Book On Indian History To Be Launched On Wednesday

By V. Sankara SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 30 (Bernama) -- A book which provides a valuable insight into the history of India from ancient times to 1600 CE will be launched at the federal capital on Wednesday. Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Ong Keng Yong said the book, titled "The Dancing Girl: A History of Early India" would be launched at the Royal Lake Club, Taman Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur. The book, written by the late Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who was the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, provides a detailed explanation into the Indian history for the Indian diaspora, estimated to be over 25 million spreading across 110 countries. "The chapters cover many important aspects of Indian history starting from the ancient urban culture of the Indus valley civilisation. "It also touches on the two great Hindu associated epics namely Ramayana and Mahabharata and the founding of Buddhism and Jainism. "The book will kindle interest in research on tracing the origins of the Indian diaspora and the ancient ties that linked India to the rest of the world," he told Bernama. Commenting further, Ong said several signed copies of the book would be auctioned off during the launch and the proceeds would be donated to two Malaysian charities, namely Pure Life Society and the Malaysian Association for the Blind. Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam, who pursued education in medicine together with Dr Balaji at the University of Singapore in the 70s, will launch the book. The book launch is organised by its publisher, Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and supported by the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. It is held in collaboration with the Medico Legal Society of Malaysia and the Gandhi Memorial Trust of Malaysia. The wife of Dr Balaji, Dr Ma Swan Hoo, and the director of ISEAS in Singapore, K. Kesavapany will also attend the event. -- BERNAMA