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The Indians: Histories of a Civilization
The Indians is one of the most ambitious projects yet undertaken to map the origins, evolution, and present-day reality of India’s civilization and people. Written by over one hundred of South Asia’s foremost scholars and domain experts, the essays in the book cover a period of some 12,000 years—from the last Ice Age to the twenty-first century.
The book is divided into seven sections. The first part looks at the evolution of humans in South Asia through the lens of the early ‘Indian’ population, their migrations, and the climate. The second part focuses on the emergence of different civilizations in the region through the domestication of plants and animals and other factors and how these civilizations eventually begin to decline. The third part discusses the languages and philosophies that defined ancient India—Buddhism, Jainism, Sanskrit, Indo-Iranian languages, and Pali literature, among others. The fourth part is a detailed study of society and culture in various geographical regions––the North, South, Northeast, the Deccan, East, and West India. The fifth part looks at the advent of colonialism and its impact on the country’s economy, social fabric, and knowledge systems. The sixth part looks at Adivasi movements, Ambedkarite politics, Gandhian resistance, and other events that would come to form the bedrock of the independent republic. And, fnally, the seventh part looks at contemporary India––the workings of the Constitution and urbanism, liberalization, and other aspects of the modern Indian experience.
Taken together, the essays in the book provide remarkable insights into Indian history and society.
The book is divided into seven sections. The first part looks at the evolution of humans in South Asia through the lens of the early ‘Indian’ population, their migrations, and the climate. The second part focuses on the emergence of different civilizations in the region through the domestication of plants and animals and other factors and how these civilizations eventually begin to decline. The third part discusses the languages and philosophies that defined ancient India—Buddhism, Jainism, Sanskrit, Indo-Iranian languages, and Pali literature, among others. The fourth part is a detailed study of society and culture in various geographical regions––the North, South, Northeast, the Deccan, East, and West India. The fifth part looks at the advent of colonialism and its impact on the country’s economy, social fabric, and knowledge systems. The sixth part looks at Adivasi movements, Ambedkarite politics, Gandhian resistance, and other events that would come to form the bedrock of the independent republic. And, fnally, the seventh part looks at contemporary India––the workings of the Constitution and urbanism, liberalization, and other aspects of the modern Indian experience.
Taken together, the essays in the book provide remarkable insights into Indian history and society.
- GenresHistoryIndiaNonfiction
648 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2023
24 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
G.N. Devy
55 books24 followersGanesh N. Devy, formerly professor of English at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, a renowned literary critic and activist is founder and director of the Tribal Academy at Tejgadh, Gujarat, and director of the Sahitya Akademi’s Project on Literature in Tribal Languages and Oral Traditions. He was educated at Shivaji University, Kolhapur and the University of Leeds, UK. Among his many academic assignments, he has held fellowships at Leeds and Yale Universities and has been a Jawaharlal Nehru Fellow (1994-96).
Currently (2002 - 2007), he is a Professor at the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Commmunication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar.
Awards
He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for `After Amnesia', and the SAARC Writers’ Foundation Award for his work with denotified tribals. He has also won the reputed Prince Claus Award (2003) awarded by the Prince Claus Fund for his work for the conservation of the history, languages and views of oppressed communities in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Along with Laxman Gaikwad and Mahashweta Devi, he is one of the founders of The Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT-RAG).
Publications
* Critical Thought (1987)
* In Another Tongue (1992)
* Of Many Heroes (1997)
* India Between Tradition and Modernity (co-edited, 1997)
* Indian Literary Criticism: Theory & Interpretation (2002).
* Painted Words: An Anthology of Tribal Literature (editor, 2002).
* A Nomad Called Thief (2006)
* Keywords: Truth (contributor, date unknown)
* Vaanprastha (in Marathi, date unknown)
* Adivasi Jane Che (in Gujarati, date unknown).
Currently (2002 - 2007), he is a Professor at the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Commmunication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar.
