Colonisation: A Comparative Study of India and Korea

This volume examines and compares the colonial experiences in the two countries, India and Korea. It juxtaposes some of the common issues faced by the two completely different subject countries colonised by two completely different colonial powers. It presents the processes of trade, the socio-economic changes and the political transformations that were taking place in the two colonies. This book is the first of its kind and it opens up several topics for future comparative research. Some of the topics included are: aspects of social change and social transformation, colonialism and Indian development, modern Korean nationalism, China and Chinese in colonial Korea, anti-colonial movements and other aspects of colonialism in India and Korea.

About the Author :
Vyjayanti Raghavan is Professor and Chairperson, Centre for Korean Studies, School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. She has a Master's degree in Korean History from Seoul National University and a PhD from the Department of Disarmament, School of International Studies, JNU. She has been teaching Korean language and culture at JNU since 2000. She has co-authored and edited many books and contributed a number of articles to journals and newspapers. R. Mahalakshmi is Associate Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, JNU, New Delhi, India. She specialises in the history of ancient and early medieval south India, and teaches several courses at the Master's and research levels in this field. Her research interests include: religion and society, art and architecture, gender studies and political economy.

Review :
The editors and academic contributors have performed a yeoman service by presenting the history and impact of colonialism on Korea and India. This rich volume based on scientific study of historiography of diverse colonized societies and colonizers has proved on the basis of rich evidence that the colonizers, by following ruthless policies of exploitation, completely underdeveloped, de-industrialized and robbed riches of every colony leaving a burden of backwardness on the shoulders of decolonized people and leaders. This volume is a challenge to the apologist who claims the modernizing role of the exploiters because historical evidence provided in this volume clearly proves that colonies were bled by the colonizers, economically and in other ways. It is a must for every serious student of history, especially new generations of decolonized societies to understand colonial impact and even today s imperialism. C.P. Bhambhri, Distinguished Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi" V. Raghavan and R. Mahalakshmi s book entitled "Colonisation: A Comparative Study of India and Korea," is an in-depth analysis of dynamics of cultural, social and historical forces which have a significant interface with processes which contribute to the onset of colonialism in a comparative social perspective. The book interposes the role of Japanese colonial domination of Korea in the perspective of British colonialism in India. In this context, comparative similarities and differences and linkages of colonialism to the initial conditions of historicity and social-cultural character of societies have been drawn out meticulously. The result is a very competent and sound academic endeavour with originality and depth of perspectives. I am sure the book will be received well by experts as well as readers in general. Yogendra Singh, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi."