For centuries, India has been renowned for the richness and diversity of its embroidered textiles. Embroidery is part of the Indian way of life, and is in evidence everywhere: on clothes, adorning animals, in temples, homes and other buildings. In this book Anne Morrell explores the many traditions of Indian embroidery, and its many techniques. She builds up a fascinating picture of the evolution in India, exploring the local traditions that make the work of each area unique, and looking at the way in which innovative stitches and designs have been added to those traditionally used to create new techniques and creative possibilities. She discusses the many different stitches and techniques in detail, including quilting, pattern-darning, counted-thread work, whitework, the enrichment of embroidery with mirrors, gold, silver and other metals, and applique and patchwork. many of the historical and contemporary embroideries illustrated are accompanied by clear worked samples showing exactly how the different stitches can be achieved and then used to create exciting effects. A final section includes twenty individual stitches and the method of working them, so that the techniques explored throughout the book can be put into practice. This is an invaluable working guide for anyone interested in drawing on the wealth of Indian embroidery techniques for use in their own embroideries or in the study of ethnic textiles. Anne Morrell was born in Madras and has long been interested in the embroidered textiles of India. She was a lecturer at Goldsmiths' College in London before moving to the Manchester Metropolitan University, where she became a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Textiles and Fashion. In 1992 she was appointed Professor. She is the author of a number of books and articles on embroidery, most available though Amazon under the names Anne Butler or Anne Morrell. She has held exhibitions of her work in many different countries.

Many people think of Indian embroidery as shisha (glass) work, which incorporates tiny mirrors into rich, colourful embroidered patterns. Particular to India, this embroidery technique is thought to have been developed by the wife of Shah Jahan; he built the Taj Mahal at Agra in her honour. Shisha is covered in this book, together with many other techniques, all illustrated with splendid examples. Sections cover embroidery stitches; quilting, darning and pattern-darning; counted-thread work; whitework; metal work; embroidery with a hook; and applique and patchwork. A section at the back gives diagrams of the stitches used, but the main use of this book is as a splendid record and inspiration, tracing the origins and techniques used for centuries in India to adorn clothes, homes, temples and animals. But this is no dry history book; it is written in a very practical, interesting way.

Many people think of Indian embroidery as shisha (glass) work, which incorporates tiny mirrors into rich, colourful embroidered patterns. Particular to India, this embroidery technique is thought to have been developed by the wife of Shah Jahan; he built the Taj Mahal at Agra in her honour. Shisha is covered in this book, together with many other techniques, all illustrated with splendid examples. Sections cover embroidery stitches; quilting, darning and pattern-darning; counted-thread work; whitework; metal work; embroidery with a hook; and applique and patchwork. A section at the back gives diagrams of the stitches used, but the main use of this book is as a splendid record and inspiration, tracing the origins and techniques used for centuries in India to adorn clothes, homes, temples and animals. But this is no dry history book; it is written in a very practical, interesting way.

The Jewel in the Crown is a novel that combines a story of romantic love, a heinous crime and its consequences, and a detailed account of the social and political aspects of life in Colonial India, at a time when British rule was nearing collapse. It also presents the reader with several ironical situations which, if they accomplish nothing in their own right, serve to heighten one's understanding of the hopelessness of any form of reconciliation between the Britons and Indians that could erase more than a century of colonial oppression and native resistance. However, behind all of this, and also in front of it, one basic theme dominates the scene: As Mr. Scott writes in Part Five, the section devoted to 'Young Kumar', 'In India an Indian and an Englishman could never meet on the same terms.' This inescapable fact is what dooms the relationship between Daphne Manners, an English girl living in Mayapore, India, and Hari Kumar, an Indian who was brought up in England. It is Miss Crane's failure to recognise this unequivocal rule that leads to her undoing. It is possible that Paul Scott's main goal in publishing The Jewel in the Crown was to prove that by 1942, after a long history of racism, colonial oppression, and violent native uprisings, the British had no choice but to 'Quit India.' The time when the turbulent events of Great Britain and India's common history could still have been resolved had long since passed. The story was closed; the outcome inevitable. Daphne and Hari's failed attempt to break the old social barrier pushes the reader's hope of British-Indian reconciliation to the ground, and the terrible and ironic fate of the two lovers, and of Miss Crane, all champions of tolerance and understanding among the English and Indian populations living in India, drives that hope into the dust.

