CONSTRUCTING RAJPOOTANA-RAJASTHAN: Collected Narratives in Remembrance of Bhupendra Hooja

A land of colours and festivals, a land where tradition and modernity live side by side, a land with a history that is symbolized by images of valour, sacrifices and battles, a land that is the birthplace of grassroots democracy in India, a land dotted with beautiful and breathtaking palaces and forts, a land that is the most densely populated desert in the world and the largest state in India, Rajasthan is all this and more.

Earlier known as Rajpootana, the story of Rajasthan is interesting not only from a linear historical standpoint but also from a cultural, sociological and social change perspective.

The book is a collection of 33 articles and short comments or notes that provides a multi-faceted look at Rajasthan and Jaipur – its modern-day capital. A potpourri that explores Rajasthan’s present and past, from early centres of agriculture and metallurgy in the region, the coming of the Rajputs, the impact of British rule on the kingdoms of Rajpootana, origin and evolution of tribals in the state, people’s movements in Rajpootana, the merger of the princely states into Rajasthan, etc., this miscellany makes an attempt at constructing Rajasthan (a term applied to the region relatively late in its history following James Tod) by presenting various independent viewpoints and observations which include those of orientalists and historians of the 19th century as well as contemporary writers – both Indian and international.

In line with the assortment nature of this book special sections have been devoted to Amber and to Sawai Jai Singh and the creation of Jaipur.

The book will prove to be an extremely informative and interesting compendium to both the layman and the expert – historians, sociologists, researchers, students, visitors to Rajasthan and the general reader fascinated by the romance of Rajasthan and its past.

Rakesh Hooja is a writer and senor civil servant serving in the Indian Administrative Service which he joined after teaching at University of Rajasthan. He is presently Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Government of Rajasthan and Director, HCM Rajasthan State Institute of Public Administration, Jaipur. Author or editor of 30 books and over 390 articles, reviews, comments, he is also associated with the editing of some journals. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences in addition to Masters Degrees from University of East Anglia (UK) and University of Rajasthan and a Post Graduate Diploma from University of Mysore. His Rajasthan centric books include “Greening the Desert; and Democratic Decentralization and Planning” (co-authored); and two co-edited volumes “Desert, Drought and Development and Administration of Desert and Drought Prone Arid Areas; ” an edited book “Bureaucracy and Society: ” “The IAS at Work, ” as well as “Jaipur: Profile of a Changing City” (co-authored). Two of his books and an article have won awards.

Rima Hooja possesses a Doctorate on Indian Archaeology from University of Cambridge (UK) and has been Associate Professor of Indian History and Culture at Kota Open University. Her books include prize-winning “A History of Rajasthan; Prince, Patriot and Parliamentarian: A Biography of Karni Singh of Bikaner; Crusader for Self-Rule: Tej Bahadur Sapru and the Indian National Movement; The Ahar Culture and Beyond; and Devata Murti Prakaranam.” She has been Visiting Fellow at Royal Asiatic Society London (UK), Institute of Rajasthan Studies, Jaipur and Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur.

Rakshat Hooja has done an M.Phil. from the School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. A strong proponent of the spread of Open Source Software, he has also been writing frequently on land-water management issues and watershed development. He is presently Associate Director, Minnesota Studies in International Development Programme in India at Jaipur and Associate Editor, Indian Book Chronicle, as well as Director, IDA Systems Private Ltd.