I had been looking for a book about sarees for a long time-and I really lucked out when I found this. The colour photos are magnificent-you can see the detailing and the richness of the fabrics very well, and the quality is excellent. Not to mention, the text is fabulous-the history of the saree is very interesting, and I especially like the way the book is broken down into regions, with each region detailing its saree style. The hand-drawn illustrations showing the many different ways to drape a saree were easy to follow and informative. The only gripe I had with this book-which I feel was very important-was the relatively small number of photos of women actually dressed in the sarees. A beautiful saree just hanging there is nothing more than a pretty piece of fabric-when it's draped around a lady's body it takes on a whole new dimension! However, this is the only and best book I've found on this subject....and if you're a saree lover or a fashion historian, this book is for you!

This book is a must have for anyone interested in fabrics and fabric design. Opening it is like entering a new and beautiful world. With page after page packed full of information, the reader is led on a unique tour of India, its past and present as seen through the sari and the countless styles of the weaves, prints, wraps and history. With many diagrams, definitions and examples along with the beautiful photos of the fabrics this book goes a long way in education and is a delight to own.

This book contains EVERYTHING you want to know about this wonderful fabric. From its amazing history to how to wear it. Lots of colorful pictures and illustrations in black and white. Love it !!!

Excellent book that takes the reader through one of Mathematics' most fascinating stories. This is not about whether you were good or bad in math at school, or are interested in Math, rather its about appreciating what makes Mathematics one of the most powerful things on Earth and why its appealing to so many. The author does a great job of giving a simple and historical explanation to the evolution of mathematics. This is an enjoyable read for someone who knows nothing about Math (thats me!).

For all the mathematical colleagues, this book has a minimum amount of notation, maybe little more than you can find in Treasure Island. It is a nice readable book, though, if you read it curled up on your couch with a cup of tea at hand, and nothing on mind.

If you are not a math or science major, you would ask me: why should I read this book? I would answer: because math appeals to a large number of people, and, you got to admit it, in this period of time people must know something about it. This theorem, in addition, had puzzled great mathematicians (even geniuses) for more than three and a half centuries. I think this means that it had passed around so many mathematical schools and fields.

The book starts with some exploration of Greek mathematics, being the base of modern thinking. Here we must see something about the Pythagorean Theorem, because it inspired the Fermat's Last theorem. The author speaks about a nice incident about a Pythagorean being killed for believing that there existed some numbers other than the Rationals (They were called Irrarionals later, even though they are as rational to the modern mathematics as any other numbers, say the quaternions).

He moves then to speak about Fermat, the French mathematician. He mentions that Fermat did not in fact write a proof for his theorem due to the limitation of the margins of his copy of Diaphintine's "Arithmetica,"! this caused the whole mathematical community to suffer 385 years to construct a plausible proof.

After that, we see how Euler proved the case when n = 3. Then Sophie Germain prove it, inspired by Euler, for the Germain prime numbers (which are some special prime numbers). This eliminated most of the cases, yet there still are infinitely many cases to check. The book does not go into technicalities, but you can enjoy reading about the backgrounds of some of brightest mathematicians of the 19th century.

Then comes some account on cryptography, as being the direct application of Number Theory, followed by the story of how Andrew Wiles, the most famous mathematician of our time, came to prove this theorem.

It proved to be even a harder task. It involved some modern up-to-date mathematics ... some fields of Number Theory called: "Elleptic Curves" and "Modular Forms."

Finally, I would like to say that I read this book when I was at my junior year in the department of mathematics at the University of Missouri-Columbia, I DID NOT NEED MUCH MATH TO UNDERSTAND IT. It, as a matter of fact, inspired me to continue my grad studies in the subject of Number Theory; unfortunately my real mathematical interests won the quarrel and I had to settle with Geometry.

I think any person with some understanding of the notion of mathematics may be very able to enjoy it as much as I did. If you want an introduction to this "mysterious" discipline, this book would provide you the best read.

Give 'Em Hell, Hari is an epistolarly novel about a group of Indian journalists working in an American news bureau in New Delhi. The story's narrator is the bureau's chief technician, Hari Rana. An aspiring writer, Hari writes letters to Indian newspapers in the hope that the more letters he gets published the higher the chances that his American bureau chief will be impressed enough to hire him as a writer. (Hari is also aiming to break the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of letters to the editors ever published.) The letters, hilarious and wonderfully descriptive about Indian society, bring Hari in contact with various other Indians. One of them is a retired colonel of the Indian army to whom Hari starts writing regularly. What unfolds in his letters to the colonel is a delightful cornucopia of office politics involving some of the most lively and fascinating characters in modern Indian fiction. Chief among them is "the Bengali," a scheming middle-aged journalist from Bengal who hates Westerners and everything Western (except the dollars in which he wants to get paid.) There's also Sam "Daanav" Scott, an easy-going American news editor with a horrendously bad memory (the Indians nickname him "Daanav," meaning monsterr). And there's Damon "Danger" Hatcher, a supercilious American bureau chief who doesn't care much for multiculturalism and political correctness. Half-way through the book, Hari gets a scholarship to study in America, where the story takes on a Candide-like quality. This is a wonderful book.

I'm a sucker for any book that stars writers and eccentrics, and this book is replete with both. It's brilliantly observed, and so cleverly written that I was laughing every time I turned a page -- and I turned them rapidly. It's a fast read, lots of fun, and its cultural observations, on everything from newspaper work in India to riding the Greyhound bus to Washington, are incisive and often hilarious.

The author has made a good presentation on his melatonin research and gives much crdebility to the practice of meditation as a geat healing practice. His research is very convincing, thorough, and scientific. For those seriously persuing further study and data on the benefits of meditation I strongly recommend reading the Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

I had expected this to be just another one of those books that promote spiritual methods for healing - this one focusing on the new wonder "cure-all" melatonin. For some reason I picked it up anyway and couldn't put it down!! This is what I have always been looking for - a reason WHY these methods work, and how they work. Scientifically plausable explanations backed up by research! I highly recommend this book for anyone who really wants to believe that we can heal ourselves and yet feels that it flies in the face of scientific reality. First you're given the information in everyday language and in step-by-step instructions - all that you need is a willingness to try the methods. You're already equipped with all that you need - nothing else to buy and nothing else to invest in - only your time and a willingness to be positive about a change. The second half of the book backs up the techniques with hard scientific data from research at the University of Western in London, Ontario, Canada. If I could recommend only one book on healing - conventional or alternative - this is it! Best of all - the methods work! Try them, you won't be disappointed and for the first time you'll understand why and how it's working.

For Darshan Singh Tatla, Operation Bluestar--the Indian Army's 1984 storming of the Golden Temple in order to flush out the militant leader Bhindranwale and his followers--was the 'crucial' (p 210) event that transformed Sikhs' understanding of their identity: 'From a self-confident religious community, the Sikhs rapidly acquired many characteristics of a persecuted minority' (p 1). In particular, argues Tatla, the threat of an overly centralised and overtly Hindu India practising 'ethnocracy' (p 36) rather than democracy led the one million-strong Sikh diaspora to take up the role of popularisers-and chief fund-raisers-for Khalistan. Their reaction to Operation Bluestar also 'enabled them to redraw a strict definition of Sikh identity, highlighting the religious tradition and collective symbols of the community instead of the geography, language and cultural traits' (p 210). Tatla adds that support for Khalistan fed on the alienation which many Sikhs living abroad had long felt but rarely articulated.

Tatla's excellent work underscores the 'situational' (p 210) nature of ethnic consciousness. Why then does he only grudgingly admit that, for the Sikh diaspora, 'a broader loyalty towards India probably still exists' (p210)? With the return of peace to Punjab and the entrance of the Akali Dal (the main Sikh political party) into the recent national coalition government of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, support for Khalistan has become a slogan rather than a belief.

The Sikh DIASPORA, is a very thourgh and excellent written book, not only for academics alike but for our future generations, Tatla explains fully within context to the reader, a past, present and future look of Sikh movements, an excellent book and well contributed to the series of Diasporas around the world.

Sangat Singh uses a detailed account of historical events, recurringly supported by references to listed external documentation, to help the reader understand how Sikhism came to be, and how it's adherents, the Sikhs, have participated in, and have been subject to, the events that have made up the last 500 years of history in the Greater Punjab region of South Asia.

