Ever think about how the little things we often ignore can actually lead to big success? The Power of Ignored Skills by Manoj Tripathi shows how these overlooked skills have led to amazing discoveries and achievements. Through real stories and easy-to-understand examples, this book reveals how paying attention to these hidden talents can make a huge difference in your life. Curious to know more?
Read this excerpt and see how these skills might just be the secret to your success!
The Power of Ignored Skills || Manoj Tripathi
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“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.”
– Dr. Abdul Kalam
Dreams of achieving something help in aligning all efforts in that direction. Dreams motivate, inspire, improve, and help you achieve any goal. Dreaming for a significant purpose is essential, and it can even change the course of your entire life.
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you are right.” Therefore, if you believe in your dream or not, you are right.
Let me share how Martin Luther King Junior inspired people against racism.
5. 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Dream
In the fifties and sixties, there was a growing demand for equality in the United States. African-Americans were discriminated based on their skin colour. Martin Luther King, Jr. started civil disobedience to protest against discrimination.
In 1964, he addressed the people of the USA against racism and discrimination; he used the power of a dream to inspire millions of black people.
The excerpt of his famous speech is:
I have a dream, that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed – we hold these truths to be selfevident: that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day, on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice, and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream, that my four little children, will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its Governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream, that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This speech from Martin Luther King, Jr. is known as one of the excellent speeches in human history.
Steve Jobs is known for his famous saying “Dream bigger”, and he preached on it. He conquered the epitome of success, with his big dreams. He perfected a blend of dedication, and hard work to accomplish his dream. The initial dream of providing a computer in every person’s hands is what inspired him, and all of Apple.
5.2 Walt Disney and his Dream
Walt Disney had said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” He was a dreamer from an early age. Having said that, dreaming alone is not going to help, you also need passion.
Walt Disney did not achieve success easily. He was fired from his job of newspaper editor because, as per his boss, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” When he was jobless, Disney formed an animation company, which ultimately went bankrupt. Still, it was his dream of incorporating the best amusement park, that kept pushing him, and finally, he got success.
Have you ever heard about a person, who didn’t have a clue concerning what they wanted in their life, yet became highly successful? Of course not. The dream acts as a compass, provides the direction that we should travel towards.
We have plenty of examples of dreamers succeeded despite adverse conditions like Napoleon, who despite having humble parentage, went on to become an emperor. Beethoven composed some of the most celebrated music, even after losing hearing ability. English novelist, Charles Dickens, was born in poverty, and never left his dream of becoming a novelist.
Do you have a dream, which does not allow you to sleep?
If yes, you will achieve success in fulfilling that dream.
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Get your copy of The Power of Ignored Skills by Manoj Tripathi on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Discover the fascinating story of how Lord Shiva came to be—a tale filled with mystery and contradictions. Shiva is known for his unique role as both a destroyer and a protector. His journey through the Vedic scriptures is full of unexpected twists. Read this excerpt from Shiva by Nityanand Charas Das to explore the lesser-known details of his origins and see what makes him truly remarkable.
Shiva || Nityanand Charan Das
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The divine Sage Vyasa wrote Vedic scriptures, such as the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Mahabharata and the Vedanta Sutra, and if a person goes through all of them, he might get confused about the origin of Lord Shiva. The Shiva Purana describes him as the supreme and the Vishnu Purana describes Lord Krishna/Lord Vishnu as the supreme. Why such contradictions? Wouldn’t it have been easier if he just made things crystal clear? After all, there cannot be many Supremes.
Let us understand why the puranic versions differ in some aspects.
Firstly, we have to understand that the Vedic scriptures are reciprocal in terms of the level of consciousness of the seeker.
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (4.11):
ye yetha maam prapadyante,
tams tathaiva bhajame aham
‘As all surrender to me, I will reward accordingly.’
Here, what does the reward refer to? It can be many things.
In the Bhagavad Gita (7.21–23), Lord Krishna describes the system of demigod worship:
yo yo yam yam tanum bhaktah
shraddhayarchitum icchati
tasya tasyacalam shraddham
tam eva vidadhamy aham
‘I am in everyone’s heart as the supersoul (paramatma). As soon as one desires to worship heavenly deities, I ensure their faith becomes steady, enabling them to devote themselves to that particular deity.’
How does He ensure this? There are many ways:
1.To begin with, as a supersoul in everyone’s heart, He encourages whatever inclination a person has towards a particular devata (celestial god).
2. Secondly, He also arranges for them to associate with others who are worshipping that particular deity.
3. Thirdly, He also provides scriptures that glorify that particular devata.
Matsya Purana, the oldest Purana, states that the eighteen Puranas are classified into three modes:
1. The mode of goodness,
2. The mode of passion and
3. The mode of ignorance.
The ones in the mode of goodness recommend the worship of Lord Vishnu, those in passion recommend the worship of Lord Brahma and those in ignorance recommend the worship of Lord Shiva.
Why is such a distinction made? All the people in this world are under the influence of three modes, which decide the levels of faith and intelligence they are born with. Each mode is characterized by a particular set of qualities and faults. Depending on which mode is binding an individual from his past life, he is attracted to a particular type of worship.
Shri Vyasa, an expert teacher, understood this and wanted to elevate each individual to the highest understanding. He concluded that just as we do not have the
same book for all standards in an educational institution, it was not practical to have only one scripture for all. So, he compiled different scriptures and categorized them. This way, each person could start some sort of worship, even if it was not the highest form of worship. And if they remained sincere in their practice, they would gradually evolve and achieve the highest understanding as well.
Thus, if someone, based on his past faith, is attracted to the worship of a particular personality, a scripture will describe that personality as supreme to increase the person’s faith in him. The hope is that the person will get connected to the Vedic path in some way and advance to spiritual realization, which is the ultimate goal of human life.
