An Entirely New History of India

by François Gautier

Indian History needs to be re-examined and freed from colonial biases and error. Driven by Christian belief in a 6000-year old planet, British scholars, and their Indian hires, post-dated Indian history to fit into erroneous Western conceptions. For their own agendas the manufactures theories such as that of an "Aryan Invasion" and dismissed vast evidences, such as the existence of the river Sarasvati, as "mythical", even though it was mentioned more than fifty times in the Vedas. The colonial gaze also erroneously represented events such as the invasion of India by Alexander the Great in the year 326 BCE and fabricated myths such as the conversion of emperor Ashoka to Buddhism, purportedly due to "remorse" after the terrible battle of Kalinga, when Ashoka already a Buddhist at the time of the battle.

Thus this book rewrites Indian History based on new evidence including new scientific, linguistic and genetic discoveries. It seeks to dismantle the cliches, to clarify the controversies, and to retrace, as accurately as possible, the most significant periods of Indian history—history much older than previously thought

Genres: History, India, Nonfiction, Indian Literature

222 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2020

About the author

François 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.

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book on history. I was expecting it to be more. Read it to gain insight into India from an unbiased viewpoint. Its good for someone who just wants to brush up all the major events and people in one go.

[The Conch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes reader through a journey from 5000 BCE to Narendra Modi. A feel of reading of a thrilling novel occupies the reader. Author makes the dull history so crispy that one forgets that she is reading and may feel like watching movie.

Author critically examines, with ample proofs, issues like dating of Rig Veda, existence of river Saraswati, Indus Valley Civilization and obviously lie of Aryan Invasion / Migration Theory. Step by step author unfurls history in such a way that a reader can grasp the fact from ancient to current political scenario.

The author, Mr.Francois Gautier, loves Bharat so much that he settles in Pune and dedicates his life to the cause of exhuming true history. The book belongs to must read category.

[Nishu Thakur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading this concise, precise and engrossing book.

[Ishan Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amongst all the subjects that we read and devour during our school days and even sometimes in college and UPSC studies, it's the history that is most maligned and full of biases to fit the agenda of those who wrote it. And its no wonder to see such happenings being prevalent since forever as even today such propaganda exists when no freedom of speech is curbed and no hue and cry is created when twitter and other social media handles of Trump is banned but no action is taken on morons like Swara Bhaskar or the perpetrators of CAA riots who openly asks people regularly to create ruckus in the name of their so called Azadi.

'An Entirely New History Of India' is something that should be permanently included as a part of our curriculum and should be instigated in the syllabus so that the young minds do not get swayed by the highly biased ideologies of anti-national elements. The book clears so many misconceptions about various stories in history and the best part is it does so with enough evidences to give a true picture and bust enough myths.

Isn't it ironic that our history has so many legendary dynasties like the Mauryas, Guptas, Cholas to name a few that brought innumerable laurels to our nation but what we are taught is about the mughals who did nothing more than carrying out religious conversions and killing the innocent beings whose beliefs were not in line with the tyrants.

The book is an eye opening account of various inhumane atrocities committed especially on the Hindu rulers and how through treacherous ways the invaders got the baton be it the Mughals or the Britishers. In hardly 200 pages, the real picture of our entire nation is shown and summed up which the bulky history books failed to deliver. Though I would have liked it more had the book comprises more pages and I hope the author carries it further in the form of a series so that we come to know a lot about our forgotten heroes and long lost pride.

A must read book for every Indian who wants to recall the glorious days of our past.

[Harsh Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

SCRIPT FOR MY REVIEW OF
An Entirely New History of India
Author : Francois Gautier
Published By : Garuda Books


So Hello People Today Im Going to be reviewing the book " An Entirely New History of India " by Mr. Francois Gautier. The English Version of which is published by Garuda Prakashan.
{rolls intro}
So first things first , Francois Gautier (Im pretty sure im butchering his name) is a historian and journalist based in India who served as the South Asian correspondent for multiple reputed French-language dailies. He brings awareness to 'Hindu Holocaust' in medieval times and advocates for an Indigenous Aryan narrative. He is also the author of several books including this one.

