<p>Two Thousand Years of Missions before Carey gives a fairly detailed account of the spread of Christianity by the Apostles of Jesus Christ and the Christian missionaries from the first century to the eighteenth century. The ‘Carey’ in the book title is William Carey an English Christian missionary who is regarded as the ‘starting point of the great era of modern missions’. The book is divided into three parts and then further sub-divided into twenty-five chapters for convenience and clarity of understanding. Part I is devoted to the genesis of missions in which Barnes speaks about the Greeks and Romans and Jesus as a messiah missionary: a medical missionary an industrial missionary an itinerant missionary the originator of missions and how he devoted himself to the underprivileged classes. In Part II which is dedicated to the distribution of missions covering continents and countries we are familiarised with the struggles and hostilities the apostles and missionaries faced in their endeavour to spread Christianity – and of their achievements. We read about apostles such Paul Peter John Luke Thomas to later Gregory Justin Martyr Francis Xavier Christian Friedrich Schwartz Carpini and others. Part III is about the continuity of missions. A scholarly work written in lucid language Barnes’ fascinating work is replete with quotations and parables as well as photographs and maps. About the Author Lemuel Call Barnes (1854-1938) born in Ohio he was a reputed American clergyman member of board of managers of the American Baptist Missionary Union from 1879-1907 and held several ecclesiastical positions until his retirement in 1924.</p>

<p>The coins and antiquities that Horace Hayman Wilson discusses and describes in his book are mostly those that were discovered by a Mr Masson in Peshawar and Kabul in Afghanistan. His discoveries that is collections as previously agreed upon with the East India Company were sent to England and deposited in the Company's Museum. Wilson describes how they were discovered the excitement and elucidations that these generated and received respectively from the antiquarians numismatists and eminent scholars of Europe. The coins found were mostly associated with the Bactrian and Sasanian periods. Hindu and Mohammedan coins mentioned in the book are those that were found in Afghanistan. Most of the coins and antiquities had been found in edifices called topes and one chapter is devoted to these topes which has been written by Masson himself; in addition to describing the edifices Masson has also mentioned about the regions – Chahar Bagh Darunta and Hidda. In addition to describing and explaining the coins that Masson sent to England as well as deriving from them some facts relating to the history of the dynasties that had ruled for several centuries over the countries in which they had been discovered Wilson has also included descriptions of coins that belonged to the same family but are not from Masson's collection. Illustrated with sketches Wilson's book will interest scholars particularly those interested in numismatics and antiquarian history of Afghanistan. About the Author Horace Hayman Wilson (1786-1860) was a British Orientalist and elected as the second Boden Professor of Sanskrit Oxford University. He is author of several books and was also the first to translate the Rigveda and the famous poem Meghaduta by Kalidasa into English.</p>

<p>Buddhism: Primitive and Present in Magadha and in Ceylon by Reginald Stephen Copleston is a book that will enthral the scholar as well as the casual reader despite the author stating that he has limited the history and description to that branch of established and practised Buddhism in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This volume is the second edition and Copleston states that it has been entirely re-written for better clarity and arrangement and taking note of recent discoveries. Arranged in six parts Buddhism begins with an introduction and a general historical sketch of ‘India’ at the time ‘Gotama' (Gautama) Asoka Mahinda and Ceylon before delving into the foundation of Buddhism with the life of Gautama the Buddha's teachings the vices virtues precepts the female community and beyond. While the fourth part is devoted to Asoka parts five and six are dedicated to Buddhism in Ceylon in the ‘past’ and in the ‘present’. In these sections chapters familiarise us with Mahinda and his conversion in Ceylon to Buddhism alongwith Buddhagosha and Parakrama. While history to some extent naturally runs parallel it never overwhelms the main theme which is Buddhism. Despite the subject matter of his book Copleston’s style is lucid and the concepts are well explained and thus can be easily grasped. Peppered with anecdotes – some familiar some unknown – and footnotes and indices this book makes for an interesting read and is certainly a collectible even though it has been restricted only to Sri Lanka. About the Author Reginald Stephen Copleston (1845-1925) was a clergy and author. He was an erstwhile Anglican Bishop of Colombo Calcutta and Metropolitan of India. Whilst in Ceylon he served as the President of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.</p>

