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The South India story attempted here is of a peninsular region influenced by the oceans, not by the Himalayas. Yet it is more than that. It is a story of facets of four powerful culturesKannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, to name them in alphabetical orderand yet more than that, for Kodava, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya and Tulu cultures have also influenced it, as also other older and possibly more indigenous cultures often seen as tribal, as well as cultures originating in other parts of India and the world. With South Indias Malayalam region being (in modern times) the most balanced in terms of religion and also the most literate, its Kannada zone occupying South Indias geographical centre and containing the sites of the Vijayanagara kingdom and also the kingdom of Haidar and Tipu, its Telugu portion the largest in area and holding the most people, and its Tamil part the most Dravidian and possessing the oldest literature, the four principal cultures are, unsurprisingly, competitive. But they are also complementary. This is a Dravidian story, and also more than that. It is a story involving four centuries, the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth, yet other periods intrude upon it...… (más)
Most North Indians are familiar with the history of North India, especially the Mughals and The East India Company. We are unfamiliar with the Delhi Sultanate or the period before Muslim rule. We are also unfamiliar with the history of other parts of India, especially East or South India. Rajmohan Gandhi's book is an excellent place to start, especially for those who wish to gain a first understanding. However, the book is not perfect. The sections on the 20th and 21st centuries are confusing.
It is intriguing to note South India's more passive role during the British Raj. After Tipu Sultan's death, resistance to The East India Company almost died in South India.
A welcome aspect of the book is its focus on the role of a few Britishers in studying and preserving South Indian texts. He could have done better. For instance, he quotes John Wilks widely while acknowledging the gentleman's negative bias against Tipu Sultan. Why didn't he research and quote other authors to deliver a balanced and nuanced perspective on Tipu Sultan (among others)? ( )
The South India story attempted here is of a peninsular region influenced by the oceans, not by the Himalayas. Yet it is more than that. It is a story of facets of four powerful culturesKannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, to name them in alphabetical orderand yet more than that, for Kodava, Konkani, Marathi, Oriya and Tulu cultures have also influenced it, as also other older and possibly more indigenous cultures often seen as tribal, as well as cultures originating in other parts of India and the world. With South Indias Malayalam region being (in modern times) the most balanced in terms of religion and also the most literate, its Kannada zone occupying South Indias geographical centre and containing the sites of the Vijayanagara kingdom and also the kingdom of Haidar and Tipu, its Telugu portion the largest in area and holding the most people, and its Tamil part the most Dravidian and possessing the oldest literature, the four principal cultures are, unsurprisingly, competitive. But they are also complementary. This is a Dravidian story, and also more than that. It is a story involving four centuries, the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth, yet other periods intrude upon it...
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Rajmohan Gandhi's book is an excellent place to start, especially for those who wish to gain a first understanding. However, the book is not perfect. The sections on the 20th and 21st centuries are confusing.
It is intriguing to note South India's more passive role during the British Raj. After Tipu Sultan's death, resistance to The East India Company almost died in South India.
A welcome aspect of the book is its focus on the role of a few Britishers in studying and preserving South Indian texts.
He could have done better. For instance, he quotes John Wilks widely while acknowledging the gentleman's negative bias against Tipu Sultan. Why didn't he research and quote other authors to deliver a balanced and nuanced perspective on Tipu Sultan (among others)? (