Böcker utgivna av Niyogi Books

"This work in three volumes is an improved and expanded edition of my two volume German language book from 2015: Orchha, Datia, Panna, 'Malwa' Miniaturen von den rajputischen Hèofen Bundelkhands, 1580-1820"--Page 11.

- A book that maps down the journey of the tradition of textile and crafting- Locates the culture of craft in the pages of history- A guideline to the generations to explore the fieldCrafting a Future is a heartfelt celebration of artisans and their vocational skills. Each region in India has its own distinctive raw materials, craft techniques, textiles, motifs and color palettes, and through her well-researched narrative enriched with numerous stories, Archana Shah demonstrates the diversity and true value of handcrafted textile processes. She believes that handspun, handwoven fabrics made using indigenous fibers and natural materials for dyeing will help create a unique identity for handcrafted textiles, and suggests ways to repurpose the abundant artisanal talent available across the country to rejuvenate this sector. These tenets are woven throughout the book, which is broadly divided into three sections based on natural fibres: cotton from plants, silk from insects and wool from animals. This resonates with Gandhiji's concept of developing khadi and village industries to rejuvenate the rural economy, and stimulate development through a bottom-up approach. Beyond its beauty and heritage value, artisanal production is eco-friendly, has a negligible carbon footprint and fulfils most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has the potential for creating dignified employment opportunities for millions of people in their own regional location, so that they are not compelled by economic constraints to abandon their ancestral professions and migrate to urban slums to earn a meagre livelihood as unskilled laborers. In essence, the book focuses on artisans, their aspirations and fulfilment in their work. It also draws upon their traditional wisdom to address two of the most serious challenges that we face today: growing unemployment and climate change.

This book is in pursuit of Alice, whose name rhymes with gallus. That, however, is another memory, another book waiting to germinate. John Lang (1816-1864), inebriated on John Exshaw, ''a ruling spirit of those days'', most of his adult life, was a dogged underdog from Sydney, who spared no effort to hurt the John Company (East India Company). He settled in India at the age of 26, and was a prolific writer, journalist and lawyer. His novels were too feminist for Victorian comfort, while his white male protagonists were often described with the phrase-''India he loved, England he despised.'' As a journalist he was irreverent towards the army and legal systems; modern journalists could take a lesson or two from Mr Lang. As a lawyer, John Lang learnt Persian and Urdu fast so that he could argue cases in the lower courts. He fought a number of important cases for Indians against the John Company, and won some-the establishment found a way to send him to jail. The Rani of Jhansi was so impressed, she invited him to be her lawyer. There was a party going on at Lang''s house when he died. He said that a party should not be stopped just on account of his ill health.

- An experience of a lifetime -- of traveling through the ghats and lanes of Banaras, the sacred city, where millions of believers pause to encounter the divine -- captured in the pages of a book- Through Nabi's visuals of the waterfront, of the Ganges, the eye meets a world that is frantic of the mundane and magnum opus, a scene of both calm and chaos amalgamated- A unique journey from the pages of history to the contemporary times, this is a narrative composed with meticulous research and beautiful illustrations- Narrated in a story-telling manner, this book will appeal to the common reader and the scholar alikeBanaras is an enigma with a carefully crafted antiquity that runs deep into its veins. It is an anagram hard to decipher. In more tangible terms, going beyond the metaphorical, Banaras is about all its elements and many sights and sounds. It is about the visible thousands, the Banarasis (the dwellers), the pilgrims, the tourists, the patrons, the kings, the emperors, and the nameless. Banaras is the perceived 'sacred' by the believer, reflected in its past created and recreated, finally standing ground in the contemporary or the lived-in, in particular. A visit to Banaras leaves you with vivid memories or recall of a particular moment which resides in one's senses long after the journey. This book is about the author's sensing of Banaras, a quest to comprehend all of the above and a catalyst to experience more.

- A detailed survey of the painting styles of Guler and Kangra in the 18th and 19th centuries- Analyses the impact of the Bhakti movement and of Mughal painting on the painting traditions of the region- With more than 150 images of paintings, the book is a visual treat for scholars as well as general readersPainting in the Kangra Valley is an attempt to survey the painting styles of Guler and Kangra, which flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The painting activity began with Kashmiri painters, who started receiving royal patronage during the reign of Raja Dalip Singh (1695-1741) of Guler. But it attained culmination during the long reign of Maharaja Sansar Chand (1776-1823) of Kangra. The royal atelier of Kangra produced a large number of paintings covering diverse subjects. The advent of the Bhakti movement in north India had a tremendous impact, resulting in a preference for Krishna themes for the artists of Guler and Kangra. The sentiment of love is the main subject of Guler-Kangra paintings. They illustrate the finest specimens of various kinds of nayika described by the Hindi poets of the riti genre. The female figures seen in these paintings are depicted as graceful and beautiful idealizations, handled by the painters with utmost delicacy and tenderness. Vijay Sharma's analytical approach, based on facts, gives new insights into the origin and development of the Guler school and the marked influence of later Mughal painting on the styles of Manaku and Nainsukh. Featuring around 160 images this book is a significant read for researchers as well as connoisseurs.

