India Books

This book is a Darshan from mostly Pagal Baba (Crazy Daddy) and some others...VERY interesting! Its from 1974 edited by an American, but the storiesare all Indian. I cant say much more--you wont be at all disappointed. NAMASTE!

This book will be interesting to those who are intrigued by the many different approaches and ideas surrounding the spiritual path.

Pagal Baba or "crazy daddy" as the term is literally translated (into slang English) remains an enigma throughout the book and quotes the saint Sri Anandamayi Ma upfront for those wondering "WHO" he really is, saying, "I am whatever you THINK me to be...".

The book is curious because Pagal Baba walks you through the asramas of different living sages, the ideologies of those who have long since passed, and the mindset of the Indian religious approach in general with a very solid dose of inquisitive "reality" thrown in. At times he takes you on a journey that sets the reader up for some phenomenal revelation, only to deflate your expectations with a rather spiritually disappointing end to the story he is conveying. Then again, there are other times that he is emphatic about the teachings of the sages and strongly encourages the true seeker to take them to heart.

It is difficult to describe the psychological nuances in this book that make it very real and very readable. It would appeal to the skeptic as much as the devotee in this regard.

Personally, I found much food for thought here as I could understand the view as a "lover of God", but also understand the enormous cosmic joke inherent in the search for "God" realization... a dichotomy that Pagal Baba deftly puts forth. He leaves the reader to question themself and at the same time- generates an even stranger and stronger drive to "know".

I love the book and would consider it a necessary part of any library that focuses on studies in consciousness, spiritual practices, philosophy, or religious theology.

As a side note- the initial thrust of the book was stated as one that focuses on the "mind of India". This is true- but there is much more beneath this immmediate topic and that which can exceed the limitation of "India" alone if one can put these ideas in a broader and more personal context.

Mother Teresa was a missionary of Christ, compassion and of love. Her love spans all faiths, religions and breaks every boundary. Her story is inspirational and I consider myself honored to just read about what she has done. Once again my 9 year old son has picked a winner!

This book tells about the joys and struggles of Mother Teresa. It tells about her childhood, how she announced she wanted to be a nun, and about the children of India. She sets up a hospital for injured people, visits lepars and more. This book tells of how Mother Teresa lived, and what she sacrificed. This book is awesome and I recommend it to anyone.

A beautiful book with an amazing collection of textile samples from India.

It represents 30% of the amazing range of prints & weaves from India as the collection is predominantly from North India. The beautiful silk temple saris from South India specifically Kanchipuram and Madurai are not represented in this collection.

I love this book and want to buy it.....where can i get this book??

AN OUTSTANDING BOOK THAT COVERS NOT ONLY THE EMBROIDERIES AND TEXTILES OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT JEWLERY CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS AND A TEN CENTUARY HISTORORICAL ACCOUNT

Engaging book, sensitive to the art and traditions of the Rabari women, intelligently and intimately written. Of a very large library on textile art forms, this is one book I return to over and over. I hesitated at the price, but now feel it is worth it.

With "Ticket to Minto" Sohrab Homi Fracis has given the world twelve brilliantly written short stories and, beyond that, has set a new benchmark for the genre. Substantively different from mainstream narrative writing, his writing is a reminder of what finely crafted literature is able to accomplish. He has something to tell, and he spend ten years to render his thoughts and feelings into this excellent prose. The book is not an easy read through (superior literature never has been and never will be), it demands the reader to take his or her time to feel the beauty of every single sentence.

The stories are set in India and the United States, related by their protagonists - Indian people of different religious groups - Hindu, Muslim, or Parsi - who are condemned to live as outsiders and strangers, abroad in America or even at home in India. Fracis writes about his characters with knife-like insight, but not without humour and poignancy, to show their (inner) struggle. His protagonists fight for recognition, search for love, and try to live a decent live. The writing draws the reader into the stories and into the live of those people. The narrative voice is so startling and colourful and one that takes the reader along on an unforgettable journey between two continents.

