Book Review [116] : Rise Of Maratha Power

Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842 - 1901) was one of the most prominent social reformers and makers of modern India. 'Rise of Maratha Power' (its can be freely downloadable as well)  is a gem of a book written by him more than 100 years back. Marxist historians have not given enough importance to the Maratha freedom movement and in most cases the Marathas had been treated as some kind of "rebels" against the central authority of Mughal Empire like Jats of Yamuna belt, Bundelas, Afghans and Sikhs. The socio-religious movement underneath this great surge of Maratha power has not been given much focus.

Ranade gives much deserving focus to the religious and social movement started and intensified by the large number of reformers and saints coming from all sections of society - Jnaneswar (13th century), Namdev (14th c), Jnanbai (14th c), Sena (14th c), Eknath (16th c), Tukaram (17th c),  Ramdas (17th c) to name a few.
A political force becomes long lasting only when it is supported by a superior moral and spiritual force. Had these saints not been born in those eras, Shivaji might have not found the conducive environment to create 'Swaraj' and Maratha Empire might not have been founded. It would have met the fate of other contemporaneous kingdoms like Mysore, Bengal, Hyderabad and Awadh. The social movement and the hunger for freedom from the yoke of "foreign" rule produced a large number of military and civil leaders like Shivaji, Bajiprabhu Deshpande, Tanaji Malsure, Santaji Ghorpade, Dhanaji Jadhav, Moropant Pingle, Balaji Vishwanath, Bajirao, Balaji Bajirao, Nana Fadnavis, Mahadaji Sindhia, Ahilyabai Holkar and many others.
The Empire founded in the vicinity of Pune reached to the banks of Indus in North West, Orissa in East, Tanjore in South and Bundelkhand in north against all odds and the might of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb himself.
Shivaji created an institution named 'Ashta Pradhan' consisting of civil ministers and military leaders in order to maintain required checks and balances but its gradual decay in 18th century caused the downfall of Maratha Empire with each constituent units started catering to its own self interests.
Its a must read book for any history lover and specially for those who are admirer of Maratha history in particular.
Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [115] : Gideon's Spies - The Secret History Of The Mossad

Israel has always fascinated me. The beacon of democracy in the midst of barbarity of human spirit has been the victim of state sponsored terrorism since its birth but its spirit and hunger to exist and defy have always foiled all these acts of terrorism.  Israel was built from the ashes of Auschwitz, from the sacrifice of close to 6 million Jews who were killed in most barbaric way by the Nazis and from the blood of Arabs who were killed in internecine wars with Jews. Israel/Palestine is such a small country that you cant see on a world map. Its a barren strip of land between Mediterranean and Jordan river but its of damn significance and dictates the Geo-politics of the human civilization. 

Gideon's Spies is a marvelously researched book on the history of Mossad. It has been appreciated by Mossad itself for near accurate representation of Mossad. This book is named after Gideon, a biblical hero who used spies in battles against enemies of Jews. Mossad is the most feared and widely respected intelligence organization in the world. Perhaps it is the only organization that has a dedicated assassination squad called 'Kidon'.

This book covers in detail the various operations undertaken by Mossad from the stealing of MiG 21 from Iran to the bombing of Syrian nuclear facility not too far from Damascus. My favorite operation remains the 'Raid on Entebbe'. It even surpasses the killing of Osama by US SEALS in measure of clinical perfection. The other operations worth reading are 'the hunt of Black September terrorists', 'the exposure of North Korea as a nuclear material smuggler', 'assassination of devil scientist Bull',  'failed assassination attempt on Khaled Meshal', 'the impossible spy in Eli Cohen' and the 'Abduction of evil incarnate Adolf Eichmann from Argentina. 

India does not find much mention in this book. The only time when it finds mention is when Mossad Katsa (Katsa - Mossad Station officer) helps India in liquidating the mastermind of Oct 2005 Delhi bombing. 

The details of terrorism and world politics are very murky and no country is innocent when the causes of terrorism are studied. All countries at different points of time have supported terrorists to achieve their political/religions/economical means. Israel has had Irgun in 1940s, US supported Mujaheddins against USSR in Afghanistan, Syria and Iran support Hezbollah etc etc. The most fearsome thing that you can read in this book is the evil effort to build an ethnic bomb that would only target a particular ethnic group or race based on its genes. Its the most perverse example of bio-terrorism.

This book is a must read book for those who really want to see what is there behind the suave looking veil of international diplomacy and Bond movies. 

Highly Recommended (9/10)

Book Review [114] : Punjab - A History From Aurangzeb to Mountbatten

'Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten' is a good historical work written in a lucid style by Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of two great Indians - Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari). It covers the history of Punjab from the death of Aurangzeb to the partition of Punjab in a detailed manner. 

This book is a repository of many stories/things/places of Punjab. There is one such place in Punjab known as Tilla Gorakhnath ( an ancient Jogi monastery). Its located about 40 km west of Jhelum town in Pakistan. Its is widely believed that Gorakhnath may have lived here. Nowadays its in ruins only.

It tells in details about the rise of Sikh powers from the ruins of Mughal power and destruction caused by 10 invasions of Afghan chief Ahmad Shah Abdali/Durrani. Its a real question for historians and social scientists that why Sikhs were able to carve out a large empire in greater Punjab despite of being in a tiny minority while Muslims failed despite of being in absolute majority (The Sikhs were less than 10% of the total population of Punjab + Jammu & Kashmir + trans Indus region while Muslims were more than 50%). Perhaps the spirit of common Punjabi brotherhood ran deeper those days. The Sikh Kingdom under Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the first independent Kingdom of Punjabis in Punjab since 1192. In many battles that Sikh Empire fought against Afghans the Muslims of Punjab either supported Sikhs or stayed neutral. Had they supported Afghans, it would have been easier for Afghans to destroy Sikh power.

Beef was banned in the Sikh empire and cow slaughter was strictly forbidden. It was a syncretic Hindu-Sikh empire with most of the nobility coming from Hindus and Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a highly pragmatic King and was able to secure his Empire from British Hawks when Marathas and everyone else lost theirs but he could have been more shrewd and could have exploited the threat from France and Russia in getting a better bargain from the Company. 

The Sikh Empire was not defeated by Britishers but by the foes within. Their Generals Lal Singh and Tez Singh treacherously destroyed their own army and Empire. The British lost very few battles in India and the Battle of Chillianwala was one such battle when Indians showed British their actual place. The annexation of Punjab was followed by the introduction of British administration and recruitment of Punjabis in British Army. This played a key role in suppression of the first war of Indian Independence. It was not the Britishers who defeated the Sepoys, it was the Punjabis who defeated and killed their own brothers in 1857 and 58. The sanguine scenes were again repeated in the fields of Punjab in 1947 when Punjabis killed Punjabis in a bitter internecine "civil war". 

Overall its a must read book. Highly recommended (8/10).