Raaja Bhasin

{{infobox person

| name = Raaja Bhasin

| image = Raaja Bhasin.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| other_names =

| birth_name = Chandra Haas Bhasin

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|1|30|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Chandigarh, India

| alma_mater = Panjab University
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla

| occupation = Writer, historian, speaker, curator

| known_for = Histories of colonial Shimla
Travel-writing
Television appearances

| website =

}}

Chandra Haas Bhasin (born 30 January 1961), better known by his pen-name Raaja Bhasin, is a writer, historian, public speaker, and curator from Himachal Pradesh, India. He is noted as an authority on the cultural and architectural history of colonial-era Shimla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj and the present-day capital of the Himachal Pradesh state. Bhasin is particularly known for his book Simla: the Summer Capital of British India, first published in 1992. He has appeared as an expert on Shimla in several popular travel and historical documentaries, including ones made by William Dalrymple, Michael Palin, Gurinder Chaddha, and Anthony Bourdain. Bhasin is also regarded as an expert on various aspects of Himachal Pradesh, including tourism and cultural heritage - also subjects on which he has written and lectured extensively.

Personal life and education

Bhasin received his school education at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, from where he passed out in 1976.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-08 |title=School days of writer Ruskin Bond in Shimla evoke old Cottonian nostalgia |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/ruskin-bonds-s-school-days-evoke-old-cottonian-nostalgia/story-rU02nkwUyFaDbLHh8sJjAK.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} He then attended Panjab University, Chandigarh, from where he graduated with a BA and an MA in history.{{Cite web |last1=Dutt |first1=Nirupama |last2=Garewal |first2=Naveen S. |date=3 October 2005 |title=Regional Briefs - 'King' of the hills |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051003/region.htm |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}

In a 2014 interview, Bhasin spoke of the veteran Indian journalist and writer Khushwant Singh as an important inspiration in his own career as a writer.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-21 |title=He inspired me to write, says historian Raaja Bhasin |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/he-inspired-me-to-write-says-historian-raaja-bhasin/story-8ZL2C1TMpmMaNhMFeXVAlL.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

Bhasin lives in Shimla and spends several months a year at his second home in New Delhi.{{Cite web |title=Indian Summer |url=https://www.martinrandall.com/indian-summer |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.martinrandall.com}} He is married and has two sons.{{Cite web |last=Bhasin |first=Raaja |title=Midnight's children look back |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/book-reviews/midnights-children-look-back-403091 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}} He is a member of the Amateur Dramatics Club, Shimla, and the Old Cottonians Association, Shimla.{{Cite web |title=Shimla Amateur Dramatics Club |url=https://adcshimla1837.com/public/members-directory.php?pn=14 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=adcshimla1837.com}}{{Cite web |title=Raaja Bhasin |website=Old Cottonians Association |date=12 September 2020 |url=https://oldcottonians.org/tag/raaja-bhasin/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=en-US}}

Works

= Writing =

Bhasin's most widely known work is his first book Simla: The Summer Capital of British India, which has been in print ever since it was first published in 1992, by Viking. Penguin published this book in 1994. Subsequently, a revised edition was published by Rupa Publications in 2011, the fifth impression of which came out in 2018. The foreword of this book is by the novelist M.M. Kaye.{{Cite book |last=Bhasin |first=Raja |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COvHkQEACAAJ |title=Simla, the Summer Capital of British India |date=2011 |publisher=Rupa & Company |isbn=978-81-291-1768-7 |language=en}} This book has received mostly positive reviews. Critics have hailed Simla: The Summer Capital of British India for its distinctive narrative style and in-depth research on the cultural, social, and political life and times in Simla, the erstwhile summer capital of the British Raj. In 1999, the British historian William Dalrymple called this book 'the best modern book on Shimla'. Mandavi Mehta of Business Standard Review mentions that this book draws upon first-person accounts of imperial Shimla written by a range of inhabitants, colonial newspaper accounts, which are woven together by Bhasin into a 'vivid portrayal' of the British Raj era in Shimla.{{Cite news |last=Mehta |first=Mandavi |date=2011-06-10 |title=The Raj at work and play |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/the-raj-at-work-and-play-111061000063_1.html |access-date=2023-01-30}} In a review of the revised edition published in 2011, Pankaj Vohra of Hindustan Times writes that this book's presentation of Shimla's colonial history is full of anecdotes and interesting insights that never let the reader's interest flag.{{Cite web |last=Vohra |first=Pankaj |date=2011-06-17 |title=When they went to Simla |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/when-they-went-to-simla/story-8jsssEPUVohQhrHeNblJ4H.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

