{"title":"Shashi Tharoor","description":"\u003cp\u003eShashi Tharoor’s works delve into the complexities of history, politics, and culture, offering incisive perspectives on India’s past and present. From critical examinations of colonialism to contemplations on national identity, his books challenge readers to reconsider accepted narratives with clarity and nuance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlending \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e insight with reflections on \u003cem\u003eReligion \u0026amp; Spirituality\u003c\/em\u003e and personal memoir, Tharoor’s writing invites thoughtful engagement with the forces shaping India's soul and society today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"inglorious-empire-what-the-british-did-to-india","title":"Inglorious Empire: What the British did to India","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire: What the British did to India\u003c\/em\u003e by Shashi Tharoor is a powerful and incisive examination of the impact of British colonialism on India. Spanning the arrival of the East India Company in the early 18th century to the end of the British Raj in 1947, Tharoor meticulously details how Britain's wealth and rise to global prominence were built on the systematic exploitation and plunder of the Indian subcontinent. This eye-opening narrative is a compelling reassessment of colonial history that debunks the myth of benevolent imperialism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the eighteenth century, India's share of the global economy was comparable to that of Europe. However, by the time India gained independence in 1947, this share had decreased six-fold after two centuries of British rule. The book lays bare the brutal realities of British imperialism: beyond the conquests and deceptions, the British Empire implemented harsh and inhumane policies. Rebels were blown from cannons, unarmed protesters were massacred, institutionalised racism was entrenched, and millions died from induced famines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe British justified their rule as enlightened despotism, claiming it was for the benefit of the governed. However, Tharoor dismantles this argument, demonstrating that every so-called imperial 'gift'—from the railways to the rule of law—was crafted to serve British interests alone. The book further discusses how Britain's Industrial Revolution was financed by India's deindustrialisation, highlighting the deliberate destruction of India's once-thriving textile industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire\u003c\/em\u003e doesn't just recount historical events; it challenges readers to rethink their understanding of colonial history. Tharoor's writing is both ferocious and astonishing, essential for a Britain lost in sepia-toned fantasies about its colonial past. The book is witty and fast-paced, provoking thought and discussion with its what-ifs and what-might-have-beens. Tharoor's digressions, often more enthralling than the main topic, raise significant questions about his identity and the country that shaped him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire\u003c\/em\u003e includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Ferocious and astonishing. Essential for a Britain lost in sepia fantasies about its past, \u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire\u003c\/em\u003e is history at its clearest and cutting best.\" – Ben Judah, author of \u003cem\u003eThis Is London\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I had read only a few pages of \u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire\u003c\/em\u003e before I thought, 'What a wonderful book this would be to teach from.' It's witty and fast-paced, the what-ifs and what-might-have-beens set up to provoke discussion. And the author's digressions, sometimes more enthralling than the topic under discussion, raise important questions about who he is and the country that has made him.\" – Robin Jeffrey, \u003cem\u003eInside Story\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire\u003c\/em\u003e is a bracing, polemical work.\" – Christopher de Bellaigue, \u003cem\u003eThe New York Review of Books\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInglorious Empire: What the British did to India\u003c\/em\u003e is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the true impact of British rule on India, and it offers a much-needed corrective to the glorified narratives of colonialism. This bold work by Shashi Tharoor is an essential contribution to modern historical discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695426265324,"sku":"9781925713527","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781925713527.jpg?v=1725629363"},{"product_id":"why-i-am-a-hindu","title":"Why I Am a Hindu","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eWhy I Am a Hindu\u003c\/em\u003e, Shashi Tharoor offers a profound re-examination of Hinduism, delving into one of the world's oldest and most expansive religious traditions. This compelling narrative combines personal reflection with a scholarly exploration that brings out the depth and diversity of the Hindu faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book opens with a frank and touching reflection on Tharoor's personal beliefs, giving readers an intimate insight into his own spiritual journey. He then elucidates Hinduism's origins and its core philosophical tenets, such as Vedanta, the Purusharthas (the four aims of life), and Bhakti (devotion). Tharoor meticulously examines pivotal texts like the \u003cem\u003eBhagavad Gita\u003c\/em\u003e and their influence on the Hindu worldview.