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Patriots & Partisans (2013)

by Ramachandra Guha(Favorite Author)

3.85 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Penguin

review 1: Some might criticize him for Belle-Lettrism, some for giving way too much importance to individuals rather than the fluid streams of history. And some of that might be true as well. Still, Ramchandra Guha's books are very readable and give a unique sense of pleasure. A strongly worded liberal, always ready to voice opinion against intolerance and fascist tendencies of any kind, he does make history much more accessible to the lay person. Though this book is more a collection of memoirs than a serious historical treatise, still it is irreverent, rich with nostalgia and full of polemics calling out the intolerant culture flag-bearers and arguing passionately for a free-er, more tolerant, more liberal India. Though, frankly through all the pieces one gets a sense of Indian so... moreciety in general as a mildly decaying one, increasingly becoming intolerant, increasingly loosing the old-world charm of inclusiveness and openness. However, in spite of this, his optimism does shine through. Specially readable for profiles on such institutions like Economic and Political Weekly and Nehru Memorial Library.
review 2: Wonderful collection of 15 essays which gives us a perspective of India under Nehru to the old bookstore which Ramachandra Guha has a lifelong connect to. Even though a few of his essays are really personal, the reader can never get bored or feel that the matter he's saying is unimportant. This book can be read if you have a general interest in India's history and sociology. I read it because I like the topic, not because I wanted to understand something or I wanted to read about something in particular. In a nutshell, a wonderful book - sticks to your hand till you get to the last page. less

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