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Introduction: The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj

2008-06-25T06:00:00.002-07:00

The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج

Year: 1988

Telesacted: Doordarshan

Director: Shyam Benegal

Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Starcast: Roshan Seth as Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
Tom Alter,Sadashiv Amrapurkar,Salim Ghouse, Neena Gupta, Ashok Kumar, Om Puri, Chandrakant Thakkar etc..

Below are the starting and end track, for each episode click on the coresponding episode

START Track

नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं नासीद रजो नो वयोमापरो यत |
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम ||

सृष्टि से पहले सत नहीं था
असत भी नहीं, अंतरिक्ष भी नहीं, आकाश भी नहीं था
छिपा था क्या, कहाँ किसने ढका था
उस पल तो अगम अतल जल भी कहां था |

सृष्टि का कौन है कर्ता? कर्ता है या है विकर्ता?
ऊँचे आकाश में रहता, सदा अध्यक्ष बना रहता
वही सचमुच में जानता, या नहीं भी जानता
है किसी को नही पता, नही पता
नही है पता...
नही है पता...

Shrishti se pehle sat nahin tha,
Asat bhi nahin; Antariksh bhi nahin, Aakash bhi nahin thaa
Chhipa thaa kya, kahaan kisne dhakaa thaa,
Us pal to agam atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.

Shrishti kaa kaun hai karta,Kartaa hai vaaha karta,
Unche aakash mein rehta, Sadaa adhyaksh banaa rehta,
Wohi sach much mein jaanta, Yaa nahin bhi jaanta,
Hai kisi ko nahin pataa, nahin pataa
Nahin hai pataa….
Nahin hai pataa….

END Track

वो था हिरण्य गर्भ सृष्टि से पहले विद्यमान, वही तो सारे भूत जाति का स्वामी महान
जो है अस्तित्वमान धरती आसमान धारण कर,
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर

जिस के बल पर तेजोमय है अंबर, पृथ्वी हरी भरी स्थापित स्थिर
स्वर्ग और सूरज भी स्थिर,ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर

गर्भ में अपने अग्नि धारण कर पैदा कर,व्यापा था जल इधर उधर नीचे ऊपर
जगा चुके व एकमेव प्राण बनकर,ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर

ऊँ!सृष्टि निर्माता,स्वर्ग रचयिता पूर्वज रक्षा कर,
सत्य धर्म पालक अतुल जल नियामक रक्षा कर
फैली हैं दिशायें बाहु जैसी उसकी सब में सब पर,
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर

Voh tha hiranya garbh shrishti se pehle vidyamaan,
Vohi to saare bhoot jaat ka swami mahaan,
Jo hai astitva maan dharti aasmaan dharan kar,
Aise kis devta ki upasana karen hum havi dekar.

Jis ke bal par tejomay hai ambar,
Prithvi hari bhari sthapit sthir,
Swarg aur sooraj bhi sthir,
Aise kis devta ki upasana karen hum havi dekar.

Garbh mein apne agni dhaaran kar paida kar,
Vyapa tha jal idhar udhar neeche upar,
Jagaa chuke voh kaekameva praan bankar,
Aise kis devta ki upasana karen hum havi dekar.

Om! Shrishti nirmata swarg rachaiyta purvaj raksha kar,
Satya dharma palak atul jal niyamak raksha kar,
Phaili hain dishayen baahu jaisi uski sab mein sab par,
Aise hi devta ki upasana karen hum havi dekar.
Aise hi devta ki upasana karen hum havi dekar.

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The Discovery of India: An Introduction to the book

‘The Discovery of India’, a landmark canonical work by Pd. Jawaharlal Nehru, was written by him in a time span of five months of the year 1944 while he was serving an imprisonment term at the Ahmadnagar Fort Prison where he was co- prisoner of many other political prisoners from 9th august 1942 to 28th march 1945. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Gobind Ballabh Pant, Narendra Deva and M. Asif Ali are among those whom Nehru gives a credit in the book for their help.

The first edition of the book came out in the year 1946 from Calcutta and since 1981 Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial fund has released 19 editions of this book till 1999. By now, I am sure, the 25th edition must be out. Don’t these figures speak for themselves and depict the mantle and the importance of this mammoth size work of great literary merit.

This book has been a challenge for Nehru and Indira Gandhi as well who was a teen aged girl at that time and had to shoulder the burden of reading the typescript and editing it before getting it published and one must praise the efforts put by her as there minor or no flaws in her job.

