My interest in the Jana Sangh dates back to 1962 when, as a Research Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the Australian National University, I began to gather material on the party's early years. An increasing preoccupation with the origins of Hindu nationalism and puzzlement at the Jana Sangh's inability to attract a mass following led eventually to the writing of this book.

I am indebted to many people and institutions for assistance with my research: to the Australian National University for two periods of fieldwork in India and to Professor R. S. Parker, then head of the Department of Political Science, who encouraged me to pursue the project; to the University of Sussex and to my colleagues in its School of African and Asian Studies for their support; to the Nuffield Foundation, which made possible a further visit to India in 1984; and to friends who have read drafts and made suggestions regarding points of interpretation and lines of enquiry.

In particular I wish to thank Professor D. A. Low, Professor P. D. Reeves, Professor J. H. Broomfield, Dr Hellmut Pappe, Professor W. H. Morris-Jones, Mr John Rosselli and Dr Urmila Phadnis for their criticism and help.