Questions ranging from the history of Guru Nanak, the bringer of the Sikh message to humanity, are considered along with other detailed commentary on more recent events such as:

- Operation Bluestar during Mrs. Indra Gandhi's reign, when genocide was undertaken in Punjab by the Hindustani government; - The events which transpired in the Punjab leading up to Partition of India into Hindustan and Pakistan, with a harsh splitting up of the Punjab; - The creation of government-sponsored terrorist groups by the Hindustan Congress, leading to the RAW-sponsored terrorist bombing of an Air India Toronto-Delhi Boeign 747 flight over the Atlantic Ocean.

In "The Sikhs in History", other aspects of history from the Sikh perspective are described, such as: - The gradual introduction of non-Sikh Brahminical doctrine into the sangat (the community of Sikhs) and how this has influenced the present day community of Sikhs into adopting a more non-Sikh Hindu communal philosophy; - Detailed accounts of the lives of the first 10 Sikh Gurus, their accomplishments, and their setbacks;

Sangat Singh does not skip a beat as he takes the reader through every stage in history where Sikhs have been involved, providing references for his facts with every new development. The mind that questions what Sikhism is, and why Sikhs and Sikhism seem to be two distant notions from each other, will surely want to have this book as a reference on thier bookshelf.

The best book on Sikh history I have read. I think it is back in print again. Sangat Singh has inside knowlege on the anti Sikh activities of the Indian Government which to his credit he exposes.

It is quite interesting to read and to explore what the Sri Guru Granth Sahib says about itself and the concept of God, sin and salvation.

This is the first book I've read which explains clearly what Sikhs believe in. It has been fascinating and enlightening to gain positive knowldge on sikhism. Some of my associates are sikhs and it has enriched my understanding of their faith and beliefs. It has also helped to build bridges.

The book is written in easy English to understand, as Gurumukhi the orginal text is very difficult to understand. It is easily accessible to students, young and old and draws in reader of all backgrounds whatever, race or creed.

In my ministry this book has been a very useful tool, when coming in contact with people from sikh background. It also has been helpful to build bridges over ignorance and lack of knowldge.

I would highly recommend this book to any reader who seeks to learn the fundementals of the Sikh faith.

Pastor Simon Bhardwaj

As many who will be interested in this title will know, the Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy book, believed to be the inspired Word of God and treated by Sikhs with the courtesy normally shown to a living religious teacher (guru). However, because the Guru Granth Sahib is a long book written in Gurmukhi script (the written form of Punjabi) it is common for Sikhs themselves not to understand its meaning, let alone non-Sikh westerners. Although there have been some translations of the Guru Granth Sahib, this translation of key passages is particularly user-friendly. For example, along with a useful index and a select bibliography of the principal studies of Sikhism in English, the passages are helpfully arranged under the following theological headings: Origins of the Granth; the Concept of God; the Nature of the World; Karma and Transmigration; the Concept of Sin; Salvation; Guruship; Prayers in the Granth; Hinduism in the Granth; Muslim and Sufi Influence on the Gurus. Moreover, each section begins with a concise, reliable introduction. This makes the book particularly useful for those involved in teaching and dialogue.

As to the author, few people are as well qualified as Hakim Singh Rahi to produce a work such as this. Born in the Punjab, currently living in Birmingham (UK), Hakim Singh Rahi is a well-known Urdu poet who has produced books and poetry in several languages, including a novel in Hindi. Indeed, in 1989 he was awarded the Aizazi Award of the West Bengal Urdu Academy.

Who might be interested in this volume? If you want to understand what Sikhs believe, or if you teach Sikhism in a school or college, this book will prove to be an invaluable resource. Certainly there can be few better introductions to it than Revd. Rahi's book. I warmly commend it.

