Raaja Bhasin Explained

Raaja Bhasin
Birth Name:Chandra Haas Bhasin
Birth Date:30 January 1961
Birth Place:Chandigarh, India
Alma Mater:Panjab University
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla
Occupation:Writer, historian, speaker, curator
Known For:Histories of colonial Shimla
Travel-writing
Television appearances

Chandra Haas Bhasin (born 30 January 1961), better known by his pen-name Raaja Bhasin, is a writer, historian, public speaker, and curator from Himachal Pradesh, India. He is noted as an authority on the cultural and architectural history of colonial-era Shimla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj and the present-day capital of the Himachal Pradesh state. Bhasin is particularly known for his book Simla: the Summer Capital of British India, first published in 1992. He has appeared as an expert on Shimla in several popular travel and historical documentaries, including ones made by William Dalrymple, Michael Palin, Gurinder Chaddha, and Anthony Bourdain. Bhasin is also regarded as an expert on various aspects of Himachal Pradesh, including tourism and cultural heritage - also subjects on which he has written and lectured extensively.

Personal life and education

Bhasin received his school education at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, from where he passed out in 1976.[1] He then attended Panjab University, Chandigarh, from where he graduated with a BA and an MA in history.[2]

In a 2014 interview, Bhasin spoke of the veteran Indian journalist and writer Khushwant Singh as an important inspiration in his own career as a writer.[3]

Bhasin lives in Shimla and spends several months a year at his second home in New Delhi.[4] He is married and has two sons.[5] He is a member of the Amateur Dramatics Club, Shimla, and the Old Cottonians Association, Shimla.[6] [7]

Works

Writing

Bhasin’s most widely known work is his first book Simla: The Summer Capital of British India, which has been in print ever since it was first published in 1992, by Viking. Penguin published this book in 1994. Subsequently, a revised edition was published by Rupa Publications in 2011, the fifth impression of which came out in 2018. The foreword of this book is by the novelist M.M. Kaye.[8] This book has received mostly positive reviews. Critics have hailed Simla: The Summer Capital of British India for its distinctive narrative style and in-depth research on the cultural, social, and political life and times in Simla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj. In 1999, the British historian William Dalrymple called this book 'the best modern book on Shimla'. Mandavi Mehta of Business Standard Review mentions that this book draws upon first-person accounts of imperial Shimla written by a range of inhabitants, colonial newspaper accounts, which are woven together by Bhasin into a 'vivid portrayal' of the British Raj era in Shimla.[9] In a review of the revised edition published in 2011, Pankaj Vohra of Hindustan Times writes that this book's presentation of Shimla's colonial history is full of anecdotes and interesting insights that never let the reader's interest flag.[10]

Bhasin has written several other books since then, including one work of fiction (Flowerwoods Hotel, 2014).

As of 2019, Bhasin had authored nearly three thousand articles on a large number of subjects, which had been published in numerous popular media including national and international newspapers, travel magazines, and in-flight magazines.[11] Their subjects include Shimla's historical heritage, personal anecdotes from Shimla, and various topics related to Himachal Pradesh, such as travel and issues surrounding development, environment, tourism, and heritage conservation.

He has undertaken various commissioned projects for writing and editing from various state-level, national-level, and international multilateral organizations.[12] [13]

Appearance in documentaries and TV shows

Bhasin has appeared as an expert on Shimla in several national and international documentaries and TV shows. They include the following:

Bhasin served as historical consultant to the British period drama Indian Summers (2015).[23] [24]

