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Slaving for the Empire

Read an exclusive excerpt from Secession of the Successful below!

 

The Indian diaspora, a heterogenous grouping of people of Indian origin (PIO) settled overseas for more than a generation, and non-resident Indians (NRI) who have emigrated in the post-Independence period, is both a natural phenomenon, arising from the migration of people over centuries, and a creation of recent historical and developmental processes, including European colonialism, global demographic shifts and the emergence of knowledge-based economies. More than half the population of what are referred to as ‘overseas Indians’ or the Indian diaspora, is comprised of PIOs. These are Indian-origin persons who are either descendants of Indian slave labour or of Indian communities settled overseas over along period of time, as traders, teachers or travellers globally spread out, from Fiji in the Pacific, to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and to the Caribbean in the Atlantic, a large number of PIOs, now constituting over a dozen different nationalities, are the children of Indians exported as slaves or who travelled as managers, doctors, book-keepers and such like, working the plantation economies of the nineteenth century. 

Front Cover Secession of the Successful
Secession of the Successful || Sanjaya Baru

 

 

Through the early part of the nineteenth century, the UK and other European nations took half-hearted measures to abolish slavery both at home and in their overseas colonies. These high-minded actions, prompted by domestic political pressures, exerted a squeeze on the supply of labour across colonial territories. Demand for such labour was, however, on the increase across the world. The abolition of slavery and the slave trade placed in jeopardy the plantation businesses of the empire. From sugar to tea, rubber to cinnamon, British and European colonial possessions from the Pacific to the Atlantic and through the territories in between were in need of cheap, sweated labour. European planters and their financiers were all looking for a way to address this demand by ensuring supply. The door, to quote Amitav Ghosh’s character, Mr Burnham, had been shut in London. A window had then to be opened. Fortuitously for the empire and its masters, that window was opened in Calcutta. 

 

Land, and what came with it, was aplenty for the imperial powers of Europe. What they lacked was adequate labour. That too sweated labour. It was this desperate need for captive labour, who could be worked to death on the hot and humid plantations of sugar, rubber and such like, that prompted a search across the plains of northern India. The export of labour from India, of the ‘Asiatick’, to the plantation islands of the British Empire began early in the nineteenth century. Archival records and family histories tell us of such labour export to British and other European colonies dating back to the early 1830s.4 By the late 1830s, reports had already reached India of the ill-treatment of such labour. Following such complaints, the Government of India formulated certain rules and regulations for the export of labour and, in 1837, appointed a ‘Committee to Enquire into the Abuses Alleged to Exist in Exporting from Bengal Hill Coolies and Indian Labourers of Various Classes, to Other Countries’.5 The committee met in Calcutta over a period of six months, from August 1838 till January 1839, recording evidence presented by shipowners involved in carting labour out of the Calcutta port.

 

This included merchants engaged in the export of labour, port officials and police officers responsible for the management and security of the port, and the likes of a doctor who travelled on such ships, a male labourer and a female attendant accompanying a British couple on a boat to Mauritius. One such labourer, Sheikh Manik, and an attendant, Bibee Zuhoorun, were among the few who returned home and so could be summoned for questioning by the committee. A total of 1061 questions were posed, over a six-month period, to the ten persons who had appeared before the committee. The testimonies of Sheikh Manik, Bibee Zuhoorun and Dr Abdoolah Khan, the medical doctor on board the ship Gaillardon, owned by Boyd & Co. of Calcutta, constituted a clear indictment of the methods used to secure and transport labour and of the conditions of their life and work on plantations in Mauritius. Defending their business interests before thecommittee, Calcutta’s European merchants claimed that Indian labour would not only secure better remuneration overseas but would also have an opportunity to see the world and widen their horizons, liberating themselves from the narrow confines of their insular and wasted lives. 

 

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Get your copy of Secession of the Successful on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Operation Vijay: The Kargil War

Read an exclusive excerpt from Shoorveer below.

In 1999, Pakistan began sending infiltrators to occupy the heights of Kargil and in turn, India began a major operation, known as Operation Vijay, to push them back. The Kargil War, as the operation is now known, was a turning point in the career of Raj. 

Front Cover Shoorveer
Shoorveer || Col. R.K. Sharma

 

The Indian Army pushed through the heights and beat back the Pakistani soldiers, and the valour and courage of its soldiers was a shining beacon for all of India. Raj was not far behind. Raj’s battalion had completed its tenure as a peace station in Hyderabad. By December 1999, they learnt that their next posting was in Kargil. At that time, the war hadn’t yet begun, so 

it was intended to be a regular posting at first and Kargil, with its beautiful landscape and tall mountains, was considered to be an easier posting than the Kashmir valley. Major Ajit was detailed as the OC advance party for the move to Kargil, which was to transport all the military stores to Kargil, with Major G.S. Walia and Captain Hamir Rathore detailed with him. As the advance party’s movement was being prepared, Major Ajit appreciated Raj’s assistance on several occasions, boosting his morale. Before proceeding, Major Ajit handed over the company to Raj, giving him instructions to ensure a smooth mobilization and induction of the main body to Kargil. Major Ajit would also write regularly to Raj telling him about the welfare of the troops and details like the packing of materials and the type of clothing that would be required at Kargil. 

At Hyderabad, a brigade-level handball competition was announced. Raj received instructions from the 47 Brigade that 22 Grenadiers had been detailed as a conducting unit for the competition. The advance party had already moved out and this would perhaps be the last sporting contest before the main body left for the war, so there were few objections from their side to conduct the event. The CO simply told them to get it done so that they could focus on their own move to the front. The Brigade staff wanted to milk them to the max before they left. So, Raj and Lt Sajjan were detailed as part of the team as officers were required to participate in the competition. 