Awards
He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for `After Amnesia', and the SAARC Writers’ Foundation Award for his work with denotified tribals. He has also won the reputed Prince Claus Award (2003) awarded by the Prince Claus Fund for his work for the conservation of the history, languages and views of oppressed communities in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Along with Laxman Gaikwad and Mahashweta Devi, he is one of the founders of The Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT-RAG).
Publications
* Critical Thought (1987)
* In Another Tongue (1992)
* Of Many Heroes (1997)
* India Between Tradition and Modernity (co-edited, 1997)
* Indian Literary Criticism: Theory & Interpretation (2002).
* Painted Words: An Anthology of Tribal Literature (editor, 2002).
* A Nomad Called Thief (2006)
* Keywords: Truth (contributor, date unknown)
* Vaanprastha (in Marathi, date unknown)
* Adivasi Jane Che (in Gujarati, date unknown).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 4, 2023
In 1989, Purushottam Nagesh (PN) Oak published his book, Taj Mahal: The True Story, in which he claimed that the Taj Mahal was not built by Shahjahan as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal but was a Shiva temple, Tejo Mahalaya, built by the Chandela ruler Raja Paramardi Dev in 1155 CE. PN Oak’s theory, while it’s had its adherents, was for many years treated with (mostly) somewhat contemptuous amusement.
Not so any longer. PN Oak now appears to be only one of many out to rewrite India’s history. Wild theories are doing the rounds of social media; the Mughals are being swiftly written out of school textbooks; and there is an alarming tendency to cook up stories that suit the agendas of a select group: Hindu, upper caste, male. In 2020, the Government of India set up a committee to ostensibly conduct a ‘holistic study of origin and evolution of Indian culture’, and in 2022, it was revealed that a series of genomic verification exercises, funded by the government, were being carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India. The rewriting of history is on, in full swing.
The Indians: Histories of a Civilization sets out to counter this trend, by offering a glimpse of what, actually, India’s past has been. This is a collection of some hundred-odd essays, by ninety authors from both India and abroad. The range covered here is staggering, touching on just about every aspect of India’s history—and that by some of the most distinguished scholars in each field, all the way from archaeologists to linguists, biologists to anthropologists, to historians specializing in many different eras, geographical spaces and fields.
The Indians is divided into seven parts, arranged in chronological order and beginning in pre-history, with the evolution of humans and how they lived. The foundations of civilization, the beginning of agriculture and the domestication of animals, is among the topics discussed in the second part, and from there the book moves on, through the centuries and across the country, looking at languages and philosophies in ancient India; the histories of the Deccan, Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim, Punjab, the Western Himalayas, and more; colonialism; political and social movements; and India since Independence.
Given the scope of this book, it should come as no surprise that there is a certain element of unevenness in the writing. Most of the essays are very short, often not more than four or five pages, and the respective writer invariably admits that there is much research still to be done, much more to be written. For a reader, this can be disappointingly superficial.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are long and fairly detailed essays—Thomas Trautmann’s and Ravi Korisettar’s essays are a case in point—that delve deep into a subject. These (and even several of the shorter essays) are targeted towards a strictly academic audience, and in some instances so replete with technical jargon that they become difficult for a lay person to grasp. A book that sets out to change perceptions about India’s history might have done better to be uniformly more accessible to a general reading public. However, given that there are notes and a detailed bibliography for each essay, there are pointers included for where an interested reader might look for more information on that particular topic.
On the whole, though, this ambitious book succeeds in achieving its objective of providing a glimpse of India’s past. Instead of the usual suspects, so to say—the sprawling empires, the grand cities, the powerful dynasties and the famous battles (though they have their place here too, briefly)—there is plenty here that has hitherto gone ignored, suppressed, or been simply brushed away as being unimportant. The histories of lands other than the northern plains and the Deccan peninsula; elements of life other than administrative power; questions most Indians do not even think of asking, let alone being able to answer.