As Nehru says, this book is more or less the same as it he had written in jail, except for the postscript which was added later. He felt that though much has happened since had written the book, but he was inclined to present to the world the original work.

The book is divided in ten chapters which take in account, Nehru’s contemporary India and World, the ancient, medieval and the modern India, the ragging World War, the arrival of the British on the Indian-Subcontinent, the consolidation of the British grip over India, the upsurge of Nationalism and the Indian Freedom Movement. These ten chapters are further divided in sub-chapters and they give a detailed view of almost every age and time of India. Right from the Indus-Valley civilization to the Modern India which is witnessing the greatest turmoil of its history, namely the Freedom Movement, this book has every thing in it. In approximately 550 pages, Nehru has summed up the Indian History, which calls for a great amount of mental caliber.

In his letter, this was said by Albert Einstein from Princeton, New Jersey, in the winters of 1950, ‘I have read with extreme interest your marvelous book ‘The Discovery of India’. The first half of it is not easy reading for a Westerner, but it gives a understanding of the glorious intellectual and spiritual tradition of your country’.

This introduction part is written by Mr. Sumandra Singh, a graduate student from University of Delhi, India.

Episode:1. Bharat Mata Ki Jai

2008-06-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

Episode:1. Bharat Mata Ki Jai
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 1 - Bharat Mata Ki Jai - 1of4

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 1 - Bharat Mata Ki Jai - 2of4

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 1 - Bharat Mata Ki Jai - 3of4

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 1 - Bharat Mata Ki Jai - 4of4

Description of Episode 1, Written by Sumandra Singh

It is a bunch of simple minded villagers whom Nehru is addressing during the time he is on an explorative trip of India like Gandhi. It is the year 1936-37 about which Nehru is talking about. He asks and explains the meaning of nation to the people. It’s not only the land, rivers and resources that constitute the nation but the most integral element are the people of the nation. I see a clear resemblance in the ideas of Nehru and Mathew Arnold (Arnold’s paper titles ‘Imagined Communities’ is a perfect reading stuff for those who have misconceptions about the existence of nation and nationalism). Nehru’s journey is an attempt to understand the essence of the nation. He wants to know what is that makes India ‘India’.
It’s the culture and the people that make the country and bring glory to it.
To introduce us to the culture, Nehru steps back in the history and takes us to the Indus Valley Civilization and recounts the dynamic cultural heritage we are proud of being the predecessors of. He is clearly a winner in making a point about India being a dynamic country where there is life in every aspect of it and how the British Domination has brought a halt to its vehicle of progress. The writing of the book is in synchronization with the time when the nation is waking from a century old slumber and urges for its freedom.
It’s a universally accepted fact that Indian good were in demand in the international market and we had economical and cultural exchanges from Iran, Egypt, Greece, Arabia, Central Asia and almost every corner of the world. We received from these countries, a cultural enhancement and at the same time we added elements to their culture. The evidence of cultural resemblances have been found world over. In-spite of such a complex intermixing of cultural elements India has obtained the credit of maintaining its distinct culture.
Some part of the episode, I may say is devoted to putting to words the geographic beauty of this vast nation and to show the geographical vivacity that India has and the variety that it has from one place to another
Nehru recounts his experiences of being in the company of The Himalaya’s which has been a constant source of inspiration for our epics, folklores, literature and thoughts. He goes on to describe the scenic and mesmerizing beauty of The Himalaya’s and with that he descends to the fields of India with the rivers that originate in The Himalaya.
He informs with supreme authority that it is the river Indus form where India obtains its name. Brahmaputra a river which flows with history too has been remembered along with Yamuna which has been the witness of the raslila’s of Krishna (according to the epics). I feel we may fall short of words in describing the glory of The Ganga, a river which has its presence felt in every fold of live, let it be historical, contemporary, modern, ancient, life and death. Ganga influences ever aspect of human life. Ganga has seen the changing times and has been witness of great many events that have shaped the Indian history and at the same time it has given its sincere contribution in development of cities and civilizations on its shores.
Nehru declares his journeys as practical as they take him closer to the nation’s soul and ignited his critical understanding for the better realization of the history and culture and their interwoven role in shaping the nation.
The diversity in different schools of architecture has been shown in this part. From Buddhist Stupa’s to the high rising Gopuram’s of South Indian temples, this part has summed or wrapped the architectural diversity of India very efficiently.
The journey now takes a different root and now Nehru seeks to understand the intellectual, philosophical and spiritual history of this nation.
Sar Nath, a place near Banaras where Gautham Buddha delivered one of his sermon, has still his voice echoing for the civilization to listen to him and identify the real enemy of human i.e. greed. Buddha has preached that if we wish to get out of this vicious circle of suffering then we must control our greed because greed breeds all the evils in human.
The next historical figure whom Nehru brings on the stage in this very context is no one but the greatest of all kings, Ashoka. The pillars containing the inscriptions by Ashoka throw a substantial amount of light on the principles of that great ruler and his philosophy of equality and tolerance. His love for fellow human being makes him the greatest of all rulers.
Another historical figure that Nehru Talks about is Akbar, who on his quest of knowledge has tried to understand the basic philosophies of all the religions that exist. His quest to understand god had bestowed certain qualities that people rarely possess. Akbar tries to understand the Multi-facet India and comes across a nation that is unique.