Raj was called in by Major S.P. Yadav to go and meet the Brigade Major to be briefed about the finals and the prize distribution ceremony. Raj went to the office of BM Major D.A.S. Lohamaror from the Bihar Regiment, where Deputy Quarter Master General Major Day from Mahar Regiment was also sitting. Both briefed him about what needed to be done for the evening. Major Lohamaror then told Raj that for the prizes, he could buy anything from the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) priced between Rs 80–100, but the prizes should look big. Raj searched two or three canteens but there was nothing in that price range. At his own CSD, Raj found a set of six Borosil glasses worth Rs 60 and a few sets of ladies’ underwear costing about Rs 30. Raj told the canteen NCO to count if they had fourteen pairs of glasses as well as the underwear. The NCO told him, ‘Sahib, we have enough and this will be in your price range too.’ Poor Raj couldn’t think and just to fulfil the condition set by the staff officer, he purchased both sets and directed an INT Section Havildar to make fourteen gift sets by pairing both together. 

That evening, everything went well. Although the 17 Bihar team was very good and Raj’s team missed a few players who had already left with the advance party, Raj’s team won the final with a huge margin. When the time came for the prize distribution ceremony, the teams came up to receive the prizes for the winners and runners-up; but when the time came to give away the two referee prizes, the referee from Bihar was nowhere to be found. No one knew where he was, perhaps he was being taught the rules of the game by his team-mates! When he didn’t appear even after some time, the commander asked what the prizes were. He suddenly tore open one of them—and in his hands appeared a packet of ladies’ undergarments. He hurriedly pushed it back into the pack as there were women there too, but the expression on his face was enough to tell Raj that he had made a serious mistake and he quietly backed away from the scene. Besides, Colonel Mehr had also noticed it and the same expression appeared on his face, too. Soon after, Raj saw the CO and the BM discussing something in hushed tones. 

When the group photographs had been clicked, Colonel Mehra called Raj to a corner with, ‘Kya karoon tera? What should I do with you?’ Raj very innocently told him that nothing else was available in that price range. ‘You should have just got men’s underwear. Why did you need to pack women’s underwear?’ the colonel told him angrily. When the other officers heard the story, they laughed and told Raj he was responsible for making his own life hell.

 

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Get your copy of Shoorveer on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

A Timeless Guide to our True Potential

Read and exclusive excerpt from One Minute Wisdom.

Over 4000 years ago, the rishis of ancient India uncovered a profound truth: The universe is not chaotic but an intelligent, self-aware ecosystem. They observed life deeply and found patterns that connect us to something infinite. Their discovery, Satchitananda, offers a map of human potential rooted in three timeless principles: Sat (Reality), Chit (Consciousness) and Ananda (Bliss). 

This ancient wisdom is as relevant today as it was then. Satchitananda invites us to explore who we truly are and what it means to live a fulfilling life. 

Front Cover One Minute Wisdom
One Minute Wisdom || Debashis Chatterjee

 

 

The Map of Satchitananda 

Below is a simple diagram to illustrate how Sat, Chit and Ananda work together: 

 

  • Sat grounds you in what is real. 
  • Chit keeps you curious and aware. 
  • Ananda reminds you that bliss and fulfilment lie within. 

 

Together, these three principles form a timeless guide to living a life of purpose and joy.  

 

 1. Sat: The Quest for What Is Real 

Sat is about finding the truth behind appearances. At first, we rely on our five senses to understand the world—what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell. But our senses only scratch the surface. They reveal objects and events but not the invisible space that holds them all. 

Imagine standing in a room filled with furniture. You see the objects, but do you notice the space they occupy? Similarly, Sat points to the infinite existence that underlies everything, including us. Our personality, body and mind are forms shaped by this infinite being called existence. Deep down, we long to reconnect with that vastness of our existence. Sat anchors us in reality. It asks us: ‘What is truly real?’ In seeking this, we find the power to make a genuine impact on our world. 

 

2. Chit: The Light of Awareness 

Chit is consciousness itself, the universal awareness that illuminates everything. In our daily lives, we experience different states of being waking, dreaming and deep sleep. Yet, in all these states, consciousness quietly exists in the background, like the screen on which a movie plays. 

We often get lost in the drama of this ‘movie’ of life and forget the screen itself. Chit is the will to know, the spark of curiosity that drives us to uncover the secrets of existence. It keeps us asking: ‘How do I truly know myself and the world? ‘By being curious and aware, we connect to the universal intelligence that guides everything. 

 

3. Ananda: The Ocean of Bliss 

Ananda is the deep, infinite joy that lies at the heart of existence. At first, we seek happiness in external things—a delicious meal, a thrilling experience or the company of loved ones. These moments bring joy, but they don’t last. So, we search for the next high, the next wave of pleasure. The rishis discovered that true bliss doesn’t depend on anything outside us. Ananda is not the fleeting happiness we chase; it’s the timeless ocean of joy within us. It’s where our ups and downs merge, and we feel whole again. 

Ananda teaches us to look inward for fulfilment. It’s not about rejecting life but embracing it with detachment from its passing forms. In doing so, we find balance—a state the rishis called samata, where our individual self stands in harmony with the universal. 

 

 Satchitananda: The Trinity of Life 

Reality, Awareness and Bliss—Sat, Chit and Ananda—are not separate ideas. They are the foundation of all existence. Everything in the universe begins with them and returns to them. They are always present, shaping who we are and why we are here. 