Umrao Jan Ada is perhaps one of the most enigmatic, and forgotten female figures in South Asian literature. To date, the question of her existence, her beauty, her scholarly abilities and her poetic gifts remain a mystery. The book is an account of Umrao's life, documented by a close friend and supposedly dictated by Umrao. While the novel offers no twists and turns shuttling the reader into a "what happens next?" frenzy, it is a remarkable and very effective attempt to capture the essense of what it meant to be a courtesan in royal india. The novel weaves Umrao's story with a delicate sprinkiling of poetry, royal societal dynamics, as well as an indepth glance at a long since forgotten profession. I highly reccommend this novel to any enthusiast of Royal India, Indian poetry, and South Asian studies in general. For poetry enthusiasts, and for those readers who are well versed in Urdu, the Urdu version of this book is remarkable.

A courtesans life told as no other than Ruswa could tell it. He uses the very flower of the urdu language to his advantage. It is the passion, pleasue and glory of mughal India and her incomparable courtesans.

The Shaivite tradition of India is unknown to most Americans. It is an intense, tantric school of consciousness development that grew up in conversation with Buddhism and later with Islam. The Vijnanabhairava is a collection of the techniques these Shaivites have used, each presented concisely with some indication of its usefulness. Probably not too good an idea to use these without a spiritual director to keep an eye on your development...

This book is like a Rosetta stone of all of yoga condensed into 108 dharanas or centering techniques. When I first bought this book, I found some of these dharanas were very easy; others I found obscure. The deeper my practice has gone the more I learn.

The key is to absorb the dharanas (centering techniques) that are obvious. Over time, as one's yogic study deepens, many of the others will become apparent. The Vijnana-bhairava was written as the original home-study, Self-study course revealed by Bhairava (God). The practice of any tantric technique is by it's very nature done by oneself as each of our relationships to the Divine is a personal affair.

The amazing thing that this book conveys is a deep understanding of how we can find our connection with the Divine in our moment to moment existence. For the serious student there is no book I recommend more strongly.

Sundar Singh, a Sikh convert to the Christian faith, offers occidental readers a unique perspective of what it means to follow Jesus Christ as the Master or Guru of one's life.

This anthology contains anecdotes, sermonettes, aphorisms, and interviews with Sundar Singh which, if read with opennesss and sincerity, should move you to reflect on the ways you are approaching the person of Jesus of Nazareth in your own spiritual life.

Sundar Singh's teaching is filled with both the passion of christian committment and the insights of ancient

"If you want to see the world of the spirit, you must look with spiritual eyes ... you can only apply the wisdom that arises from love and reverence. In a certain sense, all of space and time is spiritual. God's presence pervades everything. Thus all people live in the spiritual world ... we either turn joyfully toward the light, or rebelliously toward the darkness." -- Sadhu Sundar Singh
As an angry young Sikh distraught over his mother's death, Sundar Singh was preparing to take his own life when he experienced a visionary encounter, not with Krishna, but with Christ. He became a Sadhu, a wandering mystic, not pursuing a hermit-like existence, but traversing the jungles and high mountain passes to appear in remote villages and lend assistance and care to the poor and disease stricken, and to counsel spiritual seekers. In the early twentieth century, Singh led the life of a first century apostle. Western Christians will find Sundar Singh's parables and dialogues wonderfully lacking in western conventions. He eloquently describes the intellectual futility of trying to wage logical arguments against God's existence, his allegorical explanation of the Trinity is better than most, his teaching that there is but One source of peace, love, and understanding is the bedrock of Christianity (and all monotheism).
In Sadhu Sundar Singh we find a true Christian mystic, a student, a servant, a holy man. His ministry and teachings became known to millions, he was admired by hundreds of thousands, and loved by tens of thousands whose lives he touched. His life and teachings also caused certain interests to despise him and attempts were made on his life. He disappeared, alone in the high Himalayas, in 1929.
Singh was not a writer, he produced six small books (which contained much of the material used in this compilation), perhaps solely because admirers urged him to. Yet he offers an elegant economy of words, using familiar objects of the natural world as illustrations for his allegories and parables. His "warning to the West" remains a telling indictment of the spiritual numbness of Western materialism and of western "Christians" who embrace the doctrines of culture more dearly than the teachings of Christ. When, during a trip to Europe, Singh was chided for not being more concerned with twentieth century science, he asked his questioner to what he referred. "Natural selection, you know, survival of the fittest," blustered the questioner. "Ah," Singh responded, "but I am more interested in divine selection, and the survival of the unfit."