We all know this fact that if a lie is repeated ten times it will become a truth that many people will believe. It’s called the art of deception and the same art has been used on many of us, the Indians, who were lured into believing certain things. There are several myths and false narratives built in and about India and a few chosen Indians that are really hard to tackle. We, as common citizens, are not interested in pondering on these facts because we have assumed these to be true – because somebody said so, because somebody wrote so. We take things in their base form – whatsoever form it comes to us.

Sometimes historians and sometimes columnists, sometimes media barons and sometimes prominent authors – xyz is abc – believe it or go home and sleep. And we, like meeks, have been believing whatever they wanted us to believe. Blatantly, speaking we did not have enough courage to encounter these narratives irrespective of having proper pieces of evidence. Now, days have changed and people have started to provide counter-narrative and truth is coming to the light. I have recently read a book by Amit Bagria that tries to bring many hidden secrets and facts out in the public domain and in front of us.

Demythsifying Myths: Demystifying 18 Myths about India by Amit Bagaria is an outstanding piece of non-fiction literature that takes on many narratives that were built to falsify truths and push various particular agendas that suited the historians and some leaders as well. The book particularly talks about 18 myths from Ram to modern India and in-between talking about the freedom struggle and black day for Indian democracy ’emergency’ as well.

I believe that this book, Demythsifying India, will be very useful especially for our young friends because they have been reading the history books that were written with certain agendas in mind. Amit Bagaria’s 18, though very few in number, facts are so powerful that it will inspire many readers to look at things with various perspectives that they might never have thought of before.

The book tries to present a fresh perspective on many things that we know in common but are often afraid to talk in a group due to lack of intellectual backups. It talks about Gandhi and whether he was worthy enough to be called father the nation? How Nehru became ‘Chacha Nehru’? How did Indira Gandhi use the emergency to further her political ambitions? Who was she married to? What is a Hindu Rashtra and why that’s important? And many others… everything is discussed in detail and written after thorough research.

It presents the picture of Idea of India that was forgotten or was sacrificed due to the desire of some intellectuals and Nobel Peace Prize wannabes. Their arguments rest on hollow bricks of false intellect that can be shaken by a feeble breeze of pure truth and Amit has done exactly that. Demystifying Myths will fuel that desire to know more truths in the hearts of the readers – take my words.

Amit has written this book in a moderate language and it is not so difficult and not so base as well. Anyone with a decent grasp on the English language can easily understand the book and enjoy it as well. The style of telling the stories that build facts is also pretty nice that will compel the readers to further their progress in reading the book.

However, the author has not provided the readers with any certain list of references or further readings. He has mentioned the sources wherever possible in the course of his narrative only. Nevertheless, that doesn’t matter more because readers are wise enough to use the internet and counter-verify the facts that the author has presented in the book.

You can get a copy of the book in various formats from Amazon India:

buy the book – click here

review by Amit for Indian Book Lovers