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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Book Box: Reading India, becoming India
When my siblings and I were young, we saved the ribbed fancy sheets from imported chocolate boxes. A week before your birthday, Independence Day, we would paint them with orange and green bands, a blue wheel in the centre—our own handmade flags, fragile but fiercely ours. On the morning of your birthday, we woke early for the flag hoisting, first at school and then with my father, often chief guest somewhere, accompanied by my mother, my siblings, and I in our best traditional clothes. After the flag went up and my father spoke in hesitant Hindi, we all stood singing the national anthem. Back then, you felt like a living presence. In college, you became the subject of fiery debates—about brain drain, about the young who took subsidised education and left for America. I studied Shakespeare, Keats, and Hardy, but in my free time I turned to The Discovery of India and My Experiments with Truth. You were still an emotional reality. Then came the years when I rarely thought of you directly. I was busy in my bubble - building a career, raising babies, and only sought you out in the stories I chose for my children—Chitra Divakaruni's Victory Song, the tale of a little Bengali girl in the freedom struggle; accounts of women like Jahanara by Kathryn Lasky. Later, there were more books to discover—a graphic history of the The People of the Indus Valley by Nikhil Gulati, the lushly illustrated Book of Emperors by Ashwitha Jayakumar , picture books like Topi Rockets from Thumba by Menaka Raman. I bought them for my daughters, for friends' children, and for myself. By now your economic borders opened, and imported chocolate boxes sat openly on grocery shelves. Flags were no longer hand-painted, but sold in bulk by little boys at traffic lights a week before your big day. Also Read: Book Box| From Brooklyn to Rome: Katie Kitamura on writing, family, pleasure I loved the reality of you, we all did. Our three girls piling into the Scorpio for monsoon weekends in Malshej Ghat or Matheran; Konkan train rides; historical walks in Delhi's Lodhi Gardens; road trips from Punjab's plains to Manali's mountains. But as we sped across your spanking new highways, with the pleasure also came the guilt - the realisation that we were privileged Indians to be able to see so much of your beauty. The girls grew. One studied engineering in Vellore. Another built a career in your Silicon Valley, in Bengaluru. The youngest made her home in Delhi, working with Parliament and citizens to strengthen democracy. In those years I thought about you every day, but in a fleeting frustrated way when I read about bridges collapsing, forests being decimated and journalists being murdered. I continued to feel guilty for my privilege, and for not fighting for you, the way so many of my countrymen and countrywomen were. I read the memoirs of these nation builders - in books like The Brass Notebook by economist Devaki Jain, Madam Sir: The Story of Bihar's First Lady IPS Officer by Manjari Jaruhar, Land, Guns, Caste, Woman: The Memoir of a Lapsed Revolutionary by Gita Ramaswamy and The Personal is Political by Aruna Roy. Reading India Reading became a substitute for doing. It made it easy to love you from a distance. With my book club, I started an India Reading Project: one book from each state, in one of your many languages. We read unforgettable works like Hangwoman by K . R Meera and The Many That I Am: Writings from Nagaland, all bursting with uncomfortable truths. I turned the last page of Poonachi by Perumal Murugan with a lump in my throat, but then I shut the book and went on with my day. Also Read: Book Box: How to stop calculating time Today, I tally my betrayals: the broken bridges I didn't protest, the forests I 'liked' but didn't save. I know I am but one among your 1.4 billion, but on this day, your birthday, I promise you that while I will still read, I will also do. I know that reading about Rahul Bhatia's The Identity Project isn't enough—I will invite him to speak to my students, turning one book club conversation into a hundred young minds thinking about their civic duties. Maybe that's not much. But it's a start. With love and gratitude, Sonya And for you, dear Reader, a question - what is your one concrete step? (Sonya Dutta Choudhury is a Mumbai-based journalist and the founder of Sonya's Book Box, a bespoke book service. Each week, she brings you specially curated books to give you an immersive understanding of people and places. If you have any reading recommendations or reading dilemmas, write to her at sonyasbookbox@ The views expressed are personal)
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Independence Day 2025: 4 Inspiring Books Every Student Should Read To Understand India's Freedom Struggle And Patriotism
India's journey to independence is a story of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. This Independence Day 2025, immerse yourself in the inspiring tales of the freedom struggle through books that bring history alive. These reads are not just educational but also deeply motivating for students, offering lessons on leadership, unity, and patriotism. 1. 'India's Struggle for Independence' by Bipan Chandra A comprehensive account of India's freedom movement, this book covers events from the Revolt of 1857 to the attainment of independence in 1947. It offers detailed insights into key leaders, movements, and turning points that shaped the nation's destiny. For students, it is a must-read to understand the chronology and depth of India's fight for freedom. 2. 'The Discovery of India' by Jawaharlal Nehru Written by India's first Prime Minister during his imprisonment in 1942, this book blends history, culture, and philosophy. Nehru takes readers through India's ancient past, colonial challenges, and the vision for a free nation. It is perfect for students who want to grasp the civilisational richness of India while understanding its modern political journey. (Also Read: Independence Day 2025: 6 Innovative And Patriotic Ways To Celebrate August 15 In India) 3. 'Why I Am an Atheist' by Bhagat Singh This powerful essay, penned by revolutionary Bhagat Singh, reveals his rationalist and fearless mindset. It challenges conventional thinking and inspires young minds to question, learn, and act with conviction. A short but impactful read, it captures the ideological courage of one of India's greatest freedom fighters. 4. 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' by Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography offers a firsthand account of his life, principles, and role in the freedom movement. Through stories of non-violence, truth, and self-discipline, students can learn timeless lessons that extend far beyond politics, shaping personal character and values. (Also Read: Independence Day 2025: A Look Into PM Modi's Iconic Turbans Over Last 8 Years Showcasing India's Culture – In Pics) Reading about India's freedom struggle is more than just revisiting history—it's about carrying forward the values that shaped the nation. This Independence Day 2025, let these books inspire you to think critically, act courageously, and contribute positively to the country's future.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Political Line Newsletter Bharat Mata and her quarrelsome children
