India Books

I am known as Bina Robinson rather than my legal name of Winifred. It just so happens that Bina is a fairly common name in this area making it
more approriate as well as more recognizable. So "I'd apreciate it if you'd make this change.
PLEASE OMIT THIS FIRST PARAGRAPH FROM REVIEW AFTER READING
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After reading Judy Smith's review, which skillfully captured the essence of this book in so few words, I decided not to comment. On thinking it over, however, it seems my personal experience of two treks, one lasting over a month, in Nepal gives me the background to add that the book should be of interest to anyone who has ever trekked or even dreamed of traveling on foot through the majestic Himalayas. I went for the mountains but came away with a love of the remarkable people who inhabit them, laughing and cheerful even when heavily burdened and barefoot in the snow.

George B. Schaller tells a well-rounded tale branching off at times into centuries of local history at various locations and philosophizing as when "Resting tranquilly near the bharal, I know also that animals are wild only because man made them so." He is concerned with the effects of overgrazing by domestic livestock causing slopes to be eroded leaving "shrubs perching on pedestals of soil, clutching the last fragments of fertility."

His description of village men "accustom(ing) the yaks to being handled again after a feral existence all winter" by talking gently to them and feeding them salt by hand reminded me of how other travelers passing a yak train reached out to give each animal an affectionate pat.

The purpose of the book is to present the notes of wildlife observations. often recorded with cold-numbed fingers during long days of watching at high altitude winter temperatures. These include trying to sort out classifications of animals with mixed characteristics of sheep and goats interspersed with exciting close encounters with shy snow leopards and descriptions, often poetic, of local birds and wild flowers and monastaries and dwellings, reminiscent of those of American Pueblo Indians, in spectacular surroundings.

I found Jean Pruchnik's sketches at the beginning and interspersed through each chapter very representational of my memories and Richard Kean's drawings of wild sheep and goats inside the covers more informative than photographs would have been. There was also a midsectiion of colored photographs taken by the author with a sampling scenery, animals and people.

The mountains of the Himalaya, from the lushly forested slopes of Nepal to the barren ranges of Central Asia, offer solitude, enlightenment, and incredible beauty, as well as the brutal reality of barren peaks and wind-torn slopes and glaciers. They are a lost world of nameless valleys, of people living in the Middle Ages, of travel by yak caravan. To field biologist George Schaller, the Himalaya is all this, and yet it is more, forming as it does the habitat of the world's greatest variety of whild sheep and goats....markhor, urial, bharal, and other spectacular animals...as well as the elusive snow leopard.
This is a story of high adventure, introspection, observation, and discovery. It is primarily about the Himalaya and the people and the animals that live in it. It is a story told in the words of a poet, yet seen through the eyes of a scientists, as he struggles to save this mountain world from turning to stones of silence.

Mother Teresa Of Calcutta always taught about kindness and love as she worked in the slums or met with the famous and influential of the world. This inspiring anthology of her simple, profound, thought-provoking stories (compiled by Edward Le Joly and Jaya Chaliha) is simply, beautifully, appropriately illustrated with watercolors by Allan Drummond. The stories include the one of the mother who shared her last grains of rice with the family next door; the children who gave up their prize money to help the orphanage in Calcutta; and many others illustrating Mother Teresa's heartfelt and unwavering belief that even the smallest acts of kindness make the world a better place for everyone. Stories Told By Mother Teresa is a remarkable testament of a remarkable woman and enthusiastically recommended reading for children of all ages (and their parents!).

The stories are short (a spread at the most), simple and heartwarming - The Runaway tells of a boy who keeps sneaking out of a comfortable childrens' home to be with his destitute mother, Professor of Love describes the effect a disabled child has on his family, The Courage to Give is the story of a poor family of eight who share what little rice they had with the next-door neighbors. . .
The book also shows the influence of St. Francis of Assisi on Mother Teresa - this book is probably best read together with any good children's book on St. Francis - Saint Francis by Brian Wildsmith, Brother Francis and the Friendly Beasts by Margaret Hodges, or Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie de Paola.

