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India Discovered : The Recovery of a Lost Civilization
Two hundred years ago, India was seen as a place with little history and less culture.Today it is revered for a notable prehistory, a magnificent classical age and a cultural tradition unique in both character and continuity. How this extraordinary change in perception came about is the subject of this fascinating book. The story, here reconstructed for the first time, is one of painstaking scholarship primed by a succession of sensational discoveries. The excitement of unearthing a city twice as old as Rome, the realization that the Buddha was not a god but a historical figure, the glories of a literature as rich as anything known in Europe, the drama of encountering a veritable Sistine chapel deep in the jungle, and the sheer delight of categorizing 'the most glorious galaxy of monuments in the world' fell, for the most part, to men who were officials of the British Raj. Their response to the unfamiliar -- the explicitly sexual statuary, the incomprehensible scripts, the enigmatic architecture -- and the revelations which resulted, revolutionized ideas not just about India but about civilization as a white man's prerogative. A companion volume by the author of the highly praised A History and The Great Arc.
221 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
John Keay
57 books249 followersJohn Stanley Melville Keay FRGS is an English journalist and author specialising in writing popular histories about India and the Far East, often with a particular focus on their colonisation and exploration by Europeans.
John Keay is the author of about 20 books, all factual, mostly historical, and largely to do with Asia, exploration or Scotland. His first book stayed in print for thirty years; many others have become classics. His combination of meticulous research, irreverent wit, powerful narrative and lively prose have invariably been complimented by both reviewers and readers.
UK-based and a full-time author since 1973, he also wrote and presented over 100 documentaries for BBC Radios 3 and 4 from 1975-95 and guest-lectured tour groups 1990-2000. He reviews on related subjects, occasionally speaks on them, and travels extensively.
John Keay is the author of about 20 books, all factual, mostly historical, and largely to do with Asia, exploration or Scotland. His first book stayed in print for thirty years; many others have become classics. His combination of meticulous research, irreverent wit, powerful narrative and lively prose have invariably been complimented by both reviewers and readers.
UK-based and a full-time author since 1973, he also wrote and presented over 100 documentaries for BBC Radios 3 and 4 from 1975-95 and guest-lectured tour groups 1990-2000. He reviews on related subjects, occasionally speaks on them, and travels extensively.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 25, 2024
India kept few historical records prior to the Muslim conquests in the early 13th century. It did however have great traditions of religious and philosophical writing, as well as the "most glorious galaxy of monuments in the world" as noted by Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India from 1899-1905. Curzon would later oversee the restoration of the Taj Mahal.
After William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 he became one of the first Englishmen to learn Sanskrit, founded the Asiatic Society, pioneered comparative linguistics and posited the Indo-European family of languages. This was only the beginning of an illustrious age of historical inquiry in colonial India. The discoveries have lasted long beyond the rule of the Raj.
In his footsteps followed James Prinsep, who deciphered the Pali inscriptions of Ashoka discovered on early Buddhist monuments. This fixed the founding of the Maurya empire, based on Alexander the Great's invasion of India during the lifetime of Ashoka's grandfather, Chandragupta. It also helped date the life of the Buddha, before not known as a historical event.
A third giant in the pantheon of 19th century Indology was Alexander Cunningham, an army engineer and surveyor who identified many of the Buddhist sites visited by 5th and 7th century Chinese monks Faxian and Xuanzang. Among them were the monastic schools at Taxila and Nalanda. He led early exploration and archaeology of the great stupas at Sarnath and Sanchi.
There are many other chapters to the story, from the rediscovery of Ajanta and Khajuraho to the cataloging of temples by Fergusson and coins by Tod. The Archaeological Survey of India made major contributions, such as the excavation of prehistoric cities at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Regrettably many treasures unearthed now reside in the British Museum.
The story is told with a mixture of pride and humility. Keay gives credit to the ingenious minds that helped recover this lost history, while acknowledging the high achievements of Indian civilization. In a period when colonialism is rightly reviled, regard for the brilliance of its foreign scholars has understandably diminished. Keay revives respect for those who deserve it most.
After William Jones arrived in Calcutta in 1783 he became one of the first Englishmen to learn Sanskrit, founded the Asiatic Society, pioneered comparative linguistics and posited the Indo-European family of languages. This was only the beginning of an illustrious age of historical inquiry in colonial India. The discoveries have lasted long beyond the rule of the Raj.
In his footsteps followed James Prinsep, who deciphered the Pali inscriptions of Ashoka discovered on early Buddhist monuments. This fixed the founding of the Maurya empire, based on Alexander the Great's invasion of India during the lifetime of Ashoka's grandfather, Chandragupta. It also helped date the life of the Buddha, before not known as a historical event.
A third giant in the pantheon of 19th century Indology was Alexander Cunningham, an army engineer and surveyor who identified many of the Buddhist sites visited by 5th and 7th century Chinese monks Faxian and Xuanzang. Among them were the monastic schools at Taxila and Nalanda. He led early exploration and archaeology of the great stupas at Sarnath and Sanchi.
There are many other chapters to the story, from the rediscovery of Ajanta and Khajuraho to the cataloging of temples by Fergusson and coins by Tod. The Archaeological Survey of India made major contributions, such as the excavation of prehistoric cities at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Regrettably many treasures unearthed now reside in the British Museum.
The story is told with a mixture of pride and humility. Keay gives credit to the ingenious minds that helped recover this lost history, while acknowledging the high achievements of Indian civilization. In a period when colonialism is rightly reviled, regard for the brilliance of its foreign scholars has understandably diminished. Keay revives respect for those who deserve it most.
October 6, 2023
An eminent souce to gain fascinating insights into Indian history and other contemporary chronicles.
Oriental studies, archaeology, philology are some of the areas that this book covers.
India's discovery of the riches of Sanskrit Literature ( a language more copious than the Latin ) are broadly described. The architecture of New Delhi ( mainly of the India Gate) and it's brief history is also described in vivid detail.
If you have a penchant for history, this book will surely make your penchant even greater.
Oriental studies, archaeology, philology are some of the areas that this book covers.
India's discovery of the riches of Sanskrit Literature ( a language more copious than the Latin ) are broadly described. The architecture of New Delhi ( mainly of the India Gate) and it's brief history is also described in vivid detail.
