Discovering India — Arti Kumar

Description

“This is an ambitious, detailed and excellent introduction to India on virtually every level.”
– Nick Collins, Maritime Historian & Author
How Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent Shaped the World
Former Director, Clarksons (1989-2014)
 
“Discovering India is far more than a textbook. Alongside rich understanding about India’s geography, history, politics, economy and faith cultures, Arti Kumar’s creative discovery-learning approach invites learners to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and see the world through others’ eyes.
Her approach nurtures empathy, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence while building vital skills and qualities for life and work – such as critical thinking, communication and collaboration. Engaging and learner-centred, this is an inspiring resource that educators will want to use and that students will want to read. Highly recommended.”
– Dr Doug Cole, SFHEA (Global Employability & Student Success Expert, Higher and Further Education Consultant)

India is a country of striking contrasts – ancient traditions alongside rapid modern change, bustling megacities beside vast rural landscapes, and hundreds of languages, cultures, and
beliefs woven into the world’s largest democracy. How can anyone truly begin to understand such complexity?

This engaging and thought-provoking textbook invites students on a journey of discovery. Rather than presenting India as a set of fixed facts, it encourages curiosity, questioning, and
exploration. Using a student-centred discovery learning approach, the book enables learners to investigate India’s geography, history, culture, religion, society, and creative
traditions while developing critical thinking, communication, and collaborative skills essential for today’s global citizens.

Drawing on fourteen interviews conducted across India over six years, the book brings real voices and lived experiences into the classroom. Students hear directly from people of
different ages and backgrounds, gaining insight into contemporary life and the diverse perspectives that shape modern India. An accompanying website provides audio-visual
recordings, transcripts, recommended films, books, and further resources to deepen learning and engagement.

Originally developed for students in Denmark and now extensively revised for an international audience, this UK edition blends interdisciplinary learning with active, reflective exploration. Through questions, activities, discussions, and research tasks, students are encouraged not only to learn about India – but also to reflect on their own cultures, assumptions, and place in a connected world.

Challenging, inspiring, and richly human, this book offers far more than an introduction to a country. It opens a door to intercultural understanding, global awareness, and the shared humanity that connects us all.

Further details

346 pages
Colour textbook