In that sense, The Indians amply reflects the diversity Vinay Lal, in his afterword, writes of: “… the cultural, linguistic, social, and religious heterogeneity that has been the hallmark of the Indic world...” Its subject matter is varied, its insights are more often than not refreshingly different. It brings, again and again, the subaltern into the limelight (or, at least, makes sure that it is mentioned). It shows that the homogenous India of the self-appointed WhatsApp ‘historians’ is a falsity.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
Not so any longer. PN Oak now appears to be only one of many out to rewrite India’s history. Wild theories are doing the rounds of social media; the Mughals are being swiftly written out of school textbooks; and there is an alarming tendency to cook up stories that suit the agendas of a select group: Hindu, upper caste, male. In 2020, the Government of India set up a committee to ostensibly conduct a ‘holistic study of origin and evolution of Indian culture’, and in 2022, it was revealed that a series of genomic verification exercises, funded by the government, were being carried out by the Anthropological Survey of India. The rewriting of history is on, in full swing.
The Indians: Histories of a Civilization sets out to counter this trend, by offering a glimpse of what, actually, India’s past has been. This is a collection of some hundred-odd essays, by ninety authors from both India and abroad. The range covered here is staggering, touching on just about every aspect of India’s history—and that by some of the most distinguished scholars in each field, all the way from archaeologists to linguists, biologists to anthropologists, to historians specializing in many different eras, geographical spaces and fields.
The Indians is divided into seven parts, arranged in chronological order and beginning in pre-history, with the evolution of humans and how they lived. The foundations of civilization, the beginning of agriculture and the domestication of animals, is among the topics discussed in the second part, and from there the book moves on, through the centuries and across the country, looking at languages and philosophies in ancient India; the histories of the Deccan, Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim, Punjab, the Western Himalayas, and more; colonialism; political and social movements; and India since Independence.
Given the scope of this book, it should come as no surprise that there is a certain element of unevenness in the writing. Most of the essays are very short, often not more than four or five pages, and the respective writer invariably admits that there is much research still to be done, much more to be written. For a reader, this can be disappointingly superficial.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are long and fairly detailed essays—Thomas Trautmann’s and Ravi Korisettar’s essays are a case in point—that delve deep into a subject. These (and even several of the shorter essays) are targeted towards a strictly academic audience, and in some instances so replete with technical jargon that they become difficult for a lay person to grasp. A book that sets out to change perceptions about India’s history might have done better to be uniformly more accessible to a general reading public. However, given that there are notes and a detailed bibliography for each essay, there are pointers included for where an interested reader might look for more information on that particular topic.
On the whole, though, this ambitious book succeeds in achieving its objective of providing a glimpse of India’s past. Instead of the usual suspects, so to say—the sprawling empires, the grand cities, the powerful dynasties and the famous battles (though they have their place here too, briefly)—there is plenty here that has hitherto gone ignored, suppressed, or been simply brushed away as being unimportant. The histories of lands other than the northern plains and the Deccan peninsula; elements of life other than administrative power; questions most Indians do not even think of asking, let alone being able to answer.
In that sense, The Indians amply reflects the diversity Vinay Lal, in his afterword, writes of: “… the cultural, linguistic, social, and religious heterogeneity that has been the hallmark of the Indic world...” Its subject matter is varied, its insights are more often than not refreshingly different. It brings, again and again, the subaltern into the limelight (or, at least, makes sure that it is mentioned). It shows that the homogenous India of the self-appointed WhatsApp ‘historians’ is a falsity.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
April 23, 2024
Laudably Explorative
I assumed the book was going to be a nerd-like approach to Indian history and that I was going to fully indulge in my passion for the same. Color me shocked, surprised, and stunned because what G.N. Devy, Tony Joseph, and Ravi Korisettar accomplished in “The Indians: Histories of a Civilization” was nothing short of an alarming wake-up call to anyone in power and otherwise who believe they have free reign to twist and thwart the truth on which history stands.
