Shivaji is a well-known hero in western India. He defied Mughal power in the seventeenth century; established an independent kingdom; and had himself crowned in an orthodox Hindu ceremony. The legends of his life have become an epic story that everyone in western India knows; and an important part of the Hindu nationalists' ideology. To read Shivaji's legend today is to find expression of deeply held convictions about what Hinduism means and how it is opposed to Islam. James Laine traces the origin and development if the Shivaji legend from the earliest sources to the contemporary accounts of the tale. His primary concern is to discover the meaning of Shivaji's life for those who have composed-and those who have read-the legendary accounts of his military victories; his daring escapes; his relationships with saints. In the process; he paints a new and more complex picture of Hindu-Muslim relations from the seventeenth century to the present. He argues that this relationship involved a variety of compromises and strategies; from conflict to accommodation to nuanced collaboration. Neither Muslims nor Hindus formed clearly defined communities; says Laine; and they did not relate to each other as opposed monolithic groups. Different sub-groups; representing a range of religious persuasions; found it in their advantage to accentuate or diminish the importance of Hindu and Muslim identity and the ideologies that supported the construction of such identities. By studying the evolution of the Shivaji legend; Laine demonstrates; we can trace the development of such constructions in both pre-British and post-colonial periods.
#1460663 in Books Gabor S Boritt 1999-04-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.30 x .70 x 7.90l; .77 #File Name: 0195129067288 pagesThe Gettysburg Nobody Knows Gettysburg Lectures
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must read for civil war enthusiast'sBy IndianriderInteresting read !!! Nobody really thinks about what it did to Gettysburg the town after both army's pulled away leaving the carnage behind for them to clean up. The book is written from people real life accounts so some of it is redundant but that's to be expected when getting different views from different people of the same account. Just glad I wasn't there just from the accounts of the smell of death.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent!By Mike MoviusAn excellent primer on Gettysburg!.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. very good readBy Donald R. JohnsonI read this in preparation for attending the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Most of the essays were very interesting and added to my knowledge of the battle. Kent Gramm's chapter alone was worth buying this book.
