India Psychedelic The Story of a Rocking Generation

Sidharth Bhatia

HarperCollins India, 216 pages, Rs 799

The international storm that The Beatles set off with their hit single ‘Love Me Do’ in 1962 also swept through India, inspiring many youngsters. Seeking freedom from older attitudes and values, they grew their hair, put on bell-bottoms and picked up guitars. Struggling with bad equipment and instruments, facing a lack of venues and almost no recording opportunities, many rock bands still came into being across the country—notably in Bangalore, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. In his new book, which includes rare photographs and pop art from the 1960s and 1970s, Sidharth Bhatia records the spirit of self-discovery that moved India’s midnight’s children to rock and roll.