As far as the origin of Lord Shiva is concerned, depending on which Puranas one refers to, there are different descriptions. This is because, at least from the perspective of the seeker or worshipper, reality is state-specific. It’s not that the Shiva Purana will describe Lord Vishnu as supreme, although Lord Vishnu is described as a very important person. The Shiva Purana will focus on describing Lord Shiva as the supreme. Why? Because that is the way the faith of the Lord Shiva worshippers will be enhanced. This also involves describing the origin in a particular way—the Shiva Purana will not explicitly talk about how Lord Shiva is subordinate to Lord Vishnu because that is how the faith of the worshipper is preserved.
Since all the information about spiritual subjects must come from the scriptures, the opinion of Sage Vyasa (who compiled all the Vedic literature) is to be considered the final word. He compiled the four Vedas, eighteen Puranas, 108 Upanishads and Vedanta Sutra (Vedanta means ‘the conclusion or the end of all knowledge’). He also compiled the longest poem in the world—the Mahabharata. Still not satisfied, he also wrote the Bhagavat Purana, which he describes as the natural commentary on Vedanta Sutra.
Shrimad Bhagavat Purana is the conclusion of the message of all scriptures. Thus, logically, if we want to know how Lord Shiva originates, we should primarily focus on the Bhagavatam.
Also in this regard, the Skanda Purana mentions:
shiva-shastresu tad grahyam bhagavac-chastra-yogi yat paramo vishnur evaikas taj jnanam moksha sadhanam shastranam nirnayas tv esas tad anyan mohanaya hi iti.
‘Accept the verdict of the Shiva-Sastras (like Shiva-Purana etc.) as long as it is in line and accordance with the conclusions of Bhagavat-Sastras (Shrimad Bhagavatam) because there is only one Supreme, Lord Visnu, the knowledge of whom is the only means for liberation. This is the conclusion of all the revealed
scriptures, and anything else other than this conclusion is meant only for the bewilderment of people in general.
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Get your copy of Shiva by Nityanand Charan Das on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Meet Jamsetji Tata, the icon whose big ideas helped build modern India. In Jamsetji Tata, R. Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat reveal how Tata’s vision turned into reality with projects like Tata Steel and the Indian Institute of Science. This compelling account explores how Tata’s relentless pursuit of excellence and self-reliance laid the foundation for India’s industrial prowess, reflecting his legacy continues to drive India’s growth even today.
Jamsetji Tata || Harish Bhat, R Gopalakrishnan
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Tata Steel was one of the first great industrial enterprises conceptualized by Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata group. Jamsetji believed that steel was essential for the development of a nation. Therefore he was of the view that India should not depend entirely on imports of steel, but should have its own integrated steel plant.
By 1912, Tata Steel had begun production at its plant in Sakchi in eastern India (the town was later renamed Jamshedpur, in honour of Jamsetji Tata). The steel was of excellent quality, thus proving the sceptics wrong. During the First World War, the company supplied over 1,500 miles of steel rails to the Allied war effort in Mesopotamia. Over 8,000 tons of steel shells were made in the openhearth furnaces at Jamshedpur. The plant began running to full capacity on a twenty-four-hour schedule and still could not keep up with the demand, despite producing 150,000 tons of steel annually.
At this point, the leadership of the company—including Dorabji Tata and his partner R.D. Tata—analysed the emerging demand situation and concluded that after the war, India itself could absorb many times this amount of steel. By then Tata Steel was already supplying rails to Indian Railways. In addition, Tata Steel was also earning nice profits on the small consignments that it exported. In December 1916, Dorabji Tata was full of confidence as he spoke to his shareholders about the company’s bumper earnings, production at the plant being 30 per cent over the original capacity and its order book being totally full.
Buoyed by this success, the company began considering a plan of expansion to meet the high current and future demand. Charles Page Perin, who was in charge of this planning, initially recommended to the directors of the company a gradual increase in steel capacity, from 150,000 tons to 225,000 tons a year. He considered this to be a safe and prudent plan.
However, Dorabji Tata had a far more dynamic and ambitious plan in mind. He spoke passionately to the directors about his father Jamsetji Tata’s vision of a selfreliant and strong nation, which was at the heart of his dream for Tata Steel. He recommended a vast expansion programme, which would eventually supply India’s entire requirements of steel. To begin with, this would entail an expansion of the steel-making capacity at Jamshedpur by five times. Dorabji also said he would raise all the required capital from Indian investors.
This ambitious expansion plan, called the ‘TISCO greater extensions programme’, began in right earnest by 1917. However, it ran into a number of difficulties. Tata Steel was compelled to purchase materials at high wartime prices. There were labour strikes in England and a shortage of skilled labour in India. In addition, the Indian rupee depreciated during this time. As a result, the capital cost of the expansion programme, which had been budgeted at Rs 6.8 crore, rose more than three times to Rs 19.6 crore. Additional funds had to be raised from the shareholders because the company’s profits could not support such huge sums of expenditure.
And then, suddenly, after the First World War ended, the company’s profits declined precipitously. This happened because of several factors. Belgium began dumping its steel at very low prices in the Indian market, which had no tariff protection at that time. In addition, Japan, which was Tata Steel’s largest customer of pig iron, was hit by a huge earthquake (the Great Kanto earthquake) in 1923. One of the worst natural disasters ever to strike Japan, the earthquake reduced the country’s financial capability to purchase steel.
By the end of 1923, demand for Tata Steel’s products had fallen significantly and the company’s profits had declined to nearly break-even levels. On the other hand, significant funds had been expended in expanding the plant. This led to a severe cash crunch, and some of the company’s directors even suggested that it go to the British government of India with a request to be taken over by it. R.D. Tata, Dorabji’s partner, rose in angry indignation when he heard this suggestion. He pounded his fists on the table and declared that such a day would never come as long as he lived.
While we do not know what thoughts went through R.D. Tata’s mind when he said this, it is quite likely that he recalled Jamsetji Tata’s objective in establishing Tata Steel—a swadeshi Indian steel company, dedicated to the nation. Instead, what Dorabji and he had in mind was an alternative plan to negotiate with the government to consider imposing reasonable tariffs that would protect Tata Steel from unfair competition from tariff-free European steel.
