There are few, if any, publications on Indian artists that reveal as much about the socio-cultural history of the post-independence era as this unique book does. In exploring the unusual life and oeuvre of the dissenting painter, Anil Karanjai, roads across the earth introduces fresh perspectives not just on modern Indian art or on the artist himself, but on the broad politico-economic substructures which were the foundation of both. Roads across the earth covers more than five vicissitudinous decades, and includes essays and archival pieces by a range of writers from the fields of politics, literature and music as well as art; many of these throw light on neglected aspects of the subject, and on forgotten times that need to be recalled. In contrast to the tedious, obfuscatory character of most contemporary writing on Indian art, the present writings are informative and lively, distinguished by a no-nonsense approach accessible to the lay reader.