Maha-Bharata: The Epic of Ancient India condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt, C.I.E.

Romesh Dutt, Maha-Bharata: The Epic of Ancient India condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt, C.I.E., London: J M Dent and Co., 1899, second edition

xii + [4] + 183 pages including 12 photogravure from original illustrations designed from Indian sources by E Stuart Hardy protected by tissue paper; vellum binding with gilt pictorial board and spine, top edge gilt, remaining uncut edges
8 x 5 x 1 in (20 x 13 x 3 cm)

This book is a timeless masterpiece by Romesh Dutt, C.I.E. with an introduction by F Max Muller. Originally published in 1898 and now in its second edition, this remarkable work condenses the vast and captivating narrative of the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, into elegant English verse. Romesh Dutt's poetic rendition skillfully preserves the essence of this epic tale, brimming with epic battles, moral dilemmas, and intricate characters, making it accessible to modern readers while honoring the rich cultural heritage of India.

Romesh Chunder Dutt was born into a Calcutta mercantile family that benefited from its connections to the British East India Company. He travelled to Britain in 1868, where he enrolled in University College, London. In 1871, he took the test for the Indian Civil Service, and that same year, the Middle Temple summoned him to the bar. He became an associate magistrate and collector when he joined the Indian Civil Service. He was the first Indian to be named district magistrate in 1883. Later, in Burdwan and Orissa (1894-1895), he was appointed divisional commissioner. The fifteenth meeting of the Indian National Congress was presided over by Dutt at Lucknow in 1899.

Dutt spent time in both India and London. At University College, London, he was appointed Professor of Indian History in 1897. Beginning in 1898, Dutt frequently sent letters on Indian-related topics to the editor of the Manchester Guardian.

His collaborations with Dadabhai Naoroji and Major B D Basu are the most well-known. Together, they effectively outlined and communicated the economic issues facing colonised India. The 'drain theory' was their interpretation of the 'drainage of wealth' from India as a result of taxes paid to Britain, exports, and a lack of protection for India's growing industrial sector. They also emphasised the drawbacks of the railroads, which displaced suppliers of conventional transportation services and made it simpler to import products made in Britain.

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