However, such a plan would take time to materialize, particularly because it involved government policy. In the meanwhile, Tata Steel continued to reel under its immediate miseries, with very little cash in hand to keep operations alive. Dorabji and R.D. Tata struggled to raise funds in the adverse post-war environment. Then, one day, in 1924, a telegram arrived from Jamshedpur at Dorabji Tata’s table, bearing bad news. It simply said that there was not enough
money left to pay wages to the employees of Tata Steel. Would the fledgling company survive, or would it be forced to shut down? Would Jamsetji Tata’s dreams and visions of creating India’s first integrated steel plant come tumbling down? In November 1924, it appeared that Tata Steel was on the verge of closing down.
But Dorabji Tata was a man inspired by the ideals and principles of his father. To him, paying the employees their wages took precedence over everything else because it was livelihoods at stake. He knew that he had to save the company so that it could survive these very difficult times. At that point he took a step that has gone down in the history of the company as the act that saved Tata Steel. His wife and he decided to pledge their entire personal wealth, which came to around Rs 1 crore, to raise funds for Tata Steel. This included all the jewellery owned by his wife, including the famed Jubilee Diamond. This fabulous diamond, weighing 245.35 carats, was twice as large as the legendary Kohinoor and had been gifted by Dorabji to his beloved wife Meherbai many years earlier.
Against Dorabji’s pledge of his personal wealth, the Imperial Bank of India provided the Tatas with a loan of Rs 1 crore. This money was used to pay the wages of the workers at Tata Steel and also to fund the company for the short term. Thanks to this, production of steel at Jamshedpur continued without any significant interruption. The company’s greatest crisis had been averted, and Tata Steel survived.
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Get your copy of Jamsetji Tata by Harish Bhat and R Gopalakrishnan on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
September has arrived, and with it comes a fantastic lineup of new books just waiting to be explored! Whether you’re in the mood for a page-turning thriller, a story that warms your heart, or a read that sparks deep thinking, there’s something here for every book lover. Check out our latest releases and discover the stories that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last!
The Book of Discoveries || Amit Majmudar
The Book of Discoveries is the eagerly awaited second instalment of the Mahabharata trilogy, which began explosively with The Book of Vows. Imagined afresh and composed in a style that captures the power, charm and ambiguity of Vyasa’s Mahabharata, this book dramatizes the stunning prelude to war—one that is full of thrilling adventures, fateful encounters and life-altering revelations.
1965: Courage Unleashed || Ian Cardozo
Did you know that the 1965 Indo–Pak War was initiated by Field Marshal Ayub Khan of Pakistan in an effort to wrest Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) from India? His failure to achieve his aim led eventually to his overthrow.
This account highlights the human dimension of war through the dramatic personal experiences of army and air force officers that astonish and overwhelm one’s imagination. It will convince the reader that real life is often stranger than fiction. The book also brings to light little-known facts that occurred across land, sea and air.
An Indian Woman in Islamabad || Ruchi Ghanashyam
As the first Indian woman diplomat stationed in Islamabad, Ruchi Ghanashyam unveils the intricacies of cross-border relationships and the relentless drumbeat of history as witnessed through the prism of political upheavals. From 1997 to 2000, Ghanashyam and her husband traversed the labyrinthine corridors of Islamabad, bearing witness to seismic events that shook the region to its core. From the thunderous echoes of the India-Pakistan nuclear tests to the harrowing shadows of the Kargil conflict, their tale unfolds against the backdrop of geopolitical upheaval. In a riveting twist, A.R. Ghanashyam, the author’s husband, unveils his first-hand account of the tense moments preceding the Indian Airlines flight IC 814 hijacking, offering a gripping glimpse into the heart of crisis management.
Jyotirlingam || Amit Kapoor, Bibek Debroy
In the Hindu Trinity, Lord Shiva is a multifaceted deity. Fierce and benevolent, Lord shiva is the symbol of duality of life. Central to Shaivism is the worship of Shivalingam and the twelve sacred Jyotirlingams that have from time immemorial being holy shrines of pilgrimage. Through a series of personal narratives and scholarly research, Amit Kapoor, Bibek Debroy, Vibhav Kapoor and Conor Martin captures Jyotirlingams through a literal and metaphorical journey. Viewed from diverse perspectives, this book is a unique amalgamation of the western, spiritual, artistic and the mythological.
Our City That Year || Geetanjali Shree, Daisy Rockwell
A city teeters on the edge of chaos. A society lies fractured along fault lines of faith and ideology. A playground becomes a battleground. A looming silence grips the public.
First published in Hindi in 1998, Our City That Year is a novel that defies easy categorization—it’s a time capsule, a warning siren and a desperate plea. Geetanjali Shree’s shimmering prose, in Daisy Rockwell’s nuanced and consummate translation, takes us into a fever dream of fragmented thoughts and half-finished sentences, mirroring the disjointed reality of a city under siege. Readers will find themselves haunted long after the final page, grappling with questions that echo far beyond India’s borders.
Phantoms of August || Mashrur Arefin, Arunava Sinha
An unnamed narrator takes it upon himself to discover the truth behind the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman—who led Bangladesh’s independence movement from Pakistan, which was achieved in 1971—and his entire family. With literary greats for company, the narrator negotiates his complicated personal life and his philosophical and literary musings even as he locates a gun to shoot the assassins who are still alive. Hallucinatory, flitting between reality and dreams, and traversing the length and breadth of Dhaka, this is a fever dream of a novel—an individual’s quest while navigating the scarred and traumatized mind of a nation.
Swipe Right to Kill || Anirban Bhattacharya
From a perfect match to a perfect murder!