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Episode:2. The Beginnings

2008-06-25T05:59:00.002-07:00

Episode:2. The Beginnings
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 2 - The Beginnings - Part 1of5.

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 2 - The Beginnings - Part 2of5.

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 2 - The Beginnings - Part 3of5.

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 2 - The Beginnings - Part 4of5.

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 2 - The Beginnings - Part 5of5.

Six to seven thousand years ago began the Indus Valley civilization, one of the most glorious and modern civilizations that have ever existed on the Indian soil. The existence of such a civilization to have existed on the Indian soil was uncovered by the British in the course of the operation of laying the foundation of Indian railways. So it happened that for laying the railway sleepers, large amount of stones was needed and during some random excavation site with baked brocks were discovered which facilitated the British purpose of laying the tracks. Sir John Marshal, in charger of this British enterprise soon took a keen interest in the brick sites and later discovered these sites to be belonging to ancient times and some ancient civilization.
Nehru personally visited these sites twice and as they were neglected due to lack of funds and interest he was sorry due to the fact that rain and sand deposits had done much damage to the sites. By the time Nehru had written about these glorious civilizations much was not discovered but now we have tons of information about these cities.
The Indus Valley civilizations were modern in every aspect. The architecture of these cities is something to boost about. The cities flaunted broad streets cutting each other at right angle and houses were uniformly built. Properly baked bricks were the material used in the construction of the city and drainage was given a proper treatment. The great baths of the city are another significant aspect.
The social construction of the cities was most probably based on the job done by the person. Separate city quarters were allotted to people belonging to people of one trade. It is evident that traders, craftsmen warriors had different quarters. Traders too had an allotted place for their living. Though differences were found in the grandness of the houses of different people of the society i.e. the traders had grandly built houses and the craftsmen had small houses.
Social equality is something that this civilization can be proud of. Though economic inequality prevailed but the social equality was prominent.
Trade links of Indus Valley civilization have been traced up to Egypt, Persia and Mesopotamia.
The religion of he inhabitants of this civilization has been in dark. It is assumed that the people worshiped some ort of force which may be termed as nature. Mother Nature’s clay made idols have been found in excavations.
Why did the civilization vanish? The answer to this question is still a mind twisting one. Many reasons have been put forward with evidential proofs. Some argue that this happened due to the climatic changes which rendered this civilization unfertile. Other argument that is quite strong is that due to the invasions that this civilization faced from the Turks and other tribes. Aryans are also convicted of the same some times.

Episode:3. The Vedic People and the Rigveda

2008-06-25T05:59:00.001-07:00

Episode:3. The Vedic People and the Rigveda
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 3 - Vedic people and the Rigved 1-6

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 3 - Vedic people and the Rigved 2-6

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Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 3 - Vedic people and the Rigved 4-6

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 3 - Vedic people and the Rigved 5-6

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 3 - Vedic people and the Rigved 6-6

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Episode:4. Caste Formation

2008-06-25T05:57:00.004-07:00

Episode:4. Caste Formation
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 4 - Caste Formation 1-5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 4 - Caste Formation 2-5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 4 - Caste Formation 3-5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 4 - Caste Formation 4-5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 4 - Caste Formation 5-5

Here Nehru exemplifies how the coming of the Aryans raised the new problems of race and politics. Nehru also tell the story how the word ‘Hindu’ which referred to people living on this side of Indus were called Hindu and later with time the Hindu became a religious metaphor. Though the defeated Dravidians had a long and prestigious cultural and political history the Aryans were no less being the conquerors and there was a wide gulf that separated them and made them immergeable. Out of this conflict and interaction of races gradually arose the caste system, which, in the course of succeeding centuries was to affect the Indian life so profoundly. Probably caste was neither Aryan nor Dravidian. It was an attempt at the social organization of different races, a rationalization of the facts as they existed at the time.
It was in keeping with the spirit of the time and some such grading took place in most of the ancient civilizations, though apparently China was free from it. There was a four-fold division in that other branch of the Aryans, the Iranians, during the Sassanian period, but it didn’t petrify into caste.
Caste began with a hard and fast division between Aryans and non-Aryans and the latter again being divided into the Dravidian races and the aboriginal tribes. The proper division of the society in Brahman, Kshatriya, Vashiya and Shudras happen much later and this tradition was to followed and the top layer being in the status of honor were always the Brahmans. Brahmans were the scholars and religious preachers and gained power over time. Nehru quotes incidents from various locations around the world and shows that caste or any similar system had always been in the world through ages. Plato in his ‘Republic’ refers to a division similar to that of the four principal castes. Medieval Catholicism also knew this division.
With time this caste system acquired rigidity and more stagnant and poisonous. The evils of untouchability, caste domination are still rooted to the Indian society.

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Episode:5. Mahabharata Part 1

2008-06-25T05:57:00.003-07:00

Episode:5. Mahabharata Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

The Mahabharata, one of the epics written in India, has not been dated till now, but then the development of Mahabharata is a process that took considerable time. As is true in the case of any epic, Mahabharata too is a poem epic and was originally in the oral form and was passed from one generation to another through ages. During this transfer from one generation to another, the epic was many times molded and remolded. On many occasion new elements were added. The written form of the epic came in to existence much later.

Great as the Ramayana is as an epic poem and loved by the people, it is really the Mahabharata that is one of the outstanding books of the world. It is a colossal work, an encyclopedia of tradition and legend and political and social institutions of ancient India. For a decade or more a host of competent scholars have been engaged in critically examining the collecting the various available texts with a view to publish an authorized edition. Mahabharata is an epic which takes into account a vast time span and probably this was the period when foreign elements were coming into India and bring their elements and customs with them. For example polyandry was not observed in Aryans but Mahabharata has a protagonist married to five husbands. Gradually, as is evident for the example, the Vedic religion was being modified accordingly. It was beginning to take that all-inclusive form which led to modern Hinduism.

Another element on which Mahabharata emphasizes is the unity of unity of India and was expanded up to Afghanistan (an assumption) as the name of a city from Mahabharata, Gandhara, resembles with the name of the modern Kandahar in Afghanistan. Another thing is that the Aryans were limited to northern India up to the Vindhya mountain ranges as there progress to the south was stopped by these mountain ranges.

The Mahabharata contains the Krishna legends and the famous poem, the Bhagvad Gita. Apart from the Philosophy of the Gita, it lays stress on the ethical and moral principles in statecraft and in life generally. Without the foundation of Dharma there is no true happiness and society cannot hold together. Mahabharata stresses on non-violence and Dharma. To stress on these elements the war between Pandavas and Kauravas has been chosen as a medium as in the war the Pandavas have to kill their near and dear ones for the sake of Dharma.

Apart for its value as an epic the Mahabharata is so deeply rooted in the people in India that it is a prominent part of Indian psyche. People for all walks of life have been quoting from Mahabharata to explain and understand real life situations. It is not very difficult to ascertain the impact of Mahabharata on Indian people from the fact that B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharata is still broadcasted from some or the other channel in-spite of the fact that it has been telecasted on many channels for some time now.

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From Google video

Episode:6. Mahabharata Part 2

2008-06-25T05:57:00.001-07:00

Episode:6. Mahabharata Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 6 - The Mahabharat II -1of6

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 6 - The Mahabharat II -2of6

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Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 6 - The Mahabharat II -6of6

From Google video

Episode:7. Ramayan Part 1

2008-06-25T05:56:00.004-07:00

Episode:7. Ramayan Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 7 - The Ramayan I - Part 1of5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 7 - The Ramayan I - Part 2of5

Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 7 - The Ramayan I - Part 3of5

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Bharat Ek Khoj - Episode 7 - The Ramayan I - Part 5of5

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Episode:8. Ramayan Part 2

2008-06-25T05:56:00.003-07:00

Episode:8. Ramayan Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Video will be available soon....

