Book Review

What happened to Governance in Kashmir ? by Aijaz Ashraf Wani

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

Reading some books helps understand contemporary realities from an alternate perspective. The two books I introduce here are the ones written by authors who belonged to Kashmir. One of them lived through the times which he converted into a memoir and the other researched about them. Both come from a milieu that allows them to […]

Gandhi’s Hinduism the struggle against Jinnah’s Islam

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

When it comes to the writings on political Islam in India, there is no better contemporary author than Akbar. In this superbly researched book, he takes the reader through that phase of Indian history, which had seen political Islam in its most aggressive avatar. There are countless books on the story of India’s partition. I […]

The Indian Conservative – A History of Indian Right Wing thought

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

The Indian Conservative is doubtless the first of its kind Indian book on the topic authored by eminent tech-entrepreneur and author Jaithirth Rao. It is a monologue essentially in a ‘discursive, anecdotal, conversational and elliptic’ style as the author puts it. Rich in information, this book about Indian conservatism gives the nationalist individuals and scholars […]

The costliest pearl – China’s struggle for India’s Ocean

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

Like all his other books, this one by Bertil Lintner too is a fascinating read. Good book to understand the emerging big power game, ‘a new cold war’ as Lintner describes it, in the Indo-Pacific region today. Indo-Pacific has emerged as the most important and happening region in the world in global geo-politics today. All […]

The Lost History of Liberalism – From Ancient Rome to the twenty first century

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

This book is a very interesting expose’ of the Liberalist dogma right from its ancient Roman beginnings to today’s western identity. Largely focused on the happenings in Europe, this book highlights the long history of omissions and commissions in the name of liberalism in various countries. Liberal word began as an abuse and epithet in […]

Nationalism in Hindu Culture

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

This Radha Kumud Mookerji’s 1921 vintage book was republished by Bibliolife. Very informative book on nationalism, patriotism and political ideals embedded in ancient Hindu scriptures and Sanskrit literature. Must read small book for Indic scholars and enthusiasts.

The Levelling – What’s next after Globalisation

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

The Levelling is an excellent, thought-provoking analysis of the future in store for different countries and continents. Michael o’ Sullivan insists that the age of globalisation has ended and a new world order is emerging with newer challenges. He takes us back to the Levellers movement of the 17th century Britain to engender ideas that […]

They snatched my playground

Ram Madhav, May 4, 2020

‘They Snatched My Playground’ is a superb personal narrative of a journalist-turned BJP politician from Kashmir Valley Khalid Jehangir about his life in the Valley, it’s terrorism, it’s politics and about the silent majority whose voices are hardly heard or whose stories hardly spoken about. Khalid had a distinct advantage in life in the sense […]