Bhasin wrote several other books after that, including one work of fiction (Flowerwoods Hotel, 2014).

As of 2019, nearly three thousand articles by Bhasin on a large number of subjects had been published in numerous popular media, including national and international newspapers, travel magazines, and in-flight magazines.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-20 |title=Raaja Bhasin – Shimla International Literature Festival |url=http://shimlaliteraturefestival.com/performer/raaja-bhasin/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |language=en-US}} Their subjects include Shimla's historical heritage, personal anecdotes from Shimla, and various topics related to Himachal Pradesh, such as travel and issues surrounding development, environment, tourism, and heritage conservation.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

He has undertaken various commissioned projects for writing and editing from various state-level, national-level, and international multilateral organizations.{{Cite book |url=https://hppcb.nic.in/Publications/Env_Report.pdf |title=State of Environment Report, Himachal Pradesh |publisher=Government of Himachal Pradesh |year=2005 |location=Shimla |pages=xi}}{{Cite web |first= |date=2015-10-30 |title=INTACH to assist Himachal government conserve heritage |url=https://hillpost.in/2015/10/intach-to-assist-himachal-government-conserve-heritage/104451/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Hill Post |language=en-US}}

= Appearance in documentaries and TV shows =

Bhasin has appeared as an expert on Shimla in several national and international documentaries and TV shows. They include the following:

