Sometimes illuminating but mostly lacking nuance

Naipaul's treatment of the subject has all the tact of a battle hammer in a surgery. He has peppered the book with illuminating stories and incisive observations. However, not a lot of it is to be taken an face value - his writing betrays a colonial lens to India and a lot of his observations about India and the society are broad generalizations lacking nuance. In fact, this has aged poorly in the 45 years since the book has come out.

Nevertheless, there are still some gems within this book and I would still recommend people to pick up and read. Just take the writing with a handful of salt.

As for the narration, it was mostly very clear except for the places where the narrator has to voice a quote from an Indian - he adopts the annoying stereotypical 'Indian' accent popularized in the western caricatures of Indians. But that is a minor issue.

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2 people found this helpful

Indeed Wounded

Wonderful depiction of the then India, I loved the way the author analyses the writings and expressions. There's still a long way to go. But glad that some change is evident.

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Amazing Narrator

I know this is usually a review of the book but the book is the author's personal opinion about India, it's history and the political situation at that point in time. It's harsh but made for a very unique experience for me. But the narrator was without a doubt amazing. His narration made it a palatable listen, because for an Indian, this was not an easy one.

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great read/audio for serious readers

Naipaul, true to his name and style, has brought out the story with constant shower of facts and analyses and finally produced an unbiased potential outcome for India and Indian civilization. Being an Indian myself and having travelled to several countries, I can easily understand his analyses of Indian practices and differences with intellectuals/scientists/technologists of western world. Strongly recommend this very interesting book to folks of / in Indian sub-continent as well as to other serious readers interested in the subject. Sam Dastor's voice over keeps the listener engaged all the times and brings the story alive.

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Dry so so book

Very dry. Big critic of india of the 1970s and Gandhian idea. Wonder what he would think about today's India

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What Naipaul wrote decades back still holds true

Naipaul brands Indian civilisation as one that is decaying and points out that the only solution is a complete decay of beliefs and notions that are still rooted in the past. The book picks up multiple aspects and as he talks about them he dissects and throws them all in a fervent hope that this may accelerate this decay enabling at the same time an emergence of a new and stronger India. These are fascinating accounts and many readers will feel that they know them all already... and yet it must leave them with wonder at their own inaction to pull away from their clutches.

This is a brilliant read though Sam Dastur, as the narrator, adopts a form of pronunciation that is incorrect in many places. Loved this book.

- Arvind Passey - Blog: www.passey.info

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Nice Perspective

As a visitor few of his observations are correct for that perriod but too long hence boring. He should visit again and rewrite improvements as a sequel. Indians will progress faster if they accept views of such critiques.

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Started rather hesitantly.

A mirror to our recent past. Worth your time. It’s never boring in the first place. Though the story base goes back it reflects various moods over a period of time. Some may connect some may not

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Revelation of India I always knew

Whenever I see or hear about some incident (pertaining to Indian way of life -Religious or cast) from anywhere in India, always felt about our inadequacies and disgust followed with that. Then I feel , it is not right to think that way as there is lot of great things about this country , (mostly propagated by some interested parties) After listening to Naipaul and his views, I feel my thinking were validated. Though he is travelled & explored very little his observations are reasonably accurate. Two locations , Naipaul elaborating Maharashtra and Karnataka me too had spent substantial time there and I can relate with that. His observations about Gandhi too given me a new perspective . I recently completed Gandhi Biography and Discovery of India. All three books together given some validation about my thoughts. India needs to reinvent itself to be great. Current or recent (including Gandhis or Nehru's ) awakenings / propagations is not good enough or someway misplaced. Need a new beginning to create a Perfect society or something near to it.

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GREATNESS PERSONIFIED

A book written by a person who could see India was. I wish it could continue.

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