Sep 25, 2004 03:08 PM
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(Updated Sep 25, 2004 03:10 PM)
History is generally perceived as a dry subject by many. I am sure many readers would have sat through long boring history classes at schools and colleges expecting them to get over soon. Well Jawaharlal Nehru's Glimpses of World History shall change your perception of history and shall show history can be wonderful as any other subject.
The book is actually a series of letters written by Nehru to his daughter Indira when he was at the District Jail in Dehradun in 1931. In the series of letters he has covered history of different regions of the world. Nehru proceeds chronologically in timeline shuffling between countries and continents.His flow of narration is such that the reader is held spellbound to the book.
The style of writing is not the usual pedantic or academic style. It is like a conversation. At many places Nehru voices his own opinion.About his opinion on Alexander, the Great, Nehru writes that he does not consider Alexander to be great. He was merely an overambitious young ruler who brought misery to many lands.Instead , according to nehru , Ashoka was great who after his victory at Kalinga renounced his throne and followed the path of Buddhism.
These letters were written when the country was under the yoke of British rule, hence Nehru expresses strong anti colonial sentiments in his writings. He ridicules the Papal Bull ( command ) dividing the world between Portugal and Spain. He says Pope divided that nothing of which belonged to him.
The most notable chapters of this book according to me are about the conflict between Christianity and Islam and the division of Church into Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. The chapters on Chinese history are also very informative.
The book covers the events in world history till 1938 since the post script was written in 1938 by Nehru.Hence do not expect chapters on John F Kennedy , Idi Amin or Saddam Hussain. This book is useful as reference book and also for competitive exams. The book is also a literary delight.
This will help the reader in gaining knowledge about world history. Nehru's own opinion about events add value to the book.
Please rate the review and comment on it . I shall be grateful.