1996: The coverage of Shimla's Viceregal Lodge (Vol. II) in the Doordarshan show Surabhi (14:28 to 19:51).{{Citation |title=Coverage of Viceregal Lodge of Shimla (Vol. II) |date=1996-06-10 |url=http://archive.org/details/dni.ncaa.CVI-SUR_R_2311-UM |access-date=2023-01-18}}
1997: William Dalrymple's documentary The British Hill Station of the 'Stones of the Raj' series (5:29 to 5:55; 17:47 to 18:05).{{Cite news |last=Dalrymple |first=William |date=26 September 1999 |title=India's Green and Pleasant Land |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1999/09/26/indias-green-and-pleasant-land/5f15d3b6-b6b3-4c24-83e6-56956313d87e/}}{{Citation |title=Simla (Shimla) The British Hill Station. Stones of the Raj series 1997. William Dalrymple | date=4 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9MDKujxlUk |language=en |access-date=2023-01-18}}
2004: Michael Palin's Himalaya with Michael Palin, episode 2 (25:17 to 28:14).{{Cite web |date=2017-01-30 |title=Himalaya 2/6 - video Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5a2j5h |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Palin |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qt6y8npvqYC&dq=raaja+bhasin&pg=PT56 |title=Himalaya |date=2010 |publisher=Orion |isbn=978-0-297-86360-1 |language=en}}
2007: The BBC documentary India with Sanjeev Bhaskar's episode 2 (22:59 to 25:00){{Cite web |last= |date=2017 |title=BBC India With Sanjeev Bhaskar E04 A Camel Called Sanjeev - video Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6buplt |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}
2014: Anthony Bourdain's food documentary Parts Unknown's Season 3, Part 1, which showcases Bourdain's travels in the Indian Punjab and Himachal Pradesh (32:44 to 35:40).{{Cite web |last=Bhasin |first=Raaja |title=An evening with Anthony Bourdain |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/an-evening-with-anthony-bourdain-606536 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Parts Unknown S3 E1 Punjab, India |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fv2Y-3xtok |language=en |access-date=2023-01-18}}
2016: The BBC documentary Kipling's Indian Adventures, alongside the British historian Charles Allen (41:31 to 42:21; 46:35 to 47:40; 49:18 to 49:40).{{Citation |title=Kipling's Indian Adventure (TV Movie 2016) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5493320/fullcredits |access-date=2023-01-18}}{{Cite web |title=Kipling's Indian Adventure - Raaja Bhasin & Charles Allen feature |url=https://www.martinrandall.com/raaja-bhasin-charles-allen-india |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.martinrandall.com}}{{Citation |title=Kipling's Indian Adventure English Subtitles | date=20 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGW-AZ-bucc |language=en |access-date=2023-01-30}}
2017: Gurinder Chadha's documentary India's Partition: The Forgotten Story (23:02 to 24:16).{{Citation |title=India's Partition - The Forgotten Story (BBC) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqmD3LpC33Q |language=en |access-date=2023-01-18}}
2018: BBC's Great Indian Railway Journeys from Amritsar to Shimla (Part 1 of 4), with Michael Portillo (51: 54 to 56:50).{{Citation |title=BBC's Great Indian Railway Journeys from Amritsar to Shimla Part1 of 4 | date=6 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruTWWeu7Zc8&list=PLdEs3d8W-ApkdizdZUNTjQ6a6nIoF93W3 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-18}}{{Cite web |date=2018-04-17 |title=Great Indian Railway Journeys Series 1 1of4 Amritsar to Shimla - video Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hy2a7 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}
2018: Oli Hunter Smart's documentary The Road to Independence (14:54 to 14:59; 15:09 to 15:16){{Cite web |title=The Road To Independence By Olie Hunter Smart |url=https://jwp.io/s/rN1QbwBY |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=jwp.io}}
2023: The Arte France documentary, L'Inde Le Paradis Perdu de Rudyard Kipling, with Linda Lorin{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=L'Inde Le Paradis Perdu de Rudyard Kipling |url=https://app.frame.io/presentations/5d275559-8d6c-4975-8ba9-c72eea584b3c?fbclid=IwAR2NvvB16ExC1N10HK4cA35ZWkmUaa32P64tbjC2d3lSIhSybpfVbWlgeEo |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=app.frame.io}}

Bhasin served as historical consultant to the British period drama Indian Summers (2015).{{Cite web |title=Interview with historical consultants Raaja Bhasin and Alastair Bruce |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/interview-historical-consultants-raaja-bhasin-and-alastair-bruce |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.channel4.com}}{{Cite web |date=2015-02-28 |title=In Shimla, the city of Indian Summers, the Raj's colonial legacy lives on |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/28/shimla-indian-summers-raj-colonial-legacy-lives-on |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

= Other engagements =

Bhasin serves as co-convener for the Himachal Pradesh chapter of INTACH.{{Cite web |title=INTACH |url=http://chapter.intach.org/chapter-net-ch-network-next.php?page=4 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=chapter.intach.org}}{{Cite web |title=Young Intach Explorer |url=https://youngintach.org/news-update2013 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=youngintach.org}}
For many years, Bhasin has served as an 'expert lecturer' for the British travel companies Martin Randall and Great Rail Journeys, for their historical tours in north India.{{Cite web |title=Raaja Bhasin |url=https://www.martinrandall.com/raaja-bhasin |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.martinrandall.com}}{{Cite web |title=India's Golden Triangle, Tigers and Shimla |url=https://www.greatrail.com/tours/five-star-indias-golden-triangle-and-shimla/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Great Rail Journeys |language=en-gb}}
He has directed and acted in several plays staged at Shimla's historic Gaiety Theatre.{{Cite news |date=2016-10-13 |title=Food for thought |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Food-for-thought/article16070233.ece |access-date=2023-01-20 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=The Chief - General Manoj Mukund Naravane |url=https://www.sanjhamorcha.com/the-chief-general-manoj-mukund-naravane/ |access-date=2023-01-20}}
Bhasin served as a 'non-official member' of the Tourism Development Board of the Government of Himachal Pradesh from 2003 till 2013.{{Cite web |date=24 November 2003 |title=Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board - Directory of officers and employees |url=https://himachalservices.nic.in/rti/RTIHP/RTIDesc/143-9.pdf}}{{Cite web |date=14 October 2013 |title=NOTIFICATION |url=https://rajpatrahimachal.nic.in/openFile.aspx?etype=Notice&ID=16485 |website=rajpatrahimachal.nic.in}}
He is a member of the British Art Network.{{Cite web |title=Raaja Bhasin |url=https://britishartnetwork.org.uk/membership/members/raaja-bhasin/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=British Art Network |language=en-GB}}
He heads the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship in India.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship - Council report and accounts - 31 December 2022 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A13507963&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Ffull-print&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=213619 |website=charitycommission.gov.uk}}

