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A History Of India As It Happened Not As It Has Been Written
Indian History has to be rewritten according to the latest linguistic and archaeological discoveries, if Indian children are to understand who they are and where they come from. The history of India's beginnings were written by European colonizers, with an intention to downsize, downgrade and postdate Indian civilization, but that unfortunately, generation after generation of Indian historians, for their own selfish purpose, endorsed and perpetuated these wrong theories, such as the Aryan invasion, which divided India like nothing else, pitting South against North, Aryan against Dravidian, Untouchables against Brahmins.
- GenresHistoryIndiaNonfiction
234 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
François Gautier
56 books60 followersFrançois Gautier was born in Paris. In the early eighties, he began freelancing in India for different publications and finally ended-up being the correspondent in South Asia, for the Geneva-based « Journal de Geneve ». In 1993, he switched to Le Figaro, one of France’s leading newspapers for which he worked exclusively for eight years. He was also a regular columnist for Indian newspapers, initially for Blitz Bombay, and later for Hindustan Times, the ‘Ferengi’s column” in the Indian Express, the “French Connection” column in the Pioneer, Rediff, New Indian Express, Dainik Jagran, etc.
Gautier is now the editor-in-chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde and a director of a book collection on India with the same publisher.
Along with his wife Namrita, he is also the trustee founder of FACT-India, which does exhibitions and commissions films documenting Human Rights abuse in South Asia. Amongst them: an exhibition on the persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, another one on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits (which was shown to the US Congress in 2005), a film on the trauma of 1947 and another one on the testimonies of the Mumbai train bombings of 2006.
La description en français:
Ecrivain et journaliste français, François Gautier fut le correspondant en Inde et en Asie du sud du Figaro durant dix ans. Il est l'auteur du livre "Un Autre Regard sur l'Inde" (1999, Editions du Tricorne), pour lequel il fut invité à Bouillon de Culture en mai 2000 (le livre a été réédité trois fois depuis), de "Swami, PDG et moine hindou (Editions J.P. Delville, 2003, 8000 exemplaires vendus), de La Caravane Intérieure (Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2005) et de "Français en Inde" (France Loisirs, 2008). Résidant en Inde depuis 35 ans et marié à une Indienne, François Gautier est aujourd'hui le rédacteur en Chef de la Nouvelle Revue de l'Inde, publiée par les Editions l'Harmattan, et directeur de collection chez le même éditeur.
Gautier is now the editor-in-chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde and a director of a book collection on India with the same publisher.
Along with his wife Namrita, he is also the trustee founder of FACT-India, which does exhibitions and commissions films documenting Human Rights abuse in South Asia. Amongst them: an exhibition on the persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, another one on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits (which was shown to the US Congress in 2005), a film on the trauma of 1947 and another one on the testimonies of the Mumbai train bombings of 2006.
La description en français:
Ecrivain et journaliste français, François Gautier fut le correspondant en Inde et en Asie du sud du Figaro durant dix ans. Il est l'auteur du livre "Un Autre Regard sur l'Inde" (1999, Editions du Tricorne), pour lequel il fut invité à Bouillon de Culture en mai 2000 (le livre a été réédité trois fois depuis), de "Swami, PDG et moine hindou (Editions J.P. Delville, 2003, 8000 exemplaires vendus), de La Caravane Intérieure (Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2005) et de "Français en Inde" (France Loisirs, 2008). Résidant en Inde depuis 35 ans et marié à une Indienne, François Gautier est aujourd'hui le rédacteur en Chef de la Nouvelle Revue de l'Inde, publiée par les Editions l'Harmattan, et directeur de collection chez le même éditeur.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 24, 2020
I'm amazed that many people in other countries today understand and appreciate the values of Vedas and the Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism while more than half of Indian Hindus themselves have lost touch with the words of their own Gods and Goddesses, their own rishis and gurus. When I look at India today I'm both sad and happy, all at the same time. Let me explain through my experience of reading this book.
Firstly, I'm immensely indebted to the author for bringing out the original ethos of Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism. As I read through, a lot of my old learning from my childhood came back to me and I'm glad it did. Somewhere while running in today's rat race I had forgotten or lost touch with my sense of my roots.
Secondly, a lot of the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads and other texts are lost to us for the exact reasons that the author explained in the book. This brings me to make a request to all the leaders of our times like Sri Sri or Sadhguru ji, to take upon themselves to explain the same principles to us in a simpler manner with today's backgroud. Not all of us be expected to understand the aspects of spirituality in today's context, given the decades of misinformation that has been peddled around our great texts.
Thirdly, I feel the India the author saw when he wrote the book and the India of today are slightly different, though I agree not majorly. Today's Indians have a sense of pride and nationalism that was missing even as less as 5-7 years back. We have a nation that wants to look forward, a nation that has secured a respectable position in world economics and politics. Even in technology our brilliant young minds have carved a niche making India the hotbed for innovation and not just backend automations and outsourcing.
But I rightly agree with the author that we need to go back to the original teachings and bring back our original values to keep ourselves in balance when the world around us is losing theirs. There is no doubt India is emerging as an economic, a political and a military superpower but why should we not be the natural leaders in spiritualism as well.
Lastly, I strongly believe what the author has recommended - we must bring back our original teachings into our everyday lives. If it takes for our government to rewrite our history books or revise syllabus of our educational institutions, then so be it. I may not personally completely agree that Sanskrit can be 100% revived but it can become a part of our learning again.
Throughout the book I witnessed the authors love and respect for Hinduism's values and beliefs and that has influenced me immensely. I cannot thank him enough for his views and for his directions. Its time we revisit our roots and the soul of our motherland.
Firstly, I'm immensely indebted to the author for bringing out the original ethos of Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism. As I read through, a lot of my old learning from my childhood came back to me and I'm glad it did. Somewhere while running in today's rat race I had forgotten or lost touch with my sense of my roots.
Secondly, a lot of the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads and other texts are lost to us for the exact reasons that the author explained in the book. This brings me to make a request to all the leaders of our times like Sri Sri or Sadhguru ji, to take upon themselves to explain the same principles to us in a simpler manner with today's backgroud. Not all of us be expected to understand the aspects of spirituality in today's context, given the decades of misinformation that has been peddled around our great texts.
Thirdly, I feel the India the author saw when he wrote the book and the India of today are slightly different, though I agree not majorly. Today's Indians have a sense of pride and nationalism that was missing even as less as 5-7 years back. We have a nation that wants to look forward, a nation that has secured a respectable position in world economics and politics. Even in technology our brilliant young minds have carved a niche making India the hotbed for innovation and not just backend automations and outsourcing.
But I rightly agree with the author that we need to go back to the original teachings and bring back our original values to keep ourselves in balance when the world around us is losing theirs. There is no doubt India is emerging as an economic, a political and a military superpower but why should we not be the natural leaders in spiritualism as well.
Lastly, I strongly believe what the author has recommended - we must bring back our original teachings into our everyday lives. If it takes for our government to rewrite our history books or revise syllabus of our educational institutions, then so be it. I may not personally completely agree that Sanskrit can be 100% revived but it can become a part of our learning again.
Throughout the book I witnessed the authors love and respect for Hinduism's values and beliefs and that has influenced me immensely. I cannot thank him enough for his views and for his directions. Its time we revisit our roots and the soul of our motherland.
July 18, 2019
Each and every person should read this book to understand the truth of Indian history. So far Indian historians follow the writings of European colonizers who downgraded Indian history for many years. They divided Indian people against one another like caste against castes, Aryans against Dravidians, North Indians against South Indians...so on. Aryans were not invaders. They were Vedic Indians. At one time they ruled the entire world! Latest archaeological discoveries and evidences will prove this! According to these discoveries and evidences Indian history has to be rewritten by young historians who love to digest the truth. This book will lay foundation for such generation of young historians.
As American writer Gene D. Matlock said “One of the greatest mistakes a human being can make is to read the Hindu holy books…as fiction. Of course, those books, especially the Vedas, contain apparently implausible information…”.
As American writer Gene D. Matlock said “One of the greatest mistakes a human being can make is to read the Hindu holy books…as fiction. Of course, those books, especially the Vedas, contain apparently implausible information…”.
March 24, 2019
A good treatise on the history of Bharat or Hindustan. Shatters some nonsense fed to us as students. Fairly balanced overall but points the finger at loot of this country and persecution by people who have been eulogised in history books written by the colonial masters.
March 31, 2019
Francois Gautier was the South Asia correspondent of the French daily Le Figaro. His connection to India is deep as he is married to an Indian. He has been influenced by the Indian spiritual tradition and has written a popular book on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living, The Guru of Joy.
A History of India as It Happened, as the name suggests, is an attempt to look at the history of the country differently.
There is a continuous struggle – one that has only intensified after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014 – between the “secular” historians like Romila Thapar and the “right-wing revisionists”. Both the expressions, secular and right-wing revisionists, need to be put in inverted commas as meanings of them vary depending on whom you ask.
There may be, as indeed there is, a case for re-looking at the Indian history – any history for that matter – in the light of new discoveries as also changing world views of succeeding generations.
But the question is: is Gautier qualified for the task?
Sadly, the short answer is, no.
The book lacks focus as if the author is not sure what he tries to accomplish.
Indiscriminate use of bolds and CAPITALS (even in quotations without having the courtesy of acknowledging that emphasis has been added) has given the book an unpleasant taste of pamphleteering.
English, at places, sorry, is atrocious. That may not entirely be the fault of the non-English author. Editing is the function of the publishers. And Har-Anand Publications has failed miserably.
While Gautier’s love for India is unmistakable, his book is plainly ordinary. It may please the votaries of Hindutva (not Hinduism – Gautier undoubtedly knows the difference) in the charged election season, but those serious about the knowing the history of the country may keep it at arm’s length.
For me, the only redeeming feature of the book is that it has kindled – or re-kindled – my curiosity about Sri Aurobindo, the forgotten saint of India.
A History of India as It Happened, as the name suggests, is an attempt to look at the history of the country differently.
There is a continuous struggle – one that has only intensified after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014 – between the “secular” historians like Romila Thapar and the “right-wing revisionists”. Both the expressions, secular and right-wing revisionists, need to be put in inverted commas as meanings of them vary depending on whom you ask.
There may be, as indeed there is, a case for re-looking at the Indian history – any history for that matter – in the light of new discoveries as also changing world views of succeeding generations.
But the question is: is Gautier qualified for the task?
Sadly, the short answer is, no.
The book lacks focus as if the author is not sure what he tries to accomplish.
Indiscriminate use of bolds and CAPITALS (even in quotations without having the courtesy of acknowledging that emphasis has been added) has given the book an unpleasant taste of pamphleteering.
English, at places, sorry, is atrocious. That may not entirely be the fault of the non-English author. Editing is the function of the publishers. And Har-Anand Publications has failed miserably.
While Gautier’s love for India is unmistakable, his book is plainly ordinary. It may please the votaries of Hindutva (not Hinduism – Gautier undoubtedly knows the difference) in the charged election season, but those serious about the knowing the history of the country may keep it at arm’s length.
For me, the only redeeming feature of the book is that it has kindled – or re-kindled – my curiosity about Sri Aurobindo, the forgotten saint of India.
March 7, 2016
A must read book on what exactly happened in Indian history. The intent of reading history is to know our culture and to know the lessons learnt from the events. This book helps in understanding the actual events happened and their causes/results. It thus, separates the history from what we know from tweaked writings, from the actual events.
September 20, 2019
Very informative book. Contains many more facts that are not taught in the academic syllabus.
May 1, 2020
Powerfully and painfully true
April 19, 2022
There are a few historians in the comment section who claim to know history better than historians. They also distribute the qualification letters to historians – the ones able and those not capable. That is, sorry, to be frank, more than mere foolishness!
Coming to the book, the book clearly mentions the purpose and it stands out to that. The author might have tried his best to concisely compress the prolonged history of a civilisation older than the concept of civilisation itself, he could not succeed entirely. However, the book is better than many fictional books written by 'qualified' historians like Thapars and Jhas. You will love it. You will know the facts. You will not be belied into believing what was not there...
Coming to the book, the book clearly mentions the purpose and it stands out to that. The author might have tried his best to concisely compress the prolonged history of a civilisation older than the concept of civilisation itself, he could not succeed entirely. However, the book is better than many fictional books written by 'qualified' historians like Thapars and Jhas. You will love it. You will know the facts. You will not be belied into believing what was not there...
July 12, 2022
A great book that explains the History of India also its importance of learning the true history of India with no western selfish ideological context influence. This book explains the importance of studying and knowledge of Indian history. India's role in maths, physics, philosophy and in other categories also the importance of the ancient civilization of Hindu or Indu culture, how it survived and the invasion by the foreigners.
The authors also tell us about the role of the spiritual teachings and studies to the world by this Hindu culture and the influence of Indian sages and yogis in these spiritual philosophical teachings to the world by India.
The authors also tell us about the role of the spiritual teachings and studies to the world by this Hindu culture and the influence of Indian sages and yogis in these spiritual philosophical teachings to the world by India.
July 26, 2021
A good assimilation of history … but it loses the plot midway … why does the Yugoslavian turmoil have to do with Indian history?
The author does not give us any new inputs to history other than what we know we had missed reading when the history of India written by the Brits was taught to us
Also, I see that the author is more influenced by Sri Aurobindo, quoting him often, rather than narrating the missing vistas of Indian history
A good read, but a misnomer of a title
The author does not give us any new inputs to history other than what we know we had missed reading when the history of India written by the Brits was taught to us
Also, I see that the author is more influenced by Sri Aurobindo, quoting him often, rather than narrating the missing vistas of Indian history
A good read, but a misnomer of a title
December 2, 2021
I really tight slap on communists face.
July 11, 2022
A very important book, happy to have picked this up!
July 24, 2022
Too biased.
December 14, 2014
Drops on the face, when it comes to the contents of the book compared to the title.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews