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Song Of India: A Study Of The National Anthem
The rousing chords and stirring message of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are familiar to every Indian citizen. The song defines with clarity India’s most cherished values. Composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, it celebrates the unity in our diverse and plural society, praises the beauty of our mountains, rivers, and seas, and honours our civilizational values. In this insightful study, scholar and historian Rudrangshu Mukherjee traces its origins (showing us what its creator had in mind when he composed the song), explains how and why it was chosen over other contenders, examines the occasional controversies that have surrounded it, and reminds us about the truths that underlie it. The national anthem is visionary. It recognizes and salutes everything that is brave, noble, and unique about our country. It also contains within it a promise and a pledge to uphold our lofty ideals and traditions. Citizens, and especially our elected representatives, should understand that every time they stand up in respect when ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is played or sung, it is their responsibility to fulfil the promise and honour the pledge.
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A New History of India for Children: From Its Origins to the Twenty-first Century
In A New History of India for Children, award-winning historian Rudrangshu Mukherjee along with photographer–archivist Toby Sinclair and the late cultural historian Shobita Punja, tell the story of one of the oldest, most diverse countries in the world with simplicity and clarity. The book touches upon all the most important milestones in India’s history, from the first dinosaurs to roam its lands to the metro that snakes through its modern, metropolitan capital city. It begins in prehistory, billions of years ago, describing how the geography of India came to be what it is today, and traces the evolution of Indian civilization through key events and people. What began with the Harappan Culture grew and flourished under the Maurya and Gupta empires, was enriched by the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal empire, and went on to be colonized and exploited by the British Raj. Led to glorious Independence by stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel, India then suffered the heartbreak of Partition, before evolving into one of the world’s most powerful countries in the twenty-first century. This complete one-volume history for children, illustrated by maps and full-colour photographs, covers everything from lost cities and epic empires to colonial conquests and modern marvels. There’s something for every young reader in this fascinating account of India’s vibrant and eventful history.