1 comments about Sikkim Region of India Map by ITMB (Travel Reference Map).

1. This map is all you need to discover the possibilities for adventures in Sikkim. It enables you to get a feel for lie of the land and enables you to plan accordingly, whether it be trekking or cultural experiences. If you are going to Sikkim you need this map. Dont leave home without it.

5 comments about Veerappan: India's Most Wanted Man.

1. This book is all about how a hard-nosed journalist has gone about unravelling the story of one of the most intriguing men in the world of crime today.

   Wonderfully descriptive and finely balanced in the treatment of the story, this book is one of the best works in the crime thriller genre in a long time. Just go for it!




2. This book by Sunaad Raghuram tells us the real story of Veerappan, sifitng so perfectly the wheat from the chaff, as it were. Handling a subject which is essentially given to hyperbole and exagerration-as indulged by vast sections of the media- is definitely not easy.

   But Sunaad Raghuram does it with professional ease and gives us a remarkably believable account of the brigand who has been bestowed with almost super-human abilitites.

   His writing style is direct, to the point, without any frills and throrougly riveting. An exhaustive work; one which leaves you with almost everything that you always wanted to know about the bandit who has been like none other in the world's history of crime.




3. Well, I always wondered why anyone had not attempted a biography of a man who had taken a whole country's imagination with him for so long. And boy, was the wait worth it!

   Sunaad Raghuram has achieved what not one other journalist on the trail of the bandit has. And how does he do it? With style, aplomb, finesse and authenticity.

   Starting by detailing the history of crime in Veerappan's part of the world and going on to describe vividly the many chilling incidents in the bandit's story, Sunaad does a fine job of unravelling the whole scene layer by layer.
   This is a book which will remain in memory long after it has been closed. More so for readers of Indian origin who would probably know a thing or two of the story's setting.




4. I was so terribly curious to know more about this bandit called Veerappan. And finally, my desire to understand the man and his methods has been fulfilled by this gripping book.

   This is a book for all India-watchers who have the inclination to know the country beyond its computer software credentials! It is amazing how one man, the bandit in question, can do all the things that he has done.
   
   The author, Sunaad, deserves a pat on the back for having recreated the entire story without once slacking in the narration.

   All in all, a fine read, this book!




5. as a veerappan fan i found this book very good. Author sunaad did not fall in either veerappan side or on police side. He mentioned atrocities of both sides. There are few not clear or false items but other than that book is very good and a must read for all south indian news followers. as veerappan got killed by police recently. i am really interested if the same author can write a book regarding his death. i am sure veerappan did not get killed by police encounter and police is not telling the truth.
   
   My god rest Verappan's soul.

2 comments about Nanda Devi Affair.

1. Aitken's records his passionate love affair with Nanda Devi, India's tallest mountain, in this fascinating book. The striking geographical feature of Nanda Devi has spawned a religious cult in the surrounding region and the peak is considered a manifestation of Parvati, the consort of the Hindu God, Shiva.

   Aitken's narrative is rich in cultural and spiritual insights and embellished with numerous interesting accounts of human interaction with the Goddess and her fortress - the Nanda Devi sanctuary, a wild paradise surrounded by a cirque of giant mountains. The author's own journeys into the domain of his beloved reveal his love for the Indian Himalaya and his desire to unravel the numerous mysteries surrounding the Devi - historical, geographical and mythical.

   Aitken's writing is evocative and his passion rubs off on the reader. A must read for lovers of mountains as well as those interested in Hinduism.




2. aitken is a master story teller . and this is one of his finest works . he effortlessy combines his love for the mountains ,his profound knowledge of local customs ,humorous takes on hill gossip and his deep understading of the psychology of the hillman .to top it all , he is drawn to the hills not by a desire to conquer them , as many have , but by his passion and love for them , which few have .he is a true romantic , in his sense of the word .
   being a native hillman myself ,apart from being a mountain lover, and inspite of having lived there , i was amazed to find a foreigner who could read and sense the himalayas ( and all that they behold)so well .
   lets hope that aitken's book helps change the attitude of mountaineers who go through their routines mechanically , with only a desire to conquer .also hope that aitkens book helps to intensify our love for the mountains .

No comments about Indian Balm: Travels amongst Fakirs and Fire Warriors (Tauris Parke Paperbacks).

2 comments about The Grand Trunk Road: A Passage Through India.

1. A gorgeous slice of life photographed by Raghubir Singh in his eleventh book of photographs. These pictures are sumptuous to look at while stimulating one's curiosity about the enormous melange of peoples and cultures that make up India.