If you have a penchant for history, this book will surely make your penchant even greater.
May 26, 2014
'India Discovered' by John Keay is an attempt at documenting the 'discovery' of India's past during the British Raj. The 'orientalists' of the erstwhile British Raj have been condoned and condemned for introducing the western methods at conserving history and for the cultural vandalism (not to mention the vandalism done to the sites!) it led to. John Keay is known defender of Raj and here, he is trying to set things right.
The books starts off with the founding of the Asiatic society in Kolkatta which is followed by Prinsep's deciphering of the Ashoka Brahmi script, bring into light Ashoka, the 'first' known historical figure in ancient India. It details the effort that went into the copying of the inscriptions to the decipherment of the same, which is a pretty good story by itself.
The book quickly follows it up with the identification of the Buddhist heritage of India, the scorn temples like Khajuraho brought forth and the Greek influence in Indian art. The charge of this 'Oriental' brigade runs into the infamous Thomas Macaulay who stops it in its tracks. More individuals take charge of documenting and identifying the various aspects of India from hereon, not just archeology, in architecture, botany, Zoology etc. Alexander Cunningham strides through the second part of the 19th century across India and pretty much has something to say on everything concerning India. Ajanta caves and Harappa and Mohen-ja-daro are discovered and the Great trigonometrical survey is completed.
Though the narrative is nice and good, have a few issues with this one.
1. Though Keay casually touches upon the vandalism of some of the British officers, it was not sure how much of the history was literally turned into ruins. There are mentions of Masjids becoming coffee bars and temples converted into barracks in the aftermath of the 1857 uprising (which Keay prefers to call mutiny). The reprisals across N.India was brutal and devastating.
2. As always, history here stops with the Vindhyas, though there are some mentioning of the Hoysala temples in Belur and Halebid and Sravanabelagola, it is only as part of the GTS or some other travel and not by its own right. I guess, the story of the re-construction of the S.Indian history is as interesting as the North. Either, there is no British contribution (which may not be true, Robert Sewell comes to mind) or Keay must've decided it not worth to document.
Overall, the book is very interesting with lots of information and sometimes, reads like an adventure novel. There are some faults but then every book has some anyway. Highly recommended.
The books starts off with the founding of the Asiatic society in Kolkatta which is followed by Prinsep's deciphering of the Ashoka Brahmi script, bring into light Ashoka, the 'first' known historical figure in ancient India. It details the effort that went into the copying of the inscriptions to the decipherment of the same, which is a pretty good story by itself.
The book quickly follows it up with the identification of the Buddhist heritage of India, the scorn temples like Khajuraho brought forth and the Greek influence in Indian art. The charge of this 'Oriental' brigade runs into the infamous Thomas Macaulay who stops it in its tracks. More individuals take charge of documenting and identifying the various aspects of India from hereon, not just archeology, in architecture, botany, Zoology etc. Alexander Cunningham strides through the second part of the 19th century across India and pretty much has something to say on everything concerning India. Ajanta caves and Harappa and Mohen-ja-daro are discovered and the Great trigonometrical survey is completed.
Though the narrative is nice and good, have a few issues with this one.
1. Though Keay casually touches upon the vandalism of some of the British officers, it was not sure how much of the history was literally turned into ruins. There are mentions of Masjids becoming coffee bars and temples converted into barracks in the aftermath of the 1857 uprising (which Keay prefers to call mutiny). The reprisals across N.India was brutal and devastating.
2. As always, history here stops with the Vindhyas, though there are some mentioning of the Hoysala temples in Belur and Halebid and Sravanabelagola, it is only as part of the GTS or some other travel and not by its own right. I guess, the story of the re-construction of the S.Indian history is as interesting as the North. Either, there is no British contribution (which may not be true, Robert Sewell comes to mind) or Keay must've decided it not worth to document.
Overall, the book is very interesting with lots of information and sometimes, reads like an adventure novel. There are some faults but then every book has some anyway. Highly recommended.
March 7, 2024
வரலாற்றின் வரையறைகள்
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சிறுவயதில், பள்ளிக்காலத்தில், பாடம் நடத்திய வரலாற்று ஆசிரியர்கள் தொடர்ந்து குச்சியால் அடித்து உருவேற்றிய விஷயங்களில் ஒன்று அரசர்களின் ஆட்சிப் பரப்பை வரைபடங்களில் குறிப்பது. குறிப்பாக மௌரிய மற்றும் குப்த அரச வம்சம் ஆண்ட நிலப்பரப்பை இந்திய வரைபடத்தில் வரைவது ஒரு தேற்றமாகவே நிலைபெற்றது. ஒவ்வொரு தேர்விலும், தென் இந்தியா விடுத்து சற்றேறக்குறைய மொத்த இந்தியப் பரப்பையும் சேர்த்துக் குறித்தால் மொத்த மதிப்பெண் உறுதி.
அதேபோல் தான் அசோகர் கணிஷ்கர் போன்றோரின் அரசாட்சியின் தனிச்சிறப்பு. சாலை எங்கும் மரம் நடப்பட்டதையும், சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு பராமரிக்கப்பட்டதையும் சேர்த்து இன்னும் சில வரிகளை இணைத்தால் போதும் அதற்கான மதிப்பெண்ணும் ஓரளவு தேற்றிவிடலாம்.
வெகு காலம் கழித்து அந்த வம்சங்களின் எந்த ஒரு அரசின் காலத்திலும் மொத்த மானாவாரியாக ஆட்சி செய்த நிலப்பரப்பு அப்படி இருந்ததே இல்லை என்பதும், பள்ளிகளில் சொல்லி கொடுத்தது அந்த வம்சங்களின் அனைத்து அரசர்கள் ஆட்சியில் மாறி மாறி இருந்த நிலப்பரப்பின் தோராயமான குறிப்பு மட்டுமே என்று அறிந்தபோது அந்தக் காதைத்திருகிய அந்த வரலாற்று பாட ஆசிரியர் மீது பரிதாபம் தான் வந்தது.
