This new account of India's struggle for independence gives the full social, political and economic context up to the transfer of power in 1947. Covering the Indian National Congress, the central figure of Gandhi, and the first years of independence, helpful features include a biographical guide to the main protagonists and a chronological outline of the main events.   

Part 1 The Background; Chapter 1 Rulers and Subjects; Part 2 Analysis; Chapter 2 Imperial Dilemmas; Chapter 3 Nationalism; Chapter 4 Muslim Separatism; Chapter 5 Handing Over; Part 3 Assessment; Chapter 6 The gift of FreedomPart 4 Documents;

 India's struggle for independence is an extraordinary story. The pivotal question posed by this book is how a valued and seemingly permanent imperial possession - the "jewel in the crown" - came to be given its freedom only sixty years after the establishment of the Congress National Congress in 1885.  On the face of it, decolonisation seems to have been the direct result of nationalist pressure, but Ian Copland suggests that the reality was more complex - he gives the full social, political and economic context up to the transfer of power in 1947. The account covers * the Indian National Congress * the central figure of Gandhi * the first years of independence Helpful features include a biographical guide to the main protagonists and a chronological outline of the main events.  IAN COPLAND is Associate Professor of History at Monash University, Australia.

• First book to deal with Indian decolonisation over the period 1885-1947.
• Sets the story of India's march to nationhood in its social, economic and cultural context.
• Specially selected photographs provide visual realisation of key arguments.
• Main text supported by biographical guide to the principal characters.
• Chronological outline of key events helps reader to follow events.