Gem in the Lotus: The Seeding of Indian Civilisation

By Abraham Eraly

Book Overview

This book describes early Indian civilisation, and the foundations of cultural and religious traditions that are still alive today. It begins with the Indus Valley Civilisation (2500-1500 BC), in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075381854X
• ISBN13: 9780753818541
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Phoenix
• Length: 484 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 1.5" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book on pre-Islamic Indian history

This is an excellent book. For anyone wanting a detailed, unbiased, and objective look at the mystery-shrouded pre-Islamic Indian history, this is the definitive volume. The descriptions are rich, detailed, and entertaining. Particularly gratifying is the comprehensive description of the Indus-Saraswati civilization. I am glad that the author does not succumb to crackpot theories that Aryans were indigenous and migrated outward when there remains ample evidence to support the invasion. As regards the description of the Indus period criticized by the previous reviewer, of course Indus civilization was moribund. That it is described as such should be reason to praise the author's objectivity, not criticize. [By the way, I am a Hindu born in India.]

Highly readable

It must be pointed out that data on Ancient India seems to be rather scarce if compared to other civilizations (such as China , Egypt or Summer). I had tried a couple of times to find a book on India, informative and easy to read, and I had failed. Abraham Eraly's Gem in the Lotus happens to be the book, able to expose available knowledge without making you fall asleep. So I daresay that this is a book that can be savoured by the professional historian and educated layperson alike.