So Qotd Which was the Last History book that you read? No , NCERT Histry textbooks dont count. Lemme know in the comments.

This book is basically the authors thoughts on the entirety of the history of India , right from the Indus-Sarasvati Civilization , which the author estimate's to be around 7000 BC , to the current era . The author has a difference in opinion about the Aryan invasion , which you can read about in the book . The truth of the matter is that all the books about the history of India , are well dated , and the data provided in them is based on old knowledge , much of which has already been debunked. This book is based on new evidences including new scientific , linguistic and genetic discoveries and the data that the books facts are based on are much more accurate . The book mostly focuses on the controversial topics in Indian History such as the existence of the Sarasvati River , the Aryan Invasion theory ,Alexander the "supposedly great" the Mughal Dynasty etc.

As this book is a translation , the author is addressing the French audience , and while reading the book from an Indians perspective , it does feel weird at times , but the reader gets used to it.

Most of the Books on Indian history have been written by the British emphasizers or even Marxists , who want to show the Indian Civilization in a very defamatory manner in the worlds eyes when in fact the truth is very different. This is one of the few books which does not do any of that .

This book is a very interesting read. If you want to know about the entire history of India in complete detail , unfortunately this book might not help you very much. It simply is impossible to write about India's rich history in detail 200 something pages , in a single hardcover book costing around 600 rupees. However , if you just want to go through the main events that happened or want to clear some facts and preconceived notions that people have about the History of India , I highly recommend this book.

[Rahul Kaushik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian History is far from what we know through communist propaganda.
this is the book one should read to know the greatness of Indian Civilization & its various amazing facets.

[Akash Datta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: An Entirely New History of India
Author:
Publishers:
Points: 7/10
Our History textbooks mainly teach us two things. One is Aryan Invasion Theory which leads to the Indo-Dravidian theory of Anti-India activist Ramaswamy Naicker. And another is lauding of the invaders. So, it sows the seed of negativity about India in the brains of the students, that leads to hating their own culture and nation. So, in this crucial time, we need an entirely new history of our India.
So here this book comes. It elaborates about how the traces of the ancient civilization found in India. It destructs the theory of Asia Minor. Then, it reveals the theory of Indo-Sarasvati civilisation with sufficient proves. Then it destructs the Aryan invasion theory with proves. It also tells about how the britishers used the Aryan invasion theory to create rift between Indians and create a colonial mindset. Then it tells about many dynasties of south India. It breaks the myth of “Ashoka the great" and reveals that his conversion to Buddhism was just a political tactic. It elaborates the rise and fall of Vijaynagar empire. Then it tells about how the foreign invasions made India week and how India rose again and again. The part of Dara Shukoh was very interesting. It made me interested to know more about him. The British period ends and the it elaborates the lives of Indian prime ministers and kingmakers. It ends with discussing about India's future. It told about many problems which India will face in the way to become a superpower. It also elaborates the solution of these problems.
It can be boaring for fiction lovers but it will be a great read for the history lovers. But every thing is described very shortly. And it lacks proper notes in some extent.
At last, I want to thank Garuda Publishers again for sending me this book and I am requesting every one to support Garuda Publishers.

[Rohit Shinde · Rating 1 out of 5]

The promise of this book is that it takes up topics that have not been given justice to by mainstream historical thought. Unfortunately, while it starts off well, it soon devolves into hagiographical accounts and glorification of the past.

A case in point is when the author claims that the Aryan Invasion Theory is wrong and the Aryans were indigenous to India itself. The evidence presented is shaky at best. If the mainstream view is being challenged, then the author should present stronger evidence and more coherent arguments. The Mughal chapters and the Muslim rulers' chapters read as if someone from the VHP was holding a gun to the author's head. It is very difficult to take such a book seriously if it doesn't even attempt to hold a neutral tone.

