"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, a seasoned journalist and one of Maharashtra’s foremost opinion makers, tells the region’s story in Renaissance State. Taking in its vast sweep the politics, society and history of the land, from the time of the Satavahanas down to the present day, the book 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 men and women who were pioneers in different walks of life, the evolution of movements of the right and left as well as for Dalit identity, the man who mentored Gandhi and also the one who killed him, besides recounting the region’s long tradition of standing up to the power centres of the north. This is the account of the making of Maharashtra and the Marathi Manoos that its proud people deserved but which had so far remained unwritten."