In May 2018, an abandoned suitcase was discovered on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. Inside was the dismembered body of Dushyant Sharma, a 28-year-old businessman. from Delhi. Within 48 hours of the discovery, the Rajasthan Police managed to solve the case. But the revelations were both chilling and unnerving. It introduced the world to the evil machinations of Priya Seth—a woman who self-confessed to conning a thousand men and her two accomplices, Dikshant Kamra and Lakshya Walia.
With detailed inputs from the cop who solved the case, SHO Gur Bhoopendra Singh, bestselling author, the creator-producer of Savdhaan India and the producer of Crime Patrol, Anirban Bhattacharyya, puts together a sensational and blood-curdling account of people whose greed, ambition and lust led them to commit one of the most heinous crimes in recent history, a case that has now earned the moniker of the infamous Jaipur Tinder Murder Case.
The Battle of Haji Pir || Kulpreet Yadav
In August 1965, 30,000 Pakistani infiltrators crossed the Cease Fire Line (CFL) in Kashmir and began attacking civilians and army personnel. Codenamed ‘Operation Gibraltar’, this assault involved a mix of trained militia, mercenaries and Pakistani army personnel. Amidst the devastation, Indian forces retaliated and captured the strategic Haji Pir Pass.
The triumph however was short-lived as the pass was returned under the Tashkent Agreement, a bitter pill for the soldiers who had fought tirelessly for it. This book chronicles their courage and sacrifice, offering a poignant glimpse into the lives of those who won the Haji Pir Pass, a symbol of both victory and loss for India.
The Book of Exodus || V.J. James, Ministhy S.
Considered one of the finest works in Malayalam literature, The Book of Exodus is a poignant and, at times, harrowing portrait of a rural community living in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala. The protagonist, Kunjootty, is struggling to write a book of the same title, aiming to capture the stories of the natives of his village, Potta Thuruthu, the Isle of Reeds, untouched by the forces of modernization.
As the mystery and tragedy of Kunjootty’s own life become clearer, the narrative attains the proportions and complexity of an epic, where myths and legends are intertwined with reality, and where the past and present become indistinguishable from each other. Soon, all the intersecting stories of Kunjootty’s friends and acquaintances start converging into the inexorable flow of time, characterized by the nameless river that runs alongside Potta Thuruthu.
The Company of Violent Men || Siddharthya Roy
In The Company of Violent Men, investigative journalist Siddharthya Roy takes us on an unflinching and deeply personal journey into reporting violent political conflicts in South Asia. From the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, where drugs and human trafficking run rampant, to the forests of Chhattisgarh, where Maoist rebels and the Indian State have waged a war for half a century, on to the enduring conflict zone of Kashmir, caught between India, Pakistan, Roy narrates the cycles of brutality, exploitation, and injustice in which everyday people are caught.
The Inner Journey || Vraja Bihari Das
The Inner Journey shares strategies to quieten the mind’s incessant chatter and live in a space beyond the mind—the Heart Space. Through simple, yet potent techniques such as conscious breathing, journalling and affirmations, this book offers hope for peace in an age of chaos and love amidst distrust.
Steer away from the chaotic outside world and dive into the calm corner of your heart space where you truly belong and feel loved.
Who Is Equal || Saurabh Kirpal
In 1950, we, the people of India, gave ourselves a constitution that promised justice, liberty and equality to all its citizens. Decades later, as a nation, we still struggle with inequality in various forms—religion, sex, caste, gender. As we forge ahead, it is imperative to ask, ‘who is equal?’, and ‘is the idea of equality elusive to achieve?’
In his new book, Saurabh Kirpal, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, seeks to untangle the philosophical and practical tangents of inequality prevalent in our country. He presents to the readers the explanation and understanding of the existing laws and discusses theories that allow a close inspection of concerns over a spectrum. Well-researched, insightful and drawn from experience, Who is Equal?, positions India at the intersection of equality and inequality, and delivers a perspective that is retrospective and contemporary.
Looking for the perfect read for the little ones? This month’s collection of new children’s books is packed with magical adventures, heartwarming tales, and cool projects about birds that will delight young readers. Dive into these fresh releases and discover stories that will spark their imagination and keep them entertained.
Find a new favorite for your child’s bookshelf today!
Amil and the After || Veera Hiranandani
A hopeful and heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, Amil and the After is a companion to the Newbery Award-winning novel The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.
At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family have started over in Bombay and are once again trying to rebuild their lives in independent India.
Both Muslim and Hindu, twelve-year-old Amil is not sure what home means anymore. The memory of the long and difficult journey from his family’s hometown in what is now Pakistan lives with him. And despite having an apartment in Bombay to live in and a school to attend, life still feels lonely and uncertain.
At Nisha’s suggestion, Amil begins to tell his story via drawings meant for their mother, who died when he was just a baby. Through Amil, readers witness the unwavering and resilient spirit of a young boy trying to make sense of a chaotic world and to find hope for himself, his family and a newly reborn nation.
My Values Collection Box Set 3 || Sonia Mehta
Nicky and Noni are just like you. They’re funny, they’re crazy—and like you, they love to have fun. But sometimes, just sometimes, they can be very naughty indeed. That’s when they get into trouble. Along the way, they learn something important—that having good values helps them become good people. And that being good isn’t boring . . . it’s lots of fun!
Why You Should Buy This Boxset:
1. Exciting new titles on inculcating values and good behaviour in children
2. A perfect introduction to key life skills that will help shape young minds in an engaging way
3. Fun stories which dispel the belief that being good is boring!
4. Large fonts and eye-catching illustrations to assist emerging readers enter the world of reading
5. An ideal gift for young readers
Threads That Bind || Nalini Ramachandran
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva easily handle small and big problems that occur in the three worlds. But their biggest problem is resolving the constant squabbles between their sons, Ganesha and Karthikeya. When their quarrels go out of hand, Parvati comes up with an ingenious plan—to deal with her sons’ complaints, one story at a time!