Hari Kumar's father made every effort to ensure his son would grow up to become the perfect Anglo-Indian executive. Hari was raised in England and was attended by a governess and later a tutor. He attended Chillingborough a top school known for its production of British Civil Servants. Eventually, Hari was to return to India to work for the Indian Civil Service. Unfortunately, external forces disrupted his life and although he returned to India, it was not in the circumstances his father had planned. THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is the story of Hari's life.

THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is Book I in the series written by Paul Scott known as the Raj Quartet. JEWEL is a complete novel, but it also lays the groundwork for the three other books in the series. The later books elaborate the story laid out in Book 1. Although Hari is absent from large sections of the text in Books 2-4, he is the main character from the beginning to the end. He is the invisible presence who haunts the other characters. He may symbolize India, but As Daphne Manners says in her journal, he is his own simile.

JEWEL takes place in 1942, mostly in India. Hari's story is a composite developed from many viewpoints--court depositions, recorded hearing proceedings, journals, and the personal remembrances of those who him. The narrator piecing the story together appears to be a writer or reporter describing the so-called Mayapore riots of 1942 and their aftermath in the years following. Pandit Baba, an Indian scholar, says in a Book 2 that the word "riot" is a misnomer. The English say it was a riot but the Indians say it was a lawful protest by a people who had suffered outrage and wanted Independance.

The Raj Quartet reminds me of Jane Austin's novels --especially her later books MANSFIELD PARK and EMMA. Like Austin, Scott has a keen understanding of human nature. His characterizations of Harry and Daphne are flawless. He builds them one fine layer at a time until the reader is convinced they must have been "real" people. Scott also describes an historical place and the people who lived in it with what the reader can only believe is verismilitude. Like Austin, Scott brings an exquisite sense of timing to his storyline. The near misses and plot twists leave the reader breathless. And,like Austin, Scott's sense of irony is so deftly incorporated one can only wonder at the various possible interpretations of the text.

JEWEL like India is difficult to understand. Scott has written his book in English, and as Hari Kumar's father said, English is a beautiful language but "it cannot be called truthful because its subtleties are infinite. It is the language of a people who have probably earned their reputation for perfidy."

Perhaps one of the greatest and sadly unsung works of 20th Century Fiction, Paul Scott's Raj Quartet begins with the startling JEWEL IN THE CROWN, the heartbreaking story of young Daphne Manners, an idealistic English nurse living in Mayapore, India, where she meets and falls controversially in love with the British-educated, Indian born Hari Kumar. When Daphne is raped, the innocent Hari is blamed in a set up by the villainous Ronald Merrick. A searing indictment of the Raj's cruel presence in war-time India, this novel is a stunningly powerful read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about India. Jonah Blank has a way of writing that is both intellectually stimulating and enjoyable to read. His ability to elucidate the contribution of one of India's ancient epics (The Ramayana) to modern Indian culture is profound. Each chapter is written in a way that is enjoyable to read and for those people having traveled in India, the experiences and thoughts Blank has will sound eeriely familiar. A great book for anyone contemplating a trip to India or just interested in Indian culture.

Jonah Blank's book deserves to be in print. I can't find it anywhere. I read it years ago and it spurred a great love for the Ramayana, and for India, but then I gave away my copy little suspecting it would be lost forever. Arrow of the Blue-skinned God is a classic. It is a book I will always remember, and hopefully someday I'll get to read it again.

In Budapest, I met a man who wanted to walk to India as a trial-by-fire to the Eastern mystics who preach detachment from worldly comforts as a way to purify the spirit. In Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God, Blank retraces in modern India the steps of the epic Ramayana in a book which should be read by anyone developing an interest in India. The idea of India is powerful in the minds of many Westerners who are then shocked by the overwhelming poverty they encounter when they arrive and find thousands of people bathing, urinating, and washing in the same Ganges where corpses are floating a mile downstream. This book provides a balance between the allure of an ancient mysticism and the experience of a country which embraces a much more diverse reality than one might expect.

