This book has undergone many permutations, but has emerged all the better.
I owe my thanks and gratitude to Professor Brendan O’Leary, who nurtured
my interest in ethnic conflict regulation and encouraged me to be a thorough,
logical, and dedicated student of South Asia. I also owe an enormous debt to
Lord Professor Meghnad Desai who provided historical and theoretical struc
ture and depth to my studies. Finally, special thanks are due to Subrata Mitra
who developed my interest in South Asia at the University of Hull.