I have a fascination for Kolkata. I have been enticed to travel its by-lanes after many a virtual experiences of its physical and mental landscapes through the hungryalists and other Bengali authors whom I have admired since childhood days. In spite of that, Kolkata is the only big city of India that I am yet … Continue reading A Taste of Kolkata for the Non-Bengali Soul
Tag: Books I have loved
Her Majesty’s Royal Service – Making Sense of the British Raj
When it comes to interpretation of the British Rule in India there are two schools of thought. The popular view is that it was an era of darkness. Then there are intellectuals who attribute everything that is good in modern India to the colonial rule. The Popular View After Shashi Tharoor quit his international career … Continue reading Her Majesty’s Royal Service – Making Sense of the British Raj
A Virtual Tour of Mughal India
I don't write book reviews. But sometimes, I write about a book or share my excitement about a book that enthralled me. You may call it a book review if you chose so. In fact this article was first published as a Book Review in the September 1999 issue of 'Bengaluru Review'. I am sharing … Continue reading A Virtual Tour of Mughal India
The Idea of India
If I were asked to have only one post on the current AtoZ theme, mera gaon mera desh, I would have this one. It is a book review of ‘India: a sacred Geography’. The book was written by Diana L. Eck - an award winning professor of comparative religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University. … Continue reading The Idea of India
The Missing History of Hindustan
In my first article of this series I have mentioned about the tradition of Boita Bandana and Bali Jatra that commemorate the glorious maritime adventures of Odias in South East Asia. The businessmen who engaged in such maritime trade were known as sadhabas. There is a popular folk tale in Odisha about one of sadhaba … Continue reading The Missing History of Hindustan
Why Bhagavad Gita is the ultimate self-help book
You would not find the Bhagavad Gita in the self help section of a library or a book store. It is good that it is so. A book of the stature of Bhagavad Gita should not be reduced to the level of popular, (maybe even best seller) self help books which give a feel good … Continue reading Why Bhagavad Gita is the ultimate self-help book
How I met my books
The Little Clay Cart Some of the interesting books I have read are associated with their own interesting stories about how I came across the books or, in what circumstances I read the books. While helping my father-in-law arranging his home library a couple of years back I came across an Odia version of the … Continue reading How I met my books
A land linked by the footsteps of pilgrims
Post independence we can say our constitution defines the idea of India, apart from its physical boundries carved out through historical corrections and blunders. But the idea of India is an ancient one, as ancient as perhaps when efforts were taken to sanctify its mountains, rivers and all other important natural landmarks and link those … Continue reading A land linked by the footsteps of pilgrims
understanding nationalism
Yuval Noah Harai, in his book 21 lessons for the 21st Century, gives a beautiful perspective on Nationalism. He says that the nation is basically a story we tell ourselves. No doubt every nation has its geographical boundary. But without those stories, the collective feeling of belonging to a nation would not come. In order … Continue reading understanding nationalism
Reading : Out of Love or Obligation?
I am writing this post as a response to the indiblogger prompt #indispire268 which goes as follows: It is not a difficult choice for me to list the three books that I want to read. In fact I wanted to read these books so desperately that I got them one month back from the library … Continue reading Reading : Out of Love or Obligation?
PEBBLES AND WAVES 