Other engagements

Further recognition

Bibliography

  1. Bhasin, Raaja. (1992). Simla: the Summer Capital of British India. Viking.
  2. Bhasin, Raaja. (1995). Viceregal Lodge and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla.
  3. Bhasin, Raaja. (2000). Himachal Pradesh: a Himalayan Experience. Himachal Tourism.
  4. Bhasin, Raaja. (2007). An Introduction of the Churches and Christian Cemeteries of Himachal. Himachal Tourism.
  5. Bhasin, Raaja. (2007). Shimla on Foot. Rupa Publications.
  6. Bhasin, Raaja. (2010). Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai. Himachal Tourism.
  7. Bhasin, Raaja. (2010). Unforgettable Himachal. Himachal Tourism.
  8. Bhasin, Raaja. (2013). Experience Himachal on the Road. Times Book.
  9. Bhasin, Raaja. (2013). The Toy Train: The Kalka Shimla Railway Line. Minerva Publishers.
  10. Bhasin, Raaja. (2014). Flowerwoods Hotel. National Book Trust.[50]
  11. Bhasin, Raaja (eds.). (2015).The Deputy Commissioner, Shimla: two centuries of an institution (1815-2015). Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.[51]
  12. Bhasin, Raaja. (2016). Easy Trails around Shimla. Rupa Publications.[52]
  13. Bhasin, Raaja. (2017). Sacred Himachal. Dainik Bhaskar Group.
  14. Bhasin, Raaja and Arun Kumar Sharma (2018). Himachal's Water Heritage. Government of Himachal Pradesh.[53]
  15. Bhasin, Raaja. (2019). Hidden Himachal. Himachal Tourism.[54] [55]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017-07-08 . School days of writer Ruskin Bond in Shimla evoke old Cottonian nostalgia . 2023-01-21 . Hindustan Times . en.
  2. Web site: Dutt . Nirupama . Garewal . Naveen S. . 3 October 2005 . Regional Briefs - 'King' of the hills . 2023-01-21 . www.tribuneindia.com.
  3. Web site: 2014-03-21 . He inspired me to write, says historian Raaja Bhasin . 2023-01-18 . Hindustan Times . en.
  4. Web site: Indian Summer . 2023-01-18 . www.martinrandall.com.
  5. Web site: Bhasin . Raaja . Midnight's children look back . 2023-01-18 . Tribuneindia News Service . en.
  6. Web site: Shimla Amateur Dramatics Club . 2023-01-18 . adcshimla1837.com.
  7. Web site: Raaja Bhasin . Old Cottonians Association . 12 September 2020 . 2023-01-20 . en-US.
  8. Book: Bhasin, Raja . Simla, the Summer Capital of British India . 2011 . Rupa & Company . 978-81-291-1768-7 . en.
  9. News: Mehta . Mandavi . 2011-06-10 . The Raj at work and play . Business Standard India . 2023-01-30.
  10. Web site: Vohra . Pankaj . 2011-06-17 . When they went to Simla . 2023-01-18 . Hindustan Times . en.
  11. Web site: 2019-02-20 . Raaja Bhasin – Shimla International Literature Festival . 2023-01-18 . en-US.
  12. Book: State of Environment Report, Himachal Pradesh . Government of Himachal Pradesh . 2005 . Shimla . xi.
  13. Web site: 2015-10-30 . INTACH to assist Himachal government conserve heritage . 2023-01-20 . Hill Post . en-US.
  14. News: Dalrymple . William . 26 September 1999 . India's Green and Pleasant Land . Washington Post .
  15. Web site: 2017-01-30 . Himalaya 2/6 - video Dailymotion . 2023-01-18 . Dailymotion . en.
  16. Book: Palin, Michael . Himalaya . 2010 . Orion . 978-0-297-86360-1 . en.
  17. Web site: 2017 . BBC India With Sanjeev Bhaskar E04 A Camel Called Sanjeev - video Dailymotion . 2023-08-09 . Dailymotion . en.
  18. Web site: Bhasin . Raaja . An evening with Anthony Bourdain . 2023-01-18 . Tribuneindia News Service . en.
  19. Web site: Kipling's Indian Adventure - Raaja Bhasin & Charles Allen feature . 2023-01-18 . www.martinrandall.com.
  20. Web site: 2018-04-17 . Great Indian Railway Journeys Series 1 1of4 Amritsar to Shimla - video Dailymotion . 2023-02-05 . Dailymotion . en.
  21. Web site: The Road To Independence By Olie Hunter Smart . 2023-08-09 . jwp.io.
  22. Web site: 2023 . L'Inde Le Paradis Perdu de Rudyard Kipling . 2024-02-06 . app.frame.io.