 

When we understand and live by Satchitananda, life reveals its deeper purpose. The rishis showed us that this understanding is the key to a fulfilling, harmonious life. It connects us to the infinite within and around us. 

Satchitananda is not just ancient wisdom; it’s a practical way to live meaningfully. When we align with Sat, Chit and Ananda, Reality, Awareness and Bliss, we discover that life itself is the greatest gift—and that we are already part of something infinite. 

 

In the process of reaching towards the creation of this book, we conducted a poll on my LinkedIn page. This page is followed by more than 55,000 professionals, managers and leaders. The poll revealed the following responses of leaders relating to Sat (real impact), Chit (Self-Awareness) and Joy of Fulfilment (Ananda): 

 

An achiever in a leadership role needs transformative influence to unlock their full potential. What does it take for them to succeed 

 

Leadership is seen as a role dominated by Self-Awareness; Real Impact beiną the second factor in line while Joy and Fulfilment come as a distant third. 

 

 

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Get your copy of One Minute Wisdom on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Race and Caste in the Age of Dalit

This chapter deals with the complexities of the Dalit and Black movements in India and the United States respectively, and the possibilities of their similarities and solidarities as framed in both academic literature and the popular media.1 Though appealing, such a comparison exaggerates what both movements stood for. To begin with, the positions of the Dalit and Black movements, generally speaking, were divergent. In America, from the 1960s there were radical uprisings among the educated Black youth, who were unfair targets of police harassment and brutality. For the Dalits in India, whose status was that of a subordinate minority and untouchables, any demands they made for equality as enshrined in the Constitution were met with localized violence, either committed against individuals or the Dalit ghettoes. Dalit women were a particularly vulnerable target. 

Front Cover Caste
Caste || Suraj Milind Yengde

 

Through media coverage of Black atrocities in the United States, Dalits in India became aware of the situation faced by the descendants of slaves in white-ruled America. Reports in the American media made their way to the larger Indian cities such as Mumbai, where they were picked up by the Dalit literati, who read Time magazine, the New York Times and Newsweek, and discussed the reports with friends in literary circles drawn from diverse castes. What happened in America resonated with Dalits in India. They read of the American state going rogue against Black people in a spate of racial attacks. In one incident, which took place on a Wednesday evening in July 1967, two white police officers dragged a Black man, John William Smith, into their precinct building in the city of Newark, New Jersey. Smith, a taxi driver, had just been arrested for the alleged crime of improperly passing the officers’ car, and was beaten so brutally that he could not walk. Residents of a nearby housing project saw him being dragged inside the precinct, and a rumour was set off that the cops had killed another Black man. A crowd formed and resorted to attacking the police station. For five days, violence tore through the city, with a toll of over two dozen lives. Some called it rioting, others a rebellion. 

 

That was just one flashpoint in what came to be known as “the long, hot summer of 1967”. The United States witnessed over 150 “race riots” that season, with police brutality against Black people a common spark, extending a long lineage of rage—Hough in 1966, Watts in 1965, Harlem in 1964 and 1943, Chicago in 1935 and 1919, and so on. This has been termed a rebellion of the urban class of America, with 1967 the pivotal year. The US president Lyndon B. Johnson, already battling public anger over the invasion of Vietnam and faced with a fresh crisis, formed a committee to answer three questions: “What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done to prevent it from happening again?” 

 

Te Kerner Commission, as part of its work, hired a group of social scientists to bolster its research. Their draft submission to the commission echoed the radical language and ideas of the rising Black Power movement, and came to some alarming conclusions. Under the present course, the researchers wrote, the United States was headed for a full-blown race war, involving “guerrilla warfare of Black youth against white power in the major cities of the United States.” It foretold civil war on the streets, which would turn American cities into “garrisons”.

 

The only way out of this impending war was a radical programme to tackle the poverty and socio-economic stagnation facing Black communities, to reform the police and other institutions that plainly discriminated against Black people, and to make drastic changes that went far beyond the “token concessions” offered to the community till then. “There is still time”, the researchers added, “for one nation to make a concerted attack on the racism that persists in its midst.” If it did not, “The harvest of racism will be the end of the American dream.”5 The document was entitled The Harvest of Racism 

 

 

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Get your copy of Caste on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Big Ideas to Social Change – Parenting Hacks to Inner Peace

 Silent Journeys by Benyamin (translated by Anoop Prathapan)
A poignant collection that captures lives shaped by migration, memory, and silence. Benyamin returns with stories that are deeply human, mapping the quiet dislocations of global movement. 

Front Cover  Silent Journeys
Silent Journeys || Benyamin (translated by Anoop Prathapan)

 

 

Caste: A Global Story by Suraj Yengde
An incisive investigation into caste as a global system of inequality, spanning continents and centuries. Through personal history and sharp analysis, Yengde challenges readers to confront the persistence of social hierarchies. 

Front Cover Caste: A Global Story
Caste: A Global Story || Suraj Yengde

 

 

Caught Yapping: A History of Cricket in 100 Quotes by Abhishek Mukherjee
From sledges to stump mics, this book tells the story of cricket through its most iconic words. It’s a witty, insightful tribute to the voices that have shaped the game. 

Front Cover Caught Yapping: A History of Cricket in 100 Quotes
Caught Yapping: A History of Cricket in 100 Quotes || Abhishek Mukherjee

 

 

The Paths We Choose by Monica Rana
A heartfelt memoir of resilience, ambition, and finding one’s way in a world full of expectations. Rana reflects on identity, purpose, and the power of choosing differently. 

