Contents: I. Images of the West : The Adventures of Itesamuddin. 1. Introduction. 2. The start of the journey. 3. The Island of Mauritius. 4. Rounding Africa. 5. France to England. 6. The wonderous city of London. 7. Entertainments in London. 8. The University of Oxford. 9. Edinburgh, Scotland. 10. Concerning the highlands. 11. Europe and Christianity. 12. Dispute and disagreement. 13. Religious controversies. 14. Royalty, Military, and the Law. 15. Education, lifestyle, and the East India Company. 16. Food, flowers, travel, and animals. 17. Returning home. 18. The conclusion of the work. II. Westward Bound : Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb. 1. From Awadh to Calcutta. 2. The journey begins. 3. Land Ahoy! Nicobar Islands. 4. The first taste of Africa. 5. England, here we come! 6. Detour to Ireland. 7. Experiences in Dublin. 8. And the Irish. 9. Ode to London. 10. Negotiating with people and culture. 11. From architecture to Taverns and clubs. 12. Arts and sciences. 13. Trade and industry. 14. Everybody loves a good life. 15. Government. 16. The East India Company. 17. Courts of Law. 18. The economy : perceptions and contacts. 19. Social and personal. 20. Virtues of the English. 21. Journey to the continent. 22. Battles at home and abroad. 23. Paris, the city unfolded. 24. The French encounters. 25. To Lyons. 26. And on to Genoa. 27. Voyage to Malta, to Dardanelles. 28. Constantinople. 29. The cresecent in Turkey. 30. Onward to Amasia. 31. The Kurd Country. 32. Baghdad. 33. Pilgrimage to Karbala and Najaf. 34. Voyage on the Tigris. 35. Busra. 36. The last salute. Appendices. Biographical notes. III. Seamless Boundaries : Lutfullah's Narrative Beyond East and West. 1. Introduction by Mushirul Hasan. 2. Lutfullah's Acknowledgement. 3. Preface to the original edition. 4. Chapter I to XIV. 5. Pedigree of Lutfullah. Appendices. Glossary. Index.
"Inverting the conventional imagery of European travel narratives about South Asia, this omnibus brings together three fascinating accounts of Indian interaction with the west. It raises interesting questions about cross-cultural encounters. Is the west objectively perceived and represented? Do observers colour fact with fiction? Do they talk of an East West divide?
The first volume covers Itesamuddin's travel (1765-9) to Europe. Set in the context of the grant of Diwani to the British in India, Images of the West, offers fresh insights on the state and everyday life in England discussing questions of religious controversies, military and law. Its author also gives us a panoramic view of the socio-cultural life, flora and fauna, and education and lifestyles.
Abu Taleb's travelogue provides a non western representation of the west, and shed light on the national customs and manners of Europeans. Westward Bound comprises his impressions of England, France, Genoa, Malta, Turkey, and Baghdad during his travels (1799-1803). His understanding of cultural streams in the East and the West offer an alternative viewpoint on the encounter between Pax Brittanica and the Sharif families of North India.
Seamless Boundaries presents the autobiography of Lutfullah Khan (b.1802), one of the earliest known works by an Indian in English. Traversing geographical and cultural boundaries, Lutfullah's narrative defies conventional labels. He explores events, people, and their culture beyond the mere East-West dichotomies. He also presents a graphic description of his voyage to England in 1844.
Mushirul Hasan's introduction examines the life and times of these travelers. Arguing for exploring the west and the Muslim societies from an unsentimental and wide ranging perspective, he investigates the discourse on East-West relations, and highlights the significance of travel narratives as historical records in the production of knowledge.
This collection, the first of its kind, will be indispensable for scholars and students of history, cultural studies, travel literature, and sociology." (jacket)
