Description
Book SynopsisGuiding the reader on a tour of the sights and sounds of an emerging city struggling to shake off colonialism and wrestling with the formation of its own budding identity, Narayan’s beguiling book offers descriptions of Mumbai’s daily life, its people and its institutions: the parts of the whole that come together to create this diverse and vivacious place. This valuable text is a rare and enthralling glimpse into a fascinating period and place otherwise lost to time.
Trade Review‘A good read for anyone interested in understanding what makes Bombay Mumbai’ —Frederick Noronha, ‘Navhind Times’
'Essential: Ranganathan has done everyone interested in Indian history, and in Mumbai in particualr, a great service by translating and editing Govind Narayan's 1863 masterpiece… An explanatory foreword from noted historian Gyan Prakash rounds out the translation of this indispensable 19th century text.' —S. L. Hoglund, ‘Choice’
'Ramanathan’s brief biography and bibliography add to the value of this window on nineteenth century Bombay, and his inclusion of photographs of the mid-nineteenth century aptly illustrate some of Govind Narayan’s observations. In all, this is a valuable resource for those who wish to explore urban life in mid-nineteenth century India through the eyes of a sharp and knowledgeable observer.' —Janaki Nai, Professor of History at the Centre of Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, in ‘Studies in History’
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Foreword by Gyan Prakash; Introduction; Govind Narayan: A Preliminary Bio-Bibliography; Govind Narayan’s Mumbai; Notes to the Text; Biographical Index of Mumbai Men of the Nineteenth Century; Descriptive Index of Mumbai Institutions of the Nineteenth Century; Bibliography; Glossary; Index; Map