Further recognition

In 2015, Bhasin's book Experience Himachal on the Road (Times Book, 2013) won the National Tourism Award for 'excellence in publishing - English' from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.{{Cite web |date=18 September 2015 |title=Times Group book wins national tourism award |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/times-group-book-wins-national-tourism-award/articleshow/49018708.cms |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}
Bhasin has been named among Conde Nast Traveller's list of eminent experts across the globe, in the category 'History Heroes'.{{Cite web |title=Conde Nast Traveller - The Experts |url=https://greavesindia.co.uk/media/113834/conde_nast_traveller_the_experts__small__1.4.13.pdf}} In 2017, Conde Nast Traveller also named him among the '50 people to know in the Himalayas'.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-12 |title=50 people to know in the Himalayas |url=https://www.cntraveller.in/magazine-story/50-people-know-himalayas/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Condé Nast Traveller India |language=en-IN}}
Bhasin has been often sought by national and international newspapers for comment on events related to Shimla's colonial heritage. These include articles in The Times of India,{{Cite web |last=Bodh |first=Anand |date=June 1, 2015 |title=Intach proposes to restore colonial era DC office building - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/himachal-pradesh/intach-proposes-to-restore-colonial-era-dc-office-building/articleshow/47496568.cms |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} The Hindu,{{Cite news |last=Brara |first=Sarita |date=2012-10-20 |title=Old-world charm lost |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/oldworld-charm-lost/article4013312.ece |access-date=2023-01-18 |issn=0971-751X}} daijiworld,{{Cite web |last=Gulati |first=Vishal |title=Another blast from colonial past in 'Queen of Hills' |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=854382 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.daijiworld.com |language=en}} The Guardian,{{Cite web |date=2008-10-17 |title=Readers' awards: Best overseas hotel - Oberoi |url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/oct/18/hotels-india-shimla |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} and The Times,{{Cite news |last=McClarence |first=Stephen |date=April 9, 2005 |title=Postcard from an Indian train ride |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/india/postcard-from-an-indian-train-ride-2nt8gs06ql2 |access-date=2023-01-20 |issn=0140-0460}} among others.
Bhasin's curated walks of Shimla have been featured in National Geographic Traveller,{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Rishad Saam |date=February 3, 2017 |title=Homestays We Love: Ballyhack Cottage for Old-World Charm and Himalayan Views |url=https://natgeotraveller.in/homestays-we-love-ballyhack-cottage-for-old-world-charm-and-himalayan-views/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=National Geographic Traveller |language=en}} The Telegraph,{{Cite news |last=McClarence |first=Stephen |date=December 30, 2015 |title=Rudyard Kipling's India |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/india/articles/Rudyard-Kiplings-India/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |issn=0307-1235}} and mint,{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2007 |title=Walk the line |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/WSpGbVBaIrcHkr7adyAw0M/Walk-the-line.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=mint |language=en}} among others.
Bhasin has been a regular speaker at various academic and cultural events in Shimla. These have included the Indian Institute of Advanced Study,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=25 November 2021 |title=Contribution of Himachal in freedom struggle remembered |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/contribution-of-himachal-in-freedom-struggle-remembered-342533 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}} the Indian Army,{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Heritage Walk at Shimla and talk by an eminent writer |url=https://youngintach.org/news-update2013 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=youngintach.org}} TEDx events in Shimla,{{Cite web |date=2013-07-21 |title=One-on-One with the Two Men I've been stalking lately! |website=Himachal Watcher |url=https://himachalwatcher.com/2013/07/21/one-on-one-with-the-two-men-ive-been-stalking-lately/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=en-US}} and the Himachal Pradesh University,{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Department of Botany, St. Bede's College, Shimla - Activities for the session 2018-19 |url=https://www.stbedescollege.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Activities-2018-2019-1.pdf}} among others. Bhasin has also delivered an online talk for the Himalayan Institute of Cultural and Heritage Studies.{{Citation |title=Living and Working in the Himalaya-- Raaja Bhasin in conversation with Dr. Sonali Gupta | date=20 February 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkulPaVNdrs |access-date=2023-08-14 |language=en}}

