Encyclopaedia
of Indian Heritage/edited by Ramesh Chandra. New
Delhi, Commonwealth, 2004, 5 volumes, 1410 p., (set).
ISBN 81-7169-795-X.
Contents: Vol. I. Historical Monuments of India: Preface. 1. Kashmir. 2. Red Fort. 3. Jama Masjid. 4. Jantar Mantar. 5. Delhi. 6. Qutub Minar. 7. Purana Qila (Old Fort). 8. Humayun’s tomb. 9. Uttar Pradesh. 10. Madhya Pradesh. 11. Maharashtra. 12. Goa. 13. Karnataka. 14. Bihar. 15. The capitals of Magadha. 16. The edicts of Asoka. 17. The University of Nalanda. 18. The Royal University of Vikramasila. 19. Orissa. 20. Tamil Nadu. 21. Kerala.
Vol. II. Temples of India: Preface. 1. Temples of North India. 2. Purpose and frequency of pilgrimage. 3. Religious travels of pilgrims. 4. Caste composition of pilgrims. 5. Religious beliefs. 6. Pilgrim interaction—the case of Hardwar. 7. Summary and conclusions. Bibliography.
Vol. III. Religions of India: Preface. 1. Hinduism. 2. Sikhs. 3. Sikh ethics. 4. Practical religion. 5. Sikh ceremonies. 6. Guru Granth Sahib. 7. Islam. 8. Reconstruction of religious thought in Islam. 9. Buddhism. 10. Post-Vedic system building. 11. Mahayana Buddhism: "the greater vehicle". 12. Dharma, the first end of man. 13. Buddhism in Southeast Asia. 14. Jainism. 15. Christianity. 16. The Parsi religion.
Vol. IV. Cities and Towns of India: Preface. 1. Agar. 2. Agartala. 3. Agashi. 4. Agastyamalai (or Agastya-Kutam). 5. Agra province. 6. Agra division. 7. Agra district. 8. Agra Tahsil. 9. Agra city. 10. Agra canal. 11. Ahmadabad district. 12. Ahmadabad city. 13. Ahmadnagar district. 14. Ahmadnagar Taluka. 15. Ahmadnagar city. 16. Ahmadnagar town. 17. Ajmer. 18. Ajmer-Merwara. 19. Ajmer city. 20. Ajodhya town (in Sanskrit Ayodhya; now known as Ajudhia). 21. Aligarh district. 22. Aligarh Tahsil (or Koil). 23. Aligarh city. 24. Aligarh Tahsil. 25. Alikher. 26. Ali Masjid. 27. Alipore subdivision. 28. Alipore town (Alipur). 29. Ali-Rajpur. 30. Allahabad division. 31. Allahabad district (Ilahabad). 32. Allahabad Tahsil. 33. Allahabad city (Ilahabad). 34. Allahabad Tahsil. 35. Allahabad town. 36. Amritsar district. 37. Amritsar Tahsil. 38. Amritsar city. 39. Benares. 40. Bijapur. 41. Bhopal state (Bhupal). 42. Bhopal city (Bhupal). 43. Bombay presidency. 44. Calcutta (Kalikata). 45. Calcutta, suburbs of. 46. Calcutta, South suburbs. 47. Calcutta and Eastern Canals. 48. Calicut Taluk. 49. Calicut city. 50. Cochin. 51. Coorg. 52. Chitore. 53. Delhi, the Rome of Asia. 54. Darjeeling. 55. Gorakhpur. 56. Hardwar. 57. Jammu. 58. Kulu. 59. Kanpur (Cawnpore district). 60. Cawnpore Tahsil. 61. Cawnpore city. 62. Lucknow division (Lakhnau). 63. Lucknow district (Lakhnau). 64. Lucknow Tahsil. 65. Lucknow city (Lakhnau). 66. Madras presidency (officially styled the presidency of fort St. George). 67. Madras city. 68. Panipat. 69. Pillar edicts. 70. Pachmarhi. 71. Patna. 72. Rajgir: an ancient Babylon. 73. Sanchi. 74. Shillong—the beauty spot of North-East India. 75. Vijayanagar.
Vol. V. Fairs and Festivals of India: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Sects and societies. 3. Hindu festivals. 4. Hindu fairs. 5. Hindu holidays. 6. Sikhism. 7. Islam. 8. Muslim festivals and fasts. 9. Parsis: faith and belief.
"The theme has been weaved in a comprehensive way into five volumes having deep bearing on cities and towns, historical monuments, religious places and fairs and festivals. In fact they are the part and parcel of Indian life having deep bearing on their ardent faith. Their social religious life is greatly controlled and managed by their beliefs in numerous Gods, Goddesses and deities. In fact this is something spontaneous in the ongoing process of human life.
"Very often people visit religious places with ‘demands’ from Gods and they believe that their wish would be considered by the kind-hearted almighty. On the other hand, the visit of the people to tourist centres are for the sake of enjoyment with families. The fairs and festivals have deep bearing on socio-cultural life of Indian communities.
"These volumes will be of much academic value to the social scientists, teachers and students in India and abroad." (jacket)