{"title":"Manu S. Pillai","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-ivory-throne-english-paperback-manu-s-pillai","title":"The Ivory Throne  (English, Paperback, Manu S. Pillai)","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1498, when Vasco da Gama set foot in Kerala looking for Christians and spices, he unleashed a wave of political fury that would topple local powers like a house of cards. The cosmopolitan fabric of a vibrant trading society with its Jewish and Arab merchants, Chinese pirate heroes and masterful Hindu Zamorins was ripped apart, heralding an age of violence and bloodshed. One prince, however, emerged triumphant from this descent into chaos. Shrewdly marrying Western arms to Eastern strategy, Martanda Varma consecrated the dominion of Travancore, destined to become one of the most dutiful pillars of the British Raj.\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat followed was two centuries of internecine conflict in one of India's premier princely states, culminating in a dynastic feud between two sisters battling to steer the fortunes of their house on the eve of Independence. Manu S. Pillai's retelling of this sprawling saga focuses on the remarkable life and work of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last, and forgotten, queen of the House of Travancore. The supporting cast includes the flamboyant painter Raja Ravi Varma and his wrathful wife, scheming matriarchs of 'violent, profligate and sordid' character, wifeswapping court favourites, vigilant English agents, quarrelling consorts and lustful kings. Extensively researched and vividly rendered, The Ivory Throne conjures up a dramatic world of political intrigues and factions, black magic and conspiracies, crafty ceremonies and splendorous temple treasures, all harnessed in a tragic contest for power and authority in the age of empire.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Boitoi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41670612516977,"sku":null,"price":739.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/5409\/1377\/files\/the-ivory-throne-chronicles-of-the-house-of-travancore-original-imaed6yzruvheymr.jpg?v=1739990633"},{"product_id":"gods-guns-missionaries-the-making-of-the-modern-hindu-identity-by-manu-s-pillai-winner-of-the-sahitya-akademi-yuva-puraskar","title":"Gods Guns \u0026 Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity by Manu S. Pillai, Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"book-summary-title\"\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"book-summary-desc\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"summary-preview\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGods, Guns \u0026amp; Missionaries: The Making Of The Modern Hindu Identity\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eoffers a sweeping, accessible history of the encounter between European missionaries and Hinduism from the sixteenth century to today. A thoughtful blend of political history and cultural analysis, this book speaks to history enthusiasts, students, and curious readers eager to understand how modern Hindu identity took shape—an educational, engaging journey that invites reflection rather than simple answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"summary-full\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe narrative unfolds through centuries of ideas and power, showing how missionary perspectives intersected with Hindu practice, sometimes clashing, sometimes catalyzing deeper insight.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGods, Guns \u0026amp; Missionaries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eweaves together the voices of maharajahs, poets, reformers, revolutionaries, and philosophers, painting a rich picture of the social forces that shaped religion and politics under colonial rule. The chapters move with clear pace, balancing milestones with thematic threads—identity, nationalism, reform—so readers gain both a broad view and meaningful details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThorough exploration of how European missionaries influenced and tested Hindu identity from the 16th century onward\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVivid portraits of maharajahs, poets, revolutionaries, and philosophers shaping ideas and culture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA nuanced account of colonial influence and the birth of Hindu nationalism\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarrative-driven, readable prose that blends political history with cultural analysis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAccessible scholarship that invites students and general readers to rethink religion, empire, and identity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter turning the final page of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGods, Guns \u0026amp; Missionaries\u003c\/b\u003e, readers are better equipped to understand how modern Hindu identity was forged at the crossroads of belief, empire, and culture. It leaves you with a nuanced perspective that respects complexity, invites curiosity, and offers lasting insight into how religion and history shape the world today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House India","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42985972269169,"sku":"PRHI-9780670093656","price":749.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/5409\/1377\/files\/GodsGunsandMissionaries.jpg?v=1770022301"}],"url":"https:\/\/boitoi.in\/collections\/manu-s-pillai.oembed","provider":"Boitoi","version":"1.0","type":"link"}