Each chapter begins with a short synopsis and interpretation of a section of the Epic, followed by a modern-day exploration of where the events are supposed to have taken place (The Demon's island, for example, is believed to be Sri Lanka). It is an obviously directed reading of the Epic, made to fit the topic of the upcoming chapter. I would not recommend it as your only guide to the ancient work; but it is no less valid for being connected to daily life in modern day India. In fact, the Epic gives a firm structure to Blank's comments about India today, and show how Hindu philosophy translates into Indian reality.

Demi sweeps us away with this story of a little girl whose quick thinking and knowlege of mathematics teaches a raja a lesson and saves her village.

This story touches on many levels, the first of which is the visual. A few of its glossy pages, each the quality of a fine color print, unfold to over two feet in length for the purpose of illustrating a mathematic principle that could never be explained as well only in words, no matter how many. It also serves up a well-told tale, set in India, that holds a child to the last. Finally, it offers lessons in generosity, keeping one's word, providing for the future, and helping the poor. "A Grain of Rice" is truly original, however, in the way that it brings all of these elements, particularly the mathematic and the humanitarian, together in one arrestingly beautiful book.

This would make a touching gift to anyone who enjoys Indian art and design or mathematics, regardless of age. It is also a perfect gift for a child as it is both aesthetically pleasing and educational--what parent could want more in a children's book?

This book has stunning illustrations in the style of Indian miniature paintings, including some surprise fold-out pages. It is educational and entertaining on many levels: it illustrates a difficult math concept, it tells a dynamic fable from another country, and it is beautiful to look at. Art, literature, and math convene in one delightful children's book. It would make a wonderful gift. My son enjoys it even though he is only 5, because he often wonders about big numbers, and the story is adventurous enough to hold his attention. 5 stars plus!

A moral and a math tale rolled into one. What more could you ask, except for some delightful illustrations modeled after Indian art and culture? This book is such a pleasure that besides obtaining a copy from myself, I gave one to my mathematics advisor, who thought it was cute as well. It's a clever illustration of the doubling function and a useful teaching tool for the younger grades.

The text is well-written and appropriate for its audience, the pictures are colorful and elegant, and the pull-out poster is just plain fun. What child wouldn't like a scene that simply depicts 256 elephants marching across the page? And the story of a girl who teaches a ruler to be kind and just is classic-not to mention that, being a girl myself, I appreciate the message that is sent by the intelligent main character being female. Finally, the very last page of the book contains a helpful chart that corresponds the grains of rice Rani receives each day to the day she receives it on.

As a side note, parents might find it a fun project to replicate this tale in real life by giving a child a penny and then doubling it for seven days. At the end of the week the child would be the proud owner of $1.27, not to mention possess some newfound math skills. I would advise you to restrict it to a week instead of the thirty days that is used in the book, though. Unless, of course, you've got the $10,737,400 you would be obligated to give lying around the house in spare change. ^_~

Less to do with the bomb per se, but a scholarly history of the Indian nuclear program. This is a work that will be quoted again and again.

This is easily one of the best books I have read about my own country. Very informative.

Note to editorial Reviewers: India entered the nuclear club in May 1974 and not in May 1998 as suggested by some of your reviews.

Some highlights of the book.

* The term nuclear "haves" and "have-nots" was coined by Homi Bhabha initially and used by others and till date has been central to putting forth our country's opposition to NPT and CTBT.

* University of Chicago's late Prof. Chandrasekhar's refusal to head the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) after the death of patriot Dr. Homi Bhabha.

* One of my disappointment is the author's avoidance in the discussion of the cause of the death of Dr. Homi Bhabha, even though such an incident is beyond the scope of this book. Since Bhabha provided the impetus and leadership during the nuclear program's infancy, I expected the author to throw some light on this issue.

* Vikram Sarabhai's hatred for Nuclear tests is news, especially since he was heading the Atomic Energy commision. As a spaceman it is surprising that he headed the organization in the first place.

* Indira Gandhi's refusal to allow more nuclear tests after 1974 stemmed from her abhorence for anything nuclear after her post-Pokhran I experiences. This is contrary to the popular belief - international pressure.

