Bhavna Pimpale –
A sweeping new coffee table book that traces over two millennia of Maharashtra’s history has been unveiled by Heritage India Communications Pvt Ltd. Titled Gift of the Sahyadris: The Story and Glory of Maharashtra, the 280-page publication chronicles the region’s evolution from the Satavahana era in the 1st century CE to the formation of the state of Maharashtra on May 1, 1960.
The announcement was made in Mumbai in the presence of Dr Tejas Garge, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra, who attended as Chief Guest, while noted screenwriter Unman Bankar, one of the writers of the blockbuster film Chhaava, was Guest of Honour.
The book arrives at a time when Maharashtra’s rich heritage is receiving increasing global recognition. In 2025, twelve forts from the Maratha Military Landscapes were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, joining Ajanta and Ellora among the state’s internationally celebrated historical treasures. The publication seeks to provide readers with the broader historical context behind these landmarks and the forces that shaped Maharashtra over the centuries.
Speaking at the announcement, Manjiri Khandekar, CEO of Heritage India, said, “Marcus Garvey once said that a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. For the last 20 years, our endeavour has been to strengthen those roots. As a tourism, publication and educational house, we believe the best way to celebrate history is to make it accessible and relevant to the common man, and maps, pictures and illustrations help us do that. Our last coffee table book, Punyakatha: Pune’s Story of a Million Years, was well-received for both the depth of its content and the richness of its presentation. So, when Kalyani Sardesai, who wrote Punyakatha for us, wanted to tell 2,000 years of Maharashtra’s story, I knew a dull approach would not do. The scale had to be equally lavish, and the presentation fun, colourful and engaging. Having published the Heritage India and Maharashtra Unlimited magazines, we had both the know-how and access to scholarly expertise.”
The book has been written and creatively visualised by journalist and author Ms Kalyani Sardesai, who combines historical research with storytelling to make Maharashtra’s past accessible to contemporary readers. Ms Sardesai also shares a close connection with the maritime community as the wife of Capt Sailesh Sardesai, who is associated with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
Explaining the premise behind the project, Ms Sardesai said, “The last thing Maharashtra needed was yet another history book. What it needed was its story. This book is unique in its scale, its ambition and the sheer stretch of time it covers. Through dramatisation and poetry woven into the history, we have tried to show readers, at every point, why this story matters to them and how it connects to their lives.”
Designed for readers aged 12 and above, the book explores how the Sahyadri mountain range influenced the region’s geography, culture, spirituality and political history. It journeys through Maharashtra’s ancient, medieval and modern eras, covering its celebrated cave heritage, the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwa period, social reform movements, the growth of education and journalism, and the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement that ultimately led to the birth of the state in 1960.
The publication also highlights the contributions of saint-poets, women leaders and the distinctive identities of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan, Khandesh and Western Maharashtra. Contributions from illustrators and a panel of noted historians further enrich the narrative.
The book will be formally launched by industrialist Dr Abhay Firodiya on October 31, 2026, at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune. Positioned as both a collector’s item and an educational resource, Gift of the Sahyadris aims to offer readers a deeper appreciation of Maharashtra’s remarkable journey through history.
Marex Media
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At a Glance (add the image of the book)
Title: Gift of the Sahyadris: The Story and Glory of Maharashtra
Publisher: Heritage India Communications Pvt Ltd
Pages: 280
Price: ₹2,500
Order Online: www.heritage-india.com