Deze auteur richt zich op het politieke en culturele landschap van India, voortbouwend op uitgebreide ervaring uit de diplomatieke dienst en het openbaar bestuur. Hun werk duikt vaak in de complexiteit van de Indiase samenleving, politiek en haar plaats in de wereld. Lezers zullen hun inzichtelijke observaties en analytische benadering van hedendaagse kwesties waarderen. De stijl is direct en informatief, waardoor lezers een diepgaand begrip krijgen van de onderzochte onderwerpen.
What is Brahman? What is its relationship to Atman? What is an individual’s place in the cosmos? Is a personalised god and ritualistic worship the only path to attain moksha? Does caste matter when a human is engaging with the metaphysical world? The answers to these perennial questions sparkle with clarity in this seminal account of a man and a saint, who revived Hinduism and gave to Upanishadic insights a rigorously structured and sublimely appealing philosophy. -- Amazon.
What is Brahman? What is its relationship to Atman? What is an individual's place in the cosmos? Is a personalised god and ritualistic worship the only path to attain moksha? Does caste matter when a human is engaging with the metaphysical world? The answers to these perennial questions sparkle with clarity in this seminal account of a man, and a saint, who revived Hinduism and gave to Upanishadic insights a rigorously structured and sublimely appealing philosophy. Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 CE) was born in Kerala and died in Kedarnath, traversing the length of India in his search for the ultimate truth. In a short life of thirty-two years, Shankaracharya not only revived Hinduism, but also created the organisational structure for its perpetuation through the mathas he established in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, and Joshimatha. Adi Shankaracharaya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker is a meticulously researched and comprehensive account of his life and philosophy. Highly readable, and including a select anthology of Shankaracharya's seminal writing, the book also examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. A must-read for people across the ideological spectrum, this book reminds readers about the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world.
Examines the evolution of the Indian middle class during the 20th century, especially since independence. This book is an useful read with an introduction analyses the transformation of the middle class.
India is very close to becoming the second largest consumer market in the world, with a buying middle class numbering over half a billion. The Indian economy is already the fourth largest in terms of purchasing power parity. It is in the top ten overall GNP. Yet at least 200 million Indians remain desperately poor. Illiteracy rates are high. Drawing on sources as diverse as ancient Sanskrit treatises and Bollywood lyrics, Pavan Varma creates a vivid and compelling portrait of India and its people, helping to make sense of these contradictory facets of Indian culture.
The book presents a contemporary analysis of India's challenges through the lens of Chanakya's strategic insights. Pavan K. Varma draws on Chanakya's principles from the Arthashastra to propose actionable reforms in governance, democracy, corruption, security, and social inclusivity. By addressing urgent issues such as establishing an effective Lokpal and decriminalizing politics, Varma offers practical solutions grounded in constitutional frameworks. This manifesto serves as both a call to action and a critical examination of India's future, urging engagement from all stakeholders.
Was ist eigentlich die Affenschaukel? Es ist eine von 100 Sexstellungen aus dem fast 2000 Jahre alten Kamasutra – dem Klassiker der erotischen Literatur. Pavan Varma bietet mit seiner Interpretation weit mehr als eine bloße Sammlung von akrobatischen Liebespositionen. Sein Ziel ist es, frischen Wind in die Beziehung zu bringen und Lust auf neue Abenteuer für Körper und Seele zu wecken. Wunderschön illustriert mit über 130 unzensierten Originalzeichnungen, die von indischen Künstlern in akribischer Handarbeit auf Seide gemalt wurden – eine unerschöpfliche Quelle für lebensfrohe Paare.