ஸ்தல புராணங்களே நம்பகமான வரலாறு என்று பரவலாக நம்பப்பட்டு, அவை நிஜங்களாக அரிதாரம் பூசி சமூக வெளிகளில் உலவ விடப்படும் இக்காலத்தில், வரலாறு எப்படி உருவாகிறது, அதை வரையறுக்க அறிவியலின் பங்கு என்ன என்று புரிந்துகொள்வது அவசியமாகிறது.
சிலகாலம் முன்பு, மனித இன தோற்றம்பற்றிய வரலாற்றுத் தரவுகளும், கருதுகோள்களும் எப்படி உருவாகி வந்தன, அதில் அறிவியலின் பங்கு என்ன, எப்படி மனித இனத்தின் ஊற்றுக்கண் ஆப்பிரிக்க கண்டம் என்று எவ்வாறு நிறுவப்பட்டது என்பது பற்றிய நான் வாசித்த, மிக முக்கியமான, மார்ட்டின் மெரேடித் எழுதிய "Born in Africa" நூல் பற்றிப் பதிவிட்டிருந்தேன். அதில் என் உணர்வுகளை ஆங்கிலத்தில் வடித்திருந்தேன். பொதுவாக மதவாதிகள் மற்றும் , அறிவியலை புறந்தள்ளுபவர்களின் வழக்கமான கூற்று “ எங்கள் மறைநூல்களின் வழியான நம்பிக்கை உறுதியான ஒரு பதிலை கூறுகின்றதே. மாறாக, நீங்கள் தூக்கிப்பிடிக்கும் அறிவியல் அதன் நிலைப்பாட்டை அடிக்கடி மாற்றிக்கொள்கிறதே… அப்படிப்பட்ட அறிவியலின் படி வகுத்த வரலாறு எப்படி நம்பத்தன்மை கொண்டதாக இருக்கமுடியும்?”. இந்த நூல் அந்த வாதத்தை அக்கக்காய் உடைத்தெரிந்தது.
அதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக சமீபத்தில் நான் வாசித்த “ India Discovered “ அல்லது “இந்தியா கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது” என்ற, ஜான் கீ ( John Keay) என்ற மானிடவியல் ஆய்வாளர் எழுதிய நூலைக் குறிப்பிடமுடியும். இந்த நூல், நான் மேலே குறிப்பிட்ட புரிதலோடு, இந்திய வரலாறு கடந்த 300 ஆண்டுகளில் எப்படி உருவாகி, மாற்றத்துக்கு உள்ளாகி பின் அறிவியலின் விரிவான துணை கொண்டு நிலைபெற்றது என்று, ஒரு மர்ம நாவலின் சுவாரஸ்யத்துடன் விறுவிறுப்பாக சொல்லிச்செல்கிறது. ஆங்கிலத்தில் அமைந்த இந்தப் புத்தகம் வரலாற்று நிகழ்வுகளைப்பற்றி நேரடியாக இல்லாமல், இந்திய வரலாறு என்ற ஒன்றின் தோற்றத்தையும், அதன் பரிமாண வளர்ச்சியையும் பற்றி குறிப்பிடுகிறது. ஆகவே இதைப்பற்றி ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதுவதை விட தமிழில் ஒரு பரவலான வாசிப்புத் தளத்துக்கு அறிமுகம் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்துடன் எழுத முடிவு செய்தேன்.
ஆரம்பத்தில் ஒரியன்டலிஸ்ட்டுகள் ( Orientalists) என்று குறிப்பிட்ட கருதுகோள், இந்திய வரலாற்றையும், கலாச்சாரத்தையும் எப்படி ஒரு பொருட்டாகவே கருதவில்லை என்ற நிலையில் ஆரம்பித்து, அது எப்படி தனிப்பட்ட ஆய்வாளர்களால் மாற்றம் பெற்றது என்று குறிப்பிடுகிறது. 19ம் நூற்றாண்டின் மத்தியில் மெக்காலே மற்றும் அவரின் பார்வையோடு ஒத்தவர்களின் கடும்போக்கு எப்படி இந்தக் முயற்சிகளில் முட்டுக்கட்டை போட்டது என்பதையும், அதை தாண்டி, ஜோன்ஸ் வில்லியம்ஸ் போன்றோரின் விடாத முயற்சி எப்படி இந்திய கலாச்சார வரலாற்றின் துவக்கப் புள்ளியாக அமைந்தது என்ற புரிதலையும் இந்நூல் முன்வைக்கிறது. அதைத்தொடர்ந்து, இந்திய சரித்திர ஆராய்ச்சிக்கு பெரும் உழைப்பைக்கொடுத்து உயிரையே விட்ட ஜேம்ஸ் பிரின்செ��்பின் முயற்சி அதை நிலைநிறுத்தியது விரிவாக குறிப்பிடுகிறது. அவர் காலத்தில் அவர் எடுத்த முயற்சியால் கிரந்த மற்றும் கரோஷ்டி எழுத்துருக்கள் இருந்தது உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அசோகர் என்ற பேரரசன் இருந்ததும், புத்தமதம் ஒருகாலத்தில் இந்திய நிலப்பரப்பில் பெரும் மதமாக நிலவியதும் விளங்கியது. அதுவரை அசோகரின் தூண்கள் அலெக்ஸாண்டரின் வெற்றி சின்னங்கள் மட்டுமே என்றும் இந்தியப் பரப்பு முழுவதும் இந்து மதம் மட்டுமே நிலைபெற்று இருந்தது என்றும் பரவலாக நம்பப்பட்டது என்பது தெரியும் போது ஆச்சர்யம் பெருகுகிறது.
