Region, nation, "heartland": Uttar Pradesh in India's body-politic

This book traces the importance of Uttar Pradesh as a political "heartland" of India over the last century and highlights its influence on Indian politics. It unravels the historical processes and divergent traditions that have shaped this region. In unraveling this constructed identity of the state, this book analyzes the transformation that UP experienced as a "region" within India in the late colonial and post-colonial periods.

Divided into four sections, the book discusses the construction of the state under three identity categories:

• Colonial heartland
• Nationalist heartland
• Post-colonial heartland

The conclusions drawn from this study serve to evaluate the extent to which the framework and construct of the "heartland" has worked for the well-being of the state and society in contemporary India.

Based on intensive research, this book would be of interest to students of modern history and political science as also for those interested in issues related to development in contemporary South Asia.