Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas
Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas
Anirudh Kanisetti
- Language: English
- Print Length: 480 Pages
- ISBN-10: 9789353451608
- ISBN-13: 978-9353451608
In this brilliant and critically acclaimed debut book, Anirudh Kanisetti brings alive for the lay-reader the early medieval Deccan, from the sixth century CE to the twelfth century CE, in all its splendour and riotous glory. Kanisetti takes us back in time to witness the birth of the Chalukyas, a dynasty that shaped southern India for centuries. In vivid and colourful detail, Kanisetti describes how the mighty empires of medieval India were made: how temple-building and language manipulation were used as political tools; how royals involved themselves in religious struggles between Jains and Buddhists, Shaivas and Vaishnavas; and how awe-inspiring rituals were used to elevate kings over their rivals and subjects. In doing so, he transforms medieval Indian royals, merchants and commoners from obscure figures to complex, vibrant people. Kanisetti takes us into the minds of the powerful rulers of medieval south India – the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas and Cholas dynasties, and animates them with humanity and depth.
This painstakingly researched forgotten history of India will keep you riveted and enthralled. You will never see the history of the subcontinent the same way again.
In this brilliant and critically acclaimed debut book, Anirudh Kanisetti brings alive for the lay-reader the early medieval Deccan, from the sixth century CE to the twelfth century CE, in all its splendour and riotous glory. Kanisetti takes us back in time to witness the birth of the Chalukyas, a dynasty that shaped southern India for centuries. In vivid and colourful detail, Kanisetti describes how the mighty empires of medieval India were made: how temple-building and language manipulation were used as political tools; how royals involved themselves in religious struggles between Jains and Buddhists, Shaivas and Vaishnavas; and how awe-inspiring rituals were used to elevate kings over their rivals and subjects. In doing so, he transforms medieval Indian royals, merchants and commoners from obscure figures to complex, vibrant people. Kanisetti takes us into the minds of the powerful rulers of medieval south India – the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas and Cholas dynasties, and animates them with humanity and depth.
This painstakingly researched forgotten history of India will keep you riveted and enthralled. You will never see the history of the subcontinent the same way again.
Author Bios:
Anirudh Kanisetti is an award-winning history researcher and writer. He writes the weekly ‘Thinking Medieval’ column for The Print. His work has received grants from the Princeton Center for Digital Humanities and the India Foundation for the Arts. His writings and work have been featured in The Hindu, Open, The New Indian Express, and LiveMint, among others. Anirudh was formerly Editor at the Museum of Art and Photography and Associate Fellow at the Takshashila Institution. He hosts three popular and critically acclaimed podcasts – Echoes of India, Yuddha and The Altar of Time.
Anirudh Kanisetti is an award-winning history researcher and writer. He writes the weekly ‘Thinking Medieval’ column for The Print. His work has received grants from the Princeton Center for Digital Humanities and the India Foundation for the Arts. His writings and work have been featured in The Hindu, Open, The New Indian Express, and LiveMint, among others. Anirudh was formerly Editor at the Museum of Art and Photography and Associate Fellow at the Takshashila Institution. He hosts three popular and critically acclaimed podcasts – Echoes of India, Yuddha and The Altar of Time.
