India Books

This book is incredible. First, the photography is excellent, beautifully portraying most of the recipes. The book begins with a complete listing of all of the ingredients used. It is about 6 pages of pertinent information, including pictures for some of the most obscure ingredients. The recipes cover a thorough range of the basic recipes that you may be looking for. I am Indian and am thrilled with the list. Just about every recipe is critical, they appear back-to-back and have several pictures. I will probably cook every recipe in the Indian section. That section alone makes it worth the purchase. However, it covers seven other asian cuisines in a very similar manner. It also offers enticing "melting pot" menus, mixing the cuisines. You will get the recipes you want, that you can make, with a little commentary and exquisite pictures. This is one of the best cook books I have ever seen.

All recipes are well described and illustrated. Everything is clear and easy to understand.

It is soo good !! I tried the eggs curry from Indonesia it is so yummy !! Also the have menu suggestions so that was real helpfull since I do a lot of parties !!!

Picture of Singapore's famous food example spicy satay,laksa,chicken rice...

Now in a newly revised edition, From Plassey To Pakistan: The Family History Of Iskander Mirza The First President Of Pakistan tells the complex saga that intertwines one family's story with the inception and development of an Islamic nation. Humayun Mirza is Iskander Mirza's only surviving son and brings a special and personal expertise to the violence-tainted partition of Indian by the colonial British Empire that resulted in the creation Pakistan. A superb contribution to International Studies reference collections, From Plassey To Pakistan is a vividly informative and very human account which deftly combines extensive research with personal remembrance.

As a descendant of the author's great-grandfather, I had grown up hearing many contradictory accounts of this family's history. This carefully researched book was very helpful to me in trying to sort out the tangled roots from which my side of the family grew. The author confesses his view is partisan, but nevertheless he does not try to hide the existence of his ancestor's various affairs in England, his marriage to an English chambermaid (his fourth wife and my great-grandmother), and treats those aspects of the story both objectively and sympathetically. Very readable!

Most of what we in the West read and hear about the Indian subcontinent comes from the British perspective. Humayun Mirza, son of Pakistan's first president and descendant of the royal Nawab Nazims of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, brings a thoroughly researched, enlightened, and deeply honest perspective to his family's story, and by extension the history of India and Pakistan from the 1700s to the present time. Because of his unique insider's perspective, Mirza makes his historical figures come alive.

Although he is talking about his own family--even his own father--Mirza shows a principled unwillingness to tamper with the truth, even when the truth is not flattering to people he clearly admires. The rich human complexity of these powerful personalities, warts and all, is one of the things that make this book so exciting.

If you're interested in the history and politics of the region, this is a must read. If you just like to learn interesting history, it's also a treat. I'm waiting for the update covering the current situation in the region!

From Plassey to Pakistan chronicles the lineage of Humuyan Mirza, the author and only son of the first President of Pakistan. The book provides personal and well-researched historical insight into the ruling class of India, of which the author is a direct descendant.

The author's father, and principal subject of the latter part of the book, is Iskander Mirza, a highly educated and respected citizen of India worked for the British Government of India. Upon the end of British rule in 1947, the country of Pakistan was formed and Iskander Mirza emerged to become a leading public figure ("the strong man") and eventually the first President of Pakistan.

The author offers excellent insight into his father's rise to the presidency and the subsequent challenge to bring order and democracy to the newly formed country, one fraught with political corruption at the governmental and military level combined with a high level of illiteracy within the population. Despite Iskander Mirza's well intentioned efforts, instituting the type of democratic government he envisioned would prove too difficult in this environment. His presidency was usurped by a military coup in 1958. Military control has presided over Pakistan for many of the subsequent years and remains in power today.

The author goes on to revisit his own life as a descendant of India's ruling and princely class as the son of the first president of Pakistan. Like his father Isakander, the author was educated at prestigious schools while growing up, ultimately attending the Harvard School of Business and subsequently working in various capacities for the World Bank. The author currently lives in the United States.

Toward the end of the book, the author offers thoughtful suggestions that address Pakistan's current political and economic situation. Above all, the author believes a very strong leader of Pakistan is crucial to help unite the country and its divisive factions. He truly desires prosperity for Pakistan.

The book is insightful and well written. I highly recommend the book for histroy readers and those interested in current events. Given the recent tumultuous events taking place in and around Pakistan, this book is even more relevant.

