A New History of India

The writers consist of a contemporary historian, an ancient historian, and a visual documentarian. Notably, they do not detail their specific contributions to the book, although their areas of expertise imply where each likely contributed. However, they render this book a collaborative effort by failing to define it in any manner.

The authors provide a detailed account of "India" – detailing its geological developments, the emergence of statehood, the ascent and decline of various states, the onset of colonial influences, and concluding with contemporary political dynamics. The sections are brief and straightforward, enhanced by multiple images and distinct information boxes. One of the most significant advantages of the book is that it is easy to read and engaging because of the pictorial additions. An abundance of visuals provides the reader with an alternative focus aside from the text. Like numerous other books about Indian history, this one is also primarily focused on North India; however, it does feature a considerable amount of South Indian history, particularly in the initial chapters. Certain aspects, such as those concerning Tamil society in Chapter 9, are often overlooked in the broader context.

Nonetheless, certain sections of the book puzzled me – for instance, incorporating geological history into a nation's history, relying on colonial names as benchmarks, or referencing modern cities as geographic markers hundreds of years before they came into being. The story, mainly in chronological order, contains an unexplained interruption in the centre where thematic chapters are presented. Two chapters, focusing on the North- East and "India's" ties to the world, are positioned between the entry of European trading powers and the emergence of the East India Company. An example I wish to emphasise is the section on the North-East. It starts effectively questioning the term but then falters by immediately "othering" the region, claiming, "They behave differently here." Nevertheless, there is an attempt to compensate by providing a concise history of the area, surpassing what most other histories of India offer.

Strangely, in the book's last section, the narrative shifts to a content-rich focus centred around one specific area. While often highly dramatised, the story essentially serves as a history of Bengal and the freedom struggle, centring on particular individuals and occurrences without alluding to a broader historical context. Ultimately, the book transforms into a strictly political, hierarchical account of a specific concept of the Indian state, a narrative that historians have repeated numerous times.

Who is the target audience? The absence of citations and footnotes, clear writing, and a simple vocabulary in the opening chapters indicate a book aimed at an intelligent general readership rather than an academic one. The abundance of images strengthened this idea. The authors provide an expansive canvas by creating a history of all India. The only approach to address this may be to remain straightforward and give a general overview of the history. However, oddly enough, following chapter 18, the book appears to target a different audience, equipped with the understanding necessary to grasp the complex economic and political aspects explored.

Additionally, the writers do not clearly define their notion of "India." They appear to regard the contemporary nation-state, defined by its existing borders, as their primary concern. However, they apply the concept to areas identified through various other methods. Initially adhering to conventional approaches in Indian history writing, the authors then switch to a traditional structure for the modern era, offering a limited account of land settlement, colonial Bengal, and the events of 1857, subsequently limitedly exploring Gandhi and the independence movement while overlooking numerous other elements that have contributed to India's history.

Is the novelty in the broader timeframe addressed here in contrast to most books? If that is true, can 400 pages adequately represent this history? Furthermore, what does it contribute to our comprehension of history? An account of an extensive duration demands consideration of significant ideas and wide-ranging trends. It urges a prospective writer to deliberate thoroughly and to summarise thoughtfully when necessary, selecting the most essential elements. Labelling a book as a "new" history also suggests that this type of work was not created previously. An examination of the bibliography reveals solely secondary sources – the efforts and writings of other authors (it is worth mentioning that it merely compiles the most significant names). Several lines of analysis and the majority of the images provided make this book distinctive. Does this book, then, fulfil its promises? Although it is sometimes successful, it appears to ignore the different histories within the claimed region of "India". In short, a decent primer with a limited lens might be worthwhile for those who want to examine India's history in a restricted sense.