The Peoples of India

An engaging portrait of early twentieth‑century India, this work follows a retired civil servant‑turned‑scholar as he travels through villages and frontier towns to uncover the everyday lives behind the official statistics. Drawing on the 1911 Census, the author blends vivid anecdotes—drumming house numbers, haunted empty homes—with careful observations of caste, language, and ritual. The narrative reveals how ordinary encounters can illuminate a nation’s cultural mosaic.

In addition to lively field notes, the book offers clear explanations of local customs, social structures, and the practical challenges of counting a population as diverse as India’s. Readers hear the humor of an officer navigating bureaucratic duties while forming unexpected friendships with villagers and tribal leaders. The result is a readable, scholarly guide that brings the textures of Indian society to life for modern ears.