As I read the introduction, I was amazed at how boldly the team went against the current Indian PM’s views on a pro-Hindu India. I grew up Christian but adopted Hinduism myself, but to hear them say it, I wondered if some dark agenda was afoot to change the very essence of this country by altering the people’s perception of its history.
The words in this brilliant book called to mind the age-old adage (said by writer and philosopher George Santayana), “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Comparing ‘racial discrimination’ in India with ideologies of racial purity, and even drawing Nazi connection to such thinking, all set an impactful nail-biting tone going forward. The book, though non-fiction, had a similar quality of tension and subtext that most good novels are known for.
Personally, I enjoyed reading every page of it. It hooked me good and dragged me deep. The truth was set in stone, so to speak. While laying bare certain falsities and fakeries, the authors, contributors, and editors also made a careful case for the manifold wonders that make India unique, and how closely its people are connected to the rest of Asia.
They also made interesting factual observations about climate change, particularly between warm and glacial periods, which determined the need for migrations. Today we see human-induced Climate Change doing much the same thing, making me wonder if history is repeating, though not in a good way.
So many eminent scholars came together to write this ‘bible’ of a book. It was truly breathtaking how unopinionated they all were, delivering only the truth and nothing but the truth in as plain and dry a manner as possible, without fuss or complication lest misunderstanding prevail.
There is simply too much to know and disseminate, as the book’s editors themselves agree. They therefore managed to create an ‘in so far as possible’ set of objectively voiced multi-scholar essays that will serve as a beacon in the dark to guide readers, history lovers, and more toward a crisp understanding that one narrative does not fit the many-layered complexities of India and its diverse people.
They slowly but surely arranged all the relevant proofs on the table to ensure that nobody in the foreseeable future sees India through a strictly whimsical or political lens, but rather views the nation as an ancient civilization inspired and influenced by countless changes, both climactic and cultural.
It was curious to learn that the Indus Valley Civilization (3200-1500 BCE) possessed hand-painted artwork and motifs that ranged from animals like the unicorn (!) to anthropomorphic creatures. There are similarities to such creative choices in archaeological evidence from other parts of the world. I feel they didn’t explore this enough in the book, because it hints at a common source (dare I suggest it) for such knowledge.
Some of the essays in this book even covered the notion of ‘varna’ and ‘jati’ (or jaadi), establishing some semblance of history (or insufficient evidence thereof) for the caste system India is plagued with today. This was not a colonial invention, not by far, but a purely Vedic one, and one that might have been created for political rather than civilizational purposes.
I liked how they crisply detailed these suppressive societal constructs, sourcing back to the Manusmriti. Though it had its place way back when, it was saddening to realize that people are still hanging on to such outdated social categorizations.
On a connected note, the multi-chapter exploration of Brahmanism versus Buddhism – particularly based on caste-based and caste-free policies and philosophies – was more than eye-opening, it was also doubly relevant today.
From covering required points about the Dalits and Adivasis (scheduled caste tribes), to exploring all the pertinent points that B.R. Ambedkar stood for, the book didn’t hesitate to touch upon sensitive topics and see them for what they really were.
The way they used language – etymology, phonetics, and more – and extrapolated ancient migrations into India was simply brilliant. It proved so much using pure science – archaeology, linguistics, etc. – as opposed to wishful nationalist thinking.
Connecting Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin to potential Aryan root-beliefs was in itself clever. They also postulated the common source as being Proto-Indo-European. They even delved into different linguistic, textual, genetic, and archaeological evidence to make their case as much as reasonably and currently possible.
I by no means understood every aspect of this book – particularly the more verbose and highly academic elements – but I grasped enough of it to realize that here was a definitive scientific and linguistic guide to all things Bharat.
