Our India

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Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh, currently Governor of Sikkim is a distinguished scholar, thinker and public servant. He did his MA in political Science from Patana University and became a lecturer at the age nineteen at the same University.

Shri Singh has been a member of the Indian Administrative Service and held several positions inculdig that of Union Home Secretary, Union Culture Secretary and Exective Director and Ambassador at the World Bank, Washington DC. He has also been Chancellor of the Central University of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, and a Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow.

His recent Publications are Bahudha and the post -9/11 World (OUP, Delhi, 2010) and India’s Culture: the State, the and Beyond 2nd Edition (OUP, Delhi, 2010).

The origins of the essay Our India could be traced to my childhood. As a school student, I found writings and speeches on India’s history and civilisation both fascinating and baffling. The awesome contribution of the Indian genius in religion and philosophy, logic and mathematics, science and astronomy, arts and architecture, sensuality and asceticism was always somewhat difficult to penetrate. Besides, multiplicity of languages and dialogues gods and goddess, values and beliefs, customs and practices used to somewhat mystify the students of my generation. This monograph seeks to portray my appreciation of India’s civilisational experience and nationhood.

I have written this book for school-going children. It draws upon my recent publications, Bahudha and the post-9/11 World (OUP, Delhi, 2010) and India’s Culture: the State, the Arts and Beyond, 2nd Edition (OUP, Delhi,2010).

I am beholden to Professor G. Ravindra, Director, NCERT and his able colleagues Professor Anil Sethi Dr Shveta Uppal, Chief Editor and Shri Pawan Kumar Barriar for their manifold assistance.

I shall feel rewarded if Our India is of assistance to its young readers.