often tell people to imagine Europe being a single country!

Ofcourse there are MAJOR problems- some that are almost insurmountable. Yet... India goes on.

[Deepti · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average read. Mark Tully starts of well. The first 3 to 4 chapters from Independence to Neta Babu Raj to discussion on casteism is good. The book becomes average once it reaches to story of Indira Gandhi - more biographical than insightful.

[Shelley Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good well paced nonfiction intro into some of modern India's leading politicians and politics.