Front Cover The Paths We Choose
The Paths We Choose || Monica Rana

 

 

The Calm Prescription by Luke Coutinho
A science-backed guide to managing stress, improving health, and living with intention. This book offers 75 simple yet powerful strategies to unlock long-term wellness. 

Front Cover The Calm Prescription by Luke Coutinho
The Calm Prescription || Luke Coutinho

 

 

Charlottesville by Deborah Baker
A gripping narrative that examines the fault lines of race and memory in modern America. Baker blends reportage with reflection in this chronicle of a city—and a country—at a crossroads. 

Front Cover Charlottesville
Charlottesville || Deborah Baker

 

 

Enter Prompt: How to Navigate India’s AI Future by Barsali Bhattacharyya & Sidharth Sreekumar
A crisp, compelling primer on India’s emerging AI landscape. This book explores how technology is reshaping jobs, ethics, and everyday life in the world’s largest democracy. 

Front Cover Enter Prompt: How to Navigate India's AI Future
Enter Prompt: How to Navigate India’s AI Future || Barsali Bhattacharyya & Sidharth Sreekumar

 

Breaking the Glass Ceiling by Lt. Gen. Shakti Gurung
The inspiring memoir of the Indian Army’s first ethnic Gorkha lieutenant general. It’s a tale of perseverance, service, and rising above historical and systemic barriers. 

Front Cover Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Breaking the Glass Ceiling || Lt. Gen. Shakti Gurung

 

Rhythmic Parenting by Saloni and Aparajita Zutshi
Parenting meets neuroscience in this guide to building strong, secure family rhythms. Grounded in research and experience, it offers a roadmap to help children thrive in a fast-paced world. 

Front Cover Rhythmic Parenting
Rhythmic Parenting || Saloni and Aparajita Zutshi

 

 

Secession of the Successful by Sanjaya Baru
A provocative analysis of regional aspirations and economic divides in modern India. Baru explores how ambition, growth, and identity are driving a new kind of secessionism. 

Front Cover Secession of the Successful
Secession of the Successful || Sanjaya Baru

 

 

Shoorveer: The Story of the Hat-Trick Fauji Col R.K. Sharma by Col R.K. Sharma
The true story of a soldier who served on three critical frontlines. Col Sharma’s memoir is a testament to grit, leadership, and unwavering patriotism. 

Front Cover Shoorveer: The Story of the Hat-Trick Fauji Col R.K. Sharma
Shoorveer: The Story of the Hat-Trick Fauji Col R.K. Sharma || Col R.K. Sharma

 

 

This Book Will Not Teach You Parenting by Riri Trivedi & Anagha Nagpal
A refreshing take on raising kids that throws away the rulebook. Blunt, funny, and full of real-life insights, it celebrates parenting as a messy, evolving journey. 

Front Cover This Book Will Not Teach You Parenting
This Book Will Not Teach You Parenting || Riri Trivedi & Anagha Nagpal

 

On the Brink of Belief: Queer Writing from South Asia edited by Kazim Ali
An evocative anthology that captures the complexities of queer life and belief in South Asia. These bold, intimate voices challenge binaries and carve space for new forms of expression. 

Front Cover On the Brink of Belief: Queer Writing from South Asia
On the Brink of Belief: Queer Writing from South Asia || Kazim Ali

 

Holy Tirthankars: In the Light of Heartfulness by Daaji
A spiritual exploration of Jain Tirthankars through the lens of Heartfulness meditation. Daaji brings ancient wisdom into conversation with present-day inner growth. 

Front cover Holy Tirthankars
Holy Tirthankars || Daaji

 

One Minute Wisdom by Debashis Chatterjee
Short, sharp reflections on leadership, learning, and living with purpose. Perfect for busy readers, each insight is a spark for transformation. 

Front Cover One Minute Wisdom
One Minute Wisdom || Debashis Chatterjee

 

The Nurturing Quotient by Rajesh Ramakrishnan & Nirupama Subramanian
A practical framework for leaders who want to grow people, not just profits. It blends empathy and strategy to build more conscious leadership cultures. 

Front Cover The Nurturing Quotient
The Nurturing Quotient || Rajesh Ramakrishnan & Nirupama Subramanian

 

The Power of Gold by Sundaravalli Narayanaswami
A sweeping history of gold’s influence on India’s economy, society, and identity. From temples to trade routes, it reveals how the precious metal has shaped a civilization. 

Front Cover The Power of Gold
The Power of Gold || Sundaravalli Narayanaswami

 

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel
A radical reimagining of mythology through ten fierce female lenses. Patel blends rebellion, divinity, and power in this bold narrative retelling. 

Front Cover Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion || Vaishnavi Patel

 

The Conscience Network by Sugata Srinivasaraju
A riveting account of journalists, thinkers, and dissenters during India’s Emergency. This book is a tribute to those who stood their ground when it mattered most. 

Front Cover The Conscience Network
The Conscience Network || Sugata Srinivasaraju

 

The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
An exposé of one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical empires. Harris uncovers a web of corporate deception, health crises, and broken trust. 

Front Cover The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson || Gardiner Harris

From War Rooms to Boardrooms, Poems to Startups: 20 Must-Read Books of May

May has arrived with a powerhouse list of new releases that span politics, poetry, leadership, startups, and stories from the frontlines—both military and emotional. Whether you’re a history buff, a startup enthusiast, a literary fiction lover, or a seeker of personal transformation, this month’s new books offer something remarkable for everyone.

