>Citation bot at 02:17, 15 September 2020

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{{short description|Indian non-fictional book}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox book
| name = India's Coal Story: From Damodar to Zambezi
| author = Subhomoy Bhattacharjee
| language = [[Indian English]]
| country = [[India]]
| genre = Non-fiction
| pub_date = 3 April 2017
| isbn = 9789386446015
| image = File:India coal story book cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of the book
}}
'''''India's Coal Story: From Damodar to Zambezi''''' is a non-fiction book written by journalist Subhomoy Bhattacharjee and published by [[SAGE Publishing]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xRtBDwAAQBAJ|title=India's Coal Story: From Damodar to Zambezi|last=Bhattacharjee|first=Subhomoy|date=2017-04-03|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|isbn=978-93-86446-01-5|language=en}}</ref> The book is about India's coal history, energy sector, and economy. It has received an overall good reception from book reviewers and critics.

== Synopsis ==
The book has 9 chapters and 264 pages. First chapter of the book is ''Ole King Coal'' which contains introduction to India's mining history and how coal mining was started.<ref group="RY" name=":0">{{harvnb|Bhattacharjee|2017|p=1-13}}</ref> It mentions about [[Raniganj]], city on the bank of [[Damodar River]], where coal mining happened en large and it mentions about [[Zambezi]], river in the Africa, from where India has imported the coal.<ref name=":0" group="RY" />

''A Nation And Its Contradictions'', second chapter of the book, is about the business of [[opium]], establishment of [[Carr, Tagore and Company]], politics behind then coal mining, role of [[East India Company]] and the history of coal mining amid world-wars and recession of 1929.<ref group="RY">{{harvnb|Bhattacharjee|2017|p=14-40}}</ref> ''Nationalisation of problems'', third chapter, mentions [[Bombay Plan]], [[Nehruvian socialism]] and take over of the industries, [[Indira Gandhi]]'s rule and price control, and problems faced by India businessmen after independence of India. <ref group="RY">{{harvnb|Bhattacharjee|2017|p=41-60}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Indian economist [[Omkar Goswami]], over an article of ''[[The Indian Express]]'', labeled the book as "sound reference guide".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/tales-from-the-coal-crypt-subhomoy-bhattacharjee-4783002/|title=Tales From the Coal Crypt|date=2017-08-05|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> He wrote that author weaves a series of fascinating stories about India’s coal history but it doesn’t quite hold as a cohesive narrative.<ref name=":3" /> He also wrote that book consists good amount of informative nuggets which could have made it as great book if it was used well.<ref name=":3" />

Navroz K Dubhash, in a book review in ''[[Business Standard]]'', has praised the work and wrote "book gives us solid platform for understanding India's long-standing tryst with call".<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/india-s-long-standing-tryst-with-coal-117062001422_1.html|title=India's long-standing tryst with coal|last=Dubash|first=Navroz K.|date=2017-06-20|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2020-01-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, he wrote that book is comprehensive and rich in detail.<ref name=":4" />

Richa Mishra, writing for ''[[Business Line]]'', has called the book as "heavy on facts with a play-it-safe approach".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/books/black-golds-dark-side/article9771044.ece|title=Black gold's dark side|last=Mishra|first=Richa|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> She wrote that book has an interesting compilation of facts and author did a "neat balancing act to his credit".<ref name=":0" /> Indrani Dutta in ''[[The Hindu]]'' has praised the work, but pointed out a few factual inaccuracies.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/land-of-black-gold/article19088998.ece|title=Land of black gold|last=Dutta|first=Indrani|date=2017-06-17|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-23|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She wrote that book is no creative work but a painstaking research done by author through series of interviews and tours across [[India]].<ref name=":1" />

K Yatish Rajawat, writing for ''[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]'', wrote that book represents the research about subject without being [[Didactic method|didactic]] and dense.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/jobs/heres-the-book-review-of-indias-coal-story-from-damodar-to-zambezi/1004834/|title=Here's the book review of India's Coal Story: From Damodar to Zambezi|date=2018-01-07|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> He also added that author created a wonderful narrative using stories of the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] and [[Zambezi]] rivers. However, he showed disappointment that book perpetuates that public sector is inefficient which is myth according to him.<ref name=":2" /> Marathi daily ''[[Loksatta]]'' wrote that the book should be read to know history of India's coal sector and different intervals of it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/athour-mapia-news/subhomoy-bhattacharjee-book-india-s-coal-story-from-damodar-to-zambezi-zws-70-1981096/|title=कोळशाची कहाणी|date=2019-09-28|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Coal mining in India]]

== References ==
=== Primary Sources===
{{reflist|group=RY}}
===Secondary Sources===
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/author/subhomoy-bhattacharjee Subhomoy Bhattacharjee] at SAGE Publishing

[[Category:Coal mining in India]]
[[Category:Indian non-fiction books]]

India's Coal Story - Revision history

>Citation bot at 02:17, 15 September 2020