Jul 09, 2003 01:41 PM
3885 Views
(Updated Jul 09, 2003 01:41 PM)
I was leaving the Taj Mahal and walking to my car in Agra when a group of ragged urchins selling all kinds of artifacts descended on me. I had a very rough time driving them away and then there was this persistant kid who simply would not move. He also had a strange product to offer...A book he said on the Taj Mahal and Shahjahan. I doubt if this kid knew how to read the title of the book. Anyways he sold the book to me for 500 rupees and I am glad he suckered me. ''The Peacock Throne: Drama of Mogul India'' is a masterpiece. I have read several books on Indian history written by Indian and British Authors each having their own slant to it.
This one written by a Non Academic who goes on cruises and travels round the world(I spoke to the author over phone, rather he contacted me after reading my review on amazon.com) is simply the best. First the attention to detail and the research that has gone in is amazing. Second Hansen is a great story teller so he has taken Moughlai history and converted it into a real story form. The Chapter that impressed me most was the one about the war of sucession of aurangazeb and Shahjahan's imprisionment. He really has gone into the mind of the moguls. The only downside is that Hansen practically stops at Aurangazeb the last of the great Moguls. I wish he had spent some time on the decline of the Mogul empire. Apparently that did not fascinate him so much, so if you are looking for more than a Passing reference down from Mohammad Sultan to Bahadur Shah Zafar be disapointed. The book sadly is out of print via Amazon.com sources. However it is available with motilal Banarasidas in India who happens to be the publisher of the book. Book Details: Peacock Throne: Drama of Mogul India Author: Waldemar Hansen Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas in India
