The Discovery of India

Amazon charged almost 40 dollars for a book that says "for sale in the Indian subcontinent only" and has a cover price of Rs 499, or just over 11 dollars. This is illegal.

This massive book contains a vast storehouse of knowledge; historical facts and fables evolved over many centuries.

I was impressed with how Nehru challenged the British system as he struggled to find ways to break the yoke of colonialism. India's political history may not be understood by many, but I thought it cogent the way he explained the inter-relationship with the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress.

Nehru's treatise did not include the tactics used by the British to "anglicize" and "racially demonize" the Indians nor addressed why the sacred books, the Vedas were translated by Max Muller, a German. He wrote extensively about the light-skinned "Aryan Race" but he did not provide much information about the Dravidians and the complexities of "race" to "caste".

His book will stand the test of time as an informative document of ancient Indian folklore and history. As much as he revered the past, Nehru's vision for India's future, however, lies with science and the lessening of past religiousness, and the old codes imbued with the supernatural and metaphysics speculation. These views of his thoughts in 1940 are vindicated by the richness of the computer and engineering technology that is in present day India.

Pandit Nehru is a scholar with a soft touch. His work is throroughly analytical and candid, yet lyrical in its tone which makes for easy reading. This book is a page turner once you relax and get into the right frame of mind, which I must admit takes a little bit of time. But once you do that it is therapeutic, no less.

Sunil Khilnani, Professor of South Asian studies at Johns Hopkins University, writes in the Introduction (which is generally very positive about the book), how Pandit Nehru's usage of terms like "racial memory" jar in today's world. On the contrary, I feel that his usage of such terms is very apt, and very Indian. It shows how acknowledging our own histories and genetic dispositions is not antithetical to, but part and parcel of mutual understanding and of communal harmony.

This book is an eye-opener for many Indians, in India and abroad, who have fallen into the fold of the Hindutva ideology that aims to bring India in line with globally prevalent nationalistic tendencies based on religious conservatism, as practiced in America for example. Discovery of India is a reminder that the Indian freedom movement was driven by nationalism of a superior kind, that while deeply knowledgable and assertive of its national character, was still open minded about absorbing international influences and cared about humankind as a whole.

Makes me proud that this man was my first Prime Minister.

This book was recommended to me by an Indian coworker when I told him I was learning about India in my endless quest for understanding. I ordered it immediately and was so pleased when it arrived. I am now about halfway through it and have learned a great deal about India and her long history that I did not know. I am aware that Mr. Nehru was a Socialist, and although some may dismiss anything that is written by a Socialist as if he has nothing worthwhile to say I find that the book is very interesting, is full of history, and that Nehru was a very good writer. This book would be helpful to anyone seeking to learn about India.

Having grown up watching the classic television adaptation of the book, I have always had a great admiration for Pandit Nehru. A few years back I bought the book and it was sheer joy to read through and to get to know India personally. Even though I am an Indian, I would say, that I felt more close to India after reading this book. I would bet, this is one history book you will not put down for sure.

In today's perspective, when everyone is looking at and talking about India, there are lots of misconceptions. Unfortunately, most of us (Indians) have forgotten our roots and have no clear idea of our own country. I would bet you pick up randomly any number of Indians and ask him or her about the history of India, and everyone will come up with his own version, which is almost always far away from truth. I have to accept that I too belong to that category, but now with "The Discovery of India" by my side, I believe I won't go wrong. For instance, how many of us know that the real inhabitants of India, the real Indians were actually the South Indians (Dravidians) and rest of us are all Aryans the non-inhabitants? How many of us know that the so called caste "Kshatriyas", "Brahamans", "Shudras" had nothing to do with religion but was an indentification of one's occupation? How many of us know that the word "Hindu" didn't mean "a person who follows Hinduism" but "The citizens of Hindustan"?(Pardon me if I hurt someone, but that it is a fact. If you already know, then hats-off to you)

I personally believe, every Indian must read this book and more so every politician, the current bunch of people regardless of whichever party they represent, because none of them have any idea what India is all about. Unfortunately!!

Most stupid book fake news ever

Writing was one of Nehru's talents. This book was written to teach his daughter Indira, about Indian history. A number of his books were written when imprisoned by the British during India's war for Independence. It's a great read for anyone wanting an introduction to Indian history. Thapar and Spear's History of India is also a great series of books. I've gifted it a few times and the language is lovely, and be warned there aren't many pictures.

I liked this history by Nehru on India. I was expecting a history of Nehru on Nehru and got something much better.

if there is just one book that one would have time to understand the rich social, cultural and spiritual fabric if India, this would be it.
Regardless of one's inclinations towards Nehru's political ideologies. This book is a masterpiece. Immensely readable and enjoyable. It was also made into an acclaimed BBC serial.

Incredible book. Beautifully written