I came across the book by chance - but this has been one of the luckiest coincidences ever. I translated the story "Keeping Time" into German and read it to friends and other audiences. The responses were great. It is the underlying universal validity of the stories that make the collection a rewarding read for people even outside India and the United States.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who likes valuable literature and is interested in Indian an American contemporary life and life in general. I can't wait to read more by Sohrab Homi Fracis.

Reviewer John Green errs blatantly in calling most of these stories "first-person accounts." Only four are told in first person. The other eight clearly show third-person. I also disagree with Green's view that "these stories often lack a clear and consistent narrative voice and tend to end with contrived imagery of closure."
Sohrab Fracis creates a rich variety of Indian characters, beginning with the Parsi schoolboy whose religious faith helps him defeat a bully in the first story, "Ancient Fire" and ending with an Indian-American whose artistic faith keeps him going as a talented author in the last story, "The Mark Twain Overlook."
I notice an underlying sensibility in this collection that appears almost like a character. This sensibility is upper class, cultured, dynamic. It thrives on nuance, at times challenges with ambiguity. It lives as an uneasy minority in India and in America. It values stability and family life but prefers mobility and single life. It searches for love less by convention and more on its own complex terms. It portrays promiscuity with serio-comic effect. It feels for the downtrodden and is painfully aware of class divisions that contribute to India's misery. It casts a keen eye at American provincialism and residual racism. It understands the dilemma of mainstream Americans who are identified with past wrongs to minorities and are trying to right the wrongs but in ways that bring the mainstream more condemnation. It empathizes with the elderly, especially with those who live their declining years with calm and dignity.
It often closes stories with images of remarkable subtlety like the broken tree branch in "Stray" and the drifting hairs of a pickled rabbit's paw in "Rabbit's Foot" (stories in which students from India feel the tug of their country's traditions and life in contemporary America). Arguably, the most skillful use of imagery occurs in the conclusion of "Keeping Time." Here music and writing interweave to underscore an aging piano teacher's alleviation of frustrations and sadness with stoic acceptance.

I read this book when it first came out, and I really loved it. I still refer to the facts I learned within; just last week I was explaining Lapsang Souchong to an Irishman. I was left feeling that I knew Mr. Goodwin, and contemplated finding him and making him my husband, primarily so we could travel together.

This book is WONDERFUL! Be forewarned, however: you WILL begin to guzzle litre after litre of tea during the reading of this book. Mr. Goodwin gives an absolutely wonderful first-person account of his often hilarious travels investigating the tea trade, from its' beginnings in Canton to the present day. A MUST for anyone who loves tea - and I'd rate Mr. Goodwin's writing style on a par with Pico Iyer's. A good read, full of humour and information...

This is the first novel to deal with Indira Gandhi's assassination and its aftermath. The writer takes the questions surrounding Mrs Gandhi's murder in 1984 and weaves an intricate mystery that keeps the reader turning the page. The writing is so realistic and the research so meticulous that the reader is left wondering whether this is really a fictional account. In the annals of Indian literature this novel is a first, since it employs mystery, suspense and history as its cornerstones. In addition, it provides a keen insight into the lives of people caught in the maelstrom of 1984 in India. Definitely a must for people intersted in Indian literature and recent Indian history.

I went the school at which the author taught. His brother first told me about the book. I quickly purchased a copy and began to read one of the best books Ive been exposed too. The story chronicles the life of Amrita Gill whose parents were murdered in the 1984 delhi riots. She comes too seattle where she lives with her aunt and uncle. Untill one day she meets a man from India that changes her life and leads her to the path to answers questions of her past. This is a gripping book and I suggest it to anyone and if you are from India Punjabi or are interested in Indian history..this book sheds some light on key events that took place

In "A Time to Dance, No Time to Weep" Rumer Godden powerfully evokes her childhood in India, the jolt of returning to England and to school, her beginnings as a writer, her debutante and young married years in India, her marriage and life as an "abandoned family" in India while her soon-to-be-ex-husband was in the army, and her brave and touching experiment of living with her daughters in Kashmir in 'Dove House', the house she loved more than any of her other houses. Her creative spirit and extraordinary lyricism shine through the pages.