Here are 20 must-read books released in May—each one ready to challenge your thinking, spark new ideas, and leave a lasting impact.

Apostles of Development: Six Economists and the World They Made by David C. Engerman

Explore the remarkable lives of six legendary economists—Amartya Sen, Manmohan Singh, Mahbub ul Haq, Jagdish Bhagwati, Rehman Sobhan, and Lal Jayawardena—who shaped the conversation on global poverty and development. An eye-opening history of development thinking from the Global South. A must-read for those interested in economics, inequality, and global change.

Front Cover Apostles of Development
Apostles of Development: Six Economists and the World They Made || David C. Engerman

 

 

This Place of Mud and Bone by Sanjay Bista & Anurag Basnet

A sweeping literary novel that captures three decades of life and unrest in Darjeeling during the Gorkhaland movement. Told through the intertwined stories of six schoolmates, it explores how politics and violence shape identity and fate.

 

Front Cover This Place of Mud and Bone
This Place of Mud and Bone || Sanjay Bista, Anurag Basnet

 

 

Wafadari Imaandari Zimmedari: War-room to Boardroom by Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon

What does it take to lead in crisis—whether on the battlefield or in business? Drawing from real military experiences, General Dhillon shares powerful lessons in leadership, resilience, and purpose. A motivational read for professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

 

 

Front Cover Wafadari Imaandari Zimmedari
Wafadari Imaandari Zimmedari || Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon

Indira Gandhi and the Years That Transformed India by Srinath Raghavan

A compelling biography of India’s first female prime minister and the events that shaped modern India. From the Emergency to her assassination, this is a definitive exploration of Indira Gandhi’s powerful, polarizing legacy.

Front Cover Indira Gandhi and the Years That Transformed India
Indira Gandhi and the Years That Transformed India || Srinath Raghavan

 

Meet the Savarnas: Indian Millennials Whose Mediocrity Broke Everything by Ravikant Kisana

A bold and necessary exploration of caste privilege in modern India. Kisana shifts the focus from the oppressed to the privileged, offering a fresh, unapologetic critique of India’s urban upper-caste elite and their failure to deliver on the ‘Great Indian Dream’.

Front Cover Meet the Savarnas
Meet the Savarnas || Ravikant Kisana

Commanded by Destiny: A General’s Rise from Soldier to Statesman by General S.M. Shrinagesh

The life story of one of India’s greatest generals who helped modernize the Indian Army and became the first military officer to serve as a state governor. Based on personal notes, this biography is a rich tribute to a true patriot and visionary.

Front Cover Commanded by Destiny
Commanded by Destiny || General SM Shrinagesh

The Ghadar Movement by Rana Preet Gill

Unearth the forgotten history of India’s revolutionary fight against British rule, led by Indian immigrants in the US. This deeply researched book brings to light the courage, betrayals, and legacies of the Ghadar heroes.

Front Cover The Ghadar Movement
The Ghadar Movement || Rana Preet Gill

 

Startups of Bharat by Aditya Arora & Surya Pasricha

Meet the next generation of Indian entrepreneurs who are reshaping Bharat from the ground up. With inspiring stories of founders under 30 and a practical startup framework (RISING), this book is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers.

 

Front Cover Startups Of Bharat
Startups of Bharat || Aditya Arora, Surya Pasricha

 

 

Adivasi or Vanvasi by Kamal Nayan Choubey

A deeply researched exploration of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram’s evolving role in tribal India, revealing the untold story of its political and social influence across regions. A vital read for understanding modern India’s complex socio-political landscape.

 

Front Cover Adivasi or Vanvasi
Adivasi or Vanvasi || Kamal Nayan Choubey

 

Death of a Gentleman by Riva Razdan

A gripping psychological thriller set in Mumbai’s elite circles, where the sudden death of a wealthy father exposes dark secrets, rivalries, and the true cost of ambition and survival.

 

 

Front Cover Death of a Gentleman
Death of a Gentleman || Riva Razdan

The Storypreneur’s Playbook by Prateek Roy Chowdhury, Nitin Babel

Discover the entrepreneurial hero’s journey through fifteen inspiring stories of India’s trailblazing founders, packed with practical lessons and emotional insights for aspiring changemakers.

 

 

Front Cover The Storypreneur’s Playbook
The Storypreneur’s Playbook || Prateek Roy Chowdhury, Nitin Babel

The Game Changers by Yuvnesh Modi, Rahul Kumar, Alok Kothari

Twenty extraordinary success stories of IIT Kharagpur alumni who dared to dream big, showcasing the grit and passion behind some of India’s most impactful entrepreneurial ventures.

 

Front Cover The Game Changers
The Game Changers || Yuvnesh Modi, Rahul Kumar, Alok Kothari

 


Plated by Parth
 

A delightful baking guide filled with step-by-step recipes, expert tips, and creative twists to help both beginners and pros master the art of baking delicious treats at home.

 

 

Front Cover Plated by Parth 
Plated by Parth || Parth Bajaj

 

The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City — edited by Bilal Moin

An immersive anthology capturing the spirit, struggles, and stories of 37 Indian cities through 375 evocative poems spanning centuries and languages.

 

 

Front Cover The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City
The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City || Bilal Moin

The M Factor by Anubha Doshi

A heartfelt collection of essays by mothers exploring Indian parenting through mindfulness, autonomy, and real-life emotions, offering fresh perspectives on motherhood.

 

Front Cover The M Factor
The M Factor || Anubha Doshi

 

The Man Who Became Cinema by Ashok Chopra

An in-depth tribute to Dilip Kumar’s cinematic genius, analyzing his iconic performances and the artistry behind India’s first Method actor.