  23. Web site: Interview with historical consultants Raaja Bhasin and Alastair Bruce . 2023-01-18 . www.channel4.com.
  24. Web site: 2015-02-28 . In Shimla, the city of Indian Summers, the Raj's colonial legacy lives on . 2023-01-18 . the Guardian . en.
  25. Web site: INTACH . 2023-01-18 . chapter.intach.org.
  26. Web site: Young Intach Explorer . 2023-01-18 . youngintach.org.
  27. Web site: Raaja Bhasin . 2023-01-18 . www.martinrandall.com.
  28. Web site: India's Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla . 2023-01-19 . Great Rail Journeys . en-gb.
  29. News: 2016-10-13 . Food for thought . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-01-20 . 0971-751X.
  30. Web site: 2021 . The Chief - General Manoj Mukund Naravane . 2023-01-20.
  31. Web site: 24 November 2003 . Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board - Directory of officers and employees .
  32. Web site: 14 October 2013 . NOTIFICATION . rajpatrahimachal.nic.in.
  33. Web site: Raaja Bhasin . 2024-02-06 . British Art Network . en-GB.
  34. Web site: 2022 . The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship - Council report and accounts - 31 December 2022 . charitycommission.gov.uk.
  35. Web site: 18 September 2015 . Times Group book wins national tourism award . 2023-01-18 . The Times of India . en.
  36. Web site: Conde Nast Traveller - The Experts .
  37. Web site: 2017-10-12 . 50 people to know in the Himalayas . 2023-01-20 . Condé Nast Traveller India . en-IN.
  38. Web site: Bodh . Anand . June 1, 2015 . Intach proposes to restore colonial era DC office building - Times of India . 2023-01-18 . The Times of India . en.
  39. News: Brara . Sarita . 2012-10-20 . Old-world charm lost . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-01-18 . 0971-751X.
  40. Web site: Gulati . Vishal . Another blast from colonial past in 'Queen of Hills' . 2023-01-18 . www.daijiworld.com . en.
  41. Web site: 2008-10-17 . Readers' awards: Best overseas hotel - Oberoi . 2023-01-18 . the Guardian . en.
  42. News: McClarence . Stephen . April 9, 2005 . Postcard from an Indian train ride . en . The Times . 2023-01-20 . 0140-0460.
  43. Web site: Mehta . Rishad Saam . February 3, 2017 . Homestays We Love: Ballyhack Cottage for Old-World Charm and Himalayan Views . 2023-01-18 . National Geographic Traveller . en.
  44. News: McClarence . Stephen . December 30, 2015 . Rudyard Kipling's India . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-01-18 . 0307-1235.
  45. Web site: April 14, 2007 . Walk the line . 2023-01-18 . mint . en.
  46. Web site: 25 November 2021 . Contribution of Himachal in freedom struggle remembered . 2023-01-18 . Tribuneindia News Service . en.
  47. Web site: 2013 . Heritage Walk at Shimla and talk by an eminent writer . 2023-01-20 . youngintach.org.
  48. Web site: 2013-07-21 . One-on-One with the Two Men I've been stalking lately! . Himachal Watcher . 2023-01-20 . en-US.
  49. Web site: 2019 . Department of Botany, St. Bede's College, Shimla - Activities for the session 2018-19 .
  50. Web site: Bhandari . Rahul . 2014-06-30 . CM inaugurates Book Fair, advises to bring out e-books . 2023-01-18 . The News Himachal . en-US.
  51. Web site: Deputy Commissioner office Shimla celebrates 200 years of existence CM exhorts for maintaining cult . 2023-01-18 . www.himachalpr.gov.in.
  52. Web site: 2016-05-20 . Hills calling: An expert guide to trek right around Shimla this summer . 2023-01-18 . Hindustan Times . en.
  53. Web site: Coffee table book on water heritage out . 2023-01-18 . Tribuneindia News Service . en.
  54. Web site: From folktales to unexplored places, here's how to explore 'Hidden Himachal' . 2023-01-18 . The Pioneer . en.
  55. Web site: 2019-12-22 . From folktales to unexplored places, here's how to explore 'Hidden Himachal' . 2023-01-18 . Hindustan Times . en.

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