"Two hundred years ago, India was seen as a place with little history and less culture. Today it is revered for a notable prehistory, a magnificent classical age and a cultural tradition unique in both character and continuity. How this extraordinary change in perception came about is the subject of this fascinating book." -- says the cover introduction to the book 'India Discovered: The Recovery of a Lost Civilization' penned by John Keay.
I would recommend this book for reading during lockdown which may be extended beyond May 3 - albeit with some relaxation.
Some excerpts of the book would leave one impressed about. "The nineteenth century was the age of enquiry. It was perhaps inevitable that India should have its Darwin, its Livingstone and Schliemann....The men who discovered India came as amateurs, by profession they were soldiers and administrators. But they returned home as giants of scholarship."
There is another example. "For all the excitement and the very considerable achievements, Indian history is still far from complete...It is devoid of almost everything that traditionally makes history palatable for the general readers."
Well, the book is truly an absolute joy to read even as one may disagree at times. The author also paints a rather rosy picture about the British Empire and the book will fail those who expect the story of India’s plunder by the Britishers and the Muslim rulers.
Another book, I would recommend is 'The Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through Afghanistan' written by Christina Lamb. A celebrated writer Lamb also has penned serious page turners like 'Farewell Kabul: From Afghanistan To A More Dangerous World'.
The book 'The Sewing Circles of Herat' throws light on the life and times of Talibs in a pretty interesting manner.
Refer to this example - "Oh my God, he is a Talib...and that meant he's sissy or he is available".
There is another oneliner - "The inevitable result is sodomy. It's the done thing in Pashtun society because of women being shut away in houses. A good looking boy would have dozens of attempts made on him".
There is also more! "....King Zahir Shah (of Afghanistan) gazed into the distance with the terrible sadness of a man who clearly bears the weight of his conscience of one million of his countrymen dead, another one and a half million disabled".
Christina Lamb has also authored 'House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-Torn Zimbabwe' and captures not just the source of a conflict, but also highlights her conviction that there is still hope for one of Africa’s most beautiful countries.
I would also recommend John Redwood's 'The Death of Britain?'
The book published way back in 1999 - much before the Brexit issues had rocked the country raises few vital questions: Can the United Kingdom survive devolution, European integration, reform of the Lords, slimming of the monarchy, proportional representation?
John was an Oxfordshire County Councillor and in the 1980s he was Chief Policy Advisor to Margaret Thatcher. It is said that he urged her to begin a great privatisation programme, and then took privatisation around the world as one of its first advocates!
The book also talks how Scotland could perhaps shatter the Union by demanding full independence?
Some excerpts would make you fall in love with the book. - There is nothing wrong with reversing the past. It may be politically correct now to bemoan those who do as fuddy-duddy or old-fashioned, yet that sense of continuity in British life is our greatest strength.
However, the author also says --- "The British people are slow to awaken to provocation"and one more --- The British people are not very keen on revolutions".
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PS:
The best compliment during this 40-day straight lockdown came to me from Australia.
No, no body has offered me any job there.
But my friend and one-time colleague in Mumbai (PTI) Jacinta D'Souza says her sister in law is reading the book 'Modi to Moditva - An Uncensored Truth'. What can be more pleasing ???
ends
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