Tales from the Himalaya

RELIGION. The cultural foundation of life in much of the Himalayas remains Tibetan Buddhism. This esoteric offshoot of the Buddha's teaching developed from the 7th century onwards but was only discovered by explorers and scholars a thousand years later. The first tale is about a remarkably different type of reality, how its mysteries were unravelled, and how it continues to survive despite political repression. SCIENCE, The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, but also the youngest. The peaks continue to grow, and earthquakes remain an ever present danger. The struggle to understand how these giant mountains formed began in the mid-19th century. Now we know that its the plates that do the talking. The second tale is one of intrpid exploration and science discovery. POLITICS, The Chinese takeover of Tibet is the latest power play in the Himalayas region. Long ago, the Tibetans were the empire builders. In the 19th century, strongman Gulab Singh gobbled up parts of the Wester Himalay to create Jammu and Kashmir. During the Raj, the British commandeered the high mountains. The third tale is about politics and intrigue on an epic scale. SOCIETY, Rural existence in the Himalayas is hard. Terraced fields must be carved out of steep foothills; the growing season is short. In an isolated Nepal, a feudal hierarchy simply made things even harder. When the country opened in 1951, foreign aid poured in, but did not prevent a Maoist insurgency taking root, toppling the king and transforming Nepal into a secular republic. The fourth tale is about society struggling to survive. With remarkable pictures, illustrations and maps, Henry Edmundson has brought to life each of these stories [religion, science, politics, society]. The gripping accounts, his insight and depth while presenting an understanding of the entire Himalayan region is unique and outstanding. This book is a rare combination of history, geography, society and politics that can cater to a wide range of audience.