In the bookshop. With the publisher. What a series of books....!!

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Got these three books recently. Although highly academic in nature and mostly focusing on micro topics, there are certain aspects which are very relevant to our syllabus.

We are incorporating the updated content in our upcoming test series and crash course for history optional, designed for 2024 Main exam. Stay tuned for more updates.

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#1857revolt #bookreview #modernIndia

Last week, I got this old book on the streets of CP. Written by a Jewish art historian of Austrian origin who moved to England just before the world war 2 started.

This book touched my soul for two reasons.

Firstly, it reconfirmed my belief that the golden mean of popular/entertaining and academically sound is really possible. This is what I have been striving for, as a teacher. Academically sound as well as engaging at the same time. His writing proves it once again.

Secondly, his observations about where the world was and where the world is going. Wisdom of a historians lifetime observations is always so moving, extremely perceptive and enriching.

(PS - this book is NOT recommended for our preparation for the exam. This comes from general reading. Please focus on your exam preparation. I will keep providing observations regarding reading for your motivation and due to my compulsion)

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It is Max Weber time. Delightful, perceptive and scholarly writing style. The sheer reading gives you joy.

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A new book is released. It's about the century of history of Awadh from after Buxar to it's dissolution in 1856.

I have a couple of books of Ira Mukhoty already. They are quite refreshing. One on women on History, another one on Akbar etc.

This time, she is writing a History of how in 18th century, some foreigners from Persia entered India and created a state in UP which witnessed Shia cultural renaissance. And all these in the background of collapse of Mughals, expansion of Marathas and global conflict of British and French.

She shows Shia culture, which was eventually finished, was more refined while Europeans, who claimed to be morally superior, were actually brutal savages.

In all this, how has she painted the Marathas? Marxist historians have always painted them as looter and plunderers. How about her? To find out, read the book.

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This book is the recent addition to the collection. The author was an IAS officer of 1959 batch. What a refreshing view he has taken:

The book argues that Nehru and Patel must have been aware of the seriousness of Jinnah's illness and still pressed for Partition. India, which is better off with Partition, should be eternally indebted to them for their farsightedness, political courage and statesmanship.

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#bookreview of The Golden Road.

Preparing content for the upcoming Art and Culture lectures (in PMP) while traveling on some random road in Srilanka. In this years edition, I am planning to add some new content on linguistic history of India using a fantastic new book just published. It's by GN Devy, who has authored civilizational history of India through linguistic lens.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCTjqI6NK1B/?igsh=MTlzY3RsNnVpM284MA

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This is my most favourite series of books called Very Short Introduction (VSI) published by Oxford. These are little knowledge enrichment capsules.

So far, Oxford has published over 600-700 titles on various topics. I have collected about 65-70 of them, mostly related to History. Today I added a few more titles after visiting the World Book Fair, Delhi.

Tomorrow (9th Feb) is the last day of the book fair. If you are in Delhi, take out some time and visit. Entry is free and it is open from 10AM to 9PM.

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This book by Sumit Sarkar was published literally yesterday. And I found it in the World Book Fair.

After a long time his book has hit the market. Almost after a decade I guess. Here are some old uncollected articles. Extremely eager to read.

I am not any way close to being a Marxist. Still, his intellect, insights and pointed writing have been a source of great joy and amazement over the years. Except for 1 or 2 may be, I have almost all the books written by him. This is a new addition now.

(PS: Not required for history optional students. If there is any new relevant thing I find, rest assured it will be added to our upcoming test series and crash course. It is my job as a teacher to read and distill it for you so that you can do value addition without efforts. As a student, you don't practically get time to read all the latest books.)

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Two new books. Just arrived. World Book Fair doesn't mean you don't buy books outside it.

Let's hope they are good...:)

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It's Buddha time. Three books purchased in last 3 days on Buddhism.

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A recently purchased book.

History of formation of Khalsa panth is extremely interesting. I have read it earlier in the two volume book series by Khushwant Singh.

JS Grewal is a well known academic whose writing I wanted to read for long time. I have his some other books as well, one on Ranjit Singh, one by Cambridge on entire history of Sikhs etc. But this one is a dedicated book on Guru Gobind Singh by OUP.

Eager to read now but lectures se fursat mile to na....

Nikhil

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A new book. Extremely exciting. Linguistics is really a facinsting subject.

We in UPSC get to read only a part of the larger story i.e. how Proto Indo European evolved into Sanskrit. This book gives the whole picture.

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