Banaras City of Light

Banaras - City of Light has been on my reading list for quite some time. In the last few years, I have read several books on Indian history and every book has been an eye opener in terms of understanding my own inheritance and the origins of our ancient civilization. Several books or article that I have read have referred to Banaras - City of Light. That is why I was eager to read this book and it has been an amazing learning experience.

It is always fun to read a book that has both the comprehensiveness of a scholar and the flair of a storyteller. Given the fact that this book is still so often quoted even though it was first published in 1982 speaks volumes of its importance in covering an important part of the Indian civilization and more specifically, the Hindu Dharma.

I have been to Varanasi only once. Even though I am an Indian and a Hindu, I still felt that the place was special. This book has given me several reasons to plan another visit and also to spend sufficient time exploring the city. We, as Hindus, definitely attach divine importance to Varanasi but this book gives a scholarly perspective on why that is the case. I was happily surprised to learn that so many of our annual rituals and festivals are celebrated in much the same way they were celebrated 2000 years ago.

I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a glimpse of our ancient culture and customs and how a city has upheld that idea for more than 2000 years.