the Berlin Stories

'The story of South Asia told with verve, wit and brilliance' ANURADHA ROY, author of All the Lives We Never Lived Based on decades of scholarship, this is the authoritative history of South Asia in the 20th century Shadows at Noon tells the subcontinent's story from the British Raj through independence and partition to the forging of the modern nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Unlike other histories of the region which concentrate exclusively on politics, here food, leisure and the household are given as much importance as nationhood, migration and the state. Thematic rather than chronological, each chapter illuminates an overarching topic that has shaped South Asia. This format enables us to explore issues - like the changing character of the family or the 'Indian diet' - over time and in depth. Chatterji's purpose is to make contemporary South Asia - its cultural vibrancy, diversity, social structures and political make-up - intelligible to everyone. In so doing this bold, innovative and personal work rallies against standard narratives of 'inherent' differences between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and reveals the many things its people have in common. 'Truly magnificent' MIHIR BOSE, author of The Nine Waves Shadows at Noon is an ambitious synthesis of decades of research and scholarship which explores the key strands of South Asian history in the twentieth century with clarity and authority. Unlike other narrative histories of the subcontinent that concentrate exclusively on politics, here food, leisure and the household are given equal importance to discussions of nationhood, the development of the state and patterns of migration. While it tells the subcontinent's story from the British Raj to independence and partition and on to the forging of the modern nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the book's structure is thematic rather than chronological. Each of the chapters illuminates on overarching theme or sphere that has shaped South Asia over the course of the century. This format allows the reader to explore particular issues such as the changing character of nationalism or food consumption over time and in depth. Shadows at Noon is a bold, innovative and personal work that pushes back against standard narratives of 'inherent' differences between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Its purpose is to make contemporary South Asia intelligible to readers who are fascinated by the subcontinent's cultural vibrancy and diversity but are often perplexed by its social and political makeup. And it illuminates the many aspects that its people have in common rather than what divides them. 'A classic ... wonderfully enjoyable' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'The story of South Asia told with verve, wit and brilliance' ANURADHA ROYBased on decades of scholarship, this is the authoritative history of South Asia in the 20th centuryShadows at Noon tells the subcontinent's story from the British Raj through independence and partition to the forging of the modern nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Unlike other histories of the region which concentrate exclusively on politics, here food, leisure and the household are given as much importance as nationhood, migration and the state.Thematic rather than chronological, each chapter illuminates an overarching topic that has shaped South Asia. This format enables us to explore issues - like the changing character of the family or the 'Indian diet' - over time and in depth.Chatterji's purpose is to make contemporary South Asia - its cultural vibrancy, diversity, social structures and political make-up - intelligible to everyone. In so doing this bold, innovative and personal work rallies against standard narratives of 'inherent' differences between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and reveals the many things its people have in common.'Truly magnificent' MIHIR BOSE'Wonderful' SIR MARK TULLY This Book Tells The Story Of South's Asia's Twentieth Century In Eight Chapters. Unlike Standard Narrative Histories Of The Subcontinent That Concentrate Exclusively On Politics, Here Nature, Objects, Technologies, Cultures, And People's Changing Relationships To Them And To Each Other, Are Central Preoccupations. The Structure Of The Book Is Unorthodox. Unusually For A Work Of This Kind, It Is Thematic Rather Than Chronological. Chapters Address Specific Questions That Might Arise In The Minds Of A 'lay', But Thoughtful, Reader; But Each Chapter Is Chronological Within Itself, Analysing Change Over A Century In One Particular Sphere. This Format Allows The Reader To Explore Particular Issues - Say, The Changing Character Of Nationalism, Migration Or Consumption - Over Time And In Depth. Shadows At Noon Is A Bold And Innovative Work That Pushes Back Against Standard Narratives Of 'inherent' Differences Between India, Pakistan And Bangladesh. The Purpose Of The Book Is To Make Contemporary South Asia Intelligible, While Sharing With The Reader Its Infinite Colour And Excitement. The Book Does Not 'talk Down' To The Reader Or Attempt, In Facile Ways, To Simplify The History Of A Vast, And Almost Mythically Intricate, Society.