Bibliography

Bhasin, Raaja. (1992). Simla: the Summer Capital of British India. Viking.
Bhasin, Raaja. (1995). Viceregal Lodge and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2000). Himachal Pradesh: a Himalayan Experience. Himachal Tourism.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2007). An Introduction of the Churches and Christian Cemeteries of Himachal. Himachal Tourism.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2007). Shimla on Foot. Rupa Publications.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2010). Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai. Himachal Tourism.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2010). Unforgettable Himachal. Himachal Tourism.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2013). Experience Himachal on the Road. Times Book.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2013). The Toy Train: The Kalka Shimla Railway Line. Minerva Publishers.
Bhasin, Raaja. (2014). Flowerwoods Hotel. National Book Trust.{{Cite web |last=Bhandari |first=Rahul |date=2014-06-30 |title=CM inaugurates Book Fair, advises to bring out e-books |url=https://thenewshimachal.com/2014/06/cm-inaugurates-book-fair-advises-to-bring-out-e-books/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=The News Himachal |language=en-US}}
Bhasin, Raaja (eds.). (2015).The Deputy Commissioner, Shimla: two centuries of an institution (1815-2015). Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.{{Cite web |title=Deputy Commissioner office Shimla celebrates 200 years of existence CM exhorts for maintaining cult |url=http://www.himachalpr.gov.in/OneNews.aspx?Language=1&ID=1500 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.himachalpr.gov.in}}
Bhasin, Raaja. (2016). Easy Trails around Shimla. Rupa Publications.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-20 |title=Hills calling: An expert guide to trek right around Shimla this summer |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/hills-calling-an-expert-guide-to-trek-right-around-shimla-this-summer/story-DeHPhcKDknNA3WKJ9dNC2O.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
Bhasin, Raaja. (2017). Sacred Himachal. Dainik Bhaskar Group.
Bhasin, Raaja and Arun Kumar Sharma (2018). Himachal's Water Heritage. Government of Himachal Pradesh.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Coffee table book on water heritage out |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/news-detail-692315 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}
Bhasin, Raaja. (2019). Hidden Himachal. Himachal Tourism.{{Cite web |title=From folktales to unexplored places, here's how to explore 'Hidden Himachal' |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/from-folktales-to-unexplored-places--here-s-how-to-explore----hidden-himachal-.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=The Pioneer |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-22 |title=From folktales to unexplored places, here's how to explore 'Hidden Himachal' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/from-folktales-to-unexplored-places-here-s-how-to-explore-hidden-himachal/story-syQ95CSJnlwWibohM2552L.html |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
Bhasin, Raaja. (2024). Heritage Himachal: Land, History, Myths, Legends, Nature, Art, and Architecture. INTACH.