<p>First published in London in 1854 this book by Alexander Cunningham is a comprehensive book on Ladakh. Cunningham travelled to Ladakh twice once in 1846 and the second time in the following year 1847 – and by a different route on each occasion. Presented in lucid language Cunningham has well depicted the people and region of Ladakh. The book covers a wide spectrum that ranges from the Tibetan language and its alphabet and pronunciation; a concise account of the religious beliefs and practices of Tibetan Buddhists and the rise of Lamas; the people's habitat lifestyle rites ceremonies and social customs; a description of the physical appearance of the population; of the flora and fauna; and their commerce and history. This book is also a treasure house of information on the geography of the area: lakes springs rivers mountains moisture radiation winds rain and snow; the principal roads passes and bridges; boundaries districts and neighbouring countries; and the government and administration. The book has superb sketches of the landscape and people and line drawings of religious objects as well as human and animal skulls. Cunningham has also included tables on comparison of dialects and on magnetic as well as meteorological observations noted over a period of time. About the Author Major General Alexander Cunningham (1814-93) a prolific writer served in the British India government as a British Army engineer and later became an archaeological surveyor. He founded the famous Archaeological Survey of India.</p>

<p>The Coins of the Indian Sultanates is a very important primary source for helping us to understand the political and economic history of much of what is now India Pakistan and Bangladesh during the period from the beginning of the thirteenth century ad until the seventeenth century when the last of the sultanates that of Bijapur was absorbed into the Mughal Empire. The right of sikka i.e. the right to strike coins was one of the two juridically recognised expressions of the right of the ruler to sovereignty and it was a right that was jealously guarded. It is a happy feature of Islamic coinage that the coins bear information not only about the rulers’ names and titles but very often also the place and date of minting. In this way we can follow the progress of their rule as their territories expanded or contracted. We can learn of rulers who are otherwise not known to history their usually ephemeral reigns not recorded in any literary sources that have come down to us. We can also examine the metals used for the currency its fineness or debasement and seek to draw conclusions from that. The present book however does not go that far. It is not intended as an economic history of the sultanate period but as an extensive illustrated catalogue of coin types. More types are included here than in any previously published book on sultanate coins. Many are published for the first time. They come from both public and private collections in India and elsewhere. Brief histories are included for each sultanate as well as comments on the coinage and the coin legends. An extensive bibliography is also provided. This book will serve as an essential reference for students and collectors of Indian sultanate coins and for anyone else interested in this period of South Asian history. About the Author Stan Goron was born in London in 1944. After gaining a degree in modern languages at Cambridge he made a career in the British Post Office where for the last ten years of service he was in charge of the National Postal Museum. A keen former collector of Indian coins he was an early member of the worldfamous Oriental Numismatic Society and has been its newsletter editor since 1985. J.P. Goenka an industrialist is a relatively new entrant in the field of Indian numismatics. He began collecting coins with emphasis on those of the Indian Sultanates in 1997. His other interests include coins of Ancient India Mughals and the Marathas. In a short span through his dedication and grasp of the subject he has built an impressive collection of coins. As his collection has grown steadily over the years – and continues to grow – his enthusiasm and knowledge in the field have also developed. Today he is considered one of the most prominent collectors of Indian coins in the world and is a name to be reckoned with in the field of Indian numismatics. In this book he shares his experience and knowledge with Stan Goron while possessing a large proportion of the coins catalogued.</p>

<p>The first company of the Bengal Artillery was raised in 1749 and consisted of one Captain one Second Captain one Captain Lieutenant three Lieutenant Fireworkers four Sergeants four Corporals three Drummers and one hundred Gunners. This book is a history of the Bengal Artillery and gives a detailed account of its internal organization. The first company was destroyed in the Black Hole of 20 June 1756 where 45 of their men perished. The company was reorganized and a second and the third company were raised. Captain Buckle's memoir has been considered a definitive work on the subject and covers the formation development equipment and the campaigns of the Bengal Artillery in detail. About the Author Captain E. Buckle (1808 1846) was a Captain in the Bengal Artillery. John William Kaye (1814 1876) the Editor was a British Civil Servant and a military historian.</p>

<p>Delhi the heart of Hindustan has been a focal point of attraction for all foreign invaders. The history of Delhi District prior to British rule which has been at various epochs from the time of its foundation the seat of ruling dynasties of Rajputs Pathans Mughals and Marathas. The culture tradition as well as the history of Delhi has been changing constantly since its origin sup­posedly in a.d. 736 till the present day. This Gazetteer is a well-preserved historical record of the society economy geography culture and anthropological changes till the end of nineteenth century. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the mosaic of life as lived in Delhi in the final decade of the nineteenth century. This Gazetteer is divided into five chapters with various sub-headings. The main contents include General Description History People Reli­gious and Social Life Tribes and Castes and Leading Families Village Communities and Tenures Agricul­ture and Livestock Administration and Finance Towns Municipalities and Cantonments with exhaustive statistical tables. This the first Gazetteer of Delhi which has remained scarce for a long time is now being published for interested scholars.</p>