That included the Brahmi script’s global (Greek, Latin, Gothic, Celtic, Old Persian) influence on grammar, phonology, and philology. And its potential connection to the ‘ancestor language’, aka Proto-Indo-European. {Thomas Trautmann}
On Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, Sir William Jones’ remarks, “No philologer could examine them all three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists” held intriguing possibility.
I also liked how they detailed the Dravidian language family of South India, and termed it as hailing from a different language tree than Sanskrit. This truth has long been circulating in the South – from where I am – so it was great to know that academics and scholars were of one mind on the matter.
Stalin Rajangam’s deep-dive into the origins of the word ‘Dravidian’ was almost masterful. His compelling study explored the philosophical roots of the word itself and how its usage has evolved over the years, including as a religious (Brahmanism vs. Buddhism), political, and sociological tool.
T.K. Venkatasubramanian’s take on Medieval Tamil Nadu and the stages of Tamizh history were simple yet fascinating, not to mention a tad unnerving. The history was stated in no uncertain terms and with little to no fuss, particularly the part where religion has been used as a political tool for a long time, going back to the Cholas, Pallavas, and before.
Some of the information in this book might go over most people’s heads, but the facts and truths are made available nonetheless, for any discerning reader, scholar, researcher, or someone curious to uncover and learn more about.
The points concerning Sree Narayan Guru and his rebellion against all notions of caste made absolute sense. In modern times, we do need to wake up (not be woke, per se) and choose equality over hierarchy. George Thadathil’s chapter in “The Indians” thus carried a cartload of sense.
The fact that they didn’t shy from unfurling the realistic ravages of British colonialism added to my admiration of this work. More than a few pages were dedicated to exploring and extrapolating the impact – good, bad, and ugly – of colonialism on Indian soil. Those sections were eye-opening, to say the least.
Feminism was given due attention as well. I was surprised I hadn’t heard about the roots of empowered feminist ideals like “Strijati” (pro-equality, not inferior to men) and “Bhaginivarga” (importance of sisterhood). These concepts are still being propounded today, and they have (in good part) Pandita Ramabai and Tarabai Shinde to thank.
Semi-detailed explorations and extrapolations of India’s Independence and the Partition that still haunts us added to the intricacies in this book. They explored as much about “identity politics” as well, including and especially how India is still struggling with the religious and caste aspects of them.
This collective and non-institutional work is deserving of praise and worth the time spent to read it. It was curated in the interest of avoiding any and all establishment of pseudo-history or rewriting of the past to serve political agendas. Personally, I don’t care if this book earns an award. But it has most certainly earned both my attention and my respect.
“Logic. Causality. Veracity.”
--- --- ---
Original review: https://mrmercottreviewer.com/book-re...
I assumed the book was going to be a nerd-like approach to Indian history and that I was going to fully indulge in my passion for the same. Color me shocked, surprised, and stunned because what G.N. Devy, Tony Joseph, and Ravi Korisettar accomplished in “The Indians: Histories of a Civilization” was nothing short of an alarming wake-up call to anyone in power and otherwise who believe they have free reign to twist and thwart the truth on which history stands.
As I read the introduction, I was amazed at how boldly the team went against the current Indian PM’s views on a pro-Hindu India. I grew up Christian but adopted Hinduism myself, but to hear them say it, I wondered if some dark agenda was afoot to change the very essence of this country by altering the people’s perception of its history.
The words in this brilliant book called to mind the age-old adage (said by writer and philosopher George Santayana), “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Comparing ‘racial discrimination’ in India with ideologies of racial purity, and even drawing Nazi connection to such thinking, all set an impactful nail-biting tone going forward. The book, though non-fiction, had a similar quality of tension and subtext that most good novels are known for.
Personally, I enjoyed reading every page of it. It hooked me good and dragged me deep. The truth was set in stone, so to speak. While laying bare certain falsities and fakeries, the authors, contributors, and editors also made a careful case for the manifold wonders that make India unique, and how closely its people are connected to the rest of Asia.
