The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin
Author: Manu S. Pillai
Publisher:
Published: 2019
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9789388689786
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The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin
Author: Manu S. Pillai
Publisher:
Published: 2021
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9789390679614
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →From a Maratha prince who parodied caste to a Muslim deity in a Hindu temple; from a courtesan who became a warrior princess to another who sang for the gramophone; from a woman with no breasts to a goddess with three; and from an Englishman who venerated sacred Sanskrit to imperious Victoria Maharani--the essays in this collection open a window into India's past, and to a world of such astonishing richness that it is surprising how much of it has been forgotten or expunged. To dip into these essays is to be absorbed in India's story and reflect on the experiences of men and women whose lives were full of drama and action. We discover the advent of the railways, just as we learn about the history of Indian football; we hear of the hated Lord Curzon's love of India's monuments, even as we unravel the story of the photographer who was Jaipur's maharajah. In the hands of a consummate historian and storyteller, these men and women speak also of the concerns and perspectives of the present, showing us what was and what might have been.
Rebel Sultans:
Author: Manu S. Pillai
Publisher:
Published: 2020-08-03
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9789353451066
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In Rebel Sultans, Manu S. Pillai narrates the story of the Deccan from the close of the thirteenth century to the dawn of the eighteenth. Packed with riveting tales and compelling characters, this book takes us from the age of Alauddin Khilji to the ascent of Shivaji. We witness the dramatic rise and fall of the Vijayanagar empire, even as we negotiate intrigues at the courts of the Bahmani kings and the Rebel Sultans who overthrew them. From Chand Bibi, a valorous queen stabbed to death, and Ibrahim II of Bijapur, a Muslim prince who venerated Hindu gods, to Malik Ambar, the Ethiopian warlord, and Krishnadeva Raya on Vijayanagar s Diamond Throne they all appear in these pages as we journey through one of the most arresting sweeps of Indian history.
The Ivory Throne
Author: Manu S. Pillai
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: 2016-01-22
Total Pages: 854
ISBN-13: 9351776433
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In 1498, when Vasco da Gama set foot in Kerala looking for Christians and spices, he unleashed a wave of political fury that would topple local powers like a house of cards. The cosmopolitan fabric of a vibrant trading society - with its Jewish and Arab merchants, Chinese pirate heroes and masterful Hindu Zamorins - was ripped apart, heralding an age of violence and bloodshed. One prince, however, emerged triumphant from this descent into chaos. Shrewdly marrying Western arms to Eastern strategy, Martanda Varma consecrated the dominion of Travancore, destined to become one of the most dutiful pillars of the British Raj. What followed was two centuries of internecine conflict in one of India's premier princely states, culminating in a dynastic feud between two sisters battling to steer the fortunes of their house on the eve of Independence. Manu S. Pillai's retelling of this sprawling saga focuses on the remarkable life and work of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last - and forgotten - queen of the House of Travancore. The supporting cast includes the flamboyant painter Raja Ravi Varma and his wrathful wife, scheming matriarchs of 'violent, profligate and sordid' character, wife-swapping court favourites, vigilant English agents, quarrelling consorts and lustful kings. Extensively researched and vividly rendered, The Ivory Throne conjures up a dramatic world of political intrigues and factions, black magic and conspiracies, crafty ceremonies and splendorous temple treasures, all harnessed in a tragic contest for power and authority in the age of empire.
False Allies 2021
Author: Manu S. Pillai
Publisher:
Published: 2021
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9789391165895
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →In this brilliantly researched book, Manu S. Pillai uncovers a picture of the Indian princes far removed from the existing cliches and reminds us that the maharajahs were serious political actors - essential to knowing modern India.
Where the Gods Dwell
The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in HIstorical Outline
Author: D D Kosambi
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2022-09-01
Total Pages: 251
ISBN-13: 1000653471
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →First published in 1965, The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in Historical Outline is a strikingly original work, the first real cultural history of India. The main features of the Indian character are traced back into remote antiquity as the natural outgrowth of historical process. Did the change from food gathering and the pastoral life to agriculture make new religions necessary? Why did the Indian cities vanish with hardly a trace and leave no memory? Who were the Aryans – if any? Why should Buddhism, Jainism, and so many other sects of the same type come into being at one time and in the same region? How could Buddhism spread over so large a part of Asia while dying out completely in the land of its origin? What caused the rise and collapse of the Magadhan empire; was the Gupta empire fundamentally different from its great predecessor, or just one more ‘oriental despotism’? These are some of the many questions handled with great insight, yet in the simplest terms, in this stimulating work. This book will be of interest to students of history, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, South Asian studies and ethnic studies.
The Naked Indian Woman
Author: Sangeetha Shinde Tee
Publisher: Notion Press
Published: 2020-09-29
Total Pages: 98
ISBN-13: 1649516827
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This collective literary effort has taken the stories of 16 ‘everyday’ women from India – a housemaid, a lawyer, a divorcee, a doctor battling Covid-19, a single mother… It covers their most intimate stories in easy-to-read free verse. It is time the voice of the common Indian woman got heard - with all the unique challenges she faces living in this cultural ecosystem, with all its attendant heartaches and joys, highs and lows. This is the voice of the unheard women of India. And they are speaking out bravely, without fear of shame or social ostracisation. They want to inspire other women – just ordinary, everyday women like themselves – to start speaking their truth by sharing their (often painful) histories and lifting the veil on the unspoken. This anthology covers sexuality, societal judgement, divorce, education systems for women, domestic slavery, parental control and interference, in-laws and misogyny... It comprises powerful stories that tell of the hidden powerhouse that drives this nation. One that is finally breaking free of the chains that have kept them bound for as far back as any of us can remember. These are the stories of the battles and triumphs of every Indian woman and this book is a salute to their everyday courage and resilience.
An Introduction to the Study of Indian History
Author: Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi
Publisher: Popular Prakashan
Published: 2023-11-05
Total Pages: 500
ISBN-13: 9788171540389
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This book is the culmination of patient research and mature reflection of a profoundly original mind and has earned universal recognition and honour over the last few decades.
Dara Shukoh
Author: Avik Chanda
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: 2019-10-31
Total Pages: 360
ISBN-13: 9353573440
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Dara Shukoh -- the emperor Shah Jahan's favourite son, and heir-apparent to the Mughal throne prior to being defeated by Aurangzib -- has sometimes been portrayed as an effete prince, incompetent in military and administrative matters. But his tolerance towards other faiths, and the myths and anecdotes surrounding him, continue to fuel the popular imagination. Even today, over 350 years after his death, the debate rages on: if this 'good' Mughal had ascended the throne instead of his pugnacious younger brother, how would that have changed the course of Indian history?Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King brings to life the story of this enigmatic Mughal prince. Rich in historical detail and psychological insight, it brilliantly recreates a bygone age, and presents an empathetic and engaging portrait of the crown prince who was, in many ways, clearly ahead of his times.
