Datta Publishes Second Edition of ‘Contemporary India’

Rekha Datta, Ph.D., Freed Endowed Chair in Social Sciences and professor in the Department of Political Science, has published the second edition of "Contemporary India: The Basics," (Routledge, UK, 2026).

This updated and expanded edition examines the changes India has undergone in the last five years, including an analysis of the 2024 general elections, ongoing debates on secularism, and the nation's search for a modern identity.

The book also explores India's development and economic growth, the challenges of rural development, how international conflicts have shaped the country's relations with Canada and the United States, and the consequences of the climate crisis.

Datta dedicates this edition to Monmouth University students who have traveled to the country with her since 2010, for inspiring her to "look at India with a fresh, new, and nuanced perspective." She also honors the youth of India for "successfully questioning India's democratic commitment to free speech, accountability, and the government's responsibility for securing a sustainable future for its citizens."