A Brief History of India

Rating:
Summary: British and Moghul invaders
Review: I was rather interested by the Library Journal critic concerning "A Brief History of India"(128 N° 2, February, 1)
With regard to the point of view expressed about Moghul and British colonisation, I feel that the critic has an unconscious Western bias, which is one of the main sores in India even today.
Of course, both these invaders also brought something positive with them, but we must remember that prior to their arrival India was one of the richest countries in the world and after their departure one of the poorest.

When you see the destruction made by the Muslims and in particularly by the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb in Benares, you understand some of the material effects of these invaders, but their permanent attack on the Hindus' social and religious system was even worse.

In any case, I deem Daniélou's point of view is much more realistic that that of the French writer Guy Deleury who wrote recently in 'L'Inde continent rebelle - Le Seuil 2000'

Page 257/258

The Indian sub-continent can look back with neither regret nor shame on its short century of British domination, to which it owes its telegraph, its railways, its neo-gothic railway stations, the gaudy uniforms of its sepoy corps d'élite, its metropolitan ports, masonic lodges and even - the supreme paradox - the Congress Party, which led it to independence

Rating:
Summary: British and Moghul invaders
Review: I was rather interested by the Library Journal critic concerning "A Brief History of India"(128 N° 2, February, 1)
With regard to the point of view expressed about Moghul and British colonisation, I feel that the critic has an unconscious Western bias, which is one of the main sores in India even today.
Of course, both these invaders also brought something positive with them, but we must remember that prior to their arrival India was one of the richest countries in the world and after their departure one of the poorest.

When you see the destruction made by the Muslims and in particularly by the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb in Benares, you understand some of the material effects of these invaders, but their permanent attack on the Hindus' social and religious system was even worse.

In any case, I deem Daniélou's point of view is much more realistic that that of the French writer Guy Deleury who wrote recently in `L'Inde continent rebelle - Le Seuil 2000'

Page 257/258

The Indian sub-continent can look back with neither regret nor shame on its short century of British domination, to which it owes its telegraph, its railways, its neo-gothic railway stations, the gaudy uniforms of its sepoy corps d'élite, its metropolitan ports, masonic lodges and even - the supreme paradox - the Congress Party, which led it to independence

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly "reader friendly" history of India
Review: This thoroughly "reader friendly" history of India provides a synthesis of events and a survey of the development of India's civilization, social system, and diversity of cultures, races, languages and religions. In examining the changing trends of the country Danielou also creates an intriguing survey of how India's courses have affected the world.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly "reader friendly" history of India
Review: This thoroughly "reader friendly" history of India provides a synthesis of events and a survey of the development of India's civilization, social system, and diversity of cultures, races, languages and religions. In examining the changing trends of the country Danielou also creates an intriguing survey of how India's courses have affected the world.