In a history that spans several millennia, the Indian subcontinent has seen countless heroes and kings who have transformed their nations with their valour and pragmatic leadership. Yet, some names stand out even among this distinguished group for feats and achievements that bear no parallel. Whether it is Chandragupta Maurya, who routed Alexander’s great generals to set up the first well-known-and recorded-native Indian dynasty in the region, or Samudragupta and Harshavardhana, under whom Indians enjoyed great prosperity and well-being, or the scions of the Mughal empire-Babur, Akbar, Jehangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb-who gave to India the art and architecture for which she is now internationally acclaimed, these men are the lodestones of our nation. Equally worthy of mention are Dutugemunu and Parakrama Bahu pf Sri Lanka, who successfully fought the Tamil invaders of their island country and restored to the native Sinhalese a sense of pride and nationhood. Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar, who is still revered by the Rajputs for his courageous fight against the Mughals; Sher Shah, who, despite his great victories, had the foresight to turn his mind to nation-building and infrastructure; Shivaji, who knit the Marathas into an abiding force against the atrocities of Aurangzeb; Haider Ali of Mysore and his son, Tippu Sultan, who chose to die fighting than surrender before the British; Ganga Singh of Bikaner, who cared for his people with unparalleled tenderness, and Ranjit Singh, the pragmatic ruler of Punjab in the early 19th century-all these are men who have left their indelible stamp on the country that we know today as India. Rulers and Great Leaders of India tells us the story of these great men.
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