Federalism Nationalism And Development

This book explores the relationship between federalism, nationalism, and development in India, specifically in the state of Punjab. It discusses how the federal structure of the Indian polity and the emergence of Punjabi Sikh nationalism have affected the development of the state. The book also provides a template for analyzing regional imbalances and tensions in national economies with federal structures and competing nationalisms. It is a significant contribution to understanding the politics and planning of modern India.

This book throws new light on the study of India's development through an exploration of the triangular relationship between federalism, nationalism and the development process. It focuses on one of the seemingly paradoxical cases of impressive development and sharp federal conflicts that have been witnessed in the state of Punjab. The book concentrates on the federal structure of the Indian polity and it examines the evolution of the relationship between the centre and the state of Punjab, taking into account the emergence of Punjabi Sikh nationalism and its conflict with Indian nationalism. Providing a template to analyse regional imbalances and tensions in national economies with federal structures and competing nationalisms, this book will not only be of interest to researchers on South Asian Studies, but also to those working in the fields of politics, political economy, geography and development. Review: 'India's sub-nationalisms come draped in discourses of culture but Pritam Singh's thesis is that the paramountcy of the project of Indian nation-building has forced individual states to play idiosyncratic roles - with profound consequences for the character of their sub-nationalisms. He illustrates this dramatically with the case of Punjab. Through flows of public finance the agricultural wealth of this culturally and geopolitically distinctive state has been harnessed nationally to the detriment of its balanced development. By 1991, Punjab was a curious paradox - a rich food bowl with a stunted industrial economy. Through his fine-grained research, Pritam Singh has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the politics of cultural aspiration and the political economy of federalism.' - Barbara Harriss-White, University of Oxford, UK 'Dr Singh's book must be read by those interested in modern India. It deals with the central issue in Indian politics and planning at a pivotal stage in the nation's development.' - Ceri Peach, University of Oxford, UK 'This book is a major contribution to the political economy of the Punjab, to the analysis of centre-state relations in the post-independence Indian union, and to the study of regional economic development in federally-organised states. One of its strengths is its wide reach in terms of scholarship and analysis - it integrates knowledge from economic history, ethnic studies, geography and constitutional analysis.' - Colin Clarke, University of Oxford, UK 'The book unravels Punjab's history, highlights the key turning points in the history of the Sikh religion and the demand of region-based nationalism. In the process, it offers a fresh insight into the administration of the state vis-'E0-vis the Centre.' - The Tribune