India: The Definitive History [Paperback]

D. R. SarDesai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0813343526 | ISBN-13: 978-0813343525

D. R. SarDesai presents the history of India in its entire civilizational depth. Using an Indiacentric approach, (as opposed to the Eurocentric or Anglocentric) the book covers the process of change in India through the centuries affecting different segments of the society, including the subalterns. He deals with the sweep of traditional Indian history as well as with the post-independence events, judicially balancing narrative and analysis in the conceptual framework of postcolonial and postmodernist approaches. This is the first major survey which deals with the entire Indian history along the lines of tradition and modernity instead of the old and largely inapplicable divisions of ancient, medieval and modern time frames. In adopting such a periodization, the book supports what is followed by most instructors in their courses on India.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

D. R. SarDesai is former Chairperson of South and Southeast Asian Studies and the first holder of the Doshi Chair in Indian History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of Southeast Asia: Past and Present 5th Edition (Westview Press, 2003). He is also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Yadunandan Center for India Studies for his caring and distinguished work in South and Southeast Asian studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813343526
• ISBN-13: 978-0813343525
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #874,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great General History, May 25, 2008

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Stephen C. Browne - See all my reviews
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This review is from: India: The Definitive History (Paperback)

Bought this looking for an Indian equivalent of Jonathan Spence's The Search for Modern China and it met this high hurdle admirably. The book does a good job allocating its space and topics. The book's initial focus on geography provides good insight into the later political divisions of India. For a Western reader, Sardesai provides fascinating insights about his own culture. While there are definitely Hindu nationalist overtones, Sardesai also levels criticisms of both modern and pre-modern India without the ackward self-conciousness that would accompany a Western writer. My only complaint (hence the 4-stars) is that the book could use more maps & illustrations - a very limited provincial map at the beginning is the only graphic in the book. It can be somewhat frustrating to have places mentioned in the book (like Pune for example) without being able to place them on a map.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value with great information, January 7, 2008

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Jackie Williams (Monroe CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: India: The Definitive History (Paperback)

This definitive history is perfect for a traveller interested in the background to this marvellous complex society. It gives a no frills account of its history dating back almost to the year dot. The reviews I read in order to purchase this as a gift were spot on with their recommendations. My husband is enthralled by the depth of knowledge it offers. He has been travelling for business a lot and finds the people and culture fascinating. He now has an insight into their beliefs and cultural ways he always wanted. If you are looking for a book that is not for an academic outlook but just plain facts and questions answered, this is it!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not really definitive, August 2, 2008

By 

N. Miller "tintagel" (Kansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: India: The Definitive History (Paperback)

The author has made a fair claim that modern India(European colonialism to present) has been far overstated in the history books. Unfortunately this is not a definitive history (no book on India could be "definitive" anyway....), nor that good an overview. There are some nightmarish ommissions-what about the Chola Empire?

And while I applaud Sardesai for giving background on certain topics before explaining their place in Indian history (Islam for instance), most of the narrative is written in a somewhat casual nonobjective manner. That's not a flaw, per se, but clarity is essential when it comes to this particular topic, imo.