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Across the Seven Seas: Indian Travellers' Tales
A lot has been written about people who came to India at various times in history, but not enough about those who went from here to strange and surprising foreign lands. Way before trains and planes, speed and luxury, these intrepid globetrotters from India braved stormy seas and traversed hostile territories, documenting their travels and travails in detailed and often amusing accounts. Anuradha Kumar's Across the Seven Seas brings together 14 dramatic accounts of Indian travellers from the 18th and 19th centuries, giving a vivid view of the world as it was then. These are stories of exploration and adventure, wonderment and acceptance. These are tales of great opportunities and tragic failures. These are chronicles of daring and discovery. You will marvel at the Mughal emperor's emissary to the British king; the scientific genius who studied the power of steam; the army camp follower who became the master of shampooing?; the legal eagle who was the first Indian woman to study law abroad; and the yogi who took the crowds by storm? These are the stories of travellers who traced pioneering routes to England, Italy, Turkey, Russia, America, China and more, all at a time of revolutionary technological advances, pervasive colonialism and amazing journeys...
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2015
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December 21, 2015
I picked up this charming little nugget of a book in Mumbai airport, drawn by the numerous travelogues from historical figures I knew nearly nothing about (I recently read Travels of Ibn Buttata, and thought this might offer a similarly new perspective for me. Not quite). It is a very light read, with a kind of 'young adult' feel. It would be a great book for a young teen interested in learning a bit about the past. I liked it very much, though, because it opened my eyes to so many names and personalities I had not known.
All the travelers described in these pages originated in India, and all made their journeys from the subcontinent, mostly to Europe, England, and America, during the 18th and 19th centuries (a few early 20th century journeys are included as well). That was a time of increasing British domination over India, largely through Ehe East India Company (EIC), and several travelers chronicled in this book worked for the EIC. We can imagine that they were not quite viewed as equals to their British overlords, a subject largely glossed over here. Still, the revelations about each traveler's experience upon seeing other lands, people and cultures, and their travails in journeying so far in that era, makes for an enjoyable read and a great window into another time.
Each chapter was like an appetizer, and I hope to pursue more substantial texts to expand my understanding of these travelers and their stories. Indeed, the author provides a decent bibliography at the end, which I hope to explore. My only real complaint, and it is almost too minor to mention (almost): the book would have benefited from a better editor. Though uncommon, little typos and a few grammatical flaws are scattered throughout. These don't diminish the book's charm.
All the travelers described in these pages originated in India, and all made their journeys from the subcontinent, mostly to Europe, England, and America, during the 18th and 19th centuries (a few early 20th century journeys are included as well). That was a time of increasing British domination over India, largely through Ehe East India Company (EIC), and several travelers chronicled in this book worked for the EIC. We can imagine that they were not quite viewed as equals to their British overlords, a subject largely glossed over here. Still, the revelations about each traveler's experience upon seeing other lands, people and cultures, and their travails in journeying so far in that era, makes for an enjoyable read and a great window into another time.
Each chapter was like an appetizer, and I hope to pursue more substantial texts to expand my understanding of these travelers and their stories. Indeed, the author provides a decent bibliography at the end, which I hope to explore. My only real complaint, and it is almost too minor to mention (almost): the book would have benefited from a better editor. Though uncommon, little typos and a few grammatical flaws are scattered throughout. These don't diminish the book's charm.
Displaying 1 of 1 review