NOT REVIEW:
The book is not available in Bhutan or else in India, though it is said to contian some facts on political turmoil in Bhutan. The author happened to be the close friend of the Third King of Bhutan, so the contents will be invaluable to the reseachers and the Bhutanese historians.

Ellen Oxfeld's study of the Chinese Hakka community that lives outside of Calcutta in the Dhapa district is a truly insightful and fascinating account of a little-known ethnic enclave. Members of the Hakka community primarily work as leather tanners, but also as beauticians. Immigrants to Calcutta from other Chinese communities work as dentists, restaurant owners, and shoe store owners. The common and fascinating thread between all of these professions is that they are viewed as impure since they deal with human and animal waste, and hence professions in which Hindus cannot participate. These communities are also fascinating because of their motivations for emigrating from their homelands; even though India does not traditionally appeal to immigrants the way the United States does, Calcutta provides unique opportunities for enterprise and has been home to Jewish, Armenian, and other communities throughout its history.

As a young girl who used to frequent Calcutta, I was always fascinated by the Chinese beauticians and shoe-store owners that I would see in my daily activities. Oxfeld's book is invaluable in offering concrete data not only about the history of the Hakka community in Calcutta and Toronto, but also in providing an analysis of leather-working, immigration, and maintaining one's ethnic identity in a foreign land.

A truly fascinating account of one of the world's most mysterious enclave communities, Oxfeld's book provides ethnographers, anthropologists, and lay-people a multi-layered analysis that is both well-written and easy to understand.

When I started this book, I had not imagined that this is going to be such a detailed analysis of characters, scenes and the movies themselves from Indian Cinema. It is such a wonderful attempt at explaining Indian Cinema that I simply couldn't help praising Vijay Mishra, and thanking him at the same time for my broadened horizons and perspective.

But I may add, get this book only if you know about Bollywood in little detail. This is not a text introducing Indian Cinema to someone unfamiliar to it. If you are a hindi movie fan, its a must must read, and I am quite sure you will find it very interesting and informative as well. I personally wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone who wants to know about Bollywood and understand its psychology.

Regardless of your field of interest, you will find this book extremely interesting and moving. The author has written a very "user-friendly" book which does not overwhelm you with technical terms or statistics. Instead, she successfully inter-twines her ideas with personal quotes and facts to form a dialogue on the issue of violence against women and girls. Although this book uses South Asia as an example, its main ideas and strategy for ending violence against women and girls is adaptable to areas all around the world affected by violence.

I was rather interested by the Library Journal critic concerning "A Brief History of India"(128 N° 2, February, 1)
With regard to the point of view expressed about Moghul and British colonisation, I feel that the critic has an unconscious Western bias, which is one of the main sores in India even today.
Of course, both these invaders also brought something positive with them, but we must remember that prior to their arrival India was one of the richest countries in the world and after their departure one of the poorest.

When you see the destruction made by the Muslims and in particularly by the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb in Benares, you understand some of the material effects of these invaders, but their permanent attack on the Hindus' social and religious system was even worse.

In any case, I deem Daniélou's point of view is much more realistic that that of the French writer Guy Deleury who wrote recently in 'L'Inde continent rebelle - Le Seuil 2000'

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The Indian sub-continent can look back with neither regret nor shame on its short century of British domination, to which it owes its telegraph, its railways, its neo-gothic railway stations, the gaudy uniforms of its sepoy corps d'élite, its metropolitan ports, masonic lodges and even - the supreme paradox - the Congress Party, which led it to independence

This book is an exceptional introduction for the beginner in Buddhism. It covers all the major points in a form that is easily understood. The author clearly has a deep understanding of Buddhism, but has gone to great lengths to write in a style that is accessible to the average person. Highly recommended for those beginning their study of this fascinating religion.

Amazingly funny stories of growing up in a British Borading School in the Himalayas in the 1950s. I found the characters wonderful, the stories extremely well written, and the plots very entertaining. They reminded me of my own time at a borading school in England in the 60s. A delight. Especially good reading if you're feeling under the weather. Switch off the T.V. and curl up with Capers!

Shiv Visvanathan is a brilliant writer and an original thinker. His interpretation of science is essentially a humanist one. He argues for a science that rooted in concerns of all that is human, a science of play not of war,a non-vivisectionist science. The article on Vavilov is tribute to all great scientists who saw in science a liberatory role. A must read for all those interested in science of the third world. Especially for scientists and engineers- from rich and poor countries alike. This book will open some eyes.

Dilip Chakrabarti is one of India's pre-eminent archaeologists. Currently a professor at Cambridge University, he has tirelessly exposed the colonial and racist prejudices that plague Indian historiopraphy. This book presents a masterly overview of the politics of India's past and how it has been held hostage by Marxists in India and colonialist/racist scholars outside India.

Subaltern Studies moves out of history, with essay by literary critics, anthropologists and most importantly, feminists. Some essays are just very good, but those by Jeganathan and Menon are brilliant. You must read this, if you are interested in any kind of post-colonial studies.