Coming soon...My Coffee Table Book on Musee Du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac, Paris.......KJS Chatrath

 

Journey of a Civilization: Indus to Vaigal by R. Balakrishnan: A book that should have got him a Nobel Prize.....feels K J S Chatrath

 

I have no expertise to attempt any write up on this book. My only credential is that Balakrishnan  was my neighbour in Bhubaneswar decades back and that is where I came to know of  his deep interest in serious academics and I became one of his silent admirers.

 Now coming to the book. Journey of a Civilization: Indus to Vaigai by R. Balakrishnan is a thought-provoking and deeply researched exploration of the ancient connections between the Indus Valley Civilization and the cultural landscape of South India. A seasoned civil servant  (IAS) and noted researcher, Balakrishnan weaves archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology into a compelling narrative that challenges conventional historical timelines and theories.

At the heart of the book lies the author's thesis that the Dravidian-speaking people of the Indus Valley migrated southward following the civilization's decline, leaving lasting imprints on the cultural and linguistic fabric of peninsular India. Drawing from a wealth of evidence — including toponyms (study of place names), cultural motifs, and ancient scripts — Balakrishnan argues for a continuum between the Harappan civilization and the Tamil cultural sphere, particularly along the Vaigai river.

One of the book's strengths is its interdisciplinary approach. Balakrishnan combines his expertise in ethnolinguistics with insights from archaeology and mythology, creating a multidimensional picture of civilizational movement and cultural transformation. His use of toponymic studies is especially noteworthy, offering a unique and underexplored method to trace historical migrations.

The book is richly illustrated with maps and tables that support the textual arguments, making it accessible to both scholars and general readers.

To sum up, Journey of a Civilization is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse on the origins and continuity of Indian civilization. It opens up new avenues of inquiry and encourages readers to question linear historical narratives. Balakrishnan’s work exemplifies how regional histories and languages can offer vital clues to understanding India’s ancient past.

One may add that some of the weaknesses pointed out by learned experts about the book are the so-called speculative nature of the arguments, it having a limited engagement with counterarguments, overemphasis on Dravidian continuity and absence of robust peer review.

Overall, it is a compelling and scholarly re-examination of Indian prehistory that bridges north and south through language, culture, and migration. Highly recommended for readers interested in Indian history, archaeology, and civilizational studies.

I would suggest the author to bring out a shorter and simpler version of the book keeping the main thesis intact.

I am of the view that had Balakrishnan been a European or an American, he would surely have been honoured with a Nobel Prize for this work. He is above all this and is possessed with the fire to search for knowledge and is not looking for any reward or prize.

The book is available on amazon. 

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Some photos of Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh - shared by K J S Chatrath

 

 

 

 

Visit Rudraprayag -one of the Panch Prayags of Alaknanda River..............suggests K.J.S.Chatrath

Rudraprayag in Uttrakhand  is one of the Panch Prayags of Alaknanda River,

Rudraprayag is named after Shiva, and the temple of Rudranath is situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. According to mythology Narada Muni worshiped god Shiva here to learn music from him. The god then taught him music in his form of Rudra, the god of music. There used to be a rock called Narad Shila, where Narada is said to have sat in meditation. Kedarnath, is located 86 km from Rudraprayag.

 I have had the occasion to stay at Rudraprayag for the night on two separate occasions.  On one of those occassions, I was travelling with Garwhal Mandal Vikas Nigam and the road got blocked by a landslide. So we were put up in the GMVN's Hotel Rudra and we loved it.

 Here are some of the photos taken by me.

 

 

 

 

Balconies of the rooms provide an excellent and calm view.

Ayutthaya -The Ancient Capital of Thailand ...........introduced by Dr. KJS Chatrath

 How little do we know of our neighboring countries and the impact exerted by Indian culture there. Our knowledge is generally limited to our Ayodhya in India - the birthplace of Lord Rama and we may not be aware of how powerful an impact Ayodhya has had on Thailand.

The Empire of Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centred around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. It was considered one of the three great powers of Asia, alongside Vijayanagar of India and China, and is seen as the precursor of modern Thailand.

The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. While discussing the history of Ayutthaya, one has broadly the Ayutthaya kingdom, and Ayutthaya town in mind of, say around 1540.

86 kilometres north of Bangkok, once the capital of the Thai Empire, Ayutthaya was an impressive city; with three palaces and over 400 temples. The ruins that now remain, many of which have been painstakingly restored, have been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO. The architecture of Ayutthaya is an interesting mix of Khmer and early Sukhothai styles. Some obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are believed to have been influenced by Sukhothai constructions.

This is an attempt to introduce Ayutthaya to Indian readers.

 

                                                  Available on amazon, flipkart & pothi.com

Chausathi Yogini Temple, Hirapur, Odisha- by K J S Chatrath

 

 

 Book printed on art paper...contact chatrath@gmail.com for obtaining a copy

Travelling through South India 2017....................K J S Chatrath

Pondicherry- 2017

 

Yes, no trip to South India is complete without relishing dozens of dosas of different varieties....Slurp...Slurp

Travelling through South India 2017....................K J S Chatrath: https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/.../travelling...

#dosa #SouthIndia #KJSCHATRATH

One of Raja Ravi Varma's lesser known canvas paintings - An Old Peon, 1901. On display at Chennai Egmore Museum, India.

Waiting for Godot..........With apologies to Samuel Beckett

 

 

 My colourful India is on the move.....Please note the air conditioner...This photo was taken in 2017 somewhere in South India. #India #airconditioner #kjschatrath