Books by Professor Ashwin (Professor Desai

A History of the Present is the first full-length study of the Indian minority in South African-a culturally, economically and politically conspicuous and significant population-in the post-apartheid period. Based on original oral and archival material, it focuses on gender, work, religion, sports, the new elites, and racial politics. While focusing on Indian South Africans, this study makes an intervention into key political issues in contemporary South Africa,especially the debate over affirmative action, Black Economic Empowerment, and race and identity, as well as wider intellectual issues like nation, state, and citizenship.