This review lists the contents of Student's Britannica India. I know of no other place on the web where one can find the detailed contents of this set. I'll write a review with my comments on the contents of the volumes later.

Volumes One to Five - Articles from A to Z covering subjects related to India
Volume Six - A special volume with essays written by scholars and professionals
Volume Seven - A volume focussing exclusively on careers in India

Volume 1: Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas to Cypress ~ 570 articles (383 pages)

Volume 2: Dadra and Nagar Haveli to Hyena ~ 385 articles (392 pages)

Volume 3: Iblis to Mira Bai ~ 510 articles (406 pages)

Volume 4: Miraj to Shastri ~ 550 articles (390 pages)

Volume 5: Shath to zurvan ~ 400 articles (315 pages), index from pages 317 to 406

In each of the first five volumes, the first half a dozen or so pages (in a section named 'volume at a glance')contain an alphabetical list of articles in that particular volume and the page numbers where they appear.
In addition, Volume 1 also has a Preface, Acknowledgements, a list of contributors & reviewers and sources of illustrations. Volume 5 has a 90 page index.

Volume 6 - Select Essays (441 pages, divided into 4 categories)

Art, Culture and Sports
Art of India (Frederick M. Asher, 8 pages), Architecture in India (George Michell, 18 pages), Architechture - Temples of India (S. K. Ramachandra Rao, 6 pages), Narrative in Stone (Vidya Dehejia, 6 pages), Textiles in India (Jasleen Dhamija, 8 pages), Design in India - An Overview (H. Kumar Vyas, 8 pages), Industrial Design in India (S. Balaram, 6 pages), Design with Natural Dyes (Padmini Tolat Balaram, 6 pages), Design for Special Needs (S. Balaram, 8 pages), Toys of India (Sudarshan Khanna, 6 pages), Music - An Evolutionary Overview (Shubha Mudgal, 8 pages), Contemporary Indian Dance (Sunil Kothari, 6 pages), Cinema in India (Saibal Chatterjee, 8 pages), Sports in India (Rahul Sapra, 6 pages).

People and Society
People & Society in the Indian Subcontinent (Ralph W. Nicholas, 14 pages), Caste System in India (T. N. Madan, 8 pages), Scheduled Castes (T. K. Oommen, 10 pages), Family, Kinship and Marriage in India (Patricia Uberoi, 12 pages), Education in India (Shashank Vira, 6 pages), Religion in Indian Societies (Ralph W. Nicholas, 10 pages), Languages of the Indian Subcontinent (Anjani Kumar Sinha, 4 pages), English in India (Braj B. Kachru, 8 pages), Food - A Historical Perspective (K. T. Acharya, 14 pages).

Biodiversity, Science, and Technology
Biodiversity - An Overview (T. N. Khoshoo, 16 pages), Endangered Fauna of India (S. M. Nair, 14 pages), Birds of India (Asad R. Rahmani, 8 pages), Birds of Prey (S. M. Satheesan, 4 pages), Agriculture in India - Fifty Years of Progress (M. S. Swaminathan, 14 pages), Agriculture in Ancient India (Y. L. Nene, 8 pages), Sustainable Aquaculture in India (K. Alagarswami, 20 pages), Ayurveda (K. H. Krishnamurthy, 4 pages), Atomic Energy in India (C. V. Sundaram and L. V. Krishnan, 4 pages), Information Technology - Uses in India (T. H. Chowdary, 10 pages), Information Village (V. Balaji and K. Balasubramanian, 8 pages), History of Mathematics in India (R. C. Gupta, 14 pages), Oceanography in India (S. Z. Qasim, 6 pages)

Economy, Governance and Politics
Economic Policy in India (Shaymol Roy, 10 pages), Advertising in India (Sunil Robert, 6 pages), Public Relations in India (Deepak Mukarji, 4 pages), SAARC - The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Bibek Debroy, 6 pages), WTO - An Indian Perspective (Bibek Debroy, 8 pages), Constitution of India (Rajeev Dhavan, 10 pages), National Security (Kanti Bajpai, 8 pages), Sea Forts (Purushottam D. Sharma, 8 pages), Family Law in India (Jai Mukhi, 8 pages), Politics in India (Philip Oldenburg, 20 pages).