அதன்பின் ஜெனரல் அலெக்சாண்டர் கன்னிங்கம் எடுத்த அளப்பரிய பெருமுயற்சி நாடு முழுவதும் பல பெரும் அகழ்வாராய்ச்சிகளை முன்னெடுத்து, இந்திய வரலாற்றுப் புரிதலில் பெரும் மறுமலர்ச்சியை உண்டு பண்ணியது. இந்திய அகழ்வாராய்ச்சி கழகம் என்ற ஒன்று நிறுவப்பட்டதும் அதன் தலைவராக பல வருடங்கள் இருந்து அதை அவர் திறம்பட வழிநடத்தி, பல புதிய புரிதல்களை துலக்கி, வரலாற்று அறிவில் பெரும் பாய்ச்சலையும் நிகழ்த்தியது பெரும் ஆச்சர்யம் தருகிறது. அவருடைய ஒவ்வொரு கண்டுபிடிப்பும் மிக சுவாரஸ்யமான நிகழ்வாக இந்தப் புத்தகம் விரித்திருக்கும் நடை மிக அருமை. அவர்காலத்தில் தான் சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகத்தின் கண்டுபிடிப்பும் நிகழ்ந்தது. அதற்கு அவர் எடுத்த முயற்சிகளும் அதன் அளவும் பிரமிக்க வைக்கிறது. இந்தக்காலகட்டத்தில் அகழ்வாராய்ச்சி, மொழியியல் மற்றும் வேதியியல் போன்ற அறிவியல் கூறுகள் இந்தத் துலக்கத்தில் எப்படிப் பெரும் பங்காற்றின என்பது அருமையாக விளக்கப்படுகிறது.
இறுதியில் வரலாற்று அறிவு என்பது ஒரு அறிவியல் பயணத்தின் விளைவு என்பதும், அந்த அறிவியல் என்பது எந்த ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட மூலத்தை மட்டும் சாராமல், அகழ்வு, மொழியியல், வேதியியல், என்று விரிந்து இன்றைய மரபியல் என்று பரந்த ஆதாரங்களின் மூலம் நிறுவப்படும் உண்மை என்று புரியும் போது, மதவாத அடிப்படை வாதிகளின் கூற்று அர்த்தமற்றதாக தெரிகிறது.
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சிறுவயதில், பள்ளிக்காலத்தில், பாடம் நடத்திய வரலாற்று ஆசிரியர்கள் தொடர்ந்து குச்சியால் அடித்து உருவேற்றிய விஷயங்களில் ஒன்று அரசர்களின் ஆட்சிப் பரப்பை வரைபடங்களில் குறிப்பது. குறிப்பாக மௌரிய மற்றும் குப்த அரச வம்சம் ஆண்ட நிலப்பரப்பை இந்திய வரைபடத்தில் வரைவது ஒரு தேற்றமாகவே நிலைபெற்றது. ஒவ்வொரு தேர்விலும், தென் இந்தியா விடுத்து சற்றேறக்குறைய மொத்த இந்தியப் பரப்பையும் சேர்த்துக் குறித்தால் மொத்த மதிப்பெண் உறுதி.
அதேபோல் தான் அசோகர் கணிஷ்கர் போன்றோரின் அரசாட்சியின் தனிச்சிறப்பு. சாலை எங்கும் மரம் நடப்பட்டதையும், சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு பராமரிக்கப்பட்டதையும் சேர்த்து இன்னும் சில வரிகளை இணைத்தால் போதும் அதற்கான மதிப்பெண்ணும் ஓரளவு தேற்றிவிடலாம்.
வெகு காலம் கழித்து அந்த வம்சங்களின் எந்த ஒரு அரசின் காலத்திலும் மொத்த மானாவாரியாக ஆட்சி செய்த நிலப்பரப்பு அப்படி இருந்ததே இல்லை என்பதும், பள்ளிகளில் சொல்லி கொடுத்தது அந்த வம்சங்களின் அனைத்து அரசர்கள் ஆட்சியில் மாறி மாறி இருந்த நிலப்பரப்பின் தோராயமான குறிப்பு மட்டுமே என்று அறிந்தபோது அந்தக் காதைத்திருகிய அந்த வரலாற்று பாட ஆசிரியர் மீது பரிதாபம் தான் வந்தது.
ஸ்தல புராணங்களே நம்பகமான வரலாறு என்று பரவலாக நம்பப்பட்டு, அவை நிஜங்களாக அரிதாரம் பூசி சமூக வெளிகளில் உலவ விடப்படும் இக்காலத்தில், வரலாறு எப்படி உருவாகிறது, அதை வரையறுக்க அறிவியலின் பங்கு என்ன என்று புரிந்துகொள்வது அவசியமாகிறது.
சிலகாலம் முன்பு, மனித இன தோற்றம்பற்றிய வரலாற்றுத் தரவுகளும், கருதுகோள்களும் எப்படி உருவாகி வந்தன, அதில் அறிவியலின் பங்கு என்ன, எப்படி மனித இனத்தின் ஊற்றுக்கண் ஆப்பிரிக்க கண்டம் என்று எவ்வாறு நிறுவப்பட்டது என்பது பற்றிய நான் வாசித்த, மிக முக்கியமான, மார்ட்டின் மெரேடித் எழுதிய "Born in Africa" நூல் பற்றிப் பதிவிட்டிருந்தேன். அதில் என் உணர்வுகளை ஆங்கிலத்தில் வடித்திருந்தேன். பொதுவாக மதவாதிகள் மற்றும் , அறிவியலை புறந்தள்ளுபவர்களின் வழக்கமான கூற்று “ எங்கள் மறைநூல்களின் வழியான நம்பிக்கை உறுதியான ஒரு பதிலை கூறுகின்றதே. மாறாக, நீங்கள் தூக்கிப்பிடிக்கும் அறிவியல் அதன் நிலைப்பாட்டை அடிக்கடி மாற்றிக்கொள்கிறதே… அப்படிப்பட்ட அறிவியலின் படி வகுத்த வரலாறு எப்படி நம்பத்தன்மை கொண்டதாக இருக்கமுடியும்?”. இந்த நூல் அந்த வாதத்தை அக்கக்காய் உடைத்தெரிந்தது.
அதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக சமீபத்தில் நான் வாசித்த “ India Discovered “ அல்லது “இந்தியா கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது” என்ற, ஜான் கீ ( John Keay) என்ற மானிடவியல் ஆய்வாளர் எழுதிய நூலைக் குறிப்பிடமுடியும். இந்த நூல், நான் மேலே குறிப்பிட்ட புரிதலோடு, இந்திய வரலாறு கடந்த 300 ஆண்டுகளில் எப்படி உருவாகி, மாற்றத்துக்கு உள்ளாகி பின் அறிவியலின் விரிவான துணை கொண்டு நிலைபெற்றது என்று, ஒரு மர்ம நாவலின் சுவாரஸ்யத்துடன் விறுவிறுப்பாக சொல்லிச்செல்கிறது. ஆங்கிலத்தில் அமைந்த இந்தப் புத்தகம் வரலாற்று நிகழ்வுகளைப்பற்றி நேரடியாக இல்லாமல், இந்திய வரலாறு என்ற ஒன்றின் தோற்றத்தையும், அதன் பரிமாண வளர்ச்சியையும் பற்றி குறிப்பிடுகிறது. ஆகவே இதைப்பற்றி ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதுவதை விட தமிழில் ஒரு பரவலான வாசிப்புத் தளத்துக்கு அறிமுகம் செய்ய வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்துடன் எழுத முடிவு செய்தேன்.
ஆரம்பத்தில் ஒரியன்டலிஸ்ட்டுகள் ( Orientalists) என்று குறிப்பிட்ட கருதுகோள், இந்திய வரலாற்றையும், கலாச்சாரத்தையும் எப்படி ஒரு பொருட்டாகவே கருதவில்லை என்ற நிலையில் ஆரம்பித்து, அது எப்படி தனிப்பட்ட ஆய்வாளர்களால் மாற்றம் பெற்றது என்று குறிப்பிடுகிறது. 19ம் நூற்றாண்டின் மத்தியில் மெக்காலே மற்றும் அவரின் பார்வையோடு ஒத்தவர்களின் கடும்போக்கு எப்படி இந்தக் முயற்சிகளில் முட்டுக்கட்டை போட்டது என்பதையும், அதை தாண்டி, ஜோன்ஸ் வில்லியம்ஸ் போன்றோரின் விடாத முயற்சி எப்படி இந்திய கலாச்சார வரலாற்றின் துவக்கப் புள்ளியாக அமைந்தது என்ற புரிதலையும் இந்நூல் முன்வைக்கிறது. அதைத்தொடர்ந்து, இந்திய சரித்திர ஆராய்ச்சிக்கு பெரும் உழைப்பைக்கொடுத்து உயிரையே விட்ட ஜேம்ஸ் பிரின்செ��்பின் முயற்சி அதை நிலைநிறுத்தியது விரிவாக குறிப்பிடுகிறது. அவர் காலத்தில் அவர் எடுத்த முயற்சியால் கிரந்த மற்றும் கரோஷ்டி எழுத்துருக்கள் இருந்தது உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அசோகர் என்ற பேரரசன் இருந்ததும், புத்தமதம் ஒருகாலத்தில் இந்திய நிலப்பரப்பில் பெரும் மதமாக நிலவியதும் விளங்கியது. அதுவரை அசோகரின் தூண்கள் அலெக்ஸாண்டரின் வெற்றி சின்னங்கள் மட்டுமே என்றும் இந்தியப் பரப்பு முழுவதும் இந்து மதம் மட்டுமே நிலைபெற்று இருந்தது என்றும் பரவலாக நம்பப்பட்டது என்பது தெரியும் போது ஆச்சர்யம் பெருகுகிறது.
அதன்பின் ஜெனரல் அலெக்சாண்டர் கன்னிங்கம் எடுத்த அளப்பரிய பெருமுயற்சி நாடு முழுவதும் பல பெரும் அகழ்வாராய்ச்சிகளை முன்னெடுத்து, இந்திய வரலாற்றுப் புரிதலில் பெரும் மறுமலர்ச்சியை உண்டு பண்ணியது. இந்திய அகழ்வாராய்ச்சி கழகம் என்ற ஒன்று நிறுவப்பட்டதும் அதன் தலைவராக பல வருடங்கள் இருந்து அதை அவர் திறம்பட வழிநடத்தி, பல புதிய புரிதல்களை துலக்கி, வரலாற்று அறிவில் பெரும் பாய்ச்சலையும் நிகழ்த்தியது பெரும் ஆச்சர்யம் தருகிறது. அவருடைய ஒவ்வொரு கண்டுபிடிப்பும் மிக சுவாரஸ்யமான நிகழ்வாக இந்தப் புத்தகம் விரித்திருக்கும் நடை மிக அருமை. அவர்காலத்தில் தான் சிந்து சமவெளி நாகரிகத்தின் கண்டுபிடிப்பும் நிகழ்ந்தது. அதற்கு அவர் எடுத்த முயற்சிகளும் அதன் அளவும் பிரமிக்க வைக்கிறது. இந்தக்காலகட்டத்தில் அகழ்வாராய்ச்சி, மொழியியல் மற்றும் வேதியியல் போன்ற அறிவியல் கூறுகள் இந்தத் துலக்கத்தில் எப்படிப் பெரும் பங்காற்றின என்பது அருமையாக விளக்கப்படுகிறது.
இறுதியில் வரலாற்று அறிவு என்பது ஒரு அறிவியல் பயணத்தின் விளைவு என்பதும், அந்த அறிவியல் என்பது எந்த ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட மூலத்தை மட்டும் சாராமல், அகழ்வு, மொழியியல், வேதியியல், என்று விரிந்து இன்றைய மரபியல் என்று பரந்த ஆதாரங்களின் மூலம் நிறுவப்படும் உண்மை என்று புரியும் போது, மதவாத அடிப்படை வாதிகளின் கூற்று அர்த்தமற்றதாக தெரிகிறது.
January 23, 2019
History that is readable and interesting, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Indian history. For while the history of India goes back many millennia, our awareness is only a few centuries old. A wonderful and eye opening read...
March 13, 2017
John Keay has a distinct style which mixes research findings and translates it into an easy read for the lay person. Though brief this book gives a pretty good idea about efforts made by Englishmen to know what is to be known to understand what is to be understood in all the areas of knoweldge and intellect. Though slightly biased towards Englishmen (since I could not find any mention of any worthwhile effort by native Indians) this still is a good read. He has tried to balanace his perspectives and has shown his empathy towards India.
September 2, 2017
This is a fairly quick read that for me answered the question of why it was so hard to find much written on the history of India prior to European contact. The answer is that much of Indian history is simply unknown. Much of what is known was discovered by groups of Europeans inspired by the Enlightenment to understand the place to which they were posted as jurists, doctors, or soldiers. It's actually quite remarkable how much they discovered. The symbol of contemporary India, a three lion headed pillar of Ashoka, for example, was discovered as was the existence of Ashoka himself and his Empire, the first to unite India and a non-sectarian Empire for some time, was discovered by the British who, the first since Ashoka to govern as wide an expanse, were able to piece together the mystery of his laws inscribed on pillars he set up at the borders of his Empire.
The book was written in the wake of Said's "Orientalism" and the book is often critical of its subjects as well as the wider European Imperial milieu in which they operated. It also describes the efforts of many of them to fight that prejudice and the efforts they made to compel their compatriots to appreciate Indian culture and history in its own context and to fight against the dismissiveness of Macaulay or earlier thinkers who claimed that everything good about India had been taken there by Alexanders armies. Indeed, they proved that India produced anatomically correct statuary nearly a thousand years before Greece.
All in all it was a very interesting book both for what it says about the efforts of the subjects and about the difficulty of assembling a complete history of India. Little is known about the destruction of Buddhism in the country of its origin other than what can be gleaned from letters of Chinese Bhuddists who were persecuted while making pilgrimages to its original shrines. Nor can a complete history of Hindu architecture be constructed because Muslim iconoclasts destroyed so much in the areas in which they conquered. What does stand out for me in any case is what an astonishing achievement the unity of contemporary India is given the wide diversity of the ruins on which it is built.
The book was written in the wake of Said's "Orientalism" and the book is often critical of its subjects as well as the wider European Imperial milieu in which they operated. It also describes the efforts of many of them to fight that prejudice and the efforts they made to compel their compatriots to appreciate Indian culture and history in its own context and to fight against the dismissiveness of Macaulay or earlier thinkers who claimed that everything good about India had been taken there by Alexanders armies. Indeed, they proved that India produced anatomically correct statuary nearly a thousand years before Greece.
All in all it was a very interesting book both for what it says about the efforts of the subjects and about the difficulty of assembling a complete history of India. Little is known about the destruction of Buddhism in the country of its origin other than what can be gleaned from letters of Chinese Bhuddists who were persecuted while making pilgrimages to its original shrines. Nor can a complete history of Hindu architecture be constructed because Muslim iconoclasts destroyed so much in the areas in which they conquered. What does stand out for me in any case is what an astonishing achievement the unity of contemporary India is given the wide diversity of the ruins on which it is built.
December 31, 2020
My inspiration for reading this book was stumbling across the Ashoka pillar in Lauriya Nandangarh during a holiday in Bihar in 2020.
I didn’t really know anything about Ashoka pillars and it seemed just so bizarre to find this beautifully polished, sandstone structure still standing erect after 2300 years, virtually abandoned in the middle of a field.
In particular, the Brahmi script fascinated me. I had no idea about its existence, much less its origins, and the Wikipedia article didn’t satisfy my curiosity.
After digging around a bit I came across John Keay’s India Discovered, which not only answered my questions about the Brahmi script but also tied together so many other loose ends in my understanding of Indian history and the role the British played in piecing together its enormous jigsaw.
This book is a must-read for any Indophile. It weaves a series of human stories about people who loved and devoted their lives to India and who fought against Imperialist ideology and racism to piece together India’s extraordinary human history. At the same time, it does a thorough job of explaining the history itself.
I didn’t really know anything about Ashoka pillars and it seemed just so bizarre to find this beautifully polished, sandstone structure still standing erect after 2300 years, virtually abandoned in the middle of a field.
In particular, the Brahmi script fascinated me. I had no idea about its existence, much less its origins, and the Wikipedia article didn’t satisfy my curiosity.
After digging around a bit I came across John Keay’s India Discovered, which not only answered my questions about the Brahmi script but also tied together so many other loose ends in my understanding of Indian history and the role the British played in piecing together its enormous jigsaw.
This book is a must-read for any Indophile. It weaves a series of human stories about people who loved and devoted their lives to India and who fought against Imperialist ideology and racism to piece together India’s extraordinary human history. At the same time, it does a thorough job of explaining the history itself.
December 26, 2013
amazing book.... really inspirational to read about the pioneers who laid the foundation for scientific studies into India's history, geography and natural history! their passion is both difficult to understand, much so because all of them were from a land as alien to the Indian mindset as possible, and mind boggling as it was often more of a fanatical drive in search of the unknown rather than a mere commitment to their work... a definite must read!
will definitely move on to John keay's other books... beautifully written...
will definitely move on to John keay's other books... beautifully written...
February 17, 2016
The book reads like a detective story, and is an eye-opener in so many ways.
It makes you aware just how little of India's history was known till recently, not just to Europeans but also to Indians; how much was done by a small number of energetic administrators and enthusiasts; and how much more needs to be done
It makes you aware just how little of India's history was known till recently, not just to Europeans but also to Indians; how much was done by a small number of energetic administrators and enthusiasts; and how much more needs to be done
July 26, 2020
A detailed description on the works of company's appointed archaeologists and historians on recovering the treasures of Indian art, architecture, literature, empires, social life, wildlife, and many other aspects related to ancient Indian life. The author has compiled the memoirs and travelogues of many antiquarians and archaeologists to provide a glimpse of the struggles and challenges encountered by them in unveiling the shrouded glory of India's past. The author provides a mesmerizing description of sculptures, art forms, hidden caves, stupas, ancient civilization of Harappa and Mohen-jo-daro, and other fabrics of Indian life but at the same time aghast us with the dilapidated conditions of them at the time of their excavations. Overall, book is well written with an academic rigor in the factual descriptions.
September 7, 2020
Though this book is a riveting read, it should be titled 'India Discovered by the British' because the author completely skipped the role of the French in discovering India's past. Anquetil Duperron was the Indian Jones type explorer who got the ball rolling, William Jones and others aspired to catch up to him. How could a seasoned historian like Keay miss that? Intellectual dishonesty, if you ask me. British Vs French intellectual rivalry is not over it seems.
November 5, 2020
Opened my eyes to a facet of British Indian history which is quite frankly incredible and not in my near 3 decades alive even so much as mentioned in any good conversations. The writing is fluid and witty. I found myself turning pages of this arguably academic book as if it was a super exciting suspense novel. I now view the British occupation of India a little differently.
