Customer Reviews

Wonder That Was India

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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This is a classic work on pre-Muslim Indian history. The author's scholarship is evident on every page. While the preface specifically states that the book is intended mainly for a Western audience, South Asians especially should find this book salutary reading--it is an account of their history that is both objective and respectful, a healthy contrast to the unscientific views of history that are often put forth by right-wing politicians in India and Pakistan. The book is a little dated when it talks about the Indus valley civilization.

This is the "standard introductory textbook" that is also a true joy to read for any layman who wants some accurate information on early India. At the time the book was first published (1954), Professor Basham was teaching at the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.Later he moved to the chair of Asian Civilisation, at the Australian National University, Canberra. His book remains a perennial despite his passing.

Bashams scholarship is without peer, he is as comfortable translating tamil as he is in sanskrit, talks about vedic, jain and buddhist ideas with equal flair, passion and clarity.

The book presents ancient India; an idllyic society in an intellectual pursuit unparalled in any society made possible by a liberal and benign social and political environment.

His understanding of philosophy, religion, language and culture (art and prose) is just a pleasure. I am amazed to see the breadth in one person.

His timeline of history and how (only)Indian society has absorbed wave after wave or outsider and make them one in a melting pot is illuminating.

If you are intersted in understading Hindu's(or India); it's a must read, there is nothing as clearly written for an english reader as this.

This is, without reservation, the greatest, most impartial, scholarly, informative and readable account of ancient and classical India that I have ever had the extreme good fortune of reading. Dr. Basham's scholarship will put a very great majority of people born in India to shame. But more than that, the love, affection, respect and genuine caring he feels for his subject brings tears to one's eyes. This is not a halcyonic, idyllic account; but even the flaws of the culture he writes about are discussed imaprtially, they do not constitute the fulcrum about which his impressions of India rotate. This is a far better work on Indian history than say Ms. Romila Thapar's work on the history of the Subcontinent until the 12th centure (about which I have written seperately, Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300). As far as being a "simple mlechha" is concerned, Dr. Basham is among the greatest Indians I will ever have the good fortune of encountering, if not in person than atleast in thought. Recommended without any, any reservations.

Arthur Llewellyn Basham was born in England shortly before World War I, would become Chair of the History Department at the Australian National University in Canberra, and was widely acknowledged to be one of the most authoritative scholars on Indian history. Within the first decade of Indian independence from British rule, he completed this monumental study of ancient Indian history and civilization. It is, very much, the essence of the country, and what makes it so fascinating to non-Indians. There is nary a word about the Raj. Although one reviewer judged the book "outdated," since subsequent scholarship provides substantial evidence that disproves one contending theory, the book does remain the most respected introduction to the study of Indian civilization. Long before the current era of "globalization," I purchased my copy in India, for, as the back cover announced, in the gentler days of publisher concessions: "Special Indian Price Rs 21.00."

Basham work is over 500 pages, is dense, and intended for the serious reader. He does posit a "Golden Age," much as other scholars have done with the Athenian period in Greek history. The first fifth of the book is dedicated to the history, starting with the Harappa Culture of pre-history, through the arrival of whom we call the Aryans, then on to the Middle Ages, and the arrival of Muslims, and the establishment of the Mughal Empire. A further chapter is dedicated to the political life and thought; essentially how power was maintained and utilized. There is a largely sociological chapter, covering the customs surrounding the life-cycle: birth, youth, marriage, maturity, and death. Particular attention is paid to that uniquely Indian institution, as least in the sense that it is more formalized than in other societies, of the caste. This is followed by of everyday life, with the emphasis on economic factors. Basham was drawn to the study of religion from an early age, and another fifth of the book is devoted to the various religions that have flourished, or were founded in India: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, the Sihks, and the importation of Islamic beliefs. The latter portions of the work concern the arts, including architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance and literature. The author quotes extensively from the Veda and Upanisads, so the non-Indian reader can obtain a "feel" for these great works, which it may be unlikely would be read on their own. In his Epilogue Basham discusses the impact of the West on India, and yes, finally mentions the Raj. There are a number of very useful appendix that cover specific topics such as the Indian contribution to astronomy, mathematics, etc.

I learned a lot from this book. For example, the author states that "Permanent loss of caste was the greatest catastrophe, short of death and the major chronic diseases, which could happen to man." Then the author states: "...but when Mahatma Gandhi, in many ways socially conservative, persuaded his followers to sweep their own floors and clean their own latrines, he sounded the death knell of the old Hindu social order, which, for all its faults, has preserved the identity of Indian society through centuries of foreign domination." To underscore the range of Basham's erudition, in another section he discusses and has a diagram of the great Iron Pillar of Meharauli, which is near Delhi. Even today, after 1,500 monsoons, there is no sign of rusting, which attests to the metallurgical skills of ancient India. There are only theories on how they accomplished this.

In his epilogue, which it should be emphasized, was written in the `50's, Basham says: "It is today something of an anachronism to speak of Western civilization or Indian civilization." Half a century on, in this era of jet travel and the Internet, it is far more of an anachronism, and the conclusion rings even truer: "...for it is no longer the heritage of India alone, but of all mankind." A solid 5-stars.

Great work about Indian history. I loved it so much that I bought a second copy after I had to give my first one as a gift to my mother in law.

This book although was one of the first forays in attempting to capture India's vast history is badly outdated and promotes misconceptions that were concocted by the British during their cololization of India - cheif among them the concept of the Aryan Invasion which has been found to be utterly illogical based on archeological evidence unearthed in the last few decades in India.

There were no 'Aryans' who invaded India and later pushed out the Dravidians to the South, but there were only Aryans all along. period. This is supported by recent archeological finds of unearthing Harappan settlements all along India and they did not get invaded by rather moved out to other locations in India when the river Saraswathi dried up.

This theory was created by the British just like their other 'divide and conquer' theories and the cheif archeologist was payed to make up these stories.

I especially lament that these baseless theories later found their way to the Indian education system much like most of the british concoctions and these the modern indian has been indoctrinated to believe in the Aryan invasion theory.

The author does not state in his book that these are theories but assert them as if these are facts, which is what irks me. This book needs to be revised and updated.

This Book is Great. Every page of it makes very insightful and intresting reading. It can hardly be bettered in the Subject its dealing with. But, I guess he may not be wholly impartial in his assessments and retains i guess some "Mlechha" attitude. I know the authors reputation and this might appear silly but at a few places he makes some sweeping statements which appear to be made without much proof.

Following are some such sweeping statements.

1. Comparing vedic culture to a culture that bears a generic likeness to that of 'Beowulf' who were semi-barbarians.

2.'and was somehow less advanced than that depicted in the Iliad.

3."BUT IN GENERAL THE MUSLIMS WERE REASONABLY TOLERANT "
Its tough to find any scholar agreeing with this view point. This is almost exclusively of AL BASHAM.

Lot more like this but believe me!.