They also made interesting factual observations about climate change, particularly between warm and glacial periods, which determined the need for migrations. Today we see human-induced Climate Change doing much the same thing, making me wonder if history is repeating, though not in a good way.
So many eminent scholars came together to write this ‘bible’ of a book. It was truly breathtaking how unopinionated they all were, delivering only the truth and nothing but the truth in as plain and dry a manner as possible, without fuss or complication lest misunderstanding prevail.
There is simply too much to know and disseminate, as the book’s editors themselves agree. They therefore managed to create an ‘in so far as possible’ set of objectively voiced multi-scholar essays that will serve as a beacon in the dark to guide readers, history lovers, and more toward a crisp understanding that one narrative does not fit the many-layered complexities of India and its diverse people.
They slowly but surely arranged all the relevant proofs on the table to ensure that nobody in the foreseeable future sees India through a strictly whimsical or political lens, but rather views the nation as an ancient civilization inspired and influenced by countless changes, both climactic and cultural.
It was curious to learn that the Indus Valley Civilization (3200-1500 BCE) possessed hand-painted artwork and motifs that ranged from animals like the unicorn (!) to anthropomorphic creatures. There are similarities to such creative choices in archaeological evidence from other parts of the world. I feel they didn’t explore this enough in the book, because it hints at a common source (dare I suggest it) for such knowledge.
Some of the essays in this book even covered the notion of ‘varna’ and ‘jati’ (or jaadi), establishing some semblance of history (or insufficient evidence thereof) for the caste system India is plagued with today. This was not a colonial invention, not by far, but a purely Vedic one, and one that might have been created for political rather than civilizational purposes.
I liked how they crisply detailed these suppressive societal constructs, sourcing back to the Manusmriti. Though it had its place way back when, it was saddening to realize that people are still hanging on to such outdated social categorizations.
On a connected note, the multi-chapter exploration of Brahmanism versus Buddhism – particularly based on caste-based and caste-free policies and philosophies – was more than eye-opening, it was also doubly relevant today.
From covering required points about the Dalits and Adivasis (scheduled caste tribes), to exploring all the pertinent points that B.R. Ambedkar stood for, the book didn’t hesitate to touch upon sensitive topics and see them for what they really were.
The way they used language – etymology, phonetics, and more – and extrapolated ancient migrations into India was simply brilliant. It proved so much using pure science – archaeology, linguistics, etc. – as opposed to wishful nationalist thinking.
Connecting Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin to potential Aryan root-beliefs was in itself clever. They also postulated the common source as being Proto-Indo-European. They even delved into different linguistic, textual, genetic, and archaeological evidence to make their case as much as reasonably and currently possible.
I by no means understood every aspect of this book – particularly the more verbose and highly academic elements – but I grasped enough of it to realize that here was a definitive scientific and linguistic guide to all things Bharat.
That included the Brahmi script’s global (Greek, Latin, Gothic, Celtic, Old Persian) influence on grammar, phonology, and philology. And its potential connection to the ‘ancestor language’, aka Proto-Indo-European. {Thomas Trautmann}
On Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, Sir William Jones’ remarks, “No philologer could examine them all three, without believing them to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists” held intriguing possibility.
I also liked how they detailed the Dravidian language family of South India, and termed it as hailing from a different language tree than Sanskrit. This truth has long been circulating in the South – from where I am – so it was great to know that academics and scholars were of one mind on the matter.
Stalin Rajangam’s deep-dive into the origins of the word ‘Dravidian’ was almost masterful. His compelling study explored the philosophical roots of the word itself and how its usage has evolved over the years, including as a religious (Brahmanism vs. Buddhism), political, and sociological tool.
T.K. Venkatasubramanian’s take on Medieval Tamil Nadu and the stages of Tamizh history were simple yet fascinating, not to mention a tad unnerving. The history was stated in no uncertain terms and with little to no fuss, particularly the part where religion has been used as a political tool for a long time, going back to the Cholas, Pallavas, and before.
