India is a strong nation today because of the hopes, aspirations and actions of its great men and women. Read about twenty-five such eminent personalities who have helped shape modern India with their invaluable contributions to business, arts, science and society.
A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet - then spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve herself to death. Nine people, nine lives; each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. William Dalrymple delves deep into the heart of a nation torn between the relentless onslaught of modernity and the ancient traditions that endure to this day. LONGLISTED FOR THE BBC SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE
Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was a devoted exponent of Indian culture. This book not only sums up the life and times of illustrious freedom fighter but also brings to the fore hither to unknown facets of his life.
Tremendous Progress Has Been Made In India During The Modern Period. British Rule Unified India, Gave New Ideals Of Parliamentary Government And Established Factories, Railways, Telephone, Etc. Due To Development Of New Scientific Weapons And Impact Of Industrial Revolution, East India Company Was Able To Defeat Indian Powers And Succeeded In Establishing British Rule In India, Burma And Ceylon. In 1857, Great Rebellion Took Place Which Ended Rule Of East India Company And British Parliament In The Name Of Queen And King Began To Rule All Over India Through The Secretary Of State For India And The Viceroy Of India. The Book Is Divided Into Two Parts. Part I Deals With Anglo-French Wars, Maratha And Sikh Wars And Wars With Other Small Powers And Role Of Different Governor Generals Such As Clive, Warren Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, Hastings And Dalhousie Etc. Socio-Religious Movements Took Place During This Period And Brahmo Samaj Was Established By Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Arya Samaj By Swami Dayanand, Ram Krishna Mission By Swami Vivekanand. Reform Movements Of Muslims And Sikhs Also Took Place.Part Ii Of The Book Deals With The Constitutional Developments And Nationalist Movement And The Role Played By The Eminent Leaders During This Period. Ultimately, India Became Free On 15Th August, 1947, And Constitutional Parliamentary Government Was Established And India Became The Largest Democracy Of The World. India Was Divided, Pakistan Came Into Existence, Which Gave Rise To Conflicts Between These Two Powers. Though In 1971, Pakistan Was Divided And Bangladesh Came Into Existence But Conflict Is Still Continuing. After Independence, India Has Made Great Progress And She Is Now One Of The Mightiest Powers On Earth With Nuclear Weapons And Viable Economy. From 1947 To 2002 Tremendous Progress Has Been Made In Scientific Inventions, Art, Literature And In Other Social Aspects Which Have Been Described In Brief.Unfortunately, Modern History Of India Has Been Written By British Writers With Imperialist Point Of View. In This Book An Attempt Has Been Made To Give Objective Outlook.
Karmayogi is the dramatic and inspiring story of E. Sreedharan, the much-admired engineer and technocrat who won accolades for finishing the Delhi Metro project within budget and on time, in the face of severe constraints. Known for his efficiency and discipline and regarded the world over for his productivity standards, Sreedharan has, surprisingly, never spent more than the eight-hour workday in office. This fascinating book looks back on an extraordinary career full of sterling achievements-Sreedharan's years with the Railways, the building of the Kolkata Metro and the Konkan Railway, followed by the Delhi Metro, and the many metro projects he is involved with now. Translated from a bestselling biography in Malayalam, this is the uplifting story of a very private person who has become an icon of modern India because of his uncompromising work ethic.
In a second edition of their successful Concise History of Modern India, Barbara Metcalf and Thomas Metcalf explore India's modern history afresh and update the events of the last decade. These include the takeover of Congress from the seemingly entrenched Hindu nationalist party in 2004, India's huge advances in technology and the country's new role as a major player in world affairs. From the days of the Mughals, through the British Empire, and into Independence, the country has been transformed by its institutional structures. It is these institutions which have helped bring about the social, cultural and economic changes that have taken place over the last half century and paved the way for the modern success story. Despite these advances, poverty, social inequality and religious division still fester. In response to these dilemmas, the book grapples with questions of caste and religious identity, and the nature of the Indian nation.