Introduction
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| Source: Goodreads.com |
ISBN: 978-8193432006
Genre: Non-Fiction / India
Publishers: Westland
Price: Rs. 275/- ( I got the book for review from the publisher)
Behind the Book
INDIA ... A YOUNG COUNTRY, A TIMELESS CIVILISATION EXPLORE IT WITH INDIA'S VERY OWN STORYTELLER, AMISH
India, a culture that witnessed the dawn of civilisation. That witnessed the rise of other cultures and watched them turn to dust. It has been celebrated and attacked. Admired and vilified. But through all these millennia, after all the ups and downs of history, it's still here! And now, after a few centuries of decline, it's driving a new dawn once again. Ajanaabhavarsh. Bharat. Hindustan. India. The names may change, but the soul of this great land is immortal.
Amish helps you understand India like never before, through a series of sharp articles, nuanced speeches and intelligent debates. Based on his deep understanding of subjects such as, religion, mythology, tradition, history, contemporary societal norms, governance, and ethics, in Immortal India: Young Country, Timeless Civilisation, Amish lays out the vast landscape of an ancient culture with a fascinatingly modern outlook.
About the Author
Amish is an IIM (Kolkata)educated, boring banker turned happy author. The success of his debut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up a fourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing. He is passionate about history, mythology and philosophy, finding beauty and meaning in all world religions.
Amish has most recently written the Shiva Trilogy (The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas & The Oath of the Vayuputras), which have sold over a million copies in the Indian subcontinent since 2010. The books that he plans to write in the future are also in the areas of mythology & history.
Amish lives in Mumbai with his wife, Preeti and son, Neel.
Amish has most recently written the Shiva Trilogy (The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas & The Oath of the Vayuputras), which have sold over a million copies in the Indian subcontinent since 2010. The books that he plans to write in the future are also in the areas of mythology & history.
Amish lives in Mumbai with his wife, Preeti and son, Neel.
The Book Elf thinks
Having read his books which are mostly mythology and historical fiction, this non-fiction collection of his articles written for various periodicals comes across as a breath of fresh air. It somehow showcases a very different side of the author, one that is not visible while reading his works in fiction. And if I can dare say this, I liked this version of author Amish Tripathi more.
The book on many levels is conversational, with it seeming as if the author is talking directly to you through his opinionated articles. Divided into 4 parts namely Religion & Mythology, Social Issues, History and Musings, this book is a very interesting read. Like for e.g. in Religion and Mythology you come to know how deep is his research for his books and in Social issues you come to know what effects him as a citizen of a country who at times is nothing but a mute spectator to all the chaos happening around.
My favourite segment was History where he talks about bygone era and its heroes. My favourite piece has to be about Mumbai, my favourite city. The author made it come alive in those pages as he took me back to the British Era and narrated stories from that time, showing me how Mumbai or then Bombay looked like. Even the one about Wajid Ali Shah. Having read quite a few books on him, I could still see him in a new light after reading this article. I really enjoyed reading each and every piece in History section.
I firmly believe this book needs to be read by each and every Amish Tripathi fan to know him a bit more than what they already know about him. The musings section shows his struggles as a writer much before he became a famous bestselling author. I like the way he spoke about family, support and most importantly understanding which is imperative in today's times. In this section if I had to choose, then I loved the inspiration behind his first book and how it came into being.
The language is simple and connect-able for every reader. I would recommend this book to one and all, to know our country, its history and mythology better. We need to remember our roots and feel proud of it, this book is one such reminder.
Foodie Verdict
This book is like sweet potato halwa - unique and yet has that strong, distinct flavour that is familiar.
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| Source:Tarla Dalal |