Window to Ancient India- A Tryst with Ancient Science & Philosophy

About the Book The canvas of India's history, literature, science, and culture spans not just centuries, but several millennia. This book provides a bird's eye view of everything Indian or simply the proverbial 'omnibus capsule'. For modem readers who have little time to read eclectic sources, the 'omnibus capsule' hopes to provide a comprehensive compendium about India.

The author is no researcher, scholar, or historian, nor does he pretend to be one. In this rides the strength of this volume as the approach here is not a didactic one, focusing only on research, scholarship, and academic interest, but is an applied, readable, and introspective volume, accessible to everyone. The information presented herein is derived from an eclectic mix of sources, such as books, publications, academic papers, lectures, journals, blogs, and subject matter websites.

The manuscript has employed a combination of narration, exposition through questions, examples, and scenarios to whet the reader's curiosity.

Readers will discover things they may not have known; for instance, Ludo, one of the most popular board games in the world, is a direct inspiration from the Indian game of Pachisi, or that most of Chuan-Fa practised today can be traced to Bodhidharma's original 18 Luohan Hands. The book also covers the fascinating story of the origins of the Game of Chess in India and its transmission to the West via the Persians and the Arabs.

About the Author Satish Joglekar is an engineer from IIT Bombay, with a Master's in computer science. He has worked with several software companies which included a long stint at Bell Laboratories, USA. Satish is trained in Hindustani classical music and has intense interest in history, non-fiction literature, and travel.

Foreword It is 326 B.C.E... Alexander the Great has just won an incredibly truly hard-fought Battle of the River Hydaspes- the modern-day river Jhelum, against the local king, Pours. It has been a long and bloody battle; Alexander's Macedonians have never encountered fierce war elephants before, and the battle has been a blood bath.

In any event, Alexander has finally overcome Porus, and victory is his. Now, in typical fashion, he seeks out the local oracle, who (it is thought), would allow him to see a glimpse of his future. He has always been fascinated by mystics who have purported to divine the future---in fact; the Oracle of Delphi was graced by his visit before he embarked on his World Conquest tour. Alexander, not even 30 years old, determined to ascertain his future, and now climbs the mountain somewhere in Northern India, to consult the famous sadhu (Hindu holy man). He finds him high on the mountain top sitting cross- legged in a lotus position, of course, meditating. Alexander is in full gleaming armor, flushed with victory, brimming with euphoric generosity as he addresses the sadhu:

Alexander: I am victorious again, O wise man. I have conquered all! Ask for anything, and it will be yours! I am the great Alexander!

Preface Sometime in 1989 when I worked at Bell Laboratories (Bell Labs a.k.a. Labs), as a part of the Lab's social awareness program, I consented to give a talk on India. This talk was to become the genesis of a booklet entitled 'Window to India'. I had intentionally kept it exceedingly brief, with the aim of providing a quick glimpse of India in a single reading.

In 1992 an international expo, 'AmeriFlora '92', was held in the historic Franklin Park in Columbus, Ohio, in celebration of the 'The Discovery of America', wherein the 'Federation of Asian India Association of Central Ohio' had erected an 'India Pavilion'. The pavilion was embellished with a traditional Indian rural setting, complete with an 'authentic' village well and a lotus garden. The pavilion housed an exhibition on India and a shop selling Indian handicrafts. Visitors to the pavilion received a complimentary copy of the booklet. The booklet was well received by the visitors, including the then India's Ambassador to USA, Dr. Abid Hussain'. It was very flattering when Dr. Abid Hussain asked for a few copies to give away to visitors at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. Since then, I had in mind to produce an augmented version; in the form of a book entitled 'Window to Ancient India'.

**Contents and Sample Pages**