This two-volume set edited by Arnold P. Kaminsky (California State University) and Roger D. Long (Eastern Michigan University) “seeks to place India's evolution since independence in 1947 in its historical context and to demonstrate the persistence of tradition in the shaping of modern political, social, economic, and artistic forms” (ix).

The 251 entries are arranged alphabetically and are written and signed by the eighty-three international contributors. There is a topic finder in both volumes that organizes articles into fifteen browsable categories, such as “Diplomacy and Relations with Other Nations and Regions,” “Medicine and Health,” “Politics and Parties,” and “Religion.” The essays vary in length from a half page to ten pages, with the more in-depth articles addressing broad subjects like the “Economy,” “Environment,” “Literature,” and “Population.” Each entry concludes with a list of further reading and cross-references that direct the user to related topics. Readers can also consult an extensive sixty-four page selected bibliography in volume 2.

As the title of this source suggests, the articles provide information and statistics on the current situation in India, along with many topical entries on matters like 1984’s “Bhopal Gas Disaster,” “Bollywood,” “Election of 2009,” and the “Look East Policy.” Many of the essays also refer to India's history because “an understanding of India today is impossible without reference to its colonial past” (ix). In addition, volume 1 contains a useful twenty page “Chronology” that highlights some of the most significant events of India's history from August 1947 to May 2011.

Stanley Wolpert's four-volume Encyclopedia of India (Scribner, 2006) is much larger in scope and has a greater emphasis on India's comprehensive history. However, there are some overlapping topics between the two encyclopedias and each also contains entries from Kaminsky, Long, and the editorial adviser, Damodar R. SarDesai. India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic would serve as an excellent supplement to Wolpert's since it addresses a lot more of India's current events, culture, and politics.

India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic is the only encyclopedia of its kind to explore the development of this diverse and vast country from the beginning of its independence to the present. This encyclopedia is geared towards the general reader and is highly recommended for all libraries, especially those specializing in South Asian history.