This is an excellent edition of Hind Swaraj. It includes several important letters between Gandhi and such important political figures as Nehru. It also includes Gandhi's very own reading list recommendation (for example, he suggests that his readers consult Thoreau and Tolstoy amongst other things).

Swaraj, for Gandhi, does not merely entail Indian sovereignty but rulership over one's own self. This inner svaraj is the condition for the possibility of external national independence. Therefore, to achieve national independence one must first achieve personal independence. For Gandhi, this meant that - given the fallenness of Britain - even the colonists were not free. In this respect Gandhi thought that the British must be pitied and not hated. These are some of the central arguments in Hind Svaraj.
Much of the book is taken up with a description of the fallen state of 'modern civilization' which Gandhi views as being like a disease in need of curing. The cure is through improved religiosity. The symptoms of modern civilization involve the development of railways, industrial infrastructure and the intervention of doctors and lawyers. On the face of things, Gandhi seems to be rabidly anti-technological and anti-modern. This is not entirely accurate however: Gandhi is not against technology but is against the "fetish" (or "craze" as he also calls it) of technology. This fetishization is symptomatic of the degeneration of modernity for him. Likewise, he is critical of doctors and lawyers not because doctors and lawyers are inherently bad, but because of the cynical industry that they are grounded in.

A great book, and much misunderstood.

This book is simply awesome. I call this one of the best books I've ever read. It presents Gandhi's views lucidly and you understand the clarity of thought and spirituality of a person who lead India to freedom.
To all Indians who are unaware of their own civilization, this book also contains portions where Gandhi gives reasons for why he regards Indian civilization to be the best. (I accept that I'm being chauvinistic).
However, this book is not meant for Indians alone, it is for people who wish to be open-minded, who dare to think outside the box, who wish to understand the world, mainly who wish to search for the all-pervading truth.

Satyameva Jayathe (Truth always wins)

This excellent new edition of Hind Swaraj fulfills the needs of all readers, either for private and academic purposes. Extraordinary is especially the introduction which covers all major subjects which should be taken into account for understanding "Hind Swaraj", e.g. wesetern and eastern influences on Gandhis thoughts, the London & South African years etc. The text itself is issued with a lot of explaining footnotes which also refer on the original (written in Gujarati). It's so far the first edition I know which compares between the english and gujatati text ! The only, minor manko might be the fact that the South African years are treated rather short, but the bibliography and advices for further reading lead the ambitious reader to new sources.

Gandhi explains in Hind Swaraj some of his fundamental ideas on how to obtain Home Rule in India. One aspect of Indian society Gandhi criticizes is the relationship between Muslims and Hindus. Gandhi tries to convey the idea that religious identity does not constitute for nationality. He feels that in order to obtain swaraj, India's people must unify themselves as a nation. By disbanding disagreements between the two religions, with acceptance and without imposition, Gandhi implies that what is important- Mother India- can be saved. Both Hindus and Muslims should stop seeking concessions from the British, begin the swadeshi movement (Indian-made goods), and that a universal language (Hindi) would also help the cause. Another factor which will lead to swaraj is passive resistance. (Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement 1931-34). Unlike Nehru, Gandhi opposed modernization/industrialization. These views, as well as views about education and economic reform are also included.

It is really delightful to see a book on Geet Govinda comprising some new and original material including interesting legends and anecdotes attached to it. A common reader also gets the bird's view about the tradition of Indian Miniature Painting. The brief narration of each canto in lucid language is another significant characteristic of this book. It is general belief that this is an exclusive poem of physical love only but a new dimension of this great lyric is explored when we find that this great poem is a poem of supreme oneness. Radha and Krishna, though two different souls, exist as one. Radha yearns for a complete merging with Krishna. The quote of Dr. Vidhya Niwas Misra is worth observing in the book, "No poem based on physical love could succeeded in carrying the burden of the density of sentiments and no poem could have succeeded in giving so powerful a direction to the stream of sentiments that the ocean would have become eager to merge himself into a drop".

The leaves have been produced so lively that they truly represent the rich heritage of Indian Painting in the remote area of Khandesh in the later decades of 18th Century. Not only the scholars and art lovers but also the people of Khandesh were unaware about this painting tradition of their own area. The fine blending of different Rajasthani and Malwa styles can be found in these paintings. This fusion is entirely a new discovery for the world of Indian Art.

