Author : Sanjeev Sanyal
Review:
Finally finished the book "Land of the Seven Rivers" By Sanjeev Sanyal. The book cover gives a depiction of ancient
India, but it's much more than that. The author starts India's journey from the Harappan period to the current century.
Two things truely commendable about the author - he is travelled ardently across the country to collect the miniscule details and secondly,he has collected lot of documentation on what the travellers from other lands,who have either visited,stayed or interacted with Indians at different points of time had to say about our country.So we get an entirely different perspective on where India stood and what India did from ages galore.
India, but it's much more than that. The author starts India's journey from the Harappan period to the current century.
Two things truely commendable about the author - he is travelled ardently across the country to collect the miniscule details and secondly,he has collected lot of documentation on what the travellers from other lands,who have either visited,stayed or interacted with Indians at different points of time had to say about our country.So we get an entirely different perspective on where India stood and what India did from ages galore.
Till the 11th century , there are more speculations based on the material which was collected. He keeps reminding time and again that ancient Indians did map India from the Himalayas to the Ocean in the south .The golden era of Maurya and Gupta empires, the pinnacle of India's civilization growth is well detailed out.
There are some unique points in this book I loved the most-
1. Tracing the importance of Lion in our country's culture and geography , right from the vedic ages.From a near no mention in the RigVedas to a liberal usage in the epics, then through the statistics of lion hunts by royalties over a period of time to the number of Lions in Gir right now. Its like a Lion graph.
1. Tracing the importance of Lion in our country's culture and geography , right from the vedic ages.From a near no mention in the RigVedas to a liberal usage in the epics, then through the statistics of lion hunts by royalties over a period of time to the number of Lions in Gir right now. Its like a Lion graph.
2.The second, he traces the fate of Delhi-from Harappan settlement to Indraprasth to Turks Delhi, Mughal Delhi, Imperial Delhi , Refugee Delhi , old Delhi and then new Delhi.
You really end up feeling sorry for this city.
You really end up feeling sorry for this city.
3. The third, he describes in detail the effort taken to draw the contour map of India and Tibet.How and when did India find it's place in the World Atlas.
4. The fourth- why Indians failed as a country till 18th century despite having everything in different pockets- The Centre
were always strong in defence,thanx to their geographical terrain and guerilla tactics. More especially after the Marathas emerged solid in warfare, highly instrumental in toppling the Mughal rule .Why did they not take over India ?? Why did south stop trade after the glorious Chola era, the only empire which extended even beyond India? Why did North never think of building their defences, even after their central base (Delhi) was being plundered again and again after so many invasions? And the big question -Why did India shut itself from the innovations of the west and start looking inwards despite the fact that Ancient Indians were more forthcoming and there was a diaspora in ancient ages?
were always strong in defence,thanx to their geographical terrain and guerilla tactics. More especially after the Marathas emerged solid in warfare, highly instrumental in toppling the Mughal rule .Why did they not take over India ?? Why did south stop trade after the glorious Chola era, the only empire which extended even beyond India? Why did North never think of building their defences, even after their central base (Delhi) was being plundered again and again after so many invasions? And the big question -Why did India shut itself from the innovations of the west and start looking inwards despite the fact that Ancient Indians were more forthcoming and there was a diaspora in ancient ages?
The book is a very slow read, lot of information to digest each and every page, and the details get thicker after the Indian
independence. But it is one of the very unique books I have come across, any day I'd go back to refer on data and facts.
If u r interested in learning about our country, please dont miss this book.
independence. But it is one of the very unique books I have come across, any day I'd go back to refer on data and facts.
If u r interested in learning about our country, please dont miss this book.
Recommended : 👍👍👍
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