Book Description
India: The Elephant's Blessing follows the author's two 2,500
km journeys through southern India. This is a travelogue but is infused
with perceptive insights into the people and culture of India. The point
of departure for these insights is often the curious mixture of India's
ancient culture and its current economic development and the relative ease
with which people blend tradition and the trappings of contemporary life.
As with her previous two books, a central focus for the author is wildlife
and heritage preservation or the lack thereof. India's wildlife is one of
its most precious resources, but it has suffered in the past and present
from poaching and a lack of competent conservation methods.
This is a timely and relevant book with crucial insights to offer and a
charm and readability that makes the physical journey of the author and the
mental journey of the reader a rewarding and charming experience. The book
is sold with an accompanying DVD of the author's photography of these huge
travels all set to evocative Indian music which brings the written word
alive and into the sitting room or on the computer.
km journeys through southern India. This is a travelogue but is infused
with perceptive insights into the people and culture of India. The point
of departure for these insights is often the curious mixture of India's
ancient culture and its current economic development and the relative ease
with which people blend tradition and the trappings of contemporary life.
As with her previous two books, a central focus for the author is wildlife
and heritage preservation or the lack thereof. India's wildlife is one of
its most precious resources, but it has suffered in the past and present
from poaching and a lack of competent conservation methods.
This is a timely and relevant book with crucial insights to offer and a
charm and readability that makes the physical journey of the author and the
mental journey of the reader a rewarding and charming experience. The book
is sold with an accompanying DVD of the author's photography of these huge
travels all set to evocative Indian music which brings the written word
alive and into the sitting room or on the computer.
From the Author
India is the Land of my birth and I have an enormous love for
this ancient splendid country with all her beauty but enormous challenges.
I still speak rusty Hindi/Urdu which makes my experiences perhaps more
interesting and adds a depth that might not be experienced by other western
travellers. This book was written at the urging of the Indian Government
and the Tamil Nadu State Government immediately post Asian Tsunami and I
have dedicated the book to All the Children from any nation that died as a
result of the tsunami and those who were so tragically orphaned and had
their lives changed for ever. This book encompasses the southern states of
India - Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and then a
retrospective look at Delhi. I have written about Delhi in all three of my
books - my first India: The Peacocks's Call is about northern India and is
my 'take' on the land of my birth at the time of her 50th anniversary of
nationhood; this was published in 2002. The second is India: The Tiger's
Roar which was published in November 2004 and is about central India and
the urgent need to save the Tiger from extinction through poaching,
population pressure, greed and corruption, plus the usual Indian inertia.
Now my third book completes the trilogy and in this chronicle of a decade
finds the cup half full for India; she is one of the new great economic
superpowers of the 21st century. So much to offer, so much to see and
enjoy but with it all the challenges that the world's largest democracy
still has to try and overcome. Jai Hind!
this ancient splendid country with all her beauty but enormous challenges.
I still speak rusty Hindi/Urdu which makes my experiences perhaps more
interesting and adds a depth that might not be experienced by other western
travellers. This book was written at the urging of the Indian Government
and the Tamil Nadu State Government immediately post Asian Tsunami and I
have dedicated the book to All the Children from any nation that died as a
result of the tsunami and those who were so tragically orphaned and had
their lives changed for ever. This book encompasses the southern states of
India - Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and then a
retrospective look at Delhi. I have written about Delhi in all three of my
books - my first India: The Peacocks's Call is about northern India and is
my 'take' on the land of my birth at the time of her 50th anniversary of
nationhood; this was published in 2002. The second is India: The Tiger's
Roar which was published in November 2004 and is about central India and
the urgent need to save the Tiger from extinction through poaching,
population pressure, greed and corruption, plus the usual Indian inertia.
Now my third book completes the trilogy and in this chronicle of a decade
finds the cup half full for India; she is one of the new great economic
superpowers of the 21st century. So much to offer, so much to see and
enjoy but with it all the challenges that the world's largest democracy
still has to try and overcome. Jai Hind!
From the Inside Flap
The work is narrated intimately, in the sense that the author's
personality is everpresent, imbuing the work with a charm rare in travel
literature. The reader views India at every level, from the
poverty-stricken to the grasping rich, from the quiet beauty of its
wildlife parks to the humbling grace of its ancient temples. The
Elephant's Blessing is a social commentary by someone with an honest and
clear-sighted love of India which gives one the flavour of India while
addressing the relevant concerns for its future.
This is a book that captures all the contradictions of India and its long
history, the embracing of the modern in the landscape of the past. The
importance of issues of national heritage are brought to the fore, as are
the challenges for the politicians privileged to lead India into the 21st
century. The geographical regions of Southern India are described
objectively and atmospherically and, although the work is far more than a
travel guide, it would serve as such for the intelligent and informed
traveller who seeks to learn about the culture as opposed to simply tour
it.
This is a timely and relevant book with crucial insights to offer.
personality is everpresent, imbuing the work with a charm rare in travel
literature. The reader views India at every level, from the
poverty-stricken to the grasping rich, from the quiet beauty of its
wildlife parks to the humbling grace of its ancient temples. The
Elephant's Blessing is a social commentary by someone with an honest and
clear-sighted love of India which gives one the flavour of India while
addressing the relevant concerns for its future.
This is a book that captures all the contradictions of India and its long
history, the embracing of the modern in the landscape of the past. The
importance of issues of national heritage are brought to the fore, as are
the challenges for the politicians privileged to lead India into the 21st
century. The geographical regions of Southern India are described
objectively and atmospherically and, although the work is far more than a
travel guide, it would serve as such for the intelligent and informed
traveller who seeks to learn about the culture as opposed to simply tour
it.
This is a timely and relevant book with crucial insights to offer.
From the Back Cover
'A seamless robe of observation, comment and memoir, skillfully
embroidered with historical fact and anecdote' by Dr Premen Addy.
'An excellent travel guide for those who would venture beyond the beaten
track..a rare book of discovery' by Martin Bell
'It is at once a well-researched factfule and a riveting storybook, not
your regular Lonely Planet' by Rohini Mohan
'This book can be recommended to any European or traveller who is planning
a long holiday in India. I only wish the book is made a required reading
for the employees of the Tourist Board of India, so that they feel proud of
the product they are marketing all over the world.' by Krishan Ralleigh
embroidered with historical fact and anecdote' by Dr Premen Addy.
'An excellent travel guide for those who would venture beyond the beaten
track..a rare book of discovery' by Martin Bell
'It is at once a well-researched factfule and a riveting storybook, not
your regular Lonely Planet' by Rohini Mohan
'This book can be recommended to any European or traveller who is planning
a long holiday in India. I only wish the book is made a required reading
for the employees of the Tourist Board of India, so that they feel proud of
the product they are marketing all over the world.' by Krishan Ralleigh
About the Author
Aline Dobbie was born in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, India to a
family serving in the British Empire. The last of a long line of
distinguished soldiers and civilians Aline is determined to bring the
charms and challenges of the beloved Land of her birth to travellers and
tourists.Her own non commercial website thepeacockscall.co.uk has all
her published articles and comments and galleries of her photography of
India and Indian Ocean countries with links to worthwhile small charities
for children and wildlife conservation within India.
family serving in the British Empire. The last of a long line of
distinguished soldiers and civilians Aline is determined to bring the
charms and challenges of the beloved Land of her birth to travellers and
tourists.Her own non commercial website thepeacockscall.co.uk has all
her published articles and comments and galleries of her photography of
India and Indian Ocean countries with links to worthwhile small charities
for children and wildlife conservation within India.