* Most sections of the book has an objective view of the Indian nuclear scenario except the last few chapters where the author seems to bend towards India signing the CTBT and the NPT. Or atleast implying that India's moral stand on nuclear issue was defeated after the May 98 tests.

* BJP (and its predecessor Jana Sangh) has been the only political party to openly campaign for Nuclear power.

As an Indian immensely proud of his country's accomplishments and having had to enter multiple debates with other non-Indians in May 1998, I gained a great amount from the book. It is immaculately researched and it seems that Perkovich has left no stone unturned. It goes into such depth and understanding of the Indian polity's psyche as previously unseen from a non-Indian author. Perkovich is not merely narrating a set of events which led to the testing but defending a theory that goes against current understandings of international relations and nuclear non-profileration by setting India as an example. I enjoyed every chapter of the book and hope that current policy makers in the field learn from it. A must read for every Indian interested it their country's policies and others making policy for the rest of the world.

This is an acceptable story if you can take it on its own merits. It doesn't stand up well to my other favorite about the Indian Mutiny, Zemindar. That is history for grownups. This is romance novel fantasy. However, if exotic escapism is what you are after, this does provide.

The plot is full of incredible romantic conceits, from Winter, the European heroine, having a background that will allow her to pass flawlessly as Indian (convenient during a mutiny); Winter's parents, beautiful, highborn, perfect lovers who die young, leaving her with a Spanish title and lots of money; the series of coincidences that lead to her voluntarily marrying a real "rotter" (although given the total innocence in which Victorial girls were kept, not totally unbelievable).

Then there is Alex, superior to Winter's husband in every way. He has a way of being present at historic moments, or running across historic figures, and like Winter can blend at will into the Indian landscape. He is the perfect English soldier-gentleman. His conflict over protecting Winter vs the greater good, though, is a believable one with which the reader can sympthize.

My worst criticism of the love story is that, even though Winter is pregnant before it's all over, there are no good love scenes. From a strictly romantic POV, that leaves the story lacking.

For the rest, there are the usual stock characters: Young Englishwoman, Innocent Victim; Loose Woman with a Heart of Gold; Native Mistress with a Heart of Stone; Villain Motivated By Lust, etc. To give her credit, they are real enough while you are reading. It's good, historical-romance escapism for the right mood.

If you liked M.M. Kaye's "Far Pavilions" of TV miniseries fame, you may find this earlier work by the author even more enjoyable. A romance novel to be sure, but non-fans of the genre (I am usually amongst their number) will find it a very pleasant surprise, especially if you can get a copy of the early editions, which were considerably shorter than those that came out after the success of the "Far Pavilions". Ms. Kaye's outstanding attention to Indian historical and cultural detail surrounding the Great Sepoy Mutiny supplements the central love story wonderfully. Actually, the reader soon becomes aware that "Shadow of the Moon" is a tale of two love stories - one between Alex and Winter and one between Ms. Kaye and the people, culture and land of India. If you like a good love story, lots of action, many interesting secondary characters, and a generous dose of education about a fascinating and pivotal time in Indian and British history, this book is a must read.

I first discovered this book (the earlier 1956 edition) when I was a young teenager. I grew up in a house filled with books and was always an avid reader. One rainy day I was browsing through my parents' bookshelves looking for something to read, and found Shadow of the Moon. The title caught my eye, so I took it out, and after the first page I was hooked. I could not put the book down until I had finished! I read it many times over my teenage years, and my young 20's.

Then, after the success of Kaye's The far Pavillions, they reissued this book in an expanded version. I had to buy my own copy and loved it even more than the original. I've never been a fan of "romance" as a genre, preferring mysteries and SciFi, and historical fiction, but I do enjoy a touch of romance in my novels, as long as that is not the total purpose of the book. And this one just fits the bill. An interesting romance but set against the background of the Indian Sepoy Rebellion of 1857. The history really takes center stage, and I loved that part of it.

This book was that one that triggered a lifetime fascination with India, and also led me to read many other books on the subject, as well as all the other books by author M.M. Kaye. I've enjoyed all of them, but this one remains my favorite.