As the goddess takes them through the sweet and sour, bitter yet beautiful world of divine siblings like Jyeshtha and Lakshmi, Krishna and Katyayani, Kubera and Ravana, Nara and Narayana, and many others, Ganesha and Karthikeya sit back and listen attentively.
10 Indian Scientists Whose Extraordinary Work You May Not Know || Vaishali Shroff
This book explores the lives and achievements of ten Indian scientists who made remarkable contributions in various fields of science—from measuring the brightness of stars and discovering a treatment for cholera to inventing fibre optics and increasing food sustainability. Though their names and work may not be widely known, they have transformed the quality of our lives. They are . . .
Vaishali Shroff traces the journey of these scientists, detailing the challenges they faced—financial scarcity, gender bias, inadequate facilities and infrastructure—as she takes us through the evolution of science in India over three centuries.
Birds on the Brain || Uma Krishnaswami
Reeni is wild about birds! So when she and her best friend, Yasmin, have to do a survey for a school project, asking their neighbours what they know about birds is an obvious choice. They are shocked to learn that no one—not one single person!—has heard about Bird Count India, when thousands of birdwatchers will be out counting birds as part of a global movement.
Why do people not seem to care about the threats to city birds? And is the mayor really trying to stop their city’s bird count event?
Reeni and Yasmin enlist help from their families and diverse friends—Anil, Book Uncle, the istri lady and even their school bus driver. They must get people interested in the bird count! After all, what’s good for the birds is good for all of us!
In a world full of conflict, The Book of Compassion by Nobel Peace Prize winners His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kailash Satyarthi offers a message of hope. It shows why compassion is essential, not just as a virtue, but as a key to survival and change in our connected world.
Read this excerpt to find your way towards a kinder, more compassionate way of living.
The Book of Compassion || His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, Pooja Pande
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Children, Choice and Compassion
His guest, of course, is nothing if not a man of action. ‘These ideas have to be put into practice on the ground’, he says, speaking of how they came to evolve for him, ‘I gave up my career in 1980 and I started finding solutions to the problem of misery and exploitation of children. I realized that the people who are exploiting children are not my enemies. They are sick somewhere, and I have to solve their problem as well. If I am compassionate towards that child, I am equally compassionate towards the exploiter. He just has a different problem. And we have to solve the problem through compassion.’
The Dalai Lama agrees, ‘All these troublemakers come from society only. And society only talks about material values, never (about) inner values.’ He says in an appeal steeped in science, ‘All the destructive emotions are very much based on appearances, and quantum physics also says that nothing exists as it appears. Quantum physics says that physical objects do not have their own absolute nature. Things do not exist as they appear to our perception.
He pauses and adds, ‘. . . effort to reduce negative emotion is very scientific’.
Kailash Satyarthi continues the train of thought: ‘We are all born with compassion. There is a seed, a spark of compassion and that is human instinct, human nature; it is biological. But then the new identities begin. Knowledge is imposed in the name of competition, fear and insecurity and it all gets very magnified.’
His Holiness adds, ‘The (education) system is useful but not complete.’ He speaks more about the missing elements: ‘We human beings have five sensorial consciousnesses, but the dominant force of this sensorial consciousness is mental consciousness. Modern education mainly deals with the sensorial level. It is kindness that brings peace, happiness and calm at the mental level. Mental consciousness is the sixth mind. The “chit” besides the five senses or organs’.
He makes an allusion to the practice of the Buddhist meditation tradition Vipassana and Kailash Satyarthi interjects the mood with some light-heartedness, ‘Please always look at her as she is the Vipassana person’, he says, gesturing at his wife of many years, Sumedha ji, ‘She used to do it and I never did!’
His Holiness seems to continue in a sombre mood: ‘We are facing a lot of problems in the world. Manmade problems’. With the familiar sense of mischief, not one to let the humour in a room fizzle out, he adds, ‘and in some cases, a “lady-made problem”.’ Bellows of laughter echo in response.
Kailash Satyarthi brings up the story of the infant Dalai Lama perched on his mother’s shoulders, directing her movements in tandem with his childhood whimsies, which has His Holiness nodding and smiling, ‘My mother, very kind.’
Talk of childhood nudges Kailash Satyarthi to share a favourite story from the epics: ‘When Sudama knocked at his door, Krishna didn’t tell his guard to attend to it. Krishna himself came down all the way and ran and greeted him. That was respect and love. Similarly, you cannot be a friend of a child until and unless you are ready to come down, as Krishna came down all the way from his throne to the field to hug Sudama. You have to give up your egos and break those barriers. So people like us—me, not us—who have some ego, who have some knowledge and all kinds of ideas and so many complications because of the conditioning of our brain through education . . . we have to try to give that up. If we are friendly to children, then we are friendly to the future. We have to learn to be with the child, respect the child and nurture a tendency to learn from the child—learning purity, learning simplicity.’
His Holiness vehemently agrees, ‘Yes, young children don’t care who is from another religion or other nationality—they play together. If you ask five-year-old children, ‘Do you prefer smiling face or angry face?’, they will say, ‘smiling face!’ So this is just nature. And that is, as the scientists say, that basic human nature
is more compassionate.’
The Dalai Lama too makes the argument against conditioning: ‘Once they join education . . . there is a lack of the oneness of humanity and the value of education only talks of material values. So the basic human nature becomes thinner and thinner. He circles back to the discussions of Day One: ‘A revolutionary education system should be there, and we should not expect (it to come) from some other country, particularly not the United States, too complicated!’
Kailash Satyarthi adds the gory facts: ‘In a number of countries, the number of soldiers is greater than the number of teachers. The number of weapons is greater than the number of books and toys. The number of military camps is greater than the number of schools. So this is the world we have created, Your Holiness, where only four-and-a-half days of global military expenditure ($22 billion) can take care of the education of all children in the world.’ He pauses and repeats, shaking his head, ‘Just four-and-a-half days . . .’
His Holiness offers comfort and hope in return: ‘I think let us concentrate here, in this country.’ He paints a picture of the future that he can already see: ‘After ten years, fifteen years, the world will see—“Oh! India has a unique education system.” And then more and more people will come.’
