A HISTORY OF INDIA ON HORSEBACK

The horse is etched on the Indian landscape, and to view the subcontinent’s past through the prism of the horse is to be swept up in its power and grace. Horses are a thread that connects Indian history mythology, art, literature, folklore and popular belief. In this book, Yashaswini Chandra takes us on an exhilarating journey, covering caravan-trade routes originating in Central Asia and Tibet, sea routes from the Middle East, and the dominions of different Mughal emperors, the south Indian kingdoms as well as the Rajput horse-warrior states. She outlines the political symbolism of the horse, its vital function in social life, economics, religion, sport and war. We learn of the emergence of local breeds, encounter fabulous horsewomen, and women polo players too. The highlight are the magnificent examples of the horse itself. The glorious age of the horse would decline with colonial rule and mechanization. The history of the horse in India, mirroring that of its human inhabitants, is a tale of migration and intermingling.

The Tale of the Horse Yashaswini Chandra

297pp, ~699, Panmacmillan