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{{Infobox book | |||
| name = The Discovery of India | | name = The Discovery of India | ||
| image = Jawaharlal Nehru - The Discovery of India.jpg | | image = Jawaharlal Nehru - The Discovery of India.jpg | ||
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| subject = [[Indian history]], [[Indian culture]], [[Politics of India]], [[Religion in India]], [[Indian philosophy]] | | subject = [[Indian history]], [[Indian culture]], [[Politics of India]], [[Religion in India]], [[Indian philosophy]] | ||
| publisher = [[John Day Company|John Day]] (US)<br>Meridian Books (UK) | | publisher = [[John Day Company|John Day]] (US)<br>Meridian Books (UK) | ||
| release_date = 14 November 1946; 76 years ago | | release_date = 14 November 1946; 76 years ago (at [[Signet Press]], [[Kolkata]], [[India]]) | ||
| media_type = Print ([[Paperback]]) | |||
| pages = 595 | | pages = 595 | ||
| isbn = 978-0-19-562359-8 | | isbn = 978-0-19-562359-8 | ||
| congress = DS436 .N42 1989 | | congress = DS436 .N42 1989 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The Discovery of India''''' is a book written by the Indian freedom fighter [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] (later India's first [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]) during his imprisonment from 1942 to 1945 at [[Ahmednagar Fort]] in the present-day state of [[Maharashtra]] by British colonial authorities, prior to India's independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/nehrus-discovery-of-india-remains-a-bestseller-50-years-after-his-death/articleshow/35791589.cms|title=Nehru's 'Discovery of India' remains a bestseller 50 years after his death | Mumbai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=30 May 2014}}</ref> The book was first published in India in 1946, and it remains a bestseller to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/bharat-mata-ki-jai-how-jawaharlal-nehrus-discovery-of-india-offers-a-peek-into-the-soul-of-india-3079802.html|title=Bharat Mata Ki Jai: How Jawaharlal Nehru's Discovery of India offers a peek into the soul of India|date=29 October 2016|website=Firstpost}}</ref> | |||
==Synopsis== | |||
''The Discovery of India'' traces the journey of India from ancient history to the final years of the [[British Raj]]. Nehru draws on his knowledge of the [[Upanishads]], [[Vedas]], and textbooks on ancient history to present the development of India, beginning with the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] and continuing through socio-political transformations introduced by successive foreign invaders, culminating in the contemporary period of his time. Imprisoned for his role in the [[Quit India Movement]] alongside other Indian leaders, Nehru used this period to document his reflections and understanding of India's past. The book provides a broad overview of Indian [[History of India|history]], philosophy, and [[Culture of India|culture]] from the perspective of an Indian striving for independence.<ref name="das">{{cite journal|last=Das|first=Taraknath|date=June 1947|title=India--Past, Present and the Future|journal=Political Science Quarterly|volume=62|issue=2|pages=295–304|doi=10.2307/2144210|jstor=2144210}}{{subscription required}}</ref> | |||
==Other contributors== | |||
[[File:Jawaharlal Nehru's room at Ahmednagar fort - 20151226 031536.jpg|right|thumb|Jawaharlal Nehru's room at [[Ahmednagar Fort]] during his incarceration]] | |||
Nehru acknowledges that some content was influenced by his fellow prisoners at Ahmednagar Fort. He gives special mention to [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad]], [[Govind Ballabh Pant]], [[Narendra Deva]], and [[Asaf Ali]]. All eleven of his fellow prisoners were political detainees from across India with deep knowledge of the subjects discussed in the book. They also assisted in proofreading Nehru's work and offered creative suggestions. | |||
==Edition== | |||
The book was first published by [[Signet Press]] in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, in March 1946. It is currently published by the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund]], with copyright held by his granddaughter-in-law [[Sonia Gandhi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/criticism-of-nehru-not-based-on-critical-enquiry-sonia/article5358770.ece|title=Criticism of Nehru not based on critical enquiry: Sonia|first=Gaurav Vivek|last=Bhatnagar|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 November 2013}}</ref> | |||
* ''The Discovery of India'' by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, {{ISBN|0-670-05801-7}} | * ''The Discovery of India'' by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, {{ISBN|0-670-05801-7}} | ||
* ''The Discovery of India'' by Jawaharlal Nehru (paperback, thirteenth edition), {{ISBN|0-19-562359-2}} | * ''The Discovery of India'' by Jawaharlal Nehru (paperback, thirteenth edition), {{ISBN|0-19-562359-2}}<ref>The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru (paperback, thirteenth edition), {{ISBN|0-19-562359-2}}, Preface</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bharat Ki Khoj |first1=NCERT Class 8 |title=NCERT Bharat Ki Khoj |url=https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?hhbk1=0-9 |website=NCERT |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> | ||
==Adaptations== | ==Adaptations== | ||