Episode:9. Republics and Kingdoms

2008-06-25T05:56:00.001-07:00

Episode:9. Republics and Kingdoms
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

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Episode:10. Acceptance and Negation of Life

2008-06-25T05:55:00.005-07:00

Episode:10. Acceptance and Negation of Life
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

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Episode:11. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 1

2008-06-25T05:55:00.003-07:00

Episode:11. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:11. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 1-1

Episode:11. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 1-2

Nehru has done due justice in describing the Mauryan empire in two sub-chapter as this was the first time that a huge chunk of Indian subcontinent came under one ruler and the credit may be given to two men with a vision. Chanakya and Chandragupta were the duo who accomplished this job. Both had been exiled from the powerful Nanda kingdom of Magadha, which had its capital at Pataliputra (the modern Patna). In their exile they went to Taxila and met Greek invaders stationed there. Chandragupta met Alexander personally and was inflamed by the glory Alexander had accumulated. He with his minister Chanakya was in a watch for the right moment and with the death of Alexander in Babylon they raised the cry of nationalism to unite forces against Selecus (Alexander general) who inherited his legacy after his tragic death in 323 B.C. Chandragupta’s cry of nationalism united the forces against the Greek garrison and Chandragupta established himself as a ruler and annexed large chunk of land from the Greek’s. His kingdom extended up to Kabul in Afghanistan. This was the first time that such a vast piece of land came under the rule of one ruler. Right from the Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal and in the north the empire of Chandragupta extended up to Kabul. For the first time in recorded history a vast centralized state had risen in India. The city of Pataliputra was its capital.

Chanakya has his equal share in this conquest. A mastermind of statecraft, Chanakya helped Chandragupta to establish his kingdom and consolidate it against foreign forces. To escalate his strength Chandragupta established harmonious relationship with foreign forces and married the daughter of Selecus (Alexander’s general).

Chandragupta’s minister Chanakya was not only a minister but an excellent economist, administrator, advisor and above all a man who would go to any level to achieve what he aspires. His famous book ‘Arthashastra’ has been acclaimed worldwide and it is not hard to perceive the importance of this book as it is one of the earliest works on economics. Chanakya has been called the Indian Machiavelli. Partly this comparison is justified but in my opinion Chanakya was much more than that.

Chanakya not only wrote about economics but also about the duties of a ruler, the courtesans and people in power. He was not greed of power and later in his life retired to a life which leads to the path of salvation giving his position to the minister of his enemy as he was highly impressed by the loyalty of the minister to his king. Chanakya never went wring in identifying a man of use and the correct time. Chanakya and Chandragupta together brought glory to the Gupta Empire and were the first among those who dreamed of uniting whole of India under one flag.

Episode:12. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 2

2008-06-25T05:55:00.001-07:00

The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:12. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 2-1

Episode:12. Chankya and Chandragupta Part 2-2

Episode:13. Ashoka Part 1

2008-06-25T05:54:00.004-07:00

Episode:13. Ashoka Part 1 and 2 together
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Description:

Ashoka, the greatest of the Indian rulers has too been given his due place in Nehru’s ‘The discovery Of India’. Though the documentary deals with the life and the details of Ashoka’s kingdom in two parts, I happen to go in accordance with the book and would sum up the whole in one chapter.
Ashoka who belong to the Maurya dynasty succeeded to the great empire in 273 B.C. the son of Bindusara and the grand son of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka too was ambitious to unite the whole of Indian subcontinent under the Mauryan flag and to fulfill this dream he had only to conquer Kalinga which roughly corresponded to modern Orissa and some part of Andhra Pradesh. Thought Ashoka won Kalinga, the bloodshed of the battle created a sense of dejection in his heart and he abandoned the conquered Kalinga and at the same time abandoned warfare and took the part of justice and welfare and later found his calm in the teachings of Buddhism. He imbibed on the journey of welfare and love and to spread this message he sent his son and daughter to far of places.
Ashoka, unique in his vision ruled the masses with justice and worked for the welfare of the society. He took precise care that no unkind treatment was installed to any of his subjects and he worked to spread the message of Buddhism through his ambassador to far off places like Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, Cyrene and Epirus. It may be credited to Ashoka for the speedy spread of Buddhism in the Asian subcontinent.
Apart form being a judicious ruler Ashoka was also a great builder and he emphasized on the employment of foreign craftsmen to assist in building some of his huge structures. Ashoka’s famous many-pillared hall in his palace in Pataliputra, which was dug out during excavation was found in such good condition that the joints between the stone couldn’t be distinguished and the logs which formed some or the other structure were as good as the time when they were laid.
The Nalanda University which lies between Pataliputra and Gaya and which were to become famous in later days has no records to prove when it began functioning and doesn’t have any striking cord the give the idea of its existence in Ashoka time.
Ashoka died in 232 B.C., after ruling for 41 years. Of him H.G.Wells says in his ‘Outline of History’: ‘Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the column of history, their majesties and graciousnesses and serenities and royal highnesses and the like, the name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost alone, a star.

