This is a description of contemporary India and some of its recent history in the form of an autobiography. Rajmata Scindia is a member of the Indian Parliament. As a maharani she had thousands of servants and several enormous palaces. Since Independence, which marked the end of the supremacy of the Maharajas, she has emerged as one of Indias most popular political leaders, first with the Congress party and now with the opposition. Her appeal to the masses, who see her as an image of Mother India, amazes both her admirers and her critics.
RASHEED KIDWAI is a journalist, author, columnist and political analyst. He is Visiting Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation, Delhi. Formerly Associate Editor at The Telegraph, Kidwai is a keen observer of government, politics, community affairs and Hindi cinema.
Examines the political worldview of courtly and royal women in India during the late colonial and post-Independence period. This book offers a history of the zenana, which served as the 'women's courts' or 'female quarters of the palace', where women lived behind pardah in seclusion.
John Travers Mends (Jack) Gibson was born on March 3, 1908 and died on October 23, 1994 at the age of 86.In some ways, Jack was the last Indian Englishman. He came ten years before independence and stayed on 47 years after it, rendering dedicated service to the country of his adoption for 57 years. Jack's journey started as a school teacher at The Doon School. He was the last English Principal of Mayo College and the last English President of the Himalayan Club. He was the last, and for most of the time the only English resident of Ajmer. He must have been just about the last Englishman to have been honored by both the British and Indian Governments.Brij Sharma is a journalist based in Bahrain. He spent much of his childhood and youth in Dehra Dun, and while not a product of The Doon School, he has known its campus, the surroundings of the city and much of the mountainous terrain described in Gibson's letters.http://www.jtmgibson.com
Although the princes of India have been caricatured as oriental despots and British stooges, Barbara Ramusack's study argues that the British did not create the princes. On the contrary, many were consummate politicians who exercised considerable degrees of autonomy until the disintegration of the princely states after independence. Ramusack's synthesis has a broad temporal span, tracing the evolution of the Indian kings from their pre-colonial origins to their roles as clients in the British colonial system. The book breaks ground in its integration of political and economic developments in the major princely states with the shifting relationships between the princes and the British. It represents a major contribution, both to British imperial history in its analysis of the theory and practice of indirect rule, and to modern South Asian history, as a portrait of the princes as politicians and patrons of the arts.
I felt that to remain in politics and keep fighting for the principles was my calling. So; I thought that working with the people of similar ideology might be more fruitful. I felt affinity with those parties which were neither corrupt nor power-drunk…. Ideologically; I found myself close to Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party. I was in a dilemma to choose between the two. So; I decided to contest the election on the ticket of both these parties. I became candidate of Jana Sangh from Karera constituency of Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Tihar is not a jail; it is hell on earth. And those people were pushed in this hell whose penance threatened to dethrone Indiraji. There were piles of filth at different places in Tihar jail. It would make the inside air polluted which was stifling. While eating one had to constantly drive away the flies with one’s hands. The ears would be abuzz with the sounds of insects. In the darkness the brooch would glow and crickets would speak. Life was difficult. But despite that we would have sound sleep. Ayodhya is not a city made of bricks and mortars. It is a symbol of India’s soul and national identity. That’s why when the Rath Yatra was taken out; Hindus and Muslims participated in it alike. This national integration caused heart burns to those vested interests that were in the habit of taking the advantage of social division. Royal to Public Life by Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia with Mridula Sinha: This book likely offers a memoir or autobiography of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, a prominent Indian political figure and member of the Scindia royal family. Co-authored with Mridula Sinha, the book may provide insights into Rajmata Scindia's life journey, her transition from royalty to public life, and her contributions to Indian politics. Key Aspects of the Book "Royal to Public Life": Personal Memoir: Offers a firsthand account of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia's life, experiences, and political career. Political Legacy: Explores her role in shaping Indian politics and her commitment to public service. Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and Mridula Sinha likely share a personal and political journey in "Royal to Public Life." This book sheds light on the life of a remarkable Indian leader.