Some of the information in this book might go over most people’s heads, but the facts and truths are made available nonetheless, for any discerning reader, scholar, researcher, or someone curious to uncover and learn more about.
The points concerning Sree Narayan Guru and his rebellion against all notions of caste made absolute sense. In modern times, we do need to wake up (not be woke, per se) and choose equality over hierarchy. George Thadathil’s chapter in “The Indians” thus carried a cartload of sense.
The fact that they didn’t shy from unfurling the realistic ravages of British colonialism added to my admiration of this work. More than a few pages were dedicated to exploring and extrapolating the impact – good, bad, and ugly – of colonialism on Indian soil. Those sections were eye-opening, to say the least.
Feminism was given due attention as well. I was surprised I hadn’t heard about the roots of empowered feminist ideals like “Strijati” (pro-equality, not inferior to men) and “Bhaginivarga” (importance of sisterhood). These concepts are still being propounded today, and they have (in good part) Pandita Ramabai and Tarabai Shinde to thank.
Semi-detailed explorations and extrapolations of India’s Independence and the Partition that still haunts us added to the intricacies in this book. They explored as much about “identity politics” as well, including and especially how India is still struggling with the religious and caste aspects of them.
This collective and non-institutional work is deserving of praise and worth the time spent to read it. It was curated in the interest of avoiding any and all establishment of pseudo-history or rewriting of the past to serve political agendas. Personally, I don’t care if this book earns an award. But it has most certainly earned both my attention and my respect.
“Logic. Causality. Veracity.”
--- --- ---
Original review: https://mrmercottreviewer.com/book-re...
March 18, 2024
The book seems so unclear about who its target audiences are. It was written by luminaries no doubt but it seems far from the case that all the authors received the same assignment. A unified editorial and formatting scheme is altogether missing. A few points are noteworthy: the book is more than scholarly; it is activistic - best visible in the citing of Ambedkar as an authority on the history of caste in Ancient India. It is also Pune-centred (I am proud to note a few names from my alma mater Deccan College too) and hence a Pune brand of activism, one must say. The book should be interesting a historiographical piece above being a work of history. One can use this to be led to more recent and essential historical works on a given subject. It is also sweet to see the many essays cross-referencing each other. Well I am just glad to have come out learning a substantial deal on geology and prehistory.
July 28, 2024
An ambitious and important book, this one had me absorbed for almost two months. The essays span the entire history of the subcontinent from paleolithic times all the way to the modern day. It is bookended by two excellent essays, the introduction by GN Devy and the afterword by Vinay Lal, both of which I read multiple times.
Broadly, it seeks to oppose the current political dispensation's attempts at rewriting history, and it largely succeeds in doing so. It does go overboard sometimes, and the reader needs to take some essays with a pinch of salt. That said, many of the essays are excellent (I list my favourites at the bottom) and require you to read them a couple of times to really understand what's going on.
They are almost all written by academics, which is both good and bad. The good is that they are well-researched and come with references. The bad is that they tend to be too, well, academic, in both content and language. This can make it tough reading at times.
Overall, this is well worth the time, and I would recommend it quite strongly. I certainly learned a lot.