Volume 7 - Careers (425 pages)

There is a seven page essay titled 'Career Opportunities in India for the Twenty-First Century' by Usha Albuquerque. This is followed by descriptions of 77 different career choices from Advertising to Environmental Science to Medicine to Veterinary Science. Each section is divided into 4 or 5 different sub-sections. For example 'Environmental Science' is divided into What is Environmental Science, Branches, Work Areas and Specialization, Training and Education Required, Sources of Training and Education (A list of universities offering degrees in Environmental Science). The full list of topics and the approximate number of pages devoted to each topic is given below.

Advertising (4), Agriculture (8), Anthropology (4), Aquaculture (6), Architecture (6), Armed Forces (16), Astronomy (4), Banking (4), Beauty Care (4), Biotechnology (6), Building and Construction (4), Business Management (6), Civil Aviation (4), Civil Services (4), Coast Guard (2), Computer Science (8), Dairy Farming (4), Dentistry (6), Earth Sciences (10), Economics (8), Engineering (10), Environmental Science (6), Ergonomics (4), Fashion Designing (4), Film Making (6), Finance and Cost Accountancy (4), Fine Art (6), Food Processing (4), Foreign Trade (4), Forestry (6), Garments Manufacture and Merchandising (4), Gems and Jewellery (4), Horticulture and Floriculture (4), Hotel Management (4), Human Resource Management (4), Information Technology (6), Insurance (4), Interior Design (4), Journalism (6), Law (8), Leather Technology (4), Library Science (8), Linguistics (6), Marketing (6), Medicine (8), Merchant Navy (4), Meteorology (4), Mining and Metallurgy (4), Modelling (2), Nursing (6), Nutrition and Dietetics (6), Packaging (4), Paramedical Services (6), Paramilitary and Protective Services (4), Performing Arts (8), Pharmacy (4), Photography (6), Physiotherapy (4), Poultry Farming (4), Printing (4), Psychiatry (4), Public Relations (4), Publishing (4), Radio and TV Broadcasting (4), Science (8), Secretarial Work (4), Social Service (6), Sports and Physical Education (6), Stockbroking (4), Tea Industry (2), Teaching (8), Traditional Medicine (6), Tourism (4), Veterinary Science (4)

Volume 7 also has a 10 page 'Index of Institutions' at the end containing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses.

It makes an excellent reading for any and everybody who is interested to know more about the magnificent and mysterical India from historical as well more contemprory perspective.

Although the title 'Students Britannica - India' suggested the product to be meant for school student's, but after flipping a few pages it becomes very clear that it is a product that would interest a much wider audience.

The volume on special articles also makes good reading. I really liked the article written by Ms. Shubha Mudgal on 'Music: An evolutionary Overview'.

M M Kaye bought India alive for me in her two novel's "The Far Pavillions" and "Shadow of the Moon" - in her autobiography I can see where her love of India came from .

She also brings to this, the first volume of her three volume autobiography, the same beautiful writing that she has used in her novels. She has a very easy and light writing style which brings her memoirs and her fiction alive. This first book takes us up to 1925 and her return to India after some time away back in England.

This is for those of you who love India, love MM Kaye - (better known as Mollie by her family) or are interested in the times of India under the Raj.