The author cites very few references which makes it difficult to fact check claims. If I want to claim some of what the author himself has claimed, I have only his word for it. I can't even dig into references if I want to know a topic better.

The typeset of the book looks very unprofessional and it feels as if the editor did a very rushed job with the proofreading. This look doesn't befit a book that is trying to challenge the mainstream historical narratives. The least that can be done is to make sure that it looks professionally typeset and edited.

If you are looking for a book to challenge the mainstream narrative, I would suggest skipping this one.

[Pankaj Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book must read by all indian.

[Shreyas Nadkarni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and crisp overview of Indian history from Harappan civilization to the Modi government. Some important parts such as Maratha and Mysore kingdoms deserved a better discussion though. Still, highly recommend reading, especially the parts post independence.

[Mayur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the history of Ancient Bharat. The author presents the history based on the currently acceptable/available evidence and data. The book is from ancient history to the future of India.

[Venky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This imaginatively titled book – originally penned in French as ‘Nouvelle Histoire de I’Inde’ – by the former South Asian correspondent for multiple reputed French-language dailies, Francois Gautier, is an interesting bricolage of studied socio-cultural and political events that have spanned the civilizational course of the world’s largest democracy, and which unfortunately have been mired in contradictions and counter claims. S. N. Balagangadhara, professor emeritus of the Ghent University in Belgium, and once director of the India Platform and the Research Centre Vergelijkende Cutuurwetenschap (Comparative Science of Cultures), in his absorbing book, ‘Reconceptualizing India Studies’, writes about the urgent need to move away from the perception of ancient India that has been bestowed with more than just a tinge of Eurocentrism. There is a palpably evident shifting of mindset currently prevailing across Asia (and just within India) for reclaiming and reinstating History to a pedestal of deserving accuracy. Gautier aims to make an honest beginning with his book.

Spanning the ancient and the contemporary, a majority of the issues and events addressed by Gautier in his book, are in themselves so seminal, that they warrant standalone books of their own. The book gets off to a rousing start with an introduction to the ‘protohistory’ of India followed by an addressal of the controversy surrounding the existence (or otherwise) of the river Sarasvati. Gautier takes recourse to publicly available archeological records and documented satellite images that have enabled a ‘reconstruction’ of the birth and decline of Sarasvati. According to the said records, the river is supposed to have originated in the Bundapaunch Massif (present day Garhwal), descended through Adibadri, Bhavinpur, and Balchapurand before draining into the plains. Interested readers can refer to the extraordinarily gripping and authoritative book on this subject, by Michael Danino, titled, ‘The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati’.

Yet another contentious topic finding space in Gautier’s book is the Chapter ‘The Myth of The Aryan Invasion’. This is one topic that has cleaved historical opinions and historians alike. Finding early encouragement with Sanskrit scholars such as H.H.Wilson during the late 1950s, the Aryan Invasion Theory took steam and gained momentum. This was notwithstanding the fact that earlier historians, archeologists and evolutionary biologists had cast more than mere aspersions and healthy degrees of skepticism about this postulation. Some early debunkers include figures such as British biologist Julian Huxley, and John Marshall, director of the Indian Archeological Service. The latter had in 1856 itself debunked this premise. But the embers connected with the topic continue burning unabated with acclamied anthropologists like Dr. D.N. Jha standing by the Aryan Invasion Theory. ‘Aryan Invasion: Myth or Fact – Uncovering the Evidence’ by Shiv Sastry, along with ‘The Myth of Aryan Invasion of India’ by David Frawley represent the latest installments to a category of books that take up this issue with great gusto!

Gautier also summarises the advancement India made in the Iron Age (Swords made out of Indian iron were procured by the Greeks and the Romans as evidenced by the observations of Pliny the Elder), and the philosophical and spiritual leaps taken by the country in nurturing and encouraging a macrocosm of multi-cultural faith (rulers in ancient India were unbiased and impartial patrons of variegated faiths till such time a marauding bunch of Mughals put paid to such amicability, with the exception of Akbar) that found expressive output in works such as the Vedas.

