AUREL STEIN
Pioneer of the Silk Road - A Book Review
Author: - Annabel Walker
Publisher: - John Murray U.K.
In the National Museum, New Delhi, there is a gallery named as ‘Central Asian Antiquities’ which displays some 600 choicest exhibits mainly from China’s Xinjiang province which was known earlier as ‘Chinese Turkestan’. The Museum proudly claims that these exhibits were excavated by Sir Aurel Stein, the foremost, amongst the archaeological explorers of the early 20th century, during three major expeditions during 1900-01, 1906-08 and 1913-16.
This book is the story of life of Sir Aurel Stein. He was born in Budapest, Hungary and was the youngest son of his parents. His brother, who was much elder to him and his maternal uncle, groomed him and influenced his education so as to prepare him for a scholarly career in a university. He however, opted for a job in British India. Right from his childhood, he had a fascination for Central Asia and wanted to travel in the footsteps of ‘Alexander the Great’. His job in India introduced him to ancient Indian culture and he became interested in ‘Gandhar’ influence on early Buddhist culture. He felt that this ancient culture must have influenced the ancient silk route towns in China and organized almost single handedly three major archeological expeditions in western china around great deserts of ‘Takalamakan’, ‘Lop-Nor’ and ‘Gobi’. He discovered large number of artifacts, silk banners- books and wooden Frescos in this area. His name became almost legendary in his times.
In all Stein marched some 25000 miles across Central Asia, often in appalling conditions. He was festooned with international Honours but to the Chinese he was an imperialist villain who systematically robbed them of their history.
In this remarkable book, the author, Annabel walker, unfolds the remarkable story of an outwardly shy person whose lifetime of single-minded dedication revealed to the world the glories of the ancient Silk Road.
13th February , 2008
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