(This is the latest edition of the Political Line newsletter curated by Varghese K. George. The Political Line newsletter is India's political landscape explained every week. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox every Friday.) Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar insists on the display of a representation of a woman, Bharat Mata, holding the saffron flag at official functions. This has turned into a political controversy, with people and the Kerala government protesting on paper and on the streets. The idea of anthropomorphising the country, particularly as mother, has a long and contested history in India. Indian nationalism has drawn heavily from Hindu symbolism and iconography, and the concept of Bharat Mata and its representation was instructive. It had unifying power, but simultaneously triggered discord, as it excluded religious minorities. Muslims, particularly, developed a deep scepticism towards the idea of Bharat Mata, and the worship of the nation as mother. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, sought to give the imagery of Bharat Mata a secular character in his book The Discovery of India. But he too is discovering India as a civilizational eternity. Marking the birth centenary of Nehru (in 1989), a 53-episode docudrama on the state-controlled network Doordarshan televised the book. Shyam Benegal directed Bharat Ek Khoj, with the first episode being 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, and Benegal was by no means sectarian. The episode begins with Hindu chants in Sanskrit, before it goes on to Nehru's secular conception of Bharat Mata. The point was that it would be difficult to articulate the historicity of Indian identity without relying on Hinduism. But Nehru and his compatriots were sensitive about the potential of the slogan creating a communal rift. You could find more about that in this review of historian Sugata Bose's book The Nation as Mother and Other Visions of Nationhood. The former general secretary of the Lok Sabha P.D.T. Achary traces the history of Bharat as mother and notes that there is no constitutionally recognised depiction of the concept. The Hindu's own editorial considers the Governor's enthusiasm for the public veneration of the image a partisan move. 'Who is Bharat Mata': On History, Culture and the Idea of India, Writings by and on Jawaharlal Nehru, edited by Purushottam Agrawal could also be of interest. You could find a review of the book here. If you have stayed with me this far on this topic, I would also recommend The Goddess and the Nation: Mapping Mother India by Sumathi Ramaswamy. The book brings us dozens of depictions of India as mother and goddess from the 19th century to the present. Federalism Tract Regional sentiments In Tamil Nadu, BJP ally AIADMK is on the back foot following the screening of video clips that showed leaders of Dravidian politics as critics of the Hindu religion at an event where their leaders were present. In Maharashtra, the BJP is trying to assuage regional sentiments after the government led by it privileged Hindi over other Indian languages in its three-language policy. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a final decision on implementing the three-language formula in schools in the State will be taken only after discussions with writers, language experts, political leaders, and all other stakeholders. In West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government built a Jagannath temple in Digha, which custodians of the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha consider a violation of its singular primacy. Ms. Banerjee inaugurated the first 'Rath Yatra' from the ₹250-crore temple in the coastal town. Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati said the Jagannath temple constructed at Digha, lacked religious sanctity and was driven more by commercial interests than spiritual devotion.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Moral values are foundation of Indian culture, says Rajasthan Guv Bagde
Jaipur, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde on Thursday said that moral values have been the foundation of Indian culture and the new education policy serves as its carrier. Addressing the convocation ceremony of Rajasthan University, Bagde said, "Moral values have been the main basis of Indian culture. To take these values away, Lord Macaulay introduced the English education system during British rule, which developed a slave mentality among citizens." He said that Vinoba Bhave had once remarked that just as the national flag was changed after independence, the education policy should also have been changed. However, that did not happen. "Now, a new education policy has been prepared by around one thousand educationists. It is filled with Indian ethos and life values, and it promotes moral values,' Bagde said, adding that teachers should educate students in the spirit of this policy. Expressing happiness over the fact that more than 75 per cent of the gold medal recipients were girls, the governor said they are now creating a new history of achievements. Referring to Maharishi Arvind, Bagde said he had emphasised awakening the inner self to enhance intellectual capacity in children, an idea also mentioned by Pandit Nehru in 'The Discovery of India'. He said the new education policy aims to realise this vision. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, who also addressed the event, said an order has been issued to rename the Vice Chancellor as 'Kulguru' in state universities, adding that the pride of education lies in this term. Devnani said the Indian knowledge system remains relevant today and has made significant contributions in fields like education, science, technology, and philosophy since ancient times. He urged the youth to become self-reliant while upholding humility and decency. Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Premchand Bairwa also addressed the students on the occasion.
