Parag Books's high quality, illustrated new book, ?Gwalior, Scindias & Their Sardar Oligarchs" by Prof. Anant rao Rajwade and curated by Ashok Agrawal is a lavishly produced fabulous book. Size: 10" x 11 3/4" Large format, xi + 286pp., illustrated with 11 maps, 301 photographic and 109 other illustrations, hardbound. ISBN: 978-81-936721-0-5. This book chronicles the families of the famed Scindia rulers of the kingdom of Gwalior in Central India and their Oligarchs. The Princely state of Gwalior was one of the five biggest independent kingdoms of British India, accorded a 21 gun salute. The Scindias were one of the most powerful and influential rulers from the late 18th to mid- 20th century India. It covers Maharaja Scindia and the Princely State of Gwalior. Beginning with a short introductory write-up about the princely states of the Indian sub-continent, it is followed by a pictorial introduction to the Gwalior state and greater Gwalior city, the Scindia Dynasty and the growth of the 37 Sardar-Oligarch families of Gwalior. A detailed write-up about the royal house of Scindias with rare historical facts, anecdotes, fables and legends, connected with members of the family, followed by an introduction to the historical build-up of the Gwalior Oligarchy will hold the reader spell bound. An extensive account of the privileges, honours, titles of the ruler and of his Sardar-Oligarchs is detailed by the author, himself a descendant of the Sardar Rajwade family. A historical background and comparative introduction has been drawn of the three contemporary dynasties viz. the Shivajis, Peshwas and later Mughals. The book also has detailed historical accounts with genealogical charts of the thirty-seven Sardar-Oligarch families of Gwalior who looked after the administration of Gwalior under the authority and leadership of Maharaja Scindias. The book is lavishly illustrated with historical and contemporary images and is a visual treat. The book is a collectors item and would be a pride of the owners. Reviews of the book: "An interesting illustrated history of the Gwalior Court. I have personally known the last three generations of the Scindias. The Book is also valuable as a sociological study of the feudal order that has now disappeared" Dr Karan Singh "We know something about the princely families but not enough about their feudatory sardars and jagirdars. This large-Format book by an accomplished mathematician, mystic and proud member of a distinguished Sardar family evokes an era when two fifths of India was under their rule and which is largely forgotten in today's democratic India." --- Gurcharan Das, author of India Unbound, The Difficulty of Being Good, and Kama, the Riddle of Desire. "The Marathas, who all but became the rulers of India in the 18th century, it is surprising that no historian has devoted enough research to produce an entire volume on them. This thorough pictorial work on them is timely because many of the memories are still alive. This book is unputdownable ! --- Aman Nath, historian and architectural restorer.