Modern South India: A History from the 17th Century to our Times by Rajmohan Gandhi [Hardcover]

In Modern South India, historian Rajmohan Gandhi offers an expansive exploration of South India’s modern history, spanning over four centuries. Beginning in the late sixteenth century with the fall of Vijayanagara and the rise of competing sultanates and European powers, the book traces the region's political, cultural, and social evolution. Gandhi examines the distinct yet interconnected cultures of Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu-speaking people, along with smaller, influential cultures like Kodava and Konkani.

As European colonial influence expanded, Gandhi details the conflicts, particularly between the British and Indian powers, such as the kingdom of Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. He then chronicles the shift in the nineteenth century from East India Company rule to direct British monarchy, followed by South India’s role in India’s independence struggle, highlighting leaders like C. Rajagopalachari, E. V. Ramasami Naicker, and K. Kamaraj.

Post-independence, Gandhi covers the linguistic reorganization of states and the rise of regional political powerhouses such as M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa. The narrative extends into the present, spotlighting modern leaders and influential figures in South Indian culture and society. Richly researched and vividly told, Modern South India is a foundational study on South India’s unique heritage and its journey through colonial rule, independence, and into contemporary times.