Ramachandra Guha

Inspite of all of Guha's perceived 'centrism' and his reverence (bordering on idolatry) of Gandhi and the first Nehru, this collection of essays (both old and new) by the eminent historian is immensely readable, dealing with a variety of issues - ranging from his favorite (now defunct) bookshop in Bengaluru, to the ticking bomb that is South Asia.

Guha comes across as a charming and erudite (if somewhat snobbish) scholar, one whose numerous tangents are read fondly, a rare quality for a author to have, and an even rarer quality for a historian to possess.

The main pitfall of this compendium will be the fact, that since it is a collection of essays, and not a standalone treatise on a single topic - many topics are repeated, and this happens fairly frequently. This collection would have been better served by a more meticulous editor, but oh well.

TL;DR - good read if you're interested in history/politics, must read if you're cynical about Indian politics (you'll become even more cynical, but that's a different matter altogether).… (altro)

A brilliant account of Gandhi's early years in South Africa, where he developed his political thinking and forged his tools for fighting for civil rights. We in the subcontinent are generally not well informed of the length and intensity of this two decades long struggle for basic civil rights, and tend to assume that it was a simple, one-off affair. On the contrary, it was a long and bitter struggle, calling for enormous commitment and sacrifices on the part of quite ordinary people of Indian origin in South Africa, led and organised by a small-town lawyer from an obscure corner of Gujerat in the west of India, with no traditional or family ties to the place of the struggle. The author has rendered a timely service in retelling this epic in detail, as it tends to get overshadowed by the later part of Gandhi's life and career. It enhances our respect and awe of this great person, who went on to the even greater struggle of Indian independence, when he could as well have hung up his walking footwear and retreated to the life of a provincial lawyer. The simplicity and directness of Guha's prose mirrors the personality and style of his protagonist, making for an absorbing and painless reading experience.… (altro)