TEHRAN-The Persian translation of the book “The Shortest History of India” written by the Australian writer John Zubrzycki has been released in the Iranian book market.

Markaz publishing house has brought out the book in 288 pages with a translation by Hassan Afshar, Mehr reported.

From the tantalizing traces of ancient Harappan civilization to today’s emerging superpower, here is India’s story, expertly condensed and brimming with color.

The author transforms five millennia of gods and kings, conquerors and colonizers into an epic tale, teeming with personalities both legendary and largely unknown outside India. Gautama Buddha, Alexander the Great, and Gandhi share the stage with Nizam Saqqa, the slave made king for a day, and Raziyya, the first Muslim woman to rule the subcontinent.

India—a cradle of civilization with five millennia of history, a country of immense consequence and contradiction—often defies ready understanding. What holds its people together—across its many cultures, races, languages, and creeds—and how has India evolved into the liberal democracy it is today?
 
From the Harappan era to Muslim invasions, the Great Mughals, British rule, independence, and present-day hopes, John Zubrzycki distills India’s colossal history into a gripping true story filled with legendary Alexander the Great, Akbar, Robert Clive, Tipu Sultan, Lakshmi Bai, Lord Curzon, Jinnah, and Gandhi. India’s gifts to the world include Buddhism, yoga, the concept of zero, and the largest global diaspora—and its influence is only growing. Already the world’s largest democracy, in 2023, India became the most populous nation.

The later chapters reveal a modern India riven by contrasts: the brutal reality of partition and the fantasies of Bollywood, the call centers, and the expanding slums. Five thousand years of history are no guarantee of the future, and as he concludes his story, Zubrzycki asks whether internal challenges – from religious tensions to an increasingly undemocratic government – could thwart India’s rise to dominance.

“The Shortest History of India” has been published in India, the UK, and the US with translations into multiple languages.

​John Zubrzycki is an Australian author and researcher, specializing in South Asia, in particular India. He is an award-winning journalist whose long association with India has included stints as a Hindi student, diplomat, consultant and foreign correspondent. He is the world commentary editor at the Australian newspaper and lives in Sydney.

SS/SAB