I like to read.
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I came across the book many times while scrolling through Amazon and decided to buy it after a while cuz it looked appealing.
The story was good but the ending was a bit underwhelming compared to the build up that happened throughout the novel. But I understand that the novel can't really deviate from what actually can happen in real life, so it does make sense.
But most of the 100,000 or so descendants of former slaves now live in isolated communities in western India: places where they're routinely denied the very means of upward mobility - a good education and recognition of merit - that turned a remarkable slave into an unvanquished power some five centuries ago.
— Incarnations by Sunil Khilnani (Page 131)
Quoted from the 17th chapter on 'Malik Ambar'. The author's ability to draw parallels between historic and present times is commendable. This is one of the reasons I've continued reading this book despite it being quite intimidating as I don't really think nonfiction is usually for me.
It shows the harsh reality of present Indian society and how we've failed to learn our lessons from history. As they say, "History doesn't repeat itself but it sure does rhyme!".
In this century, in a subcontinent where kings no longer reign, the Arthashastra has been repurposed. It's become a how-to guide for ambitious entrepreneurs seeking to amass wealth in an increasingly competitive and globalising country, much in the same way that Sun Tzu's Art of War has become a manual for the world's aspiring business leaders.
— Incarnations by Sunil Khilnani (Page 30 - 31)
I love how the author finds a way to connect the ancient philosophies to the modern world and draw similarities between the two.
This chapter about 'Kautilya' has been the most interesting so far, it puts into perspective how the early monarchs stayed in power using dirty tactics and how we can see similar strategies being used in the today's dictatorships and flawed democracies around the world.
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This book was given to me on my farewell day at high school with a note/letter from the director. Quoting from the letter, "...it contains life stories of a diverse range of persons, constructed thoughtfully, accurately and eruditely. One of the few tomes where you would find Charaka, Mirabai, Periyar, Indira Gandhi and Satyajit Ray in the same binding! To show that our land has always been a heterogeneous, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, where identity, social order and religious convictions have always been in an intricate blend, continually under challenge."
I look forward to reading it, atleast one chapter (or story) a day.