- Features in-depth commentary on 90 superb paintings by the eminent art historian J.P. Losty- Many of the paintings offer fascinating insights into Indian attire and fabrics, as they were acquired for the textiles and costumes they illustrate- Showcasing a curated selection of Indian miniature paintings, this book is a feast for the eye for lovers of Indian paintingCourt & Courtship: Indian Miniatures in the TAPI Collection is a study of Indian paintings in which the author J.P. Losty explores the well-trod highways and the lesser-known byways of miniature paintings, put together by the well-known textile collectors, Praful and Shilpa Shah. Starting with a splendid 16th-century painting from the early Rajput Bhagvata Purana, readers will savor the variety of Mughal and other portraits of emperors, princes, courtiers, and of royal elephants and horses. Courtly pictures include several from the Deccan, Rajasthan, Central India, and the northern hills. Resplendent ladies in 18th and 19th-century attire adorn the pages, as do paintings acquired for the textiles and costumes they illustrate - jamas, paijamas, angarkhas, turbans, odhnis, patkas, canopies, and qanats. Representing the classic texts of Sanskrit and Hindi literature are stunning examples from a 17th-century ragamala, the Shangri Ramayana, the Gita Govinda, Harivamsha, and Rasikapriya. Two of the most impressive paintings ever to come out of Nathdwara are featured here, from the hands of master artists Sukhdev Gaur and Ghasiram Sharma. Showcasing 90 superb images, this collection is sure to be of interest to lovers of Indian art.

- The first book to be written specifically on historic Indian firearms by an international arms expert- It offers scholars and collectors the opportunity to see the superb Jodhpur collection that includes the best Indian matchlocks, modern British and American sporting guns, shotguns, revolvers and automatic pistols by many of the great makers of the 20th century- Features more than 350 unique images of guns and Rajput paintings from private collections showing their use, as well as explains Rajput traditions relating to hunting and warIn 1972 H.H. Maharaja Gaj Singhji, of Jodhpur-Marwar transformed the Rathore's magnificent Mehrangarh Fort into a highly successful Rajput museum and cultural center. As part of this work, the Mehrangarh Museum Trust commissioned this book. The author discusses the worldwide medieval diffusion of firearms technology and Arab, Ottoman, European and Chinese influences on the development of Indian firearms. Jodhpur was one of the most important military states in Rajasthan, playing a major role in the history of the subcontinent, never more so than during the reign of Maharaja Ajit Singhji (1678-1724) who purchased large numbers of guns when his daughter married the Mughal emperor. Jodhpur owns the best Indian matchlocks in the subcontinent, much admired at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. Successive maharajas have added to the collection, which includes modern British and American sporting guns, shotguns, revolvers and automatic pistols by many of the great makers of the twentieth century, collected by the Maharaja's grandfather, a noted hunter, and his father, a gun designer. The Maharaja of Jodhpur's Guns is the first book to be written specifically on historic Indian firearms. With more than 350 unique images of guns and Rajput paintings from private collections showing their use, this book offers scholars and collectors the opportunity to see the superb Jodhpur collection and to learn about Rajput traditions relating to hunting and war.

The book thoroughly examines the influence of Bharat Muni's Natyashastra, an ancient treatize of dramatic arts, on present-day Kathak- It explores time and rhythm in Kathak in detail with examples- The author is a professional Kathak dancer and has been studying and performing Kathak for the past 46 years. She brings her experience about the practical aspects of Kathak in this book- The reader will be able to see how different aspects of Kathak are fused together to create a performanceKathak: The Dance of Storytellers explores the philosophical and practical aspects of Kathak dance - its origin, development, and techniques. Investigating this compelling dance style from cultural and historical perspectives, the book delves into the essential principles of Kathak, its schools and major artists, the format of Kathak performance, repertoire, Kathak music, predominant trends in training, and the system of practice through the lens of theory and application. A rare resource, the text is a comprehensive read for dancers, teachers, and Kathak lovers.Due to the increase of Kathak performances along with dance classes in the west, Kathak practitioners living outside India will immensely benefit from this book.