It is a great and unique experience to see the visual transformations of a legendry love poem composed by Jaideva long long time ago. Geet Govinda is though a love poem focused on Radha and Madhava's love plays but is also a strong symbol of the expressions of various disciplines of Indian Art, like dance, music, drama, recitation and painting. This is a rare work in which we find the wide consultation of Hindi and Sanskrit sources, least took place in the earlier works on Geet Govinda. The connoisseurs as well as the art loving readers of the west will enjoy unique experience while going through the superb text and fantastic colorful pictures of Radha and Madhva's love plays. The pictures in the book are sequentially arranged in such a way that the whole story emerges automatically before the eyes. The text comprises the story of eternal love, history of Radha's emergence and the discovery of new style of painting. The book adds a new chapter in the history of art and is useful for a reader who inclines to look at the charming Indian images of great love along with their poetic narration.

The book narrates the journey of love. This lovely Sanskrit poem of 12th Century significantly impressed upon the different branches of the fine arts in India. The history of Indian painting is incomplete without the history of the painting traditions flourished in different regions of India in different time frames depicting this great love story of Radha and Madhava, composed by Jaideva. This love poem established Radha as an eternal symbol of fervid emotional surrender for Krishna. The illustrations in the book are superb and the text is very live and lucid. It is a path breaking work, which established that the painting tradition of Geet Govinda prevailed also in Deccan. Prior to this work it was considered as if the painting tradition of Geet Govinda prevailed only in North India. The book is nicely published. The content gives lot of new material coupled with some unique pictures of the Indian melodies, the Ragas and Raganis. The lovers of Art and Literature both should warmly welcome the book.

The book talks about the discovery of a new style of miniature paiting which was prevalent in a part of central India. The pictures of the paintings are extremely beautiful and follow a pattern. The author has put down the reasonings behind why these paitings have something in common and different from the other styles very well. The overall quality of publication and the language of the text is extremely good.

I read this book when i was a student.I was amazed to find that Nehru wrote it largely while he was in prison,with restrictions on access to historic materials and other works of reference.Yet he has done a brilliant job.His prose is effortlessly flowing.The contents are carefully and objectively chosen.However, the book reflects his bias and preferences when he deals with contemporary history.His admiration for soviet union and their economic model inspires even history writing.While fully understanding his anti-imperialistic stand,i am inclined to say that later part of the book needs to be read with caution as he, perhaps unconsciously,allows the politician within him to dilute the objectivity needed, or expected of a historian.Having said that,still i recommend this book to every youngster.

"....an exciting story of human civilisation....the saga of human struggle for existence with dignity and respect has never been told better.....if you are looking for a book that provides a deep insight into world history in a language that is pristine and pure, your search has ended...this is the book for you...."

Harsh Vivek

I read this book a decade ago and can never forget the greatness of this book that now I am ordering another copy.

I cannot agree less with the New York Times review: `It is one of the most remarkable books ever written...Nehru makes even H.G.Wells seem singularly insular...One is awed by the breadth of Nehru's culture'

The information is so rich (the history of empires from Greece, Rome and China to name a few), the style is flawless and the English language was written in a most beautiful way that you will forget Nehru was not born next to Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon.

I look forward to reading it again and again.

Without question one of my all time favorite books. Nehru wrote the book while in prison with the idea that it is what he would have imparted to his daughter Indira (Ghandi)were he at home with her. Despite some very minor factual errors (precise dates, etc.), the fact that the book was written under prison conditions, without any available reference material available to him, speaks to Nehru's incredible mind and grasp of history, as well as to the depth of his love for his young daughter. I find it to be one of the most remarkable works ever written and have given it as a gift more times than I can count. How many current world "leaders" do you think could produce something even close?

I would not recommend this work if you haven't had vast exposure to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (from any translators). If you have a good acquaintance with the major players of these epics, then this book will help clarify many things, as it provides back story that isn't covered in either epic, that explains many otherwise odd aspects of some of the characters' actions and beliefs. No collection of Indian epics is complete without it. Wonderfully written, and a joy to read overall.