 

 

Front Cover The Man Who Became Cinema
The Man Who Became Cinema || Ashok Chopra


R.D. Karve: The Champion of Individual Liberty
by Nadeem Khan, Dr Anant Deshmukh

The fascinating biography of a radical social reformer whose pioneering work on birth control challenged orthodox society in early 20th-century Maharashtra.

 

 

Front Cover R.D. Karve: The Champion of Individual Liberty
R.D. Karve: The Champion of Individual Liberty || Nadeem Khan, Dr Anant Deshmukh

 


The Co-Intelligence Revolution
by Venkat Ramaswamy, Krishnan Narayanan

A visionary guide to the future where human creativity and AI co-create new value, transforming industries, ecosystems, and how we live and work.

 

Front Cover The Co-Intelligence Revolution
The Co-Intelligence Revolution || Venkat Ramaswamy, Krishnan Narayanan

 

 

 

Timeless Skills by Nishant Saxena

A practical playbook revealing the traits and wisdom behind career success, offering a framework for professional growth and life enrichment.

 

 

Front Cover Timeless Skills
Timeless Skills || Nishant Saxena

 

The Cheating Husband James Caine

A twisting psychological thriller about deception, love, and dark secrets, perfect for fans of gripping, mind-bending mysteries.

 

Front Cover The Cheating Husband
The Cheating Husband || James Caine


21 Big Ideas That Will Change Your Life
by Darius Foroux

Timeless wisdom distilled from history’s greatest minds to challenge how you think about success, happiness, and living a meaningful life.

 

Front Cover 21 Big Ideas That Will Change Your Life
21 Big Ideas That Will Change Your Life || Darius Foroux

 

The Beginning of Indira’s India

Read this defining moment from Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India!

 

THE END OF CONGRESS RAJ

 

Prime Minister Shastri’s unforeseen death in January 1966 touched off a tussle for power within the ruling party. While Indira Gandhi was certainly quick off the blocks in declaring her interest, she could not previously have contemplated this as a serious possibility. Yet, as a member of Shastri’s cabinet, she had pondered the state of the country and the Congress party as well as her own role in politics. Writing to an old friend, P.N. Haksar, two months earlier, she had struck a deeply pessimistic note: “The state of affairs is quite extraordinary here . . . As I see it, we are at the beginning of a new dark age. The food situation is precarious, industries are closing. There is no direction, no policy on any matter.” Not only was the country’s development juddering to a halt, but the response was to dilute its autonomy. “Brave words notwithstanding,” she wrote, “there is anxiety to go to America, who will I have no doubt give PL 480 food aid and everything at a price. The manner of execution will be so deft and subtle that no one will realize it until it is too late and India’s freedom of thought and action will both have been bartered away.” Meanwhile, the Congress party was “dormant and inactive.” Her personal predicament seemed equally stark: “When I am depressed, which is often, I feel I must quit. At other times, that I must fight it out.” Indira Gandhi regarded herself as the custodian of her father’s legacy. Yet, as the Nehruvian project of planned economic development and nonaligned foreign policy ran out of steam, this legacy could well be turned against her: “As a child I wanted to be like Joan of Arc – I may yet be burnt at the stake.” 

 

Front Cover Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India
Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India || Srinath Raghavan

 

Indira Gandhi was prone to mythologizing her past, but she was no diffident dreamer. She knew that her ascent to the highest office could only be piloted by the powerful president of the Congress party, K. Kamaraj. Of humble origins in a poor family of the discriminated Nadar caste in southern Tamil Nadu, Kamaraj had had little formal education but formidable political experience. Starting out in anticolonial politics and a Congress party dominated by the upper castes, he had served as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for nearly a decade. In 1963, he had been asked by Nehru to take over as Congress president and help renew the party’s organizational fabric. In fact, Nehru’s own position had been enfeebled by the ignominious defeat against China the previous year, and he had been looking to strengthen his flanks. Kamaraj had shrewdly suggested that the road to organizational revival lay in getting all Congress chief ministers to resign and work for the party. The “Kamaraj Plan” had duly been implemented, so scotching any potential challenge to prime ministerial authority. After Nehru’s death, he had tactfully taken soundings from scores of Congress leaders and had paved the way for Shastri’s uncontested ascension.

 

After Shastri’s passing, Kamaraj was pressed by his admirers to assume leadership of the government. Yet the canny Tamil politician was aware of his limitations in a political system dominated by an Anglophone elite and the Hindi belt of north India. Kamaraj also conveyed his disinterest to President Radhakrishnan and suggested that he was favorably inclined towards Indira Gandhi. Radhakrishnan now advised her to press ahead. But she was hardly the sole claimant for the job. Home Minister Nanda and Defence Minister Y.B. Chavan were also in contention. The former was the senior-most minister, who sported the curious ideological credentials of being the patron of both the socialist forum and the sadhu samaj (Hindu monks association); the latter had been chief minister of Maharashtra before being inducted into the union cabinet after the debacle against China. Above all, there was Morarji Desai.

 

The erstwhile chief minister of the old Bombay state and longserving finance minister of India, Desai was an able and experienced administrator who exuded an aura of high-minded rectitude. To many of his colleagues in government and party, this came across as puritanic inflexibility. His unwillingness ever to concede a point, as well as his refusal to dismount such hobby horses as prohibition of alcohol or regulation of gold, made many congressmen wary of him. Desai had fancied his chances after Nehru’s death but had been thwarted by Kamaraj and other party bosses. Collectively known as the “syndicate,” this group of regional grandees included Atulya Ghosh from West Bengal, Sanjiva Reddy from Andhra Pradesh, Nijalingappa from Karnataka, and S.K. Patil from Maharashtra.