March 12, 2024
A concise introduction to the scholars and scientists who unearthed the evidence for the Indian subcontinent's long, layered antiquity. Combining post Enlightenment humanism and curiosity with colonial rapacious and acquisitiveness, the British dug up India's past much the same way that Napoleon's army of scholars and scientists attempted to decipher pharaohnic Egypt. In the race for the colonies, it would seem that scholars and scientists were just as caught up as mercenaries, merchants and missionaries. James Prinsep cracked Ashoka's edicts in India only a few years after Jean-François Champollion decoded the Rosetta Stone in Egypt.
November 21, 2020
This is my first attempt to read a complete book on Indian history and i wasn't disappointed at all. From discovery of mauryan dynasty to the discovery of industry valley civilisation, the writer has explained many aspects of Indian culture that makes you think deeply about our roots.
December 15, 2022
Reading this book is important for Indians. It gives a peak into racial bias in all things Indian. This book should be understood as 'Discovery of India by the British' and not by the Indians ourselves. This book shows why our history as prescribed in our UPSC syllabus is written thus.
July 16, 2018
Definitely in my re-reading list for multiple times..It's a treasure, where a new jewel will be discovered everytime you lay your hand on.
April 25, 2020
The best book I read about India!
August 31, 2020
Insightful and a delight.
Read
April 3, 2022Excellent book. Very informative and a much needed perspective. More historiography than history it seems.
August 15, 2024
John Keay claims to be unorthodox historian but he himself is a Wikijeeta. he never verifies his sources, his claims. his knowledge about India is as of a 10th standard student's.
May 5, 2021
I stumbled upon this book by chance and boy am i glad.
There will be some spoilers in this review but it is a pretty dense book with a lot of details. First, John Keay is a known defender of the British Empire in India so he does paint a rosy picture about the British Empire at times. But personally, I found this book quite balanced and rich in detail.
The book, as mentioned above, is dense. I mean, really dense. But it does give a much needed perspective about the period of the 1600s right till the independence of India. But it is not a political perspective. But the book is about everything else. I really enjoyed the journey that Keay takes the reader through. And the protagonists are all British, some of them really dedicated individuals who have contributed much more than any Indian to preserve India's rich history.
The book narrates the naming of Mount Everest, the topographical mapping of the whole of India, undertaken over several years at the East India Company's cost, the revival of the soul of the Rajputs of Rajasthan, the obscure state of Humayun's tomb, the Britishers' abandonment, adoption and eventual glorification of the Taj Mahal. All of these quests taken by British men, who, in a land that did not belong to them, sought to find out more about it against insurmountable odds, often function alone or with meagre resources.
What also strikes is the callous attitude of the local populace towards their own history and a complete and utter disregard(a better word would be ignorance) of the rich heritage of India. Of course, there is also a tacit acceptance by the author that a lot of Britishers did immense harm to India's heritage in untold ways and we may never know the extent of the damage that was caused.
A must read for anyone who wants to understand the complex but crucial role Britishers played in discovering India, who was truly lost at that time.
There will be some spoilers in this review but it is a pretty dense book with a lot of details. First, John Keay is a known defender of the British Empire in India so he does paint a rosy picture about the British Empire at times. But personally, I found this book quite balanced and rich in detail.
The book, as mentioned above, is dense. I mean, really dense. But it does give a much needed perspective about the period of the 1600s right till the independence of India. But it is not a political perspective. But the book is about everything else. I really enjoyed the journey that Keay takes the reader through. And the protagonists are all British, some of them really dedicated individuals who have contributed much more than any Indian to preserve India's rich history.
The book narrates the naming of Mount Everest, the topographical mapping of the whole of India, undertaken over several years at the East India Company's cost, the revival of the soul of the Rajputs of Rajasthan, the obscure state of Humayun's tomb, the Britishers' abandonment, adoption and eventual glorification of the Taj Mahal. All of these quests taken by British men, who, in a land that did not belong to them, sought to find out more about it against insurmountable odds, often function alone or with meagre resources.
What also strikes is the callous attitude of the local populace towards their own history and a complete and utter disregard(a better word would be ignorance) of the rich heritage of India. Of course, there is also a tacit acceptance by the author that a lot of Britishers did immense harm to India's heritage in untold ways and we may never know the extent of the damage that was caused.
A must read for anyone who wants to understand the complex but crucial role Britishers played in discovering India, who was truly lost at that time.
April 5, 2019
Although I contend that this book is more aptly titled by prefacing the word “North” (the lack of focus on southern Indian history is rather evident), John Keay’s India Discovered is an excellent primer on Indian history and how it came to be resurrected. Keay manages to convey the palpable wonder and excitement that accompanied each step of piecing together India’s rich and convoluted history. Keay’s narrative is focused; his telling of *how* history was pieced together using coins, artwork, languages, sculptures, and architecture by British soldiers-turned-archeologists, -naturalists, and at times, -vandals, is riveting. This focus becomes a little looser towards the wee end of the book wherein Keay brings in the story of the British discovery of Indian geography, topography, and ecology. The telling of this curvilinear story is no easy feat and Keay can be largely forgotten for certain omissions (e.g. not including more details on Jain/Sikh history) but perhaps not for others. A major omission is the lack of emphasis on indigenous aid to the Brits and homegrown interests (as well as knowledge) in unraveling Indian archeology and art history. Moreover, the story of India’s plunder by the British as well as the ‘Mohammedans’ is not really expounded on. However, these are not really a part of Keay’s goals, and to his credit, he delineates his ambitions at the outset, with clarity. Overall, India Discovered is a useful ‘Indian history for the layperson’, especially considering its brevity. The volume of research that Keay has scoured through is staggering and accordingly, Keay’s manner of presentation is engaging, respectful, and ultimately, informative.
August 22, 2015
To call it an excellent piece of writing, strong enough to change our opinion of the British Rule in India and be thankful to them for the preservation of 'our' heritage and culture will in no way be an exaggeration. In fact, post reading I find that we should be grateful to each one of them- Sir William Jones, James Prinsep,Tod,Twining, Lord Cunningham and the most detested Lord Curzon for the great enthusiasm and interest shown in the restoration of a forgotten civilization -in fact the oldest civilization of the world, ignored and neglected by its descendents!!