   There are camels and carpets, a medieval milestone, scooter riders and monsoon floods. There is a museum watchman who could easily be the model for one of the ancient statues he guards. There are pilgrims and festivals. Everywhere there are people living. Some are aware of the cameraman others go about their business with out acknowledging his presence.

   This book is enjoyable on so many levels. Singh's feeling for his subject matter and his exceptional sense of composition and color create a satisfying work of art.




2. A gorgeous slice of life photographed by Raghubir Singh in his eleventh book of photographs. These pictures are sumptuous to look at while stimulating one's curiosity about the enormous melange of peoples and cultures that make up India.

   There are camels and carpets, a medieval milestone, scooter riders and monsoon floods. There is a museum watchman who could easily be the model for one of the ancient statues he guards. There are pilgrims and festivals. Everywhere there are people living. Some are aware of the cameraman others go about their business with out acknowledging his presence.

   This book is enjoyable on so many levels. Singh's feeling for his subject matter and his exceptional sense of composition and color create a satisfying work of art.

4 comments about Children of Kali: Through India in Search of Bandits, the Thug Cult, and the British Raj.

1. Anybody interested in Modern India, I urge you to read "Children of Kali" by Kevin Rushby from several points of views:
   
   1. How we get what we seek:
   Kevin went to India in search of thugs and decoits, while Maddy (a character in the book) went to India in quest of happiness. See what each one got, and how this simple concept of "we get what we seek" revealed to Kevin at Sangam.
   
   2. Real history of modern times:
   The history of north and central India during East India company, Raj and after wee hours of independence is not taught to us, Indians in schools as it should be. Read how Kevin unearths it.
   
   3. Travelogue:
   How we all have very similar experiences as Kevin had in India, except he logs it in a superb fashion.
   
   4. Objectivity:
   If you are from India (a non-resident Indian, like me), see the places you grew up from an objective eye. Not necessarily an English eye, but an eye of a just seeker, Kevin that is!
   
   5. Style:
   I absolutely love the modern style of story-telling that is weaved with real facts and ground-level research. Just to examine this aspect, the book is worth reading.



2. I was expecting a much darker(creepy?) book from what I had read of the excerpt from the synopsis given by the bookstore. It turned out to be a very humorous travel log by Kevin Rushby's search of the Thug Cult. There are many entertaining encounters with the people in India, great descriptions of the food there, atrocious hotel rooms, the hustle and bustle of a very populated country - all a very informative and highly entertaining look of a Brit with a wonderful sense of humor travelling through ancient India. If you enjoy cooking or travel essays, this book's a keeper.



3. This book deals with some very interesting, yet somewhat disparate topics. Rushby's travelogue/history was apparently inspired by his learning of the British colonial administrator Sleeman, who allegedly eliminated the thuggees from India. He travels across India to investigate the thuggees, but somehow mixes them up with Indian bandits, gangsters, and assorted mischief-makers. His biggest problem is his tendency to write in a stream-of-conscious style that is confusing. He jumps around from different places, to different topics, switches between travelogue, history, and commentary, without effectively transitioning and explaining himself. At times he refers to phenomena, places and people without any explanation of who or what they are. With just a little better writing and editing, this could have earned five stars.



4. Kevin Rushby has traveled extensively, and has written about his journeys with insight and tremendous empathy for people he has met. Children of Kali concerns his search for knowledge on the current state of the thug cult (murderous worshippers of the goddess Kali), and for one charismatic and well-known thug in particular. But the book does not read like some sort of true-crime or investigative work; rather, it takes the form of a travelogue, where Rushby learns about the parts of India he travels through, the types of people he meets. As such, although it develops at a slower or more leisurely pace, the work is deep and rich, and the reader feels he has learned not so much about the cult of Kali as gained somewhat of a new perspective on life. It was not exactly the type of book I was expecting, but I came to very much enjoy reading it.

No comments about Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage.

No comments about Ladakh: Culture at the Crossroads.

5 comments about Butter Chicken in Ludhiana.

1. I personally think this book is amazing. I have travelled all over India myself and his description fits best to every little place he talks about. Extremely humourous and very informative. I would recommend this book to any person who wants to read about the true taste of India, its flavour and have a great laugh. I think Pankaj Mishra is a brilliant writer. I know I have read this book a number of times and will surely read it over and over again. Well Done. Kind regards, Siraj



2. I started this book one night just before going to bed,fairly certain that it will be some heavy stuff whose arcane language and endless descriptions will surely put me to sleep quickly. I ended up without getting a wink, even though the next day was a working day. I simply could not resist turning page after page. Midway, I started slowing down, savouring each sentence because I didn't want it to end.

