Five millennia of civilization masterfully condensed into an
absorbing, fast-paced narrative of how India became the world's largest
democracy and a rising global power
India is an amalgam of customs, races, castes, languages, and spiritual
beliefs-- woven together throughout the ages into a colossal history.
From ancient migrations and the Harappān civilization to Muslim
invaders, the Great Mughals, British rule, hard-fought independence, and
present-day hopes and challenges, John Zubrzycki fashions a riveting
narrative that helps readers make sense of the country behind today's
headlines.
Zubrzycki brings the complex and contrasting layers of Indian history to
life through a well-known cast of characters--Buddha, Alexander the
Great, Akbar, Clive, Tipu Sultan, Lakshmi Bai, Curzon, Jinnah, and
Mahatma Gandhi--against a backdrop of the mystical Ganges, the desert
forts of Rajasthan, the snow-covered Himalayas, and the ruins of India's
fabled civilizations.
From Buddhism to Bollywood, India has made its mark on Asia and the
world. Only time will tell if India--whose population will soon surpass
China's--can overcome its political, social, and religious tensions to
become the next global superpower.