The Peacock in Splendour: Science, Literature and Art in Ancient and Medieval India

Covering a span of nearly 5,000 years, the book seeks to offer a holistic account of the highly complex strands of Indian science, literature, and art. Beginning with a brief overview of Indian civilization, the author considers the status and achievements of biology, medicine, chemistry, metallurgy, mathematics, and physics in ancient and medieval India. And also, besides a discussion of the lyrical poetry of the Vedas, he finally comes to focus on India’s ancient/medieval literature (in different languages) and arts, including rock art, architecture, sculpture, and painting. Written, says the author, from an objective, yet reverential, standpoint, the text is supported not only by wide-ranging information, insights, and networks of interconnecting concepts, but, more importantly, by several hundred carefully selected visuals and citations