As I read Ms. Appachana's work, I was constantly reminded of how things were and still are back home. For me, there was no drowning myself in fiction - the characters were real enough to touch and smell (surely every Indian is aware of a Sharmaji!). There was no unnecessary drama - no unchartered territory to explore - no special messages to convey. Such genuine depiction of character and events, free of frivolous mentions, stands dignified in its own accord.

Appachana does an excellent job of bringing India to life in these stories. Her ear for dialouge is so acute that I could literally hear the characters talking, thinking, etc. If you like literary short stories, these are wonderful.

This book of short stories is absolutely excellent. The main theme is the compromises that we make to continue to live in within society's standards. They are everyday scenarios taking place in India or Canada. There is a strong feminist slant in this collection, which is definitely refreshing from the other more traditional stories that I've read. However, there is a price for being liberated, especially in India. The two Sharmaji stories are quite entertaining and the issue of expectations becoming inflating as a result of an unionized environment definitely isn't unique to India. I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Appachana's other book.

The book is good for young minds who are seeking direction.
It gives some insight about the complexity involved in building a true nation.

The bad part is the editing, sentences gets repeated.
some of the paragraphs are copied same mutiple times in a chapter, it feels like the rhetoric political speech.

This book is a wake up call. Having attained political independence from the British rule in 1947, India has much to achieve in terms of economic independence even after half a century since then. The dream to eradicate poverty and suffering in the world's largest democracy is still unrealized. India depends on imports in many areas that are crucial to her strategic interests in civilian and military applications. Large sections of the people have no recourse but to their prayers - whether it is drought or floods. Though the country boasts of its role in the global IT arena, the contribution in dollar terms is nowhere comparable to the actual potential that needs to be tapped. While there are pockets of affluence in the mini "silicon valleys" where yuppies gulp packaged mineral water, draught beer and internationally branded colas, there exist thousands of villages where clean drinking water is still a dream to our honorable citizens.

While this paints a grim scenario, the achievements in various sectors that have put us on the radar screen of technologically developed nations needs to be highlighted. India, a country with abundant natural resources is respected for what has been achieved in areas like self-sufficiency in food grains, a strong nuclear deterrence, a large technological and scientific work force and giant strides in our programs in the core sectors of the economy.

Consider this: India, a country where poverty is a thing of the past and all her citizens are healthy and educated by 2010; India, the fourth largest and developed economy by 2020. This book shows us the way. This is a mission to build on our strengths; the strength of over a billion people who are committed to succeed. It is written with an in-depth understanding of the problems on hand given the vast experience of the authors. What makes this book to stand out from the rest of the reports on similar issues is the true passion and urgency to succeed with nationalistic pride. Each chapter deals with one important sector of growth with focus on implementation and cross-sectoral linkages. Technology for progress with a human face is a common thread across the book. All citizens, particularly the more fortunate and better educated have a major role in the road ahead.

As head of state, a great Indian scientist who ignites our passion is now at the helm of this mission. The country needs more Kalams and not Salaams in the North and South Blocks of New Delhi to realize this vision.

The book titled 'India 2020 : A Vision for the New Millennium' by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Shri Y.S. Rajan is timely brought out to facilitate transformation (economic as well as social through technological interventions) to have a developed India by 2020.

The areas identified ranges from Food & Agriculture to High Tech areas including Strategic Industries. Enabling Infrastructure suggestions viability of inter-linkages between various sectors.

The book has sensitised the younger generation specially scientist/technologist to look ahead in technology development so that rapid changes in many sectors of economy are accomplished.

The publication contain well-defined targets so that active role could be played by all concerned including Industries, R&D personnel, Academia, Government as well as non-Governmental sectors.

I have strong conviction that the accomplishment of targets by each and every one in respective field as contained in the book will surely make India self-reliant and prosperous (A DEVELOPED INDIA) by early next century.

