India Unveiled

by Robert Arnett

This award-winning portrait of the people, landscape, and multi-hued culture of India has been acclaimed as one of the most insightful and revealing books ever written about the country. Organized by regions, the six chapters, more than 260 color photos and seven maps cover the complete essence of the nation.

Genres: India, Nonfiction

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Robert Arnett has a Master’s of Arts degree in history from Indiana University. His undergraduate studies were at Tulane University, the University of Georgia, and the London School of Economics in England. He taught History of Western Civilization for the University of Maryland, European Division, while serving 19 months in Turkey as one of the youngest commanding officers in the United States Army Signal Corps.
Arnett has made six trips to India, spending almost two years studying art, culture, and religion while living with Indian families.
Arnett has mounted a traveling educational photographic exhibit with 35 select photographs from India Unveiled. Seven sets of the exhibit are sponsored by universities, private foundations, and museums.
His children’s book Finders Keepers? has won six national book awards and has been translated into Spanish under the title ¿Es mío?
Arnett has lectured widely throughout America including the Smithsonian Institute, The Kennedy Center, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford Universities. He has been interviewed on National Public Radio, Voice of America, and various television programs. He was a speaker at the Parliament of the World Religions in Cape Town, South Africa.

Reviews

[Vaishali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually met Mr. Arnett years ago at his book signing... what a warm, wonderful, spiritual individual he is. The book itself is an interesting take on travel in India.. quite unique, actually. He sees beauty virtually everywhere, in each living thing... which perhaps is the only way to walk through an otherwise polluted, fragmented, and very noisy country. (There, I said it.) The photographs of Orchha are surprising, since most travelers (including myself) never venture there.

[Hippiemouse420 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously the pictures are great, but reading this guy's opinions on social mores was eye-rollingly absurd. I tried to make allowances, given that it was first published thirty years ago, but it reads more like it was published in the '60s or '70s, as opposed to the '90s. No one cares about your opinions on how women should behave in public, sir.

[Anil Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is full of excellent pictures taken in India/ The books gives a very good introduction pictorial view of Indian culture, especially for a non-Indian who hasn't lived in India.

[Heather Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1996, and undoubtedly reflecting an India long past, the author imbues his descriptions of India with warmth and respect.

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considered a pictorial essay, this book is like a walk through all of the amazing and varied regions of India. Seeing the world through the eyes of Robert Arnett gives readers the feeling that they are seeing daily life unfold before them and the cultural diversity within the country is organized and displayed in a way that lets readers really gain knowledge of the people in that country.

As coffee table or travel books go, this is top-shelf. The images are unique and vivid, not tourist-oriented but revealing and true works of art. The information, going from region to region, and details regarding the people of India in their homes, in their school and in their individual lives illustrate beautifully the many facets of the people who call themselves "Indian."

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is essentially a "coffee table book", but it's a very nice one indeed. I enjoyed the author/photographer's words, but it's all about the photos.