Automobile The: An Indian Love Affair

What started as a love affair for Indian royalty is now the mainstay of Indian roads. Since Independence the automobile has played an important role in India's industrial growth as well as been the hero in many Bollywood movies. It has changed our cities and the way our houses and apartment blocks are configured as well as transformed the countryside connecting the remotest corners of our vast nation and providing jobs to millions. It has also empowered women in many parts of the nation enabling them to attend schools and universities and commute to work and the marketplace. For thousands of Indians the automobile has been and remains an object of pleasure pride status excitement emotion and passion.In The Automobile Gautam Sen has not only traced the history of the automobile in India and the way it has shaped society for over a century but has also delved into the fascination Indians have for all matters automotive such as motor racing bikes road movies and historical vehicle shows.A riveting story told in the most fascinating anecdotal tone this book is filled with well-researched facts and beautiful pictures for lovers of automobiles. Review The book is an important addition to our knowledge of Indian automotive history. ―India TodayAn enjoyable informative fun book a delight to read. ―The TribuneThe book is dotted with fascinating nuggets of history. ―The HinduThe Automobile reveals the depth of our automotive obsession. ―AutoX'It is so good to see a book which covers all aspects of the automobile sector inIndia and it does so with such splendour and flourish. My favourite part was thebit about the bikernis!' -- Anil Dharker writer and founder of the Mumbai International Literary Festival'What a wonderful journey. Gautam has found a way to navigate through the history of the automobile in India in a way that is fun and exciting without being intimidating.' -- B.V.R. Subbu former president Hyundai Motor India'Few writers have been impassioned to trace the journey of the automobilethrough Indian life history and culture. Gautam Sen stands tall.' -- Muzaffar Ali film-maker poet and painter'Gautam's long-time love affair with cars and his deep knowledge of them aswell as their impact on Indian society shine through this most readable andinstructive book.' -- Rahul Singh columnist former editor of Reader’s Digest Indian Express and others'What I liked best about this book was the effortless anecdotal tone the authorhas taken when tracing the historical relevance of automobiles in India-whetherit is the royal period of the maharajas or the glamourous Bollywood era.' -- Shobhaa Dé columnist and author'What fascinated me while reading the book is the influence cars have had on theevolution of our culture. The Automobile is the perfect guide to the history of theautomobile and the role it has played in India's cultural and industrial growth.And in Gautam's voice the story is as thrilling as it is knowledgeable!' -- Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur 76th custodian of the House of Mewar About the Author Gautam Sen is an Indian journalist writer and automotive design consultant and expert. He is also the Vice President External Relations at Fédération Internationale de Véhicules Anciens FIVA the international federation for historic vehicles. Sen founded India's first newsstand car magazine Indian Auto in 1986.