‘You see,’ he says, smiling back at Kailash Satyarthi and everyone in the room, ‘we are not talking about Nirvana or next life or God . . . but simply (about) how to build a happy family, a happy community and finally, a happy world.
***
Get your copy of The Book of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, and Pooja Pande on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
What would you do if fate kept bringing you back to the one who got away? In The Right Guy, author Tarun Vikash spins a heartfelt tale of missed opportunities, unexpected reunions, and the courage to finally say what’s in your heart.
Read this exclusive excerpt where Dhruv and Avni face the harsh realities of love, family, and the courage it takes to hold on to the one who matters most.
The Right Guy || Tarun Vikash
***
A Week Later
I reached Chennai.
Avni’s mom had asked me to meet her urgently. I was really nervous. Avni had not told me anything. She just said that something had happened at Bala’s wedding because of which her mom and dad were really upset. I’m already scared of Avni’s dad. I reached Avni’s home and Uncle opened the door. He looked at me angrily and went inside to his room. Aunty immediately came to the door and welcomed me in.
‘Dhruv, I think you are aware of what happened at Bala’s wedding,’ Avni’s mom said.
‘I don’t understand, Aunty. What happened?’
‘Look, we know Avni likes you and even you like her. But it will be good if you stopped meeting her from today onwards.’
‘Amma, please don’t talk to him like that,’ Avni interrupted.
Avni, let me talk, please.’
‘Aunty, did I make any mistake? I am sorry if I have hurt anyone,’ I said.
‘It’s not about you, Dhruv. It’s about your family.’
‘What happened, Aunty? Did anyone call and say something to you or Uncle?’
‘What was the point of getting Avni’s kundli matched with yours at Bala’s wedding, when I haven’t given any approval of your marriage with her?’
‘Huh? When did this happen?’
‘Ask your sister. She did all this,’ Aunty said. I looked at Avni. She nodded.
‘Your sister shamed my daughter in front of all the guests there.’
‘But what happened? Avni, at least you tell me,’ I asked.
‘Avni is manglik. And, till date, only we knew that. But now, due to your sister, everybody knows. In fact, your sister and Bala’s wife even laughed at Avni.’
‘Do you see my daughter? She’s still defending your sister. But what did your sister do? She made a joke about my daughter in front of so many people. Do you know that the pandit said, in front of everyone, that my daughter is not a good match for you? How do you expect me to feel, Dhruv?’ said Aunty.
‘Aunty, I had no idea about all this. I am so sorry, I’ll speak to—’
‘Now, all my relatives know about this. This is a gross invasion of our privacy, Dhruv. I didn’t expect this of your family. Does your mom know about this? Do you know how much we are being mocked right now? In our family, everyone has got to know that Avni is a manglik. Now, who will marry her?’ said Aunty.
I wanted to say that I would marry her but it was not the right thing to say right now. I was really scared. Why would Didi do something so stupid? Damn.
‘Does your mom know about this kundli match?’ Aunty asked me.
‘Aunty, I myself got to know about this today. How would Maa know?’
‘Check with your sister. She must have already informed your mom as she did to the rest of the world.’
‘I am really sorry, Aunty. Didi would not do anything to hurt Avni. This was all a mistake.’
‘I am not saying anything to you, Dhruv. Just don’t meet Avni from now on.’ Avni held her mom’s hand tightly.
‘We can’t get our daughter married to you. Not today, not ever,’ Aunty said.
‘Aunty, I apologize again on behalf of Didi. Everything will be all right. My mom doesn’t care about all this. She already loves Avni so much.’
‘That is why your sister made a joke of my daughter. Is it?’
‘Aunty, to be frank, everyone in our friends circle knows that Avni and I want to marry each other. Maybe that is why Didi might have asked the pandit to match our kundli.’
‘And what about the mockery we are getting from everyone? Do you know what people are saying about my daughter now? We can’t even go to their houses now.’
I did not know what to say. I shouldn’t have come alone. I shouldn’t have even come here. Why did you do this, Didi?
‘I am sorry, Aunty,’ I said, folding my hands.
‘He is still here?’ Uncle entered and spoke to Aunty while looking at me.
‘Appa, please,’ Avni said.
‘Hi Uncle,’ I said, as I stood up. Uncle did not say a word.
‘Tell him not to meet my daughter from now onwards,’ Uncle said.
***
Get your copy of The Right Guy by Tarun Vikash on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life? From Chaos to Calm by Gauranga Darshan Das is here to help. In this excerpt, find out tips to calm your restless mind by treating it like a curious child—guiding it with gentle care. Dive in and discover practical tips inspired by the Bhagavad Gita to find peace and focus in your daily life.
From Chaos to Calm || Gauranga Darshan Das
*** Finding Peace Amidst Distractions
Once, I saw a little boy, hardly a year old, sitting on his mother’s lap, as she busied herself in a conversation with her friend. The boy was joyful and smiling. Every now and then, he tried to get out of his mother’s lap, or extend his hands and touch the objects around him.
When he touched a fruit, the mom smiled and allowed him to play with it. In a few moments, he threw the fruit, and it rolled on the ground. He crawled behind it for a few baby steps, but eventually gave up the chase. Then, he found a knife nearby and picked it up. His mother immediately came over, took it away and put him back on her lap. He was disappointed and flapped his hands and legs for freedom. So his mother offered a toy to pacify him, and he played with it for a while. Then, he left the toy, took his mother’s handbag and tried to put its belt into his mouth. His mother gently pulled it away as she continued to converse. She also put the toy back in her son’s hands. And this continued to happen . . .
Whenever the child touched something soft and harmless, the mother would allow him to do so, but when he reached out for something harmful, his mother immediately took it away and brought him back to her lap. Even when the baby cried, the mom comforted him and kept him on her lap. And this is how we need to control our curious, restless, fickle and unsteady minds. Interesting, isn’t it?