In her autobiography, Rumer Godden takes us through the years 1907 to 1946. She was the second of four daughters born to British parents who made their home in India. She tells magical stories of her life in India and how the colorful and lush country influenced her as a writer. The family seemed always to be traveling between England and India. The early part of her story is filled with the support of her warm and loving family. Her writing began as a child and continued throughout her life. Besides writing, she also loved to dance. As a young woman, she taught dancing and also ran several dancing schools.

Her marriage to Laurence Sinclair Foster took place in 1934. He was a stockbroker and a good deal of his life centered around social and athletic interests. She gave birth to two lovely daughters, but she ended up being their sole support because her husband was constantly in debt and deserted his family. BLACK NARCISSUS, which was her first truly successful book was published in 1939. Europe was in a turmoil and World War II was about to begin. Not the best time to begin a career as a novelist.

Godden spent the war years in Kashmir. She sustained her life and that of her children by renting Dove House which was an abandoned house far removed from the closest village. She grew her own food, and lived on very little money. Godden and her daughters suffered health problems because of the deprivation that they experienced during that time. Her strength and courage was impressive to read about. She wrote constantly and always spoke lovingly of her years at Dove House.

The book ends with a very hopeful Rumer Godden arriving back in England with the finished manuscript of THE RIVER tucked under her arm.

Ramana's biography is a must read for any serious student of Advaita (Non-dualism). There are many biographies of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the famous twentieth century saint. Among these this book is the best, I think, for the following reasons:
1. It is neither too short nor too long. The editors took the Indian edition of 'Timeless in Time' and deleted some non-essential items, particularly those pertaining to his devotees. It retains all the key facts pertaining to the life of Maharshi.
2. It has many pictures, both color and black and white, some of which are published for the first time.
3. It also contains his key teachings and sayings. All of Ramana's quotes are in red color (as opposed to black color for the rest of the text). This facilitates clear identification of Ramana's quotes.
4. The paper and print quality of the book are excellent. The publishers, World Wisdom, deserve praise for this work. Each page exhibits the devotion and dedication of the World Wisdom staff involved in this publication. There is a printed design in each page, which is very beautiful. It deserves to be called a 'collector's edition'.

For anyone new to Ramana, I would recommend this book both as an interesting study of his life and also as an introduction to his teachings. Another 'must-read' book to follow up on this is "The Collected Works of Sri Ramana Maharshi".

Sri Ramana Maharshi's Timeless In Time blends the autobiographical statements of Sri Ramana Maharshi with his teachings and biographical background details by A.R. Natarajan, gathered from direct sources, pairing all this with over a hundred photos and a glossary of Hindu terms to provide an outstanding survey of one of the greatest Hindu sages of our times. Maharshi was known for his simple approach in leading people to spiritual realization and for his peaceful presence: Timeless In Time celebrates his life and teachings and makes for a solid introduction for newcomers.

Sri Chinmoy writes with great clarity on spiritual subjects of mainly, Yoga and Hinduism. He is able to offer clear insights into subjects which can easily be over philosophised.
For example Sri Chinmoy writes on Yoga:
"Yoga is union. It is the union of the individual soul with the Supreme Self. Yoga is the spiritual science that teaches us how the Ultimate Reality can be realised in life itself."

Recommended as an introduction into this field.

Sri Chinmoy is a realised spiritual master (he conducts peace meditations for the United Nations staff). He explains what Yoga is (real yoga is spiritual union with God, not the exercise postures that most westerners perform). After reading this book you will want to read his book "Meditation" (to learn in depth meditation yoga)and then all of his books, which contain not only invaluable information, but will spiritually uplift and transform you as well.