India Through the Ages (An Old and Rare Book)

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THIS BOOK Is an attempt to project some of the salient facets of India’s vast and rich cultural heritage. Her charming geo- graphical variations, her long and gripping history, delightful fairs and festivals, en- chanting arts, awe-inspiring monuments, beautiful and lively languages, a fascinating array of gods and goddesses and, of course, her prominent sons and daughters—all glimmer through the pages of this book. Couched in lucid language, the writings and compilations here are, in fact, a symphony of choicest colours which bespeaks the many-sided achievements of the people of India in various fields of human activity. Recommended for tourists, research scho- lars, students and all those who long to see India and discover her beauty.

MADAN GOPAL, BORN on 22 August, 1919 at Hansi (Haryana), is a visiting Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Osmania University for Master’s degree. A science graduate from St.Stephen’s Col- lege, Delhi, he obtained Diploma in Jour- nalism from Punjab University, Lahore, standing first in the examination in 1941. He headed two media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govern- ment of India, before he retired. Earlier, he was 4 regular broadcaster and a columnist in Hindi on foreign affairs. Madan Gopal was on the editorial staff of the Statesman, Delhi and correspondent of European affairs for standard newspapers of Bom- bay. He was formerly editor of the Dainik Tribune, a Hindi Daily, published by the Tribune Trust, Chandigarh and, of late, a consultant to the National Council for Educational Research and Training, New Delhi.

Madan Gopal is a prolific writer and has 24 books to his credit, covering a wide range of topics. Reviewing his book, the Literary Supplement, London wrote: "Madan Gopal has been largely instrumental in introduc- ing to the western readers the stories and novels of Premchand"’.

I had long been thinking of writing a new book on India which could project its different cultural and historical facets in such a way as to enable the reader to have intimate knowledge of the country and its people. India being a vast country with an ancient culture, presenting a kaleidoscopic view, appeared at once challenging and difficult. It was after Dr. Shyam Singh Shashi, Director, Publications Division approached me for this assignment that things began to take shape and I embarked upon the difficult task of gathering from various sources material not usually available easily. After the compilation and written work was over, Shri K.S. Gautam, the Editor of this book was much helpful in making useful suggestions besides his editorial responsibilities. Shri A.A.- Shiromany, Joint Director also took great pains in supervising the publication at its different stages. My thanks are due to them. I do hope the reader will find the book useful. In terms of the proviso laid by Survey of India, the ‘responsibility for the correctness of internal details shown in the maps rests with the Publisher’.