Synopsis This special edition of India Briefing marks the fiftieth anniversary of Indian independence and the tenth anniversary of the series. Like its predecessors, the 1997-1998 volume provides analysis of and context for political, economic, social, and cultural developments in India, and considers what past trends may indicate for the future. But this India Briefing is unique in scope: whereas past editions cover a one-to two-year period, India Briefing: A Transformative Fifty Years takes a commemorative look at India’s course over the past fifty years, with a special chapter on the uses of history. This book will be a valuable resource for scholars, area specialists, undergraduate and graduate students, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, serious travelers, and other interested readers.