R.K Narayan is perhaps one of the best known Indo Anglican writers. He is known capture the Indianness of his subject despite of writing in english. In this wonderful little book he tries to narrate some excerpts from Indian mythology. These are chosen from portions of great epics to folk lore tales. Most of these tales are usually naratted by a priest or some story teller in a villlage side temple. Having listened to some of those story telling concerts I would say Narayan's book gives you the same exhiliration and joy you would experience as you listen to a live story teller in a village.

Fantastic book from truly one of the greatest english writing authors of the 20th Century. Once you read Narayan, any other author is only second best.

This is a very nice book in which R.K. Narayan retells various stories and legends from India. The stories range from those of Devi to the demon king Ravana and pretty much everything in between. What makes this particularly nice is Narayan's mastery of the English language. He manages to make these stories understandable and approachable for a western audience, and in doing so has created a wonderful book. Even if you are not familar with the many epics of ancient India, I strongly recommend that you approach this book. It makes it very easy for westerners to understand and appreciate the cultural works of South Asia. Check it out.

This book is thoroughly enjoyable, with M. M. Kaye describing her idlyic days in India in a wonderfully interesting, humorous way, which makes this book a pleasure to read and a must own!

What a terrific book--nostalgic, romantic, funnny, poignant. I was utterly charmed once again by Ms. Kaye's writing. Her descriptions of visits to the Taj Mahal and spring in Kashmir are beautiful. I can't wait to read "Enchanted Evening."

Ms. Kaye has the most wonderful way of describing scenes, colors, and events of an era never to be seen again. Her family led a story-book life of adventure and she makes it look so easy to overcome the forces of nature that were part of living there with very few, if any, modern conveniences. It was a delicious read and I hope Ms. Kaye is busily at work on the next book of her travels in China! I am grateful for this journey back into a gentler, quieter time.

At long last, the sequel to Sun in the Morning -- and as always, M.M. Kaye's writing is evocative, sumptuous, and addictive. (The Far Pavilions is one of the two books I always travel with -- the other is Gone With the Wind -- because I can start reading anywhere and become totally immersed, no matter how many times I've read it.) No one is better at evoking that time-lost period before the Second World War; the details are not only fascinating but reveal to us moderns what the world once was like (which in British India in many cases seems rather closely to resemble E.F. Benson's town of Tilling...). Since I owe not only my interest in, but my several-hundred-volume library on, India to reading The Far Pavilions, I must admit a certain partiality here -- and a burning desire to read the sequel to Golden Afternoon.

I found this book very fasinating. The book documents India from the earliest times,untill the later time around british occupation. The most fasinating aspect of this book is it exposes the African pressence in Ancient India. The book documents that the Ancient Harappa Valley civilzation was started by AFRICAN PEOPLE WHICH WE KNOIW TODAY AS DRAVIDIANS.

This book is over thirty years old, so its brief discussion of modern India is obviously outdated. However, the book is supposed to present on overview of Indian history, spanning from prehistoric empires to the coming of British rule (the Raj), so its age would not preclude me from recommeding it to anyone. The text is insightful, clear, and well-illustrated with photos and prints of classical Indian art and architecture.

I read this book before travelling to India on a vacation, and it was a very useful learning tool for me.

I found this book very fasinating. The book documents India from the earliest times,untill the later time around british occupation. The most fasinating aspect of this book is it exposes the African pressence in Ancient India. The book documents that the Ancient Harappa Valley civilzation was started by AFRICAN PEOPLE WHICH WE KNOIW TODAY AS DRAVIDIANS.

Part of Time-Life's Great Ages of Man series, this book explores the history of India through pictures, essays and short but interesting historical notes. India is a vast country, one of the oldest continuous civilizations in human history, the birth place of no less than four world religions, and home to hundreds of languages. Obviously theres only so much that a small book like this can cover, but it does a wonderful job as an introduction to India's cultural achievements, particularly for a casual reader. And the pictures (including various Mughal minatures, works of architecture, and depictions of Hindu and Buddhist deities) and side bars are particularly worth note.

