Studying History

Since long, I wanted to write various blog posts to share my observations, reading, travel and some times pictures taken by me while travelling through India. I travel a lot for professional work. However, I make it a point to spare a day or two to see the place/town. During last few years, I had the opportunity to travel abroad too. I even lived for six months in the little island country Mauritius on professional assignment. I found that, majority of persons, Indian as well as foreign, with whom I interacted, were unaware of India's history, historical places, landmark events of Indian history, India's culture, it's rich tradition of music and food. Every time, I had in mind to do something about this in my own little way. 

The book presented to me by my father in 1972

I am a student of India's history since last about 40 years. I started with history of Marathas i.e. the life and times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj when I was still in school. That was followed by detail study on 'Peshvai' i.e. the Peshvas who were Prime Ministers of the Maratha empire and who administered the empire from Pune while the capital was at Satara. My father presented me a book, which is essentially a biography of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj, founder of Maratha empire. The book is still the last word in the life and times of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj. I still the read the book occasionally.

Then I took up the topic of 'Kutubshhahi' and 'Nizamshahi' i.e. history of Hyderabad and Berar. Thereafter I took up history of Rajasthan and then Punjab.

I spent considerable amount of time in studying the history of partition of India, which essentially was about the western part of the sub-continent. I was so mush involved in that study that I landed up learning Punjabi. However, while studying history of partition of India then, I made a mistake, which I now learn, that it is common. I totally neglected the eastern part of the story! The partition of Bengal and creation of east Pakistan which is now known as Bangladesh. I have now corrected my mistake and since last one year or so, started studying history of Bengal and the partition of Bengal. I had brief introduction to Bengal in 1986. I tried to gather material on Bengal's history but could not do so in systematic manner. I did read some stray material on Bengal intermittently. Now I have so much material in hand, which may last for a year or two!

While studying history of all these areas, essentially, the relevant part of history of British empire in India was also covered. I wanted to study the history of British in India in comprehensive and systematic manner but could not do so for various reasons. Now I propose to do it starting with history of Bengal.

I propose to write about history of various parts of India, which I studied, historical places, various cities and villages, Indian culture, Indian food, Indian music and of course my rambles in relation to these topics.