A Plea for Cultural Pluralism and a Multinational State
Editorial
July 2006, volume 30, No 7

Looking at India since Independence in 1947, we are confronted with a situation of multi-dimensional change involving the restructuring of its polity, economy, and socio-cultural organization. India seems always to be a country in the making. This is how things should be; it is proof of vigour and vitality. But the problem with such optimism is that it could be dangerously unmindful of internal stresses inherent in the processes of change. One could highlight the dangers by invoking the notions of ‘contention’ and ‘crisis’, but only in order to cope better with them. And this is what T.K. Oommen does in this book. Professor Oommen is one of India’s senior sociologists, well known nationally and internationally. After retiring from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, he has assumed responsibility as Chair of the Schumacher Centre (New Delhi) and Ford Foundation Chair at the Delhi Policy Group. Given his commitment to his vocation as a sociologist and his professional eminence, he is often invited to inaugurate conferences, deliver keynote addresses, speak at seminars, and contribute to books. Of the twelve chapters of this book, six are addresses and six seminar papers.

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