In terms of content, this book starts with the Harappan and Mohenjodaro civilizations of the Inuds, supposing that they were the product of the Dravidian peoples, who were gradually pushed south by Aryan invaders from Iran or Central Asia. From there, we get an introduction to the Vedic era and flowering of language and culture in that period, the roots of the Hindu faith, the birth of Buddhism, King Asoka and the Mauryan Empire, Alexander the Great's invasion of the Subcontinent, the Gupta and Chola dynasties, and so forth. An entire chapter explores Hinduism (including mention of the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics), while another explores the caste system, and theres a brief list of important Hindu deities in the appendix. The final chapter explores the Muslim Mughals, who ruled India until the invasion of the Portuguese and British, complete with infromation on their coutr culture, and some Mughal paintings from the story of Akbar the Great.

All in all, its a very informative and beautifully illustrated book, particualrly if you have no real background on South Asian history. It is, however, rather dated so parts of the book may be slightly inaccurate or controversial (like the Ayran invasion hypothesis). Still, considering India's rich cultural heritage, it is well worth the read.

An extraordinary work which reveals the essence of the most recent Avatar in in a most inspiring way. This is the real thing. A tender and lovable and earthy man. ( one of his disciples once challenged him to a swearing contest). A man of true wisdom who ate and sang and danced and died in complete absorbtion in the Divine. His humour and directness stand in contrast both to the humourlessness and the fantasising of lesser teachers. Lex Hixon did a superb job.

In this amazing book, Lex Hixon takes on the formidable task of trying to anticipate questions, thoughts and feelings that a reader may have on Spiritual Development/God Realisation and makes it a part of the Encounters of Sri Ramakrishna. It does not matter whether one has heard or read of Sri Ramakrishna before, Lex Hixon makes us aware of his presence nad grace in every page of the book. A very rare and enlightening book. Like a blessing.

Lex Hixon's words float in the reader's mind like clear, sweet water. Hixon is not a philosopher or theologian. He is a lover. His words melt into the heart and rise one's level of awareness into a state of ecstatic bliss. Read this book and discover the Ramakrishna that Lex Hixon knew and loved. The Ramakrishna who believed all religions were ultimately guided by the same Godhead.

burl2hall@yahoo.com

Ramakrishna was a heart so huge he envelops you directly off the page so beautifully conveyed by Lex Hixon. I got chills of sweetness from the passages directly quoted from this jewel of a human being....

Although 13 years old, much of the info in this book is still relevant. Despite the youthfulness of Los Angeles, there are restaurants and markets that have managed to survive for decades. These places are invariably great and almost institutions in their community. Hence, many of the listings in Burum's book still survive in this megapolis. You'll have fun tracking down that obscure German sausage maker who has had his shop for some 30 years...as well as the occassional let down upon discovering that the old Japanese immigrant, who made fresh tofu daily at the back of his grocery store, decided to call it quits a few years ago.

This book is not only a guide to the ethnic markets in LA, but also serves as an introduction to the cuisine of LA's ethnic groups. Interspersed within the listings, you'll find glimpses into the history of LA's immigrant communities, and what they really eat that you don't get at the mainstream ethnic restaurants. If you're the type that prefers to eat where you're the only one not of the ethnic group the restaurant caters to, get this book. It lets you in on not just the basics of a people's cuisine, but makes you feel comfortable with the unfamiliar (and much more authentic] dishes.

The book is organized into the following chapters, which fairly represents the demographics of Los Angeles:
China; Japan; Korea; Thailand; Vietnam; Southeast Asian [Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines]; India; Mexico; Central/South America and Caribbean; Europe; Greece, the Middle East and Africa.

Overall, an indispensable introduction to LA's greatest asset: It's diversity of people and cuisine.

This is a fantastic compendium of ethnic food in LA. It gives you everything you'd ever want to know: best bakeries, best markets, best restaurants. It divides categories by geography (important in LA) & by ethnic cuisines.

While the 1992 printing will make some info out of date (restaurants for example), this book is one of a kind & the best in its genre.

This is the greatest book on the best ethnic restaurants in LA. Hopefully, the author will put out a new edition. I have it. It's about 10 years old, and I'm not going to sell it. It's better than any new guide out there. Even if you don't go to these places, it's an interesting read.

When this book first came out about 10 yrs. ago or more it was a revelation. In one collection it guided you through EVERY major ethnic community in the greater L.A. region and told you which were the best restaurants, bakeries, markets, etc. I don't know of any other book that comes to close to being this comprehensive & incisive.

If you ever spend any time in L.A. & you are interested in ethnic food, you must have this book.