What a delightful little cookbook! First, she gives a great background of Kerala and of her own family. My fiancee is also a Keralite and this book has allowed me to make him many dishes that he hasn't had since he was last home. The pictures are bright, colorful, and visually enticing. The instructions are well thought out and the ingredient listings are logically ordered. In particular, I like how she groups spices under the heading "ground masala" and then in the instructions simply states "add ground masala". It makes it easy to know when to throw it in the mix because I put the ground masala together before I start cooking. This way, I don't have to sort through a list of spices that need to be thrown in quickly.

My particular favorite recipes are the piralen, meen molee, and the vadala. Actually, the piralen is now a weekly staple for us because it is so quick and simple to make. Since my prior cooking experiences had been primarily Pakistani and North Indian dishes of a heavier nature, I was amazed at how light and refreshing South Indian cuisine can be. I have just purchased Curried Favors and I can't wait to dig into it!

I will be using this book for years to come and look forward to cooking these Keralite delights for my own future children.

Now, I am just waiting for Maya's North Indian cuisine cookbook (hint, hint :-)

I was quite skeptical about ordering this book as, I thought delicious Asian-Indian dishes would be impossible to create in America! I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the book for the first time! The ingredients list is "translated" into things we find in our "American" supermarkets everyday!! The author provides several substitutions of the more specialty items too and...if you want to be as authentic as possible, at the end of the book, there is even a list of places to purchase the ingredients!! The cooking directions are idiot proof! Very explicit and, most importantly...the food turns out terrific!! Even my 8 and 4 year old loved it!!! That evening, not only did we get to sample a "curry" but also, several "dahl" recipes and...the kids got to learn all about the wonderful Asian-Indian culture! Finally, the pictures of India's culture delighted us all. The colors, the places and the people all transported us through an exciting adventure to another land!!

Having spent many vacations in Kerala visiting family and friends, I found Maya Kaimal's recipes to be informative and authentic. I wish there were more enticing pictures of the food, as in Kaimal's first book. But overall, the descriptions, pictures, and recipes give a clear understanding of Kerala cuisine and its diverse culture. I tried a number of recipes such as lamb korma and various vindaloos, and all were delicious. This is an excellent book for those who want to cook like their Keralite mothers and grandmothers(like myself) as well as for those interested in learning about flavorful and diverse South Indian foods. Kaimal succeeded again! I would recommend her first book as well. Get them for yourself or as gifts!

This is a book that was given to me some years ago when I was in India. It is not just a cook book but it conveys a picture of India. The book is broken into sections based on India's main regions. Each chapter has magnificent photo's of those regions and a text which describes the cuisine.

Each region then has a series of recipes that are famous. Most Indian cookery books tend to show how to cook the sorts of things that you get in Indian restaurants. Chicken Tandoori, Rogan Josh and so forth. This book has recipes which I have never come across before and most of them are interesting and delightful. A lot of them use a limited range of spices and depend on the mixture of their ingredients to develop subtle and interesting flavors. One recipe that was a revelation was an eggplant (aubergine) dish which was cooked and served cold with a yogurt sauce.

I live with a vegetarian and one of the reasons I enjoy such cook books are the variety of vegetarian foods that they contain. This book is by no means devoted to vegetarian food but it contains many such recipes.

The recipes are in text form but they are easy to follow. If something unusual has to be done such as the preparation of tamarind, the author explains how to do it in a clear and simple way.

Some cook books are things that you have on the shelf simply to prepare food. This book is a little more and gives you a feel for the county which has provided the recipes.

This is a great book - not only are the recipes superb and quite distinctive, but Madhur Jaffrey writes about the food with such passion and feeling that it just makes you want to cook. When she describes a dish as one "I love with a passion" you can be sure that it will not disappoint. For cooks trying out Indian food for the first time, following her recipes precisely can almost guarantee an Indian meal that will earn rave reviews from friends and family.

Madhur Jaffrey has the knack of presenting her recipes in a way that makes unfamiliar styles of cooking and ingredients seem easy. Each step is fully explained, but concisely,with suggestions for serving and combining with other recipes for completely authentic Indian meals, and many of the end results are shown in beautiful photographs. There's a glossary, and explanations of cooking techniques and a list of addresses for supplies. The introductions to each section describe the local foods and way of life--if I ever get to India, after Ms. Jaffrey's tuition, I might just ignore the scenery, but never the food!