Title: Journey to the Forbidden City
Author: Deepa Agarwal
Publisher: India Puffin
Deepa Agarwal’s ‘Journey to the Forbidden City’ is the
little-known story of the exploration of Tibet, ‘the Roof of the World,’ by
Nain Singh Rawat who mapped the country in disguise in the late 19th century.
Nain Singh Rawat, an unsung Kumaoni hero, was sent to Tibet
along with his cousin Mani on a top-secret mission by the British. The British
government was desperate to acquire geographical knowledge of Tibet. They were
apprehensive that Russia might next try to wrest control of India, their prized
colony. On the successful completion of his mission, Rawat was applauded. His contribution
to the map of the world was recognised by institutions like the Royal
Geographical Society and the Paris Geographical Society.
The book is based on Rawat’s actual diaries and is a tribute
to the daring, resourcefulness, and never-give-up attitude of a solitary man
who risked life and limb for his job. He went on to become one of the greatest pandits,
a select group of highly educated and brave local men trained in geographical
exploration. Apart from recording information that the British sought, Rawat also
put in his diary a glimpse into the socio-cultural life of the Tibetans and the
scenic beauty of the land.
Agarwal’s writing is easy to follow yet crisp. There’s a
flow in her narrative that compels one to turn the pages.
This book is a must
read for everyone who is interested in learning about one of the great figures
in Indian history.
A beautiful portrayal of a historic and arduous journey of a solitary explorer.
Author, poet and translator, Deepa Agarwal grew up in the
pristine Kumaoni region set in foothills of the Himalayas. She writes for both
children and adults and has over fifty published books to her credit, including
Puffin Classics: Chandrakanta and Listen, O King! Five-and-Twenty-Tales of
Vikram and the Vetal.
A frequent contributor to magazines and journals in India
and abroad, she has edited, compiled and contributed to several anthologies.
Among other awards, she received the NCERT National Award for Children's
Literature in 1993 for her picture book Ashok's New Friends, while her
historical fiction Caravan to Tibet was on the 2008 IBBY (International Board
on Books for Young People) Honour List. Her works have been translated into
several Indian and foreign languages.
I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!
* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Penguin.co.in
** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Penguin.co.in
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