Getting distracted is natural, but remaining distracted is harmful.
The Kid Called Mind
The mind is like an innocent kid, lively and curious. To keep the mind calm and composed amidst the chaotic distractions of this world is a great challenge. The mind is also a storehouse of all kinds of thoughts, desires, emotions and feelings. Some of them positive, while others are negative. The mind collects all these impressions through the senses and interactions with people around us. The mind is always eager to explore everything, but it doesn’t know what’s right or wrong, good or bad. That’s where our intelligence comes in, just like a mom guiding her child. Intelligence keeps a watchful eye on the mind’s activities, just like a vigilant mother, and practises bringing the mind’s focus back to the task at hand. But our intelligence will function in this way only when it has been trained and sharpened. Now, the question is: Are we prepared to do so?
Two Keys to Tame the Mind
Lord Krishna responded to Arjuna’s concern by presenting two effective tips to regulate the mind’s distractions. He said:
asamśayam mahā-bāho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyat
‘O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly very difficult to regulate the restless mind, but it is possible by (1) Practice (abhyāsa) and (2) Detachment (vairagya).’
Lord Krishna also describes the hierarchy of the body’s elements, and says, ‘The senses are inferior to the mind, and the intelligence is superior to the mind.’
Because the mind is positioned between intelligence and the senses, we can regulate the mind from both sides by (1) Sense Control, and (2) Sharp Intelligence.
Combining the above two pairs of keys, we can tame our mind with the following two actionable practices, the first external and the second, internal:
1. Practise Sense Control
2. Cultivate Detachment with Intelligence
1. Practise Sense Control: The senses act as the entry points through which the mind receives various impressions. Therefore, by regulating the senses from overindulging in the sense objects, we eventually bring the mind under control. By doing so, we restrict unnecessary inputs to the mind, and thus regulate the mind’s distractions. This is the external way to tame the mind. As mentioned before: ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’
2. Cultivate Detachment through Intelligence: Although keeping distractions physically out of sight is a good way to control the mind, our inner thoughts can distract us too. With sharp intelligence, we should dismiss such thoughts, and cultivate detachment from things that are unfavourable for our well-being. Knowing the transient nature of the pleasures of this world helps us be detached from them. We can sharpen our intelligence by doing two things: (1) reading wisdom texts like the Gita and (2) learning from experienced people.
The mind can be brought from distraction to concentration, by using scriptural intelligence to analyse its thoughts and align them with values. Thus, by restricting the senses externally and sharpening the intelligence internally, we can tame our unsteady mind and make it our greatest friend.
When a lamp in a windy place wavers, we protect its flame by enclosing it with our hands. Similarly, we need to protect the flame of our minds from the wind of distractions with the hands of our intelligence.
***
Get your copy of From Chaos to Calm by Gauranaga Darshan Das on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
The iconic Sudha Murty is celebrated for her engaging storytelling and heartfelt wisdom, crafting tales that resonate with listeners of all ages. Now, you have the perfect opportunity to experience her magic with these 13 must-hear audiobooks. Each one offers a journey into enchanting stories filled with warmth and charm, making them an ideal way to immerse yourself in her world. Whether you’re winding down for the evening or seeking a little inspiration, these special audiobooks bring a touch of wonder to every moment.
How the Bamboo Got Its Bounty || Sudha Murty
‘From human birth to death, our Bamboo finds one way or another to be useful to a common person. It is truly the unsung and the forgotten.’
In a lush, green forest, a shy, unassuming tree is presented with a reward by the forest queen. This makes all the forest inhabitants curious . . .India’s favourite storyteller brings to us the story of the humble bamboo that endures and selflessly gives.
A charming ode to our bountiful forests and trees, their resilience and the abundant gifts they bestow upon us, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction to the world of Sudha Murty.
The Magic of the Lost Story || Sudha Murty
After staying in the lockdown for over a year, Nooni is now visiting her Ajja-Ajji in Somanahalli. Memories of excavating the famous stepwell and experiencing village life for the first time in The Magic of the Lost Temple are still afresh in Nooni’s mind. Excited to finally step out of the confines of her home, little does Nooni know she will make yet another discovery, only this time it’s a missing puzzle in her family’s history.
Written in India’s favorite storyteller’s inimitable style, The Magic of the Lost Story captures the value of asking questions and keeping the answers alive. Packed with delightful artworks and wondrous terrains, this story takes you on an unforgettable journey as it follows the magnificent Tungabhadra River.
Here, There and Everywhere || Sudha Murty
Wearer of many hats—philanthropist, entrepreneur, computer scientist, engineer, teacher—Sudha Murty has above all always been a storyteller extraordinaire. Winner of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature, the Padma Shri, the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature, and the Raymond Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award, her repertoire includes adult non-fiction, adult fiction, children’s books, travelogues and technical books. Here, There and Everywhere is a celebration of her literary journey and is her 200th title across genres and languages. Bringing together her best-loved stories from various collections alongside some new ones and a thoughtful introduction, here is a book that is, in every sense, as multifaceted as its author.
Wise & Otherwise || Sudha Murty
Understanding humans and human nature is one of the toughest jobs. Many time what seems right and good or vice versa can be completely different if explored to proper depth. In many instances, we all form an opinion about the people we meet without actually knowing anything about them. But hearing and learning about such instances helps us to redefine our thought process and become wiser. Sudha Murty’s book Wise and Otherwise will take you to a journey across the length and breadth of India through narrations of 51 stories inspired by the extensive travels of the author herself.
Wise and otherwise has generated interest not just as an inspirational book of people’s struggles and how they overcame it, but also for its settings. It presents a realistic picture of India with its values, traditions and imperfections and lays before the listeners a certain set of moral values whose validity they have to judge for themselves. It unravels human nature and shows all that is good and bad in it and how it is often shaped by intention and circumstances. From the story of a son who leaves his father in an old age home pretending he is a stranger to the story of earthquake aid being exploited and not reaching victims, each story is a moving one and will generate myriads of emotions within the listeners, ranging from anger to kindness to pity to the realisation of reality of the world.