 

Desai had stayed out of Shastri’s cabinet but now pressed his claims with adamantine force. In so doing, he inadvertently strengthened Indira Gandhi’s position. Stopping the implacable Desai became a high priority for the syndicate. By contrast, they regarded Indira Gandhi as politically unsure and ideologically indistinct: even the left wing of the Congress party, including those close to her father like V.K. Krishna Menon, had not supported her candidacy. Paradoxically, it was Indira Gandhi’s political weakness that commended her to the party bosses—a choice they would have adequate leisure to rue after she had pensioned them to political oblivion. But the syndicate also reckoned that her ability to borrow her father’s sheen would be a major asset in the coming general elections. Her case was further strengthened when in a deft move she enlisted the support of D.P. Mishra, the wily chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, and, through his machinations, the endorsement of eight other Congress chief ministers. Nanda and Chavan thought better of it and bowed out. But Desai was determined to have it out. On 19 January 1966, the Congress parliamentary party voted by secret ballot to choose the prime minister: the first and, it turned out, last time that the grand old party held such an election. Indira Gandhi took 355 votes to Desai’s 169. The same evening, President Radhakrishnan invited her to form a new government.

 

 

  ***

 

Get your copy of Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Cities in Verse: 37 Indian Cities, 375 Poems, Infinite Stories

A selection of poems from The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City—verses that capture the moods, memories, and moments of urban India, from its ancient roots to its restless present.

 

Front Cover The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City
The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City || Bilal Moin

 

SUBURBAN FRIENDS

ESTHER SYIEM (B. 1958)

Orchids for city have-nots,

rotund potatoes rolling lustily in bamboo backpacks,

pungent, aromatic fish

freshly dusted with chaff

from fresh packing ice,

honey gathered from

the lowlands of Ri War.

They come, from barren hamlets,

windswept, buried in fog,

whittled down by poverty,

even crumbling shacks

of flattened kerosene tins

and makeshift days

of the city’s inner courtyards,

to strike a deal.

I’ve brought these bottles to you first

knowing how you chase the thing called time.

You look fidgety this morning

it’s Saturday em?

Yes I’m better now

should I tell you

how she stilled my palpitations

that woman from Sohiong,

who sees even in the dead of night?

That doctor you sent me to,

he was hopeless.

To sich ym lei lei,

believe me, I always know when

to bring the potatoes.

I’ve delivered here since the great flood.

how should I charge you?

Kong you hoarder, you, sell me

all your old clothes, old shoes, old newspapers.

Umm, your bitch knows me.

No discards for my grandchildren today?

Shi shi, so hefty and you can’t even lift this pot!

These orchids are called hybrids.

What other names would they have?

You call yourself a gardener,

look at insects feasting on shrunken buds,

those flowers so wilted!

Didi my fish, so alive,

look at gills glistening

I rush to catch truck early,

I choose best one for you

but I go now three months

to visit ma-baap and arrange shadi.

After Mei’s death

their visits they tailored

to suit mine;

only Saturdays and holidays.

Legal tender—strictly cash,

but always

something more

to bond us.

 

  ***

 

TRAFFIC JAM

NILIM KUMAR (B. 1961)

(Trans. from the Assamese by Bibekanandan Chaudhury)

As I drive out from home

I forget suddenly

where I’m headed.

But when I’m in a hurry

and stuck in traffic jams

I grow restless

and I remember

Many people tell me –

“I saw you the other day

in the traffic jam”

Yes!

But who was it that saw me in the traffic jam?

I have to enter another traffic jam

to remember.

 

 

  ***

 

THE CITY WANTS TO

COMMIT SUICIDE

SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE (B. 1988)

(Trans. from the Marathi by Dileep Chavan)

Rejecting the existence

of thousands of years

I began to walk

towards my primitive creation;

then

the city

calculating the income and expenses

sitting along the seashore

shivering in the cold,

a shelterless child on the verge of death

keeps knocking the door of Jama Masjid;

then the doors of the Masjid get stuck more firmly,

then the city begins to shiver fatally.

A life died without food

stands in the long queue of the temple as a beggar.

Then the senses of this city

that bakes the hunger

on the burning coals in the stomach

become numb.

To cover the stragglers

living in the open spaces

Don Bosco’s hands are short of length.

Then this city begins to tear itself to pieces;

it opens in the seam

exposing its limitations and the old wounds.

 

 

  ***

 

Get your copy of The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Leadership That Shines from Within: Lessons in Service and Character

Read an exclusive except from Wafadari, Imaandari, Zimmedari!

 

‘Leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a process, not an outcome.’

—John Donahoe, CEO, Nike

‘I see what shines in you’—this simple but profound eulogy came my way from a charming lady I met for the first time in my life at a literary seminar in Chandigarh in February 2024. The occasion happened to coincide with the period when I was engaged in preparing the blueprint for my second book, which is this one. I had been invited to this ‘Members only’ literary event, to participate in an interactive session to discuss my first book Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye. I was seated in the front row waiting for my session to begin when a graceful lady walked in, and asked if she could sit in the vacant seat next to mine, after she had ostensibly failed to find any preferred seat in the rest of the hall. I politely gestured that she was welcome to sit there, and in accordance with the customary military civility that comes unbidden to a soldier due to the discipline imbibed after years of being in the army, I rose and wished her, ‘Good morning, Ma’am’, sitting down only after she had settled in her seat. After a while, as a precursor to my session, my photograph in full military uniform was displayed on the screen on stage along with a reading of my biodata. Surprised, the lady seated next to me turned and asked, ‘Is that you?’ I politely replied in the affirmative before moving up to the stage. After the session, some of the attendees complimented me for my services in the army, exchanging pleasantries and requests for some selfies.

