Maharashtra. Among the country’s largest, wealthiest, most significant constituents. A great state in name and in deed that has been the cradle of individuals and events that have shaped India.

Girish Kuber – seasoned journalist and one of Maharashtra’s foremost opinion makers – tells its story in Renaissance State. Taking in his vast sweep the region’s politics, society and history from the time of the Satavahanas down to the present day, he chronicles a number of lesser-known tales: the empire that brought the mighty Mughals to their knees, the woman who took the issue of consent in marital sex right up to Queen Victoria, the social reformers who were far ahead of their time, the evolution of movements of the right and left as well as for Dalit identity, and the long tradition of this great land of always standing up to Delhi.

This is the account of the making of Maharashtra that its proud people deserved but had remained unwritten.