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| The Argumentative Indian |
Having said that I would not suggest this book to someone who has an insular view of a Hindu India that has had absolutely no influence of any other culture on it !!! It would make for a flammable reading if one went with such an attitude. Instead I would think an open mind with an interest to counter-argue with research if one disagrees on the many points made would be a better approach !!
The writing is dry and caustic, well researched and in the form of a series of lectures. It depicts India as a civilization where public debate was not unknown , multiple cultures and religions were part of its vibrant fabric along with atheism and materialistic approach to life , he touches upon the topics of science and maths in ancient India, Indian calendars ( this is an amazing chapter ! ) , relationship with China, the Indian identity , Westerner's views of India .. etc
One of the major themes is that India's greatness lies in its diversity and tolerance of all religions. Although the author is aware that this tolerance has not stopped the social inequalities either.
One can consider the book as an attempt to encapsulate a few thousand years of Indian history that an Indian can take pride in even as the country looks forward to a global future which was not completely unknown before !
I did feel that the leanings on Ashoka and Akbar were a bit more than required. After all there were quite a few other kings but then .. those other kings probably did not suit the point being made !!
The inputs on Rabindranath Tagore whom the author eminently respects made for interesting reading. I don't prefer the deifying biographies that one reads of our previous leaders and the perspective shown by the author of this person is of a reasoning mind.
In our country more often that not - issues are tried emotionally ... the author dissects many topics of the Indian history in an academic manner with a whole wealth of references. It can be read as a book on history or just to learn something more about our country without falling prey to zealotry.
2 comments:
I chanced upon this review today and don't know how I missed it before. This book figures in the top 10 "must reads" as far as Indian history goes. The thing I don't know - and hoping you would drop me some pointers on - is whether I would finish it. FYI I finished India After Gandhi without drag/ boredom. But I could not get past half of Discovery of India.
I have not read "India after Gandhi" and did not bother with "Discovery of India" !! So I am not sure I can use them as pointers . History is not my cup of tea ... !! :)
I liked this book. Mind you it is very very dry ... like reading a textbook so I am not sure why I was able to complete it.
I would suggest you take it one topic at a time .. see the book is like many lectures in one book .... and they can be read independently ...
I think then you will be able to finish it ... :)
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