If you want to know about modern India's plight over religion and politics, than this is the book for you. This book gives the history of India's religion including the British takeover and most importantly India's building of its own government. It outlines India's inherent conflict with its nonsecular values in a secularized world. Larson shows with vivid examples the inseparable intricacy of politics and religion in India. In the end Larson gives his ideas about resolutions for India's conflict between radical Hinduism and radical secularization.

This is not fun to read. In fact it's extremely depressing. But, you'll never find anyone more knowledgeable on the subject than Larson. I have him as one of my professors. The book is full of information. So, if you are looking for an interesting book to read this is not it. But, if you need to study India... this is it.