The book also covers regal empires and resplendent dynasties that ruled the length and breadth of India. The reigns of the Guptas, the Mauryas, the Cholas, and the Vijayanagar kingdom etc. ushered in an era of untold prosperity for India. An enviable maritime fleet and chartered routes ensured that there was a burgeoning volume of trade taking place between India and the rest of the world extending as far as Greece. In fact, the much-vaunted navy of the Cholas led to an untrammeled expansion of empire that stretched from the South of India to encompass Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, and the Maldives! As Gautier informs his readers, in the 12th Century, when the Cholas were at the apogee of their powers, their naval fleet boasted an impressive array of 100 friends manned by greater than 10,000 sailors.

The book also traverses the path taken by India in its fight for Independence. Denoting an agglomeration of the violent (The Sepoy Mutiny etc.) and the peaceful (Quit India Movement etc.), the legacy left behind by a valiant mass of humanity who sacrificed their own lives as a result of which the tricolour now flies proudly over our heads is both endearing and enduring.

“An Entirely New History of India”, whets the appetite of the reader and induces a spontaneous urge to explore more and understand the glorious history of a nation seeped in culture and emblematic of hope.

[Shailesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a bit like ncert book without some amount of whitewashing.
Here are the things which I found problematic:
1- The first 5 chapters are quite lame with minimal references for further analysis. Also the argument against AIT is very tepid. A lot of work has been done but it seems author was not keen to go into the details
2- The Muslim dynasties we’re covered in details but the Hindu rulers were missed out expect the Cholas, Pandyas & Pallavas. The Marathas & Shivaji get a one-liner. How is this different from NCERT ?
3- Netaji gets a fleeting mention & no mention of INA’s role in Indian independence. How lazy is this ?

Now coming to the things that I liked:
1- Good to see Sarasvati river covered. Busting the myth of Alexander & calling out the brutalities of Ashoka
2- Impressive coverage on Cholas, Pallavas & Pandyas along with Vijaynagar
3- The various east India companies & when each of the European countries were kicked out.

To conclude, one can read for some fun but can’t quote from it as it lacks meticulousness of a scholarly work

[Jay Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a highly challenging task to get the entire history of Bharat into a ~200-page book and Francois ji really does a great job here keeping the balance between brevity and non-superficial. It's a good book if someone wants to get a crash course on Bharat's history.
I loved the parts where the book focuses on cultural history, especially the Southern kingdoms, as well unlike most books that focus only on the political part. In addition, the detailed description of Chandragupta Maurya's (Chanakya guided) governance system is an inspiration of today's governance.
There are many eye-opening, contrary to popular perception, facts also disclosed which makes the book even more interesting. The only weak point of the book is perhaps over-emphasis on the political history towards the end which made it difficult to tie it together with the cultural appeal the author wanted to make to the Bharatiyas.
But overall, definitely to be read by every single Bharatiya.

[Alok C · Rating 5 out of 5]

As person who born and raised India. I always felt there something wrong with our history books. As though someone has tampered with them.
This book opens up history for me in very unbiased way.
Knowing what india was is super to me. In general we all should know the real history not what was cooked to feed some propaganda.

It’s my must read recommendation as many things were mentioned to be very first time in 40 years.

[Naveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title of the book say's "New ", however when you start reading and cross checking with reference reveals it as "Real History" . Ex: Proving Aryan invasion is myth is not only sake of argument, it's proven with Archaeological evidences. Likewise recent history after whatappization most truths are hidden or overlapped by media houses are clearly explained

I would strongly recommend this book to all indian who seek to learn the "Real History".

[Vivek Shroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary book. An absolute must-read
This is the most interesting history lesson you are going to get. It pulls you through like you are reading a novel. It shocks and scintillates. And saddens too. As you realise how our motherland has suffered over eons. And whose history is now being held captive by self appointed custodians.
This is a book to read and propagate. Don’t miss it.

[Pallavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for all Indiand and who are interested in Indian correct history

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read with a great timeline and facts.