 

Front Cover Wafadari Imaandari Zimmedari
Wafadari Imaandari Zimmedari || Lt Gen. K.J.S. ‘Tiny’ Dhillon

 

I ran into this graceful lady again a few months later at another literary event that was attended by the same audience as the previous one. Instantly recognizing me, she recalled our encounter at the earlier event, which I too remembered vividly. She recounted that she had narrated that incident to her parents, too, telling them that she had instantly guessed my military

antecedents from my gracious behaviour, which was confirmed when I was introduced and invited on stage by the master of ceremonies on that occasion. It is then that she delivered her

potent one-liner that absolutely caught me unawares, ‘I see what shines in you—your gentlemanly mannerisms and upbringing are instantly visible to anyone you come across.’ At that moment, I was too overwhelmed by the compliment to offer a suitable reaction, as I am sure anyone would have been. However, it was only later, as I ran through her words in my mind again, that I realized that the person who had stood up in deference to the lady in the hall was not me, K.J.S. Dhillon, but an officer of the Indian Army whose demeanour and actions had been conditioned by a strict military ethos and rigorous training, which has made such gentlemanly behaviour a way of life for all those who don the military uniform. So, yes, the inner ‘shine’ imparted to me by my four-decade-long service in the army was obvious to any onlooker, especially a clairvoyant lady who could recognize the value of that chivalry.

 

What Is It That Shines in Me?

The entire process of chiselling, moulding, polishing and buffing the rough edges of a teenager’s personality to create the inner ‘shine’ began over forty-five years ago, on 2 January 1980. The chilly evening when I, as a strapping lad of seventeen years, boarded the popular Punjab Mail train from Ferozepur to reach the hallowed gates of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, is still fresh in my memory. Barely out of school, I plunged into the deep waters of army pedagogy, when, after a stringent selection procedure, I was called to join the NDA, widely known as the ‘Cradle for Military Leadership’. The lanky boy, who had just started growing a wisp of a moustache, and who loved to sleep well past sunrise, was suddenly thrown into an alien world that was the complete antithesis of his hitherto easy-going life. However, it was the challenges of this highly regimented and disciplined environment at the NDA and subsequently at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) over the next four years that shaped a raw, scrappy youngster into a refined personality, sowing the seeds for my future leadership roles in different capacities in the army.

 

I had obviously been selected to join the army on the basis of certain qualities or leadership attributes that the Selection Board must have observed in me. The training at NDA and IMA not only served to extract and hone these dormant qualities but also imparted new ones that went on to define my character as I assumed a range of challenging roles in the course of my army career. Today, as I pen down the vital markers of the military leadership mindset that I have imbibed over forty-three years of my military life, entering it as a naïve seventeen-year old and ending it as a wizened sixty-year old in January 2022, I can say with certainty that the fire in the belly has not dimmed at all, with my immense reverence and love for the profession still intact. During the course of my long innings, I have commanded men and women from diverse backgrounds, following different languages and cultural practices, and served under bosses (not all of whom can be called ‘leaders’) of all shapes, sizes and characters. The environments and physical conditions I have encountered during these decades have ranged from extreme danger to the leisure of peacetime soldiering, both in India as well as during my various assignments abroad. And I daresay that I may have assimilated every possible leadership style delineated across various leadership manuals, practising them in my life as well, mostly obtrusively, others subconsciously and some with eyes wide open.

 

Leadership Approaches

This rich experience endows me with the ability to understand and share the nuances of some critical leadership theories.

So, here goes—my take on various leadership approaches (theoretical as they may sound). 

The Trait Theory, also called the Dispositional Theory, postulates that successful leadership emerges from certain innate personality traits that produce consistent behaviours across different situations, and only a person who has those traits can be called a leader. However, this theory does not take into account situational and environmental factors, also presuming that leaders are born and cannot be developed as they evolve into thinking adults. Notwithstanding the limitations of this approach, the fact that certain defining traits a person is born with are associated with good leadership across all circumstances is incontestable.

 

  ***

 

Get your copy of Wafadari, Imaandari, Zimmedari on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

 

Heart Lamp’ Wins the 2025 International Booker Prize: A Landmark Moment for Regional Storytelling

In a historic win for regional storytelling and translation, Heart Lamp, a collection of stories by Banu Mushtaq and translated by Deepa Bhasthi, has been awarded the 2025 International Booker Prize. Originally written in Kannada, Heart Lamp offers a searing, tender, and witty look at the lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India.

Front Cover Heart Lamp
Heart Lamp || Banu Mushtaq

Through a rich, spoken style that is both colloquial and emotionally charged, Banu Mushtaq crafts portraits that are as unforgettable as they are urgent. Her characters — spirited children, resilient grandmothers, helpless husbands, and, above all, the mothers who carry unbearable emotional burdens — are rendered with piercing empathy and insight.

A former journalist and lawyer, Mushtaq’s commitment to justice and women’s rights pulses through every page. She does not shy away from the tensions of caste, patriarchy, and religious conservatism — instead, she lays them bare, and often with sharp wit.

Translated with lyrical precision by Deepa Bhasthi, Heart Lamp is more than a collection of stories — it is a living archive of resistance, tenderness, and truth. