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Book Review
From the blurb
Thoughts on Religious Politics in India (1857-2008): Compiled and Edited by Pramod Shah; Pub. by Society for National Awareness, Tobacco House, 1 Old Court House Corner, Kolkata-700001. Rs. 500 each.
This three-volume publication, with a rather provocative title, is a chronological presentation of important writings, speeches, and documents throwing light essentially on how, over the past century and a half, the Hindu-Muslim relationship has shaped or influenced the course of India’s political history. The first volume covers the period 1857-1947, from the first freedom struggle to the attainment of Independence. The second deals with the ‘single party government’ phase (up to December 1, 1989) and the third covers the ‘coalition’ phase, till August 15, 2008. More than 250 pieces — reproductions of speeches, parliamentary debates, diaries, media interviews, personal diaries, news items and so on — attributed to eminent public figures (the whole range of them including statesmen, political thinkers, scientists, philosophers, saints, poets, social workers, and columnists) have found a place in this stupendous work. The compilation, described as a “labour of love” for the author, provides a wealth of material for researchers to explore further.
Negotiating Peace in Deeply Divided Societies: Edited by Radha Kumar; Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd, B1/I-1, Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110044. Rs. 695.
In this book, the highly complicated and challenging business of negotiating peace in divided societies is looked at in a rather unique way, through the technique of simulation. Simulation has found innumerable uses in a wide range of fields. In policy formulation, strategic and defence planners use computer-based simulation for prediction and discovery, and humanitarian agencies like the UNHCR draw upon simulation exercise to map techniques of refugee movement to prepare for protection. This book presents simulation exercises, based mostly on actual or potential negotiations in the ongoing peace process, and they relate to: Northern Ireland (the Belfast [Good Friday] Agreement), Bosnia-Herzegovina (renegotiating the Constitution), the Naga conflict, and Jammu and Kashmir.
There are two abstract simulations, one on ‘ending the violence’ and the other on ‘the role of international Community in humanitarian intervention.’ Together, these simulations, in the words of the editor, have been designed to be of help to administrators, negotiators and peace-keeping personnel.
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