This volume investigates the complex socio-religious dynamics, motivations, and historical contexts that have driven religious conversion across India. Editors Rowena Robinson and Sathianathan Clarke assemble a collection of scholarly essays that examine the transition of individuals and communities into Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. By utilizing a comparative framework, the contributors analyze how social, political, and personal factors have influenced conversion patterns from the pre-British era through the post-Independence period.

Scholars and students of South Asian studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the multifaceted nature of religious identity in India. The prose maintains a high level of academic rigor, making it a standard reference for those researching the intersection of sociology and theology in a post-colonial context.