Despite Macaulay's outrageous comments about Indian (especially Sanskrit ) literature and surprisingly Sir William Bentinck's (the so far known champion of Indians in the Raj) support of his views, there were still people who persisted and with enough of pain and perseverance gathered together the pieces of the giant zig saw puzzle from where rose not only the remnants a civilization but the history of the greatest empires to have governed the country, the Mauryas and Guptas to name a few.
The research was not limited only to artefacts but nature as well and hence do we have many of the typical flora and fauna of India named after their discovers.
Reading all this, the question that props in my mind is that today we Indians boast of our culture and heritage and talk of the great East to which the West had always looked forward to. But doesn't the East owe the knowledge of its own existence to the handful of Westerners?
Despite Macaulay's outrageous comments about Indian (especially Sanskrit ) literature and surprisingly Sir William Bentinck's (the so far known champion of Indians in the Raj) support of his views, there were still people who persisted and with enough of pain and perseverance gathered together the pieces of the giant zig saw puzzle from where rose not only the remnants a civilization but the history of the greatest empires to have governed the country, the Mauryas and Guptas to name a few.
The research was not limited only to artefacts but nature as well and hence do we have many of the typical flora and fauna of India named after their discovers.
Reading all this, the question that props in my mind is that today we Indians boast of our culture and heritage and talk of the great East to which the West had always looked forward to. But doesn't the East owe the knowledge of its own existence to the handful of Westerners?
February 2, 2016
Extremely informative, John Keay chronicles the good side of the British rule in India, as a few well-meaning and passionate officers, engineers and administrators went about unravelling the history of pre-Islamic India. William Jones was the pioneer, setting up the Asiatic Society and Indology as a subject. The discovery starts with the inscriptions on the Ashoka pillars scattered across the country, and slowly the different layers start peeling off - Buddha and the spread of Buddhism, Sanskrit and its introduction to the world, the timeline of the Hindu kingdoms, the Indus Valley Civilization, the archaeological wonders in this country and their distinct styles, as well as the classification of the distinctive flora and fauna of India. In addition to Jones, what we studied in our school history books is largely courtesy the exploratory work of the likes of James Prinsep, Alex Cunningham, James Tod, George Everest, Brian Hodgson, etc.
The author starts on a promising note but soon the narrative becomes a bit dry and its hard to sustain the amount of information being thrown at you. He peppers the content with original extracts from the works of the researchers, but they tend to disrupt the flow and are sometimes unnecessary. Also, the contribution of Indians seems to have been ignored, with only a couple of them find a fleeting mention in the book (Banerji, Coomarswamy).
The author starts on a promising note but soon the narrative becomes a bit dry and its hard to sustain the amount of information being thrown at you. He peppers the content with original extracts from the works of the researchers, but they tend to disrupt the flow and are sometimes unnecessary. Also, the contribution of Indians seems to have been ignored, with only a couple of them find a fleeting mention in the book (Banerji, Coomarswamy).
August 17, 2013
A fascinating book about the emergence of the pre-Mughal history of India as a serious field of study during the Raj. While this could serve as an introduction to early Indian history for novices, it's really more about British attitudes to their colony.
It is a rather archaic book - its still talks about Mohammedans - but that's one of its strength. It basically predates the rise of postcolonialism and is much better history for that. Individual colonisers emerge as complex characters in their own right rather than as illustrations of an ideological schema.
That is not to say that it whitewashes the Raj. It records plenty of acts of cultural vandalism, their tendency to astonishing arrogance and hilarious prudishness. However, we also see the awe of the more open minded members of the Raj at discovering themselves to be living in a civilisation older and grander than the classical world.
It is a rather archaic book - its still talks about Mohammedans - but that's one of its strength. It basically predates the rise of postcolonialism and is much better history for that. Individual colonisers emerge as complex characters in their own right rather than as illustrations of an ideological schema.
That is not to say that it whitewashes the Raj. It records plenty of acts of cultural vandalism, their tendency to astonishing arrogance and hilarious prudishness. However, we also see the awe of the more open minded members of the Raj at discovering themselves to be living in a civilisation older and grander than the classical world.
October 2, 2016
Excellent !!
Both Mugals and British has invaded us. The Mugals concentrated only in destroying our Legacy.But the British, though they destroyed and curropted our rich heritage,some of them tried to understand it,admired it, also some learned our language to explore it !!! This book is about how english explored ancient provinces of Our emperors like Chandra Gupta Maurya,Ashoka, Budha, Temples like khajurao,Mahabalipuram, budhist stupas, cave paintings like Ellora also fauna and flora of India.They(some) admired our Yogis,our arts,our paintings, temples and our living style.
All Indians should read this. Espescially who only sees drawbacks like our caste systems must read this!!!
Both Mugals and British has invaded us. The Mugals concentrated only in destroying our Legacy.But the British, though they destroyed and curropted our rich heritage,some of them tried to understand it,admired it, also some learned our language to explore it !!! This book is about how english explored ancient provinces of Our emperors like Chandra Gupta Maurya,Ashoka, Budha, Temples like khajurao,Mahabalipuram, budhist stupas, cave paintings like Ellora also fauna and flora of India.They(some) admired our Yogis,our arts,our paintings, temples and our living style.
All Indians should read this. Espescially who only sees drawbacks like our caste systems must read this!!!
May 21, 2008
I think it was really interesting cause although have lived in India for a while now, I was quite blind to the really unique places that were within driving distance from me. So as I read this book, I found myself with many busy weekends exploring the places he has written about and finding there is more to Indian architecture than the stereotypical Taj Mahal (which quite honestly didn't impress me as much as Belur and Halebid).
April 3, 2012
Extraordinary men, including a disproportionate number of Scots, try to unravel India's centuries of secrets and are seduced and ravished by this astonishing land. It's told from a Western perspective, which insists that these imperial-era Brits did India, and the world, a favor by reconstructing history that would otherwise have been lost. The same story told from an Indian point of view might be very different.
January 7, 2013
A tiny book which deals with how Indian history was reconstructed in the 18th and 19th Century, mainly by Brits. An eye opener for me, it talks about how little was known about such now famous figures as Ashoka, Samudragupta and even the Buddha and the rediscovery of India's pre islamic culture. It's written in Keay's engaging style and his first book.
A history of history if you will, if you like Keay, this is a must read (some people find him boring).
A history of history if you will, if you like Keay, this is a must read (some people find him boring).
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