Publisher Description

An objective and dispassionate study of the oldest religion based regional political party: the Shiromani Akali Dal, participating in the democratic politics and processes of socio-economic development and transformation of the country. It delineates and analyses events and developments from the emergence of the Akali Dal, as a religious movement, its transformation into a religious political party, concerned with safeguarding the political, social and economic interests of the Sikhs as a minority and to represent them in governing institutions, engaged in the struggle for power in secular domain mobilising the community support using the ideology of fusion of religion and politics, yet lacking equal support from different sections of the community. Rather than dwelling on a mere narrative of events and describing strategies, tactics and agitations of the Akalis an attempt has been made to understand why and how social and economic antagonisms arising out of generation and articulation of demands in a pluralistic society, undergoing modernization and democratization may be marked by identity politics. The study is located in the broader framework of rise and growth of regional parties and identity politics in India as a part and consequence of India's adopted model of state and nation building, integration and socio-economic development and transformation.

Author Biography

Amarjit S. Narang retired as Professor of Political Science from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He has about forty five years of teaching experience having taught at Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi National Open Universities. He has been a fellow at Brock, McGill and Queen's universities and Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. His interests include Indian Politics, Comparative Politics, Ethnic and Minority Studies, Human Rights, Punjab and Sikh studies.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Region, Religion and Politics 2. Punjab: State, Society, Demography and Economy 3. Communal Consciousness and Identity in Colonial Era 4. Gurdwara Reform Movement and Shiromani Akali Dal 5. Akali Dal and the National Movement 6. Punjabi Suba Movement 7. Akali Politics in Reorganized Punjab (1967-1980) 8. Sikh Ethno-Nationalism, Akali Dal and Operation Blue Star 9. Punjab Accord and Elections 10. Post-Accord Insurgency and the Akali Response 11. Post-Militancy Return of Moderation 12. New Generation and Dynastic Politics 13. Akali Dal at 100: Trends and Challenges 14. Conclusion: Identity Politics and Accommodation

Long Description

An objective and dispassionate study of the oldest religion based regional political party: the Shiromani Akali Dal, participating in the democratic politics and processes of socio-economic develop-ment and transformation of India. The book delineates and analyses events and developments from the emergence of the Akali Dal, as a religious movement, its transformation in to a religious political party, concerned with safeguarding the political, social and eco-nomic interests of the Sikhs as a minority and to represent them in governing institutions, engaged in the struggle for power in secular domain mobilising the community support using the ideology of fusion of religion and politics, yet lacking equal support from dif-ferent sections of the community. Rather than dwelling on a mere narrative of events and describing strategies, tactics and agitations of the Akalis an attempt has been made to understand why and how social and economic antagonisms arising out of generation and articulation of demands in a pluralistic society, undergoing mod-ernization and democratization may be marked by identity politics. The study is located in the broader frame work of rise and growth of regional parties and identity politics in India as a part and consequence of India's adopted model of state and nation building, integration and socio-economic development and transformation.

Details