Episode:14. Ashoka Part 2

2008-06-25T05:54:00.003-07:00

Episode:13. Ashoka Part 1 and 2 together
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:15. Sangam Period and Sillapadirakam Part 1

2008-06-25T05:54:00.001-07:00

Episode:15. Sangam Period and Sillapadirakam Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:16. Sangam Period and Sillapadirakam Part 2

2008-06-25T05:53:00.004-07:00

Episode:16. Sangam Period and Sillapadirakam Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:17. The Classical Age

2008-06-25T05:53:00.003-07:00

Episode:17. The Classical Age
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Video will be available soon....

Episode:18. Kalidasa Part 1

2008-06-25T05:53:00.001-07:00

Episode:18. Kalidasa Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:19. Kalidasa Part 2

2008-06-25T05:52:00.001-07:00

Episode:19. Kalidasa Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:20. Bhakti

2008-06-25T05:49:00.002-07:00

Episode:20. Bhakti
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:21. Chola Empire Part 1

2008-06-25T05:49:00.001-07:00

Episode:21. Chola Empire Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:22. Chola Empire Part 2

2008-06-25T05:48:00.004-07:00

Episode:22. Chola Empire Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:23. Delhi Sultanate Part 1 (Arrival of Turk-Afgan)

2008-06-25T05:48:00.003-07:00

Episode:23. Delhi Sultanate Part 1 (Arrival of Turk-Afgan)
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:24. Delhi Sultanate Part 2 (Prithvi Raj Raso)

2008-06-25T05:48:00.001-07:00

Episode:24. Delhi Sultanate Part 2 (Prithvi Raj Raso)
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:26. Delhi Sultanate Part 3 (Padmavat) Volume 14

2008-06-25T05:47:00.005-07:00

Episode:26. Delhi Sultanate Part 3 (Padmavat) Volume 14
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:26. Synthesis

2008-06-25T05:47:00.003-07:00

Episode:26. Synthesis
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:27. Vijaynagar Empire

2008-06-25T05:47:00.001-07:00

Episode:27. Vijaynagar Empire
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:28. Fall of Vijaynagar

2008-06-25T05:46:00.003-07:00

Episode:28. Fall of Vijaynagar
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:29. Akbar Part 1 (Deem-E-Ilahi)

2008-06-25T05:46:00.001-07:00

Episode:29. Akbar Part 1 (Deem-E-Ilahi)
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:30. Akbar Part 2

2008-06-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

Episode:30. Akbar Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:31. Golden India

2008-06-25T05:44:00.002-07:00

Episode:31. Golden India
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:32. Aurangzeb Part 1

2008-06-25T05:44:00.001-07:00

Episode:32. Aurangzeb Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:33. Aurangzeb Part 2

2008-06-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Episode:33. Aurangzeb Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:34. Shivaji Part 1

2008-06-25T05:41:00.002-07:00

Episode:34. Shivaji Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:35. Shivaji Part 2

2008-06-25T05:41:00.001-07:00

Episode:35. Shivaji Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Part-2 will be available soon

Episode:36. Company Bahadur

2008-06-25T05:40:00.001-07:00

Episode:36. Company Bahadur
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:37. Tipu Sultan

2008-06-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Episode:37. Tipu Sultan
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:38. Bengal Renaissance and Raja Ram Mohan Roy

2008-06-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

Episode:38. Bengal Renaissance and Raja Ram Mohan Roy
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:39. 1857 - Part 1

2008-06-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

Episode:39. 1857 - Part 1
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:40. 1857 - Part 2

2008-06-25T05:33:00.000-07:00

Episode:40. 1857 - Part 2
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:41. East India Company -Indigo Revolt

2008-06-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

Episode:41. East India Company -Indigo Revolt
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:42. Mahatma Phule

2008-06-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Episode:42. Mahatma Phule
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Episode:43. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

2008-06-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

Episode:43. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
The Discovery of India, Bharat ek Khoj (भारत एक खोज)بھارت ایک کھوج
Director: Shyam Benegal
Based on the book by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru