For Old Times’ Sake

Some years ago, Chetan Bhagat did the unthinkable: he made young and restless Indians read his tales of urban India in conversational English. Soon, Indians were craving for stories of the country by home-grown authors. This need is now being met by writers who are giving Indian history and mythology a contemporary twist. The result has been rewarding — Ashwin Sanghi’s Chanakya’s Chant, Anish Sarkar’s Benaami, and The Immortals of Meluha by Amish rule the bestseller lists.

Though authors such as Devdutt Pattanaik, Ashok Banker and William Dalrymple have retold stories from Indian mythology and history, the trend of using these for commercial fiction seems to be a recent one. Sanghi believes that these stories establish an immediate connection with the readers and make for gripping backdrops. “The initial hook for a commercial fiction paperback in this genre must necessarily come from the ancient. Once the reader is hooked, then it does not matter if the story is history-oriented or not,” he says.

Full report here Indian Express

Penguin India presents a collection of 21 books on Delhi

Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Penguin India has put together a collection of 'must-read books'on Delhi.

The list of authors includes famous names like Khushwant Singh, William Darlymple and Nayantara Sehgal among others.

The anthologies, City Improbable, Celebrating Delhi, Finding Delhi and Trickster City, have writers portraying the city's different localities and people, the famous and the obscure alike.

The biographies, Sam Miller's Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity, William Dalrymple's City of Djinns and Ranjana Sengupta's Delhi Metropolitan map the newer Delhis, attempting to bring its many chameleon faces to life.

The Mughal past is celebrated in Mahmood Farooqui's Beseiged: Voices from Delhi 1857, William Dalrymple's The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857 and Pavan Varma's Ghalib, The Man, The Times.

Full report here Sify

Delhi’s disaster indicts the Indian state

Spectacle counts in the emerging East. China confirmed its coming dominance with the spectacular Beijing Olympics. On the evidence of the Commonwealth Games village, India has the squalid air of an impoverished country ineptly governed. William Dalrymple, author on all things Indian, wrote a measured commentary for the Times (£) yesterday:

"The Commonwealth Games was meant to be India’s coming-out party, a demonstration to the world that the old days of colonial domination and subsequent relegation to Third World status were finally over. Sadly, the Games have shown that the Old India is very much with us. This is a country, after all, where — alongside all the triumphs of technology and 8.5 per cent growth — eight Indian states still account for more poor people than the twenty-six poorest African countries combined.

The triumphs of the Indian economic miracle have been private sector successes, usually in the service sector. For this reason, for example, government-owned hotels are still spectacularly grotty; but the privately run Taj and Oberoi groups, in contrast, run some of the world’s most sleekly wonderful hotels, successes that have been achieved despite rather than because of the State."

Full report here Spectator

In Mumbai, finding the written word

Mumbai is home to a growing number of chain bookstores - well-lit, air-conditioned spots that often host book launches and stock the latest best-sellers from Indian and international authors. But bibliophiles looking to ferret out bargains or rare finds shouldn't end their search without digging a little more deeply, from decades-old shops to street stalls.

Start at the appropriately, if unimaginatively, titled New and Secondhand Bookshop (526, Kalbadevi Road, Dhobi Talao; 91-22-6524-1731). Opened in 1905, the shop has two cramped floors of shelves, sorted dutifully according to subject matter. These range from poetry to international politics, with many stops in between. A recent visit yielded a 1902 Edinburgh-published Jonathan Swift collection from the rare and out of print section.

As the result of a recent anti-hawker campaign, the pavements to the north of Hutatma Chowk (formerly Flora Fountain) aren't as dense with book stalls as they were five years ago. But this is still a fine place to find a wide range of new and used books, including current favorites like William Dalrymple and Amitav Ghosh, as well as Penguin classics, at a steep discount from the cover price. (Do, though, beware counterfeits when shopping.)

Full report here NDTV

Spiritual portraits, colliding worlds define India

Years ago, Goldman Sachs predicted that India's gross national output would quadruple in 10 years and, by 2050, overtake that of the United States. Today, India is on the verge of besting Japan to become the world's third-largest economic power. Which is why, despite staggering poverty, its consumption of cars and crude oil promises to soar to unimaginable magnitudes.

But what is India, exactly? Who are its people? As William Dalrymple shows in his strikingly colorful new book, to be Indian is to inhabit strangely colliding worlds, a profusion of identities with sharply defined regional variants. Nowhere is this more evident than in the country's spiritual life.

``While the West often likes to imagine the religions of the East as deep wells of ancient, unchanging wisdom,'' Dalrymple writes, ``much of India's religious identity is closely tied to specific social groups, caste practices and father-to-son lineages, all of which are changing very rapidly.'' Bollywood may try to persuade us that the Hindu epics are neatly homogenous -- that there is one `` `national' Ramayana myth'' -- but, in reality, Indian legends are interpreted in radically different ways depending on where you look in the country. Indeed, the historian Romila Thapar has argued that it is precisely Bollywood's (or colonialism's) model of ``syndicated Hinduism'' that threatens to drive India's self-contained cults to extinction.

Full review here Miami Herald

The man about history

Professor Mushirul Hasan appears not to be in a hurry. Sitting inside his large office chamber, with beautiful colonial-era furniture, Prof. Hasan, the new director general of the National Archives of India (NAI), looks as carefree as a retired man.

The 61-year-old academic, author of several books on Indian history, talks in a singsong voice; he laughs easily and peppers his conversation with amusing Urdu couplets. Soon, however, he comes to the point. “I want the Archives to be like London’s British Library, which is wonderful in terms of collection, conservation, preservation and, most importantly, accessibility.”

As the storehouse of the non-current records of the Indian government, the NAI, situated on Janpath close to India Gate, has thousands of rare old books, documents and lithographs piled up on various floors. While researching here for his book The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty (Delhi 1857), author William Dalrymple discovered previously unexamined manuscripts that present the Indian perspective on the 1857 mutiny. “All the Urdu research for the book was done there,” says Dalrymple. “The archive contains the biggest and fullest colonial archive in India.”

Full report here Mint

Four centuries in its corners

A Sikh hunts for a lost ancestor in Japan. William Dalrymple seeks precious details about the last Mughal. Both find answers at the National Archives of India. Now, with a new director general at the helm, this repository of memory is trying even harder to tell you your history. We spent a day at the Archives  Sidin Vadukut

One day, around two years ago, a Sikh man walked into the research room at the National Archives of India in New Delhi. He sought out Jaya Ravindran, an archivist, and told her everything he knew about his paternal grandfather.

The gentleman hoped to persuade Ravindran to go on a historical wild-goose chase through the National Archives’ holdings.

Ravindran spends most working days in her office inside the research room in the National Archives’ annexe building. Situated in a little, rectangular, walled-off portion at one end of the research room, Ravindran’s office is furnished in a style that can only be called “post-liberalization government of India”. It is a melange of aluminium and formica and plastic, with files arranged in neat piles on the desk. There is a computer to one side, and beneath its monitor, there are some pictures of the Gilgit manuscripts from Kashmir.

“I am working on a brochure about the manuscripts,” Ravindran says. “They are also the oldest objects currently in the National Archives.” Ravindran, dressed in a blue sari and matching blouse, has the instant warmth of someone eager to answer questions and the frankness of someone who knows most of the answers.

Full report here Mint

The untold Delhi

In the freshly released Besieged: Voices from Delhi, he gives us a series of selections from different sources that not only put the 1857 “mutiny”/ “war of independence” in context but also give greater voice to Indians than has often been the case in the past

Mahmood Farooqui is known as a theatre personality and a scholar whose translations have enabled William Dalrymple’s popular and excellent history books. In the freshly released Besieged: Voices from Delhi, he gives us a series of selections from different sources that not only put the 1857 “mutiny”/ “war of independence” in context but also give greater voice to Indians than has often been the case in the past.

Memories, and accounts, of 1857 vary: There were accounts of atrocities and heroism on and by both sides. However, by and large, the dominant (British-inspired) perspective is that of a doomed uprising of “sepoys”, reluctantly led by an aged Mughal emperor who was a prisoner in his own palace. There are some elements of truth in this version. But the accounts in Farooqui’s book reveal a greater complexity: For instance, it becomes evident that an extraordinary effort was launched by Bahadur Shah Zafar to fight the British. Thousands of labourers and tonnes of materials were mobilized, funds were gathered, the police monitored food prices and a functioning bureaucracy was vigilantly maintained—right until the city’s fall. There were prescient attempts to prevent Hindu-Muslim conflict (which was being anticipated by the British) by banning the slaughter of cows, etc.

Full report here Mint

Documenting heritage

“Celebrating Delhi” is an engaging study of the city and its past

One doesn't see Upinder Singh, a noted historian, anxiously describing a book, nor does one find Khushwant Singh reminiscing about the past so often, but with the launch of the book “Celebrating Delhi” edited by Mala Dayal, all this and much more came to the fore at the main auditorium of the India International Centre. The book of essays is based on the series of 12 lectures organised by the Attic in 2006. Organised in collaboration with the Attic and INTACH which explores the city's living syncretic heritage illuminating unknown and fascinating aspects of its history, it boasts contributors like Upinder Singh, Pradip Krishen, William Dalrymple, Duno Roy and Ravi Dayal.

Upinder Singh, giving a brief introduction of the book also showed a few pictures of the famous Iron Pillar, Purana Quila, etc and also of lesser-known treasures in and around Delhi. The audience which included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur was familiarised with the stone tools that were discovered on the campuses of Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University through more visual support. “Most dilli-wallahs visualize their city extending from somewhere near the Qutub Minar to somewhere beyond the Red Fort and recollect a vague connection between ancient Indraprastha and the Purana Quila. But Delhi from the Stone Age to the times of the Rajputs stretches much further than one can imagine”.

Pradip Krishen entered the discussion by shedding some light on the city's interesting native trees. He, then, invited Rakhshanda Jalil for ‘Dehli ki Aakhri Shama', a poetic re-enactment of the ‘Last mush'aira of Delhi'. In her chaste Urdu, Jalil spoke about Farhatullah Beg's novel “Dilli Ki Aakhri Shama” on which the dramatic re-enactment was based upon.

Full report here

Dalrymple in Samuel Johnson prize longlist

William Dalrymple is among the 19 authors named for the Samuel Johnson prize longlist.

The longlist was announced on April 22. BBC presenter Evan Davis, who is chairing this year's judges, called it an "unusual and eclectic longlist of terrific books".

The prize, which awards the best in English language non-fiction,  is now in its 12th year. The list includes 19 books, whittled down from 138 submissions. The winner will be named in July and will receive £20,000.

The list:

Alex Bellos - Alex's Adventures in Numberland
Andrew Ross Sorkin - Too Big to Fail: Inside the Battle to Save Wall Street
Jenny Uglow - Charles II, A Gambling Man
Richard Wrangham - Catching Fire: How Cooking made us Human
Frances Stoner Saunders - The Woman who Shot Mussolini
David Kynaston -  Family Britain 1951-1957
Nick Bunker - Making Haste from Babylon.
Sara Wheeler -  The Magnetic North
Stewart Brand - Whole Earth Discipline
Philip Ball -  The Music Instinct
Hilary Spurling - Burying the Bones;
Said Sayrafiezadeh - When Skateboards will be Free
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o -  Dreams in a Time of War
Joe Moran - On Roads
Luke Jennings - Blood Knots
Edward Hollis - The Secret Lives of Buildings
Peter Hessler - Country Driving
Barbara Demick - Nothing to Envy
William Dalrymple - Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India

History goes pop

There was a time—all of the 19th century—when the educated read history books and the slightly less educated read historical novels. This trend petered out sometime around the mid-20th century, under the impact of decolonization (which exposed much of “history” as Eurocentric), the rise and defeat of fascism (which exposed some of “history” as racist) and later, feminism and postmodernism (which, in different ways, revealed “history” to be often “his story”).

Lately, however, there has been a revival—both of popular histories (as in the “Mughal” books by William Dalrymple) and of historical fiction (as in Amitav Ghosh’s The Glass Palace or Hilary Mantel’s Booker-winner from last year, Wolf Hall).

Jonathan Phillips’ Holy Warriors: A Modern History of the Crusades and Ira Berlin’s The Making of African America: The Four Great Migrations are sterling examples of good history books written, once again, for a large readership and not just for scholars.

Full report here Mint

Assam Valley Award for Imran Shah

The Assam Valley Literary Award-2009 was conferred on littérateur Imran Shah in Guwahati on March 27. Noted for his short stories, Shah has also proved his mettle with poetry, novels and a few plays. Besides, he has translated literary works from English to Assamese.

Author William Dalrymple who was a distinguished guest gave away the prize that comprised a citation, a trophy and a cheque of Rs 4 lakh. Dalrymple read out excerpts from his works.

In his acceptance speech, Shah said. “I simply enjoy writing and I try to keep the writer in me far away and free from any outside influence and instructions…I try not to allow my acquired knowledge and convictions to make me self-conscious while writing.”

He went on to say that he made it a point to work for the welfare of his near and dear ones. From the people around him he learnt about their hopes and frustrations, struggles and conflicts. It has been his endeavour to portray them in his writings.

Full report here Assam Tribune

Jaipur fest names committee for fiction prize

After weeks of anticipation DSC Ltd on Tuesday, March 23, announced the Advisory Committee for the recently launched DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, which now opens up the registration procedure for entries. The first winner of this prestigious US $50,000 prize will be announced in January, 2011. The prize aims to commemorate fiction writers from across the globe writing about South Asia or its people.