<p>A collection of correspondences and communications – mostly official-that had been exchanged during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny makes up the two volumes of During the Revolt of 1857. These records of The Intelligence Department of the Government of the North-West Provinces of India were sent by William Muir (who has complied these documents) and other British military personnel (or administrators) to their counterparts in Calcutta or Kanpur (Cawnpore) Delhi Meerut etc. Most of the letters were despatched from Agra. In addition to the Introduction which recounts the progression of the Sepoy Mutiny at a personal level too one can get a stage-by-stage account through the intelligence notes memoranda telegrams and letters of the unfolding of the revolt and the apprehension uncertainties anguish and concerns that the officers experienced when the news of massacres and brutalities reached them. One thus comes across military advices; status of ammunition garrisons cavalry; shortages/ status of medical and other supplies; and precautions and steps decided upon. Divided into ‘series’ under various heads Volume One which opens with a letter dated 18 May 1857 – William Muir has addressed to his mother (in Edinburgh) with news of the rising discontentment among the sepoys – and ends with ‘Eighth Series’. Volume Two which comprises from ‘Ninth Series’ to the ‘Thirteenth Series’ has similar communications besides details of casualties wounded or missing. These military communications thus provide a detailed narrative of the mutiny and the mounting tensions and resulting emotions are palpable. About the Author Sir William Muir (1819-1905) was the head of the intelligence depart­ment during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Later he was appointed the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces during his lifetime.</p>

<p>A collection of correspondences and communications – mostly officialthat had been exchanged during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny makes up the two volumes of During the Revolt of 1857. These records of The Intelligence Department of the Government of the NorthWest Provinces of India were sent by William Muir (who has complied these documents) and other British military personnel (or administrators) to their counterparts in Calcutta or Kanpur (Cawnpore) Delhi Meerut etc. Most of the letters were despatched from Agra. In addition to the Introduction which recounts the progression of the Sepoy Mutiny at a personal level too one can get a stagebystage account through the intelligence notes memoranda telegrams and letters of the unfolding of the revolt and the apprehension uncertainties anguish and concerns that the officers experienced when the news of massacres and brutalities reached them. One thus comes across military advices status of ammunition garrisons cavalry shortages/ status of medical and other supplies and precautions and steps decided upon. Divided into ‘series’ under various heads Volume One which opens with a letter dated 18 May 1857 – William Muir has addressed to his mother (in Edinburgh) with news of the rising discontentment among the sepoys – and ends with ‘Eighth Series’. Volume Two which comprises from ‘Ninth Series’ to the ‘Thirteenth Series’ has similar communications besides details of casualties wounded or missing. These military communications thus provide a detailed narrative of the mutiny and the mounting tensions and resulting emotions are palpable. About the Author Sir William Muir (18191905) was the head of the intelligence depart­ment during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Later he was appointed the LieutenantGovernor of the NorthWest Provinces during his lifetime.</p>

<p>IndiaSouth Asia Interface raises the fundamental question: How does one make sense of South Asia? Conventional wisdom defines it primarily in terms of regional and international politics. The failures of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are emblematic of that wisdom. Marking a departure from such approaches Partha Ghosh makes the case that more than merely a political construct South Asia must be understood as a shared social consciousness. Through chapters that explore topics such as threats to democracy religion and politics the place of Kashmir different conceptions of regionalism the roles of America and China and the issue of refugees and migrants he demonstrates that there is no escape from reinventing the region from a people’s perspective. Only this way can South Asia retrieve its soul and replace its cynicism and despair with expectation and hope. Based primarily on Ghosh’s research articles and newspaper columns written over the last five years the volume can be viewed as an intimate statement of his understanding of the region an understanding that has matured through decadeslong interactions with the region’s academics politicians and the socalled ‘man on the street’. In some sense the volume is also a semiautobiographical treatise which spells out Ghosh’s systematic evolution as a confirmed South Asianist. The region’s destiny ought to be wrested he therefore argues from the hands of its political leaders and returned to the common men and women of the region. This underlying theme populates every chapter and page of the volume. About the Author Partha S. Ghosh (b. 1947) is currently a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences New Delhi. Formerly he was Professor at JNU Visiting Professor at Heidelberg and Victoria University (Wellington) and a Ford Scholar at the University of Illinois. Between 2008 and 2016 he was the editor of India Quarterly. His latest book is The Politics of Personal Law in South Asia (Routledge 2018).</p>