This is the story of a childhood filled with wonder and excitement of growing up in India as well as the sadness of leaving home and loved ones behind for schooling in England. The historical aspects were equally interesting to one who hasnt any been exposed to them before. The social attitudes in M M Kayes times to the people working in India were an eye opener - this book should be read by anyone with an interest in India and especially as Kaye says to counter balance the views of India in books such as Passage to India.

Here's some additional information on my book "Tantra: Hedonism in Indian Culture", 2nd ed., 1998: 1. It was reviewed by Kate Romanoff (Univ. of Colorado, Boulder) in "Religious Studies Review", 24(2), April 1998. She called it a "fascinating critique of modern Indian culture", and a "useful contribution to the...study of tantrism". 2. It was also reviewed by Dr. RD Choudhury (Director General, National Museum, New Delhi) in the "Journal of Art History Congress", Vol. V, 1998-99. He says that the book will meet the need for "serious and comprehensive studies on the subject", and that it is "undoubtedly an asset to any library".

This authoritative book by Dr. Prem Saran expounds the cultural history of the Tantric tradition, and its persistence in contemporary Indian culture. The author is himself an initiate into the Tantric cult at the famous Kamakhya temple in Assam, northeastern India. By reading these lines, as well as between them, one can begin to appreciate the benefits of practising this ancient art

The book is a rich combination of Makoorjee's scholarly style and an excellent collection of Tantric art, both geometric/diagramatic and visual, including the ever-popular Tibetan yab-yum pairs. I came upon the original edition as an undergraduate in the 1970s and was impressed then by the elaborate and in-depth scientific and metaphysical explanations of a complex and elusive topic -- tantra -- or the science and practice of first "seeing," then experiencing the essence behind form, not intellectually but with the perceptive faculties of one's inner being. His narration is interwoven with the illustrations to give the reader a clear sense of both the culture from which this body of knowledge arises and the subtle dynamics of tantric knowledge as revealed through art, ritual, and practice. Not a practitioner's guide, but an excellent introduction to tantric history, theory, metaphysics, and cultural expression.

I can't believe that there is only 1 review of this book! This is a seminal review of the tantric path written by two scholarly initiates. This book cover the art, spirituality, and practical rituals of both dualistic and non-dualistic paths. This book goes way beyond most "fluffy" books that you see in the marketplace.

Don't forget to read the introduction. Mr. Mookerjee writes one of the best articles on the history and importance of the tantric traditions.

This book is a needed addition to the library of any serious student.

If you're trying to study Sitar on your own, you must somehow obtain a copy of this book. 418 pages - mostly of exercises! Weaving yourself - or rather, allowing yourself to be woven - into Indian Classical Music theory will not be effortless, but with a little diligence, you'll actually understand what they're talking about. I found this even better than Ravi Shankar's My Music, My Life, part iv of which is a sitarist's dream. If you read this, please get in contact with me at joscopt@yahoo.com.

I purchase this book a few years ago when I first started sitar study.I found it a bit difficult to penetrate at first.

Nothing can replace a competent teacher (luckily for me I have one)which is probably the best way to get started. If there is no teacher in your area I would maybe suggest that you also get one of the beginner books on sitar and a couple of sitar videos such as the Ashwin Batish series to get you going.
After you have familiarized yourself with the instrument and its techniques you can start on the exercises in the book and progress on to the Raga compositions.
With some diligence you should be able to work your way through this book. It will take a few years of practice to learn the material in this book alone,but it will be well worth it.
It easily is the most comprehensive book written on sitar I've ever seen.
Buy this book while you can still find it!!

As a Telugu Speaking person, i rate this Telugu-English Dictionary, the " best " available book in the world market. I personally thank C.P. Brown for his effort in publishing this book. I used refer this book when i was at school.

Originating from Europe, it was really great on
Sir C P Brown, for not only learning to speak,read and write Telugu,
but also to be able to deliver such works.

He really served the Telugu language by collecting all the "Vemana padyalu" (stanzas by Vemana) and publishing them.

Wish I can get more and more Telugu books from Amazon.com

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.