Here are my favourites:
- Satish Naik, Domestication of Plants: Origins and Development of Agriculture
- Rajesh Kochhar, The Pre-Vedic and Vedic Sarasvati
- Hans Heinrich Hock, Sanskrit, Its History, and its Indo European Background
- Meera Visvanathan, Contact with Indo-European/Indo-Iranian Languages
- Hans Heinrich Hock, Scientific Achievements of Traditional India
- Andrew Ollett, Early Inscriptions
- Thomas Trautmann, The Brahmi Script and Indian Languages
- Shivanand Kanavi, Lingayatism
- Bhukya Bhangya, Cultural Heterogeneity: Telangana
- GN Devy, The Bhakti Movement: Pre-Colonial Social Transition
- Arupjyoti Saikia, Assam: The Long View
- Mohinder Singh, Perceptions of Colonialism
- Nivedita Menon, The Working of the Constitution
- Vinay Lal, Nehruvian India
- Vinay Lal, The Freedom Struggle: The Final Phase
- Vinay Lal, Afterword
Broadly, it seeks to oppose the current political dispensation's attempts at rewriting history, and it largely succeeds in doing so. It does go overboard sometimes, and the reader needs to take some essays with a pinch of salt. That said, many of the essays are excellent (I list my favourites at the bottom) and require you to read them a couple of times to really understand what's going on.
They are almost all written by academics, which is both good and bad. The good is that they are well-researched and come with references. The bad is that they tend to be too, well, academic, in both content and language. This can make it tough reading at times.
Overall, this is well worth the time, and I would recommend it quite strongly. I certainly learned a lot.
Here are my favourites:
- Satish Naik, Domestication of Plants: Origins and Development of Agriculture
- Rajesh Kochhar, The Pre-Vedic and Vedic Sarasvati
- Hans Heinrich Hock, Sanskrit, Its History, and its Indo European Background
- Meera Visvanathan, Contact with Indo-European/Indo-Iranian Languages
- Hans Heinrich Hock, Scientific Achievements of Traditional India
- Andrew Ollett, Early Inscriptions
- Thomas Trautmann, The Brahmi Script and Indian Languages
- Shivanand Kanavi, Lingayatism
- Bhukya Bhangya, Cultural Heterogeneity: Telangana
- GN Devy, The Bhakti Movement: Pre-Colonial Social Transition
- Arupjyoti Saikia, Assam: The Long View
- Mohinder Singh, Perceptions of Colonialism
- Nivedita Menon, The Working of the Constitution
- Vinay Lal, Nehruvian India
- Vinay Lal, The Freedom Struggle: The Final Phase
- Vinay Lal, Afterword
August 31, 2023
Reading this book can help you overcome the biases that currently serve as the foundation of ignorance. Government institutions take advantage of our lack of awareness and prejudiced perspectives. It's worth considering delving into this book.
This book compiles essays by over a hundred leading scholars from South Asia. Covering 12,000 years from the Ice Age to today, it offers diverse perspectives and direct insights into paleolithic and monolithic epochs, shaping our anthropological understanding and societal growth.
These deep insights encompass fundamental evolutionary elements, revealing the intricate tapestry of human civilization. If you're intrigued by anthropology, Indian history, and societal development, this voluminous book is a must-read, offering inspiration and education about South Asian civilization, ancient Indian philosophies, language, colonialism, tribal movements, the medieval era, and modern India. It provides profound insights into the constitution, urbanism, liberalization, and other aspects of the contemporary Indian experience.
This book compiles essays by over a hundred leading scholars from South Asia. Covering 12,000 years from the Ice Age to today, it offers diverse perspectives and direct insights into paleolithic and monolithic epochs, shaping our anthropological understanding and societal growth.
These deep insights encompass fundamental evolutionary elements, revealing the intricate tapestry of human civilization. If you're intrigued by anthropology, Indian history, and societal development, this voluminous book is a must-read, offering inspiration and education about South Asian civilization, ancient Indian philosophies, language, colonialism, tribal movements, the medieval era, and modern India. It provides profound insights into the constitution, urbanism, liberalization, and other aspects of the contemporary Indian experience.
May 14, 2024
An excellent book mapping the origins, evolution and present-day reality of India’s civilization and people. 100+ foremost scholars and experts on South Asia have contributed to the essays covering a period of 12000 years - from the last Ice Age to the 21st century.
October 25, 2023
I expected a more engaging and interesting articles tracing the history of the Civilization, but book is rather an academic language heavy.
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