   Frequently, I was just stunned. By the author's sharp insight into the minds of the people he met, especially in the first half, when he is in the north. The people he describes are not unusual or quirky. They are just everyday people. The kind Indians meet all the time in markets, bus stations and of course while in the train.(I can bet no one has described Indian train travel conversations as accurately as Pankaj Mishra has.)

   What Mishra does is point out with amazing sharpness, their quirks, their petty concerns, the conditioning of their minds, what's touching about their lives,and why these typical Indians are so so funny, when you step back and look at them,as if you were meeting them the first time.

   There is definitely something happening in Indian society. A huge undercurrent of social and economic change which in turn is changing the quality of people's values, customs, hopes and dreams.There's a lot of talk about the big city part of it, but no one's looking at the small towns. Mishra's focus on them is therefore topical, relevant and important.

   I have gone back several times to Butter Chicken in Ludhiana. Just to read my favourite portions, chuckle to myself and marvel at how real it is.

   That's the kind of book it is.




3. Butter Chicken in Ludhiana is a chronicle of Pankaj Mishra's travels
   in various Indian cities like Bundi, Udaipur, Bangalore, Benares, etc.
   Mr. Mishra meets various people along the way, and recounts interactions
   in each episode, often quoting entire conversations verbatim.

   The first thing which strikes the reader of this book is Mr. Mishra's
   seeming desire to seek out the worst in his fellow-Indians.
   He automatically imputes the people in this book with the
   worst motives (often in places where he is no position to guess -
   for example, a snide comment about drivers on the Delhi-Jaipur highway
   committing suicide in frustration or assuming that the boys
   at the Madras rail station are hanging around their grandmother only
   for the "inevitable cash gift"). Mr. Mishra rarely sees beyond
   the grime and dust immediately surrounding him, and launches into a
   diatribe against people and places the moment he gets an opening.
   This is probably the reason he fled India - he now lives in London.

   The big problem with this book, however is that it is little
   more than a diary of events which happened to Mr. Mishra on his
   travels. India is confusing, but this book even more so. What
   exactly is the author trying to convey ?

   A few chapters are quite bizarre.
   In the nice small town of Udaipur, for instance, instead of
   trying to understand why the people there are different,
   he complains that in spite of all he did "my notebook
   remained blank", before launching into a long and
   ultimately pointless story about Munna, a migrant
   from Ghazipur. The entire Benares chapter is an almost
   verbatim transcript of two conversations, and Mr. Mishra
   gives credence to some convoluted logic narrated to him
   to explain the eve-teasing phenomenon.

   Mr. Mishra takes a simplistic view of the explosive growth of
   satellite TV in India - he makes no attempt to understand the
   positive aspects of this phenomenon. He is clearly not interested
   in making an effort to understand people either - in one incident,
   when he meets people he doesn't like in a train, he avoids them
   by moving to a different compartment. He freely reports overheard
   conversations - eyes rolled to heaven - mostly amongst people
   depicted as utterly despicable. One can confidently say that
   the people he describes are not typical, but then Mr. Mishra seems to love sinking his teeth into a juicy bad guy any time he can find one.
   One gets the feeling that Mr. Mishra could easily have made a
   living writing parts for villains in soap operas and Bollywood
   movies.

   Ultimately, Mr. Mishra's sneering attitude, adopted from Naipaul,
   fails, because he has none of the compassion for India which
   lies behind Naipaul's questioning facade. The book remains
   a Naipaul-crossed kid's first foray into writing - an embarassing
   foray, which is best forgotten.




4. This book is not just about India. It is a melancholic account on the destruction of traditional life by a globalised, money ridden economy. The author longs for the simple sensual pleasures which, in his opinion, India of old used to offer.
   
   About 200 years ago Europe had the same problems with industrialisation India today faces with globalisation. Even now, in countries like Spain, Europe encounters them. The result is always the same. People have more money, but, in the long run, can buy less with it. They have to adapt to the rhythms of machines and computers which are different from the ones of the human body. They have to work faster and harder than ever. Today, European bodies are full of tensions. The quality of sex and food is not good. The social classes are still there.
   
   Mr. Mishra does not offer a solution. Europeans who are searching for for a way out, experiment with alternative life styles but this too often results in esoteric 'ecos' and 'ethnos' many of which are quite unattractive, drug ridden and boring. This is because for most Europeans it is too late. Their bodies are too spoilt and sick. It is to hope that Indians whose bodies still might be more sensitive to the violence of money and machines will be able to work on viable, attractive solutions. This is when India truly would be a light to the world.



5. Quite a boring & prudish account of his travels. I have travelled quite a bit, but never have I such a disconnect as with this book.
   To each his own, I guess. All in all, a book well worth AVOIDING.

No comments about The Scent of India.