Common Yet Uncommon || Sudha Murty
Meet these people: Bundle Bindu, so named because he likes his truth with a little embellishment, Jayant the shopkeeper who doesn’t make any profit, and Lunchbox Nalini, Sudha Murty herself, who brings her empty lunchbox—to be filled with food—wherever she goes!
Written in Sudha Murty’s inimitable style, Common Yet Uncommon is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the foibles and quirks of ordinary people. In the fourteen tales that make up the collection, Sudha Murty delves into memories of childhood, life in her hometown and the people she’s crossed paths with. These and the other characters who populate this book do not possess wealth or fame. They are unpolished and outspoken, transparent and magnanimous.
Their stories are tales of unvarnished humans, with faults and big hearts.
Testament to the unique parlance of a small town, Common Yet Uncommon speaks a universal language of what it means to be human.
The Magic of the Lost Temple || Sudha Murty
Discover the magic of the lost temple
Are you a curious person, ready to explore the depths of the magic hidden in the lost temple of Karnataka? Are you ready to join Nooni as she travels around to discover the answers to her questions? If yes, then this book, ‘The Magic of the Lost Temple’ is a must have.
Nooni is a city girl who is very surprised at the unexpected pace of life in her grandparents’ village in the state of Karnataka. Not being fazed with the turn of events, she engages herself in many of the odd jobs that are available in the village. She resorts to doing work like Papad making, organising enjoyable picnics, learning to ride a cycle and a long list of activities with her new found friends.
Join Nooni as things get complex and she discovers something really exciting
Things get far from exciting when Nooni comes across a very ancient stepwell that is located right in the middle of a forest. As she tries to discover the mystery behind this well, the story takes a drastic turn when she unravels things she didn’t envisage before. Join Nooni as she unfolds the secrets linked to this stepwell along with her friends as they bask in the experience of a lifetime.
Unfold the secrets hidden in the forest
Join the very curious character of Nooni as she unfolds the mystery behind the stepwell. Her incessant urge to abstracting information is what leads her on this adventure. This much awaited book by Sudha Murty is indeed a heart-warming listen.
The Magic Drum || Sudha Murty
A princess who thinks she was a bird, a coconut that cost a thousand rupees and a shepherd with a bag of words, kings and misers, princes and paupers, wise men and foolish boys, the funniest and oddest men and women come alive in this sparkling new collection of stories. The clever princess will only marry the man who can ask her a question she cannot answer the orphan boy outwits his greedy uncles with a bag of ash and an old couple in distress is saved by a magic drum. Sudha Murty’s grandparents told her some of these stories when she was a child others she heard from her friends from around the world. These delightful and timeless folk tales have been her favourites for years and she has recounted them many times over to the young people in her life. With this collection, they will be enjoyed by many more people, of all ages.
How the Earth Got Its Beauty || Sudha Murty
Have you ever stopped to marvel at the earth’s beauty: at snow-capped mountains and oceans so deep; at colorful flowers and extraordinary animals? The tale of how such beauty came into existence is a curious one indeed.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Mango Got Its Magic || Sudha Murty
We all love the sweetness of mango and how it quenches our thirst on a hot summer day, but have you ever wondered how the mango got its magical sweetness? The tale of how such sweetness came into existence is a fascinating one indeed. India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this delightful tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Grandparents’ Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
It’s 2020, and children are stuck indoors as the novel coronavirus finds its way into India. A nationwide lockdown is announced, and amidst the growing crisis, Ajja and Ajji welcome their grandchildren and Kamlu Ajji into their house in Shiggaon.
From stitching masks, sharing household chores, preparing food for workers to losing themselves in timeless tales, the lockdown turns into a memorable time for the children as they enter the enchanting world of goddesses, kings, princesses, serpents, magical beanstalks, thieves, kingdoms, and palaces, among others. The myriad stories told by their grandparents become the biggest source of joy, making the children compassionate, worldly-wise and more resilient than ever.
Following the trail of the best-selling Grandma’s Bag of Stories, India’s favorite author Sudha Murty brings to you this collection of immortal tales that she fondly created during the lockdown period for listeners to seek comfort and find the magic in sharing and caring for others. Wonderfully woven in her inimitable style, this book is unputdownable and perfect for every child’s bookshelf!
Grandma’s Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
Memories of a grandparent spinning tales around animals and mysterious characters have kept many of us rapt till date. Sudha Murty’s Grandma’s Bag of Stories is simply delightful. The story starts with Anand, Krishna, Raghu and Meena arriving at their grandparents’ house in Shiggaon. Overjoyed Ajji and Ajja (Grandmother and Grandfather in Kannada) get the house ready, while Ajji prepares delicious snacks for children. Finally, times comes when everyone gathers around Ajji, as she opens her big bag of stories. She tells stories of kings and cheats, princesses and onions, monkeys and mice and scorpions and hidden treasures.
Though unlikely in combination, stories makes perfect sense when Grandma is the one narrating them. This book is ideal for young children and those who are 5+ in age. Stories are accompanied morals. Lucid and simple language of the book make it thoroughly enjoyable.
How the Sea Became Salty || Sudha Murthy
A long, long time ago, seawater was sweet and drinkable. How it became salty is a remarkable story.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Onion Got Its Layers || Sudha Murty
Have you noticed how the onion has so many layers? And have you seen your mother’s eyes water when she cuts an onion? Here is a remarkable story to tell you why.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Here’s your chance to discover the incredible stories and facts about our Indian Armed Forces with Naam Namak Nishan 2: The Ultimate Indian Armed Forces Quiz Book. This quiz will take you through the bravery and legacy of our nation’s heroes, offering you a chance to learn and be inspired by their remarkable contributions.
Dive in, test your knowledge, and celebrate the spirit of our defenders!