The book | The book served as the basis for the 53-episode Indian television series ''[[Bharat Ek Khoj]]'' (1988), directed by [[Shyam Benegal]] and first broadcast on the state-run [[Doordarshan]] channel.<ref>{{cite news |title=What makes Shyam special... |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/17/stories/2003011700990100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030627193719/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/17/stories/2003011700990100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 June 2003 |date=17 January 2003 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> A modified version of the book is taught as a Hindi supplementary text in the 8th grade in some Indian schools as part of the CBSE NCERT curriculum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php?hhbk1=0-9 |title=NCERT Bharat Ki Khoj |website=NCERT |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* ''[[Glimpses of World History]]'' | * ''[[Letters from a Father to His Daughter]]'' (1929) | ||
* ''[[An Autobiography (Nehru)|An Autobiography]]'' (1936) | |||
* ''[[Glimpses of World History]]'' (1934) | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
*[https://archive.org/details/TheDiscoveryOfIndia-Eng-JawaharlalNehru/page/n1 ''The Discovery of India'']. First published by The Signet Press (1946). | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Discovery Of India}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Discovery Of India}} | ||
| Line 58: | Line 62: | ||
[[Category:Books by Jawaharlal Nehru]] | [[Category:Books by Jawaharlal Nehru]] | ||
[[Category:John Day Company books]] | [[Category:John Day Company books]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:14, 13 January 2026
 First US edition | |
| Author | Jawaharlal Nehru |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Language | English, Hindi |
| Subject | Indian history, Indian culture, Politics of India, Religion in India, Indian philosophy |
| Publisher | John Day (US) Meridian Books (UK) |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 595 |
| ISBN | 978-0-19-562359-8 |
| LC Class | DS436 .N42 1989 |
The Discovery of India is a book written by the Indian freedom fighter Jawaharlal Nehru (later India's first Prime Minister) during his imprisonment from 1942 to 1945 at Ahmednagar Fort in the present-day state of Maharashtra by British colonial authorities, prior to India's independence.[1] The book was first published in India in 1946, and it remains a bestseller to this day.[2]
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
The Discovery of India traces the journey of India from ancient history to the final years of the British Raj. Nehru draws on his knowledge of the Upanishads, Vedas, and textbooks on ancient history to present the development of India, beginning with the Indus Valley Civilization and continuing through socio-political transformations introduced by successive foreign invaders, culminating in the contemporary period of his time. Imprisoned for his role in the Quit India Movement alongside other Indian leaders, Nehru used this period to document his reflections and understanding of India's past. The book provides a broad overview of Indian history, philosophy, and culture from the perspective of an Indian striving for independence.[3]
Other contributors[edit | edit source]
Nehru acknowledges that some content was influenced by his fellow prisoners at Ahmednagar Fort. He gives special mention to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Govind Ballabh Pant, Narendra Deva, and Asaf Ali. All eleven of his fellow prisoners were political detainees from across India with deep knowledge of the subjects discussed in the book. They also assisted in proofreading Nehru's work and offered creative suggestions.
Edition[edit | edit source]
The book was first published by Signet Press in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, in March 1946. It is currently published by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, with copyright held by his granddaughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi.[4]
- The Discovery of India by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, ISBN 0-670-05801-7
- The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru (paperback, thirteenth edition), ISBN 0-19-562359-2[5][6]
Adaptations[edit | edit source]
The book served as the basis for the 53-episode Indian television series Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), directed by Shyam Benegal and first broadcast on the state-run Doordarshan channel.[7] A modified version of the book is taught as a Hindi supplementary text in the 8th grade in some Indian schools as part of the CBSE NCERT curriculum.[8]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929)
- An Autobiography (1936)
- Glimpses of World History (1934)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Nehru's 'Discovery of India' remains a bestseller 50 years after his death | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 30 May 2014.
- ↑ "Bharat Mata Ki Jai: How Jawaharlal Nehru's Discovery of India offers a peek into the soul of India". Firstpost. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ Das, Taraknath (June 1947). "India--Past, Present and the Future". Political Science Quarterly. 62 (2): 295–304. doi:10.2307/2144210. JSTOR 2144210.(subscription required)
- ↑ Bhatnagar, Gaurav Vivek (17 November 2013). "Criticism of Nehru not based on critical enquiry: Sonia". The Hindu.
- ↑ The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru (paperback, thirteenth edition), ISBN 0-19-562359-2, Preface
- ↑ Bharat Ki Khoj, NCERT Class 8. "NCERT Bharat Ki Khoj". NCERT. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "What makes Shyam special..." The Hindu. 17 January 2003. Archived from the original on 27 June 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ↑ "NCERT Bharat Ki Khoj". NCERT. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
External links[edit | edit source]
- The Discovery of India. First published by The Signet Press (1946).