In a span of two decades, Roshen Dalal has attained renown for her painstakingly researched books on history and religions in India. The Puffin History of India and The Puffin History of the World, each in two volumes, have not just received critical acclaim but are bestsellers as well. Her other books include The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths; Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide; The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts and The Compact Timeline History of the World.
Dalal’s latest, India at 70, Snapshots Since Independence, published by Penguin Random House, is a meticulously researched account of India’s evolution in the past seven decades with glimpses of the country’s rich and varied culture. Besides highlighting epoch-making events and developments in numerous fields such as politics, culture, science, atomic energy, sports, literature, music, television and industry, it also features in-depth profiles of eminent personalities.
With a master’s degree in ancient history, Dalal is an alumna of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She lived in Delhi for much of her professional career and moved to Dehradun in 2013 after the death of her mother, renowned author Nergis Dalal. Currently, the author, who loves the solitude Dehradun has to offer, is awaiting the publication of her first work of fiction. The first of a series (to be published by Speaking Tiger), it will examine aspects of religion and philosophy in the context of a fictional story. In an exclusive interview, Dalal talks to Raj Kanwar about her interest in philosophy, ancient wisdom, and animals.
How did you venture into writing on religions and ancient civilisations?
I have always had a deep interest in religion and philosophy; in fact, my interest in these topics is one of the reasons I decided to study ancient history. Though I am not an expert, I have a fair knowledge of Sanskrit, which was a compulsory subject in the ancient history course at JNU. Before writing anything, I read the Sanskrit text along with translations for a complete understanding. While writing my thesis, I had consulted a number of original Sanskrit texts, including the 18 volumes of the critical edition of The Mahabharata in Sanskrit.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2017 من Harmony - Celebrate Age.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2017 من Harmony - Celebrate Age.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Wrapped In Love
My Dadi Meenakshi Banerji was a short and tubby woman with great gumption who raised 10 citizens of the world.
Sharing Her ‘Mettle'
To me, this bell metal vaarpu, which weighs about 80 kg and is at least 120 years old, is an enduring reminder of my paternal grandmother Aleyamma Abraham.
Medical Overload
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Armed For Business
The sheer glory and glamour of the Olive Greens motivated me, a third-generation soldier, to join the Army. Thus I enlisted, brimming with enthusiasm, in 1984.
Capture the fracture
Fracture owing to osteoporosis can have a serious impact on a person’s health and quality of life. Dr Abhijit Y Pawar, consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, speaks about the significance of timely intervention in preventing fractures
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Incontinence need not interfere with life.
Yellow, Yellow, Gritty Fellows!
It was a nippy Sunday morning but nothing that would keep the rugged Delhiite away from the annual Senior Citizens’ Run supported by Harmony at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Not even the mood-dampening smog that had descended on the capital a week earlier could do that! So said 74 year-old Sarla Rani and her band of regulars at the run who arrived at Nehru Stadium on the morning of 19 November even before the sun did. Soon they were joined by busloads of silvers from all over Delhi, Noida and Gurugram.
Magic By The Sea
From Lord Jagannath to oceanside beauty and green initiatives, Braja Sorensen uncovers the many layers of Puri.
Indian Rhapsody
In a span of two decades, Roshen Dalal has attained renown for her painstakingly researched books on history and religions in India. The Puffin History of India and The Puffin History of the World, each in two volumes, have not just received critical acclaim but are bestsellers as well. Her other books include The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths; Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide; The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred Texts and The Compact Timeline History of the World.
