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A Children's History of India in 100 Objects: Indian history from ancient times to present day through various artefacts and art | Full-colour illustrated book for young readers
A stone-age hand axe, an enchantingly sculpted yakshi, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and even an HMT watch—can these things have anything in common?
Yes, they can!
Each of these has been conceived by the human mind and shaped by the human hand. Each object has a voice, not just of rulers and conquerors, but also of the common people. Most significant of all, each carries stories of how communities and identities were built on the Indian subcontinent.
Spanning the entirety of Indian history, from prehistoric to contemporary times, the 100 objects and artefacts chronicled in this book have shaped our present. Learn about the people who created these amazing objects, their way of life and culture, and how these objects influenced our world.
Embellished with vibrant illustrations, this engaging book will fire the imagination of readers and make them look at our incredible material remains in a new light while helping them understand our diverse pasts.
Yes, they can!
Each of these has been conceived by the human mind and shaped by the human hand. Each object has a voice, not just of rulers and conquerors, but also of the common people. Most significant of all, each carries stories of how communities and identities were built on the Indian subcontinent.
Spanning the entirety of Indian history, from prehistoric to contemporary times, the 100 objects and artefacts chronicled in this book have shaped our present. Learn about the people who created these amazing objects, their way of life and culture, and how these objects influenced our world.
Embellished with vibrant illustrations, this engaging book will fire the imagination of readers and make them look at our incredible material remains in a new light while helping them understand our diverse pasts.
Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 30, 2023
... The objects being everything from prehistoric stone tools to a Nokia handset (the one used by Jyoti Basu in 1995 to make India's first mobile phone call). There are here famous objects - Ashokan edicts, famous farmaans and paintings, the mechanical 'toy' of the Tiger of Mysore mauling a redcoat, the Kohinoor - and little-known ones: an inscription in a faraway land that shows how adventurous and wide-ranging Indian merchants could be; a hero stone; a letter written by an Indian soldier at the western front during the Great War.
Arranged in approximately chronological order, these hundred objects are drawn from across the length and breadth of India, and each is explained in a brief essay of three or four pages. Each essay serves to not just explain the object itself, but its context. So, while talking about Ashokan edicts, Cariapa describes Ashoka's ideals; while explaining octagonal coins, she explains, too, the background and lifestyle of ethnic groups who tried to cling to their own ways of life against the onslaught of outsiders intent on subjugating them.
What one gets in this book is a very well-researched, thoughtfully collated and written history of India from the earliest times to the present. There are objects here from all across the country (and some which aren't even, strictly speaking, Indian, but have a bearing on India's history). The history they shed light on, too, isn't just political, but social, economic, political, and cultural.
A wonderful book, not just for children, but for adults too. And yes, Priyanka Tampi's illustrations complement the text very well indeed.
Arranged in approximately chronological order, these hundred objects are drawn from across the length and breadth of India, and each is explained in a brief essay of three or four pages. Each essay serves to not just explain the object itself, but its context. So, while talking about Ashokan edicts, Cariapa describes Ashoka's ideals; while explaining octagonal coins, she explains, too, the background and lifestyle of ethnic groups who tried to cling to their own ways of life against the onslaught of outsiders intent on subjugating them.
What one gets in this book is a very well-researched, thoughtfully collated and written history of India from the earliest times to the present. There are objects here from all across the country (and some which aren't even, strictly speaking, Indian, but have a bearing on India's history). The history they shed light on, too, isn't just political, but social, economic, political, and cultural.
A wonderful book, not just for children, but for adults too. And yes, Priyanka Tampi's illustrations complement the text very well indeed.
December 28, 2023
A Children's History of India in 100 objects by Devika Cariapa and illustrated by Priyanka Tampi is an excellent compilation of objects to define and simplify the timeline of significant moments in Indian history through objects!
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Obviously for a country like ours the selection of these 100 objects was very very crucial and may I give my kudos to the author for achieving such a great edit with so much precision and inclusion!
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Starting from rock relics, to early age items such as coins and medallions, manuscripts, models, idols,statues, paintings, pottery, to the railway and mobile phone each of these objects have been defined, an image given and the history connected with explanations for children to signify!
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There are so many inclusions, I was surprised to know of myself. Cant praise the book enough for its succinct and to the point accumulation of the objects!
.
Obviously for a country like ours the selection of these 100 objects was very very crucial and may I give my kudos to the author for achieving such a great edit with so much precision and inclusion!
.
Starting from rock relics, to early age items such as coins and medallions, manuscripts, models, idols,statues, paintings, pottery, to the railway and mobile phone each of these objects have been defined, an image given and the history connected with explanations for children to signify!
.
There are so many inclusions, I was surprised to know of myself. Cant praise the book enough for its succinct and to the point accumulation of the objects!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews