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rkapil7's review
4.0
This book written in prison by Nehru, a lot of deep thinking has gone into it, and it is evident through his thoughts he penned in this book.
His knowledge of India's past was tremendous, from the Indus valley civilization to the independence movement, he was certainly that elite of the society hoarding all the knowledge available at that time. For example, seeing the similarity between ancient Greece and ancient India, then understanding the pagan belief system in India. His analysis of Buddhism as life-negating, and Hinduism and Confucianism as life-affirming is pretty on point. Then how stagnation in creativity in medieval time stemmed from the caste system and lots of other truths.
This book also helps us understand from where all Nehruvian biases in Indian politics stemmed from.
His argument that Muslims came and absorbed into Hindu civilization, this is only partially true, another half of the truth says otherwise, he even paints Arab conquests and Islamic golden age to be enriching civilization – as it gave rise to the confluence of Indian and Greek philosophies among other things.
Also, his pro-china bias stemmed from him seeing the similarities between Indian and Chinese civilizations and their common struggle against imperialism he saw.
Also the Marxism, but I get an idea that at that time he was surrounded by Marxist thoughts which everyone else was, the economic analysis he did in this environment was dope still, so there is no point being anti-him for his Marxist leanings.
The book also has it in detail how the industrial revolution started under Tatas and how there was opposition from Brits to let India industrialized.
Also objectively writing the history of Gandhi who was his contemporary which is a task of overcoming one’s biases.
In short a towering work and a must-read.
His knowledge of India's past was tremendous, from the Indus valley civilization to the independence movement, he was certainly that elite of the society hoarding all the knowledge available at that time. For example, seeing the similarity between ancient Greece and ancient India, then understanding the pagan belief system in India. His analysis of Buddhism as life-negating, and Hinduism and Confucianism as life-affirming is pretty on point. Then how stagnation in creativity in medieval time stemmed from the caste system and lots of other truths.
This book also helps us understand from where all Nehruvian biases in Indian politics stemmed from.
His argument that Muslims came and absorbed into Hindu civilization, this is only partially true, another half of the truth says otherwise, he even paints Arab conquests and Islamic golden age to be enriching civilization – as it gave rise to the confluence of Indian and Greek philosophies among other things.
Also, his pro-china bias stemmed from him seeing the similarities between Indian and Chinese civilizations and their common struggle against imperialism he saw.
Also the Marxism, but I get an idea that at that time he was surrounded by Marxist thoughts which everyone else was, the economic analysis he did in this environment was dope still, so there is no point being anti-him for his Marxist leanings.
The book also has it in detail how the industrial revolution started under Tatas and how there was opposition from Brits to let India industrialized.
Also objectively writing the history of Gandhi who was his contemporary which is a task of overcoming one’s biases.
In short a towering work and a must-read.