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTharoor also sheds light on the 'Great Souls' of Hinduism, exploring the lives and contributions of key figures from Adi Shankara, who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, to Swami Vivekananda, who propelled Hinduism onto the global stage with his historic speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893. Alongside these revered personalities, Tharoor discusses the everyday beliefs and practices that shape the lives of millions of Hindus, including rituals of worship, the importance of pilgrimage, and the dynamics of the caste system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a compelling critique, Tharoor addresses the rise of extremism within Hinduism, unequivocally criticising the proponents of 'Hindutva', or politicised Hinduism. He argues that the unique plurality and secularism of India, a nation where Hindus form the majority, are at risk if fundamentalist ideologies gain dominance. His examination is not just a defence of Hinduism's diverse traditions, but also a robust argument in favour of a secular, democratic India.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWritten with Tharoor's characteristic eloquence and depth, \u003cem\u003eWhy I Am a Hindu\u003c\/em\u003e stands as a significant and original contribution to contemporary discussions on religion and identity. This book invites readers to understand Hinduism beyond stereotypical portrayals and inspires a richer appreciation of its principles. It is a work that will be read and debated for years to come, offering valuable insights into both the past and the future of religious thought in India and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhy I Am a Hindu\u003c\/em\u003e is not just a book for those interested in Hinduism but for anyone seeking to understand the complex interplay between religion, politics, and society in modern India. Tharoor's compelling prose and insightful analysis make this a must-read for academics, policy-makers, and lay readers alike who wish to grasp the nuanced realities of one of the world's most ancient yet dynamic faiths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45696207651052,"sku":"9781925713534","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781925713534.jpg?v=1725644869"},{"product_id":"the-struggle-for-indias-soul-by-shashi-tharoor-9781787385887","title":"The Struggle for India's Soul","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are over a billion Indians alive today. But are some more Indian than others? To answer this question, one that is central to the identity of all who belong to modern India, Shashi Tharoor explores hotly contested ideas of nationalism, patriotism, citizenship, and belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA contest has emerged between two opposing ideas of India: ethno-religious nationalism versus civic nationalism. The struggle for India's soul has heightened, deepened, and broadened, threatening to hollow out and destroy the remarkable concepts of pluralism, secularism, and inclusive nationhood that were bestowed upon the nation at Independence. The Constitution is under siege; institutions are being undermined; mythical pasts propagated; universities assailed; minorities demonised, and worse. Every passing month sees new attacks on the ideals that India has long been admired for, as authoritarian leaders and their supporters push the country towards a state of illiberalism and intolerance. If they succeed, millions will be stripped of their identity, and bogus theories of Indianness will take root in the soil of the subcontinent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, all is not yet lost. This erudite and lucid book shows what needs to be done to win the battle of belonging—to strengthen everything that is unique and valuable about India.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA passionate defence of civic nationalism, it is many books rolled into one, full of erudition interspersed with anecdote. You find the raconteur and the public intellectual vying with each other for attention...but in the final analysis, the book hangs together and the message is clear.\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cem\u003eThe Hindu\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArguably Shashi Tharoor's most ambitious work yet... a book that showcases the power of his erudition and perspicacity.\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cem\u003eThe Wire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA passionate plea for an ideal of India, an India taken for granted by generations and now seemingly endangered by overt and covert ideas and ideologies that seek to segment it on imagined criteria of \"us\" and \"them\".\u003c\/strong\u003e - Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former Vice-President of India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA must-read for the sheer brilliance of Tharoor as a writer and for the personal anecdotes and stories he has up his sleeve.\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cem\u003eThe Daily Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e, India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Struggle for India's Soul\u003c\/em\u003e is a fighting, passionate book\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cem\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487657148652,"sku":"9781787385887","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4fa39c3a9b6668aa6eb1e544cbbe8eba.jpg?v=1775771011"},{"product_id":"why-i-am-a-hindu-by-shashi-tharoor-9781787384903","title":"Why I Am a Hindu","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNot one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of \u003cem\u003eHindutva\u003c\/em\u003e, an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47537478664428,"sku":"9781787384903","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8ebfcdd6b50c4a01531de227b7b53ec4.jpg?v=1776901136"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/shashi-tharoor.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}