The Advisory Committee of the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature comprises reputed personalities from the world of literature. It represents a wide canvas of experience and a judicious mix in terms of gender, geographies and expertise. The 10-member committee includes:

    * David Godwin, publisher and literary agent (UK)
    * Lord Meghnad Desai, eminent writer and Professor Emeritus, London School of Economics (India, UK)
    * Michael Worton, Vice Provost, University College London (UK)
    * MJ Akbar, distinguished editor and author (India)
    * Nayantara Sahgal, author (India)
    * Surina Narula, businesswoman and fundraiser (NRI,UK)
    * Senath Walter Perera, specialist on Sri Lankan writing in English (Sri Lanka)
    * Tina Brown, Editor and founder of the Daily Beast (US)
    * Urvashi Butalia,  publisher and cofounder of Kali for Women (India)
    * William Dalrymple, author (UK)

Sharing his point of view, Mr Manhad Narula, Director DSC and Member of the DSC Prize Steering Committee said “The setting up of the Advisory Committee is a step forward to recognise the immense pool of talent writing about the South Asian region through the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. We hope that our efforts will encourage new and emerging writers to showcase their work and further enrich the literary heritage of the South Asian region. We would like to thank all the eminent advisory committee members for their assistance in supporting our efforts.

On the occasion Urvashi Butalia, Member Advisory Committee, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature said “It is a privilege to be associated with a prize which aims to recognise the contribution to South Asian literature. Apart from guiding the prize process, the key role of the Advisory Committee will be to nominate and help select the Judging Panel. We are looking forward to participation from the writers and publishers. We also believe that this prize will help in setting a benchmark for South Asian Literature.”

The judging panel will comprise persons of eminence in literature, arts and culture. The winner will be announced on the final day of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival in January, 2011.

Full details of the Advisory Committee are available on the website www.dscprize.com. It also outlines the registration procedure whereby publishers can log on to the website and download the entry form for their entries to reach the DSC Prize Secretariat by April 24, 2010.

A tribute to Delhi in Penguin's spring lit fest

Tales from the underbelly of the Indian capital told by a gamut of writers as diverse as William Dalrymple, Sam Miller, Mahmood Farooqui and Danish Husain brought the curtains down on the open air literature festival- Spring Fever 2010- at the India Habitat Centre Sunday night.

The festival, which began March 13, was organised to promote the culture of reading classics and contemporary Indian literature in English. It was woven around a sprawling open air library - a concept that the publishing house introduced to the capital in 2009 when it showcased its vintage collection of Western and Indian classics.

'This year we took it a level further and designed a series of evening literary events related to the library and Penguin's latest titles. The spotlight was on Indian and Puffin titles and business was good,' Hemali Sodhi, vice-president of marketing and corporate communications, Penguin, told IANS.

The concluding event was a tribute to the colourful history and cultural melting pot that the capital is.

Full report here Sify

Cancelled trip leads to love affair with India

Indophile William Dalrymple said the old world of India has not disappeared as is the case in the Gulf states and that it is still very much there beside the multiplexes and Microsoft offices.

The historian and travel writer told a large audience that Indians surprisingly are not anti-British despite the awful atrocities perpetrated by the Raj.

"There is hardly any interest in anything British today," said the writer who delved deep into the country's past and into the psyche of modern Indians. The best-seller writer of Scottish ancestry has made his home in New Delhi.

Unintended visit
Dalrymple said he never wanted to go to India and had no interest in that country, but an archaeological trip to Iraq was cancelled and he found himself accompanying his friend who had got a teacher's job in India. He said his introduction to India earlier was not very auspicious when his brother came back from India sporting long hair like a hippie, making South Indian coffee and cluttering up the house with papier mâché deities.

Full report here Gulf News

Dalrymple lauds NRI writing

Each of his books have been bestsellers. Despite that, William Dalrymple doesn’t like people calling him a successful ‘novelist’. He’d rather people call him a ‘non-fiction writer'.

Dalrymple first came to India as a young traveler in 1984 and was fascinated by the sights and sounds of the country. Since then he has made India his home. His latest book Nine Lives, which released late last year, has been another bestseller. Within the first two weeks of its release 35,000 copies were sold in India, the fastest in this country. “For the first time ever I sold faster in India than Britain, which is very nice. If I write about India and Indians don’t recognise that, there’s a problem. It feels wonderful that now I am making a good living as a writer, writing about India. There is a big market for books about India.

However, Dalrymple also feels that there is a dearth of quality travel writing emerging out of India. “Much of the best of Indian writing is happening by NRIs. If I name the top five travel books written by Indian authors, almost all of them reside outside India. Examples being Suketu Mehta, VS Naipul, Amitav Ghosh, Pankaj Mishra and Vikram Seth,” he says.

Full report here DNA