Things read - Week 12

Sam Dalrymple's new book

Sam has built his own following among history buffs through his Substack. I don't remember when I came across Sam's substack, probably his writing about India's prettiest library but I'm glad I did. Since then I have learnt a great deal about India's own niche history, like how Golconda inspired poetry in Iran and palaces in Thailand; the complex history of Ellora and it's Kailashanth Temple - the largest rock-cut monolith in the worlds etc.

Anyway, he's coming up with a book that explores the trajectory India has taken in the last few centuries. Especially the 50 year block where India got divided into countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Instant pre-order.

Highlights from the book All the Lovers in the Night

A buzzing sound circled around me, working its way closer from somewhere in the distance, until finally it was right in front of me and made me open my eyes wide, no idea what time it was or where I was. I felt something cold below my tongue, around my chin, so I wiped it off with the back of my hand. It was drool.

As I passed below the haloes of the green and red traffic signals, I was taken by this strange view of the evening, the city streets full of people—people waiting, the people they were waiting for, people out to eat together, people going somewhere together, people heading home together. I allowed my thoughts to settle on the brightness filling their hearts and lungs, squinting as I walked along and counted all the players of this game that I would never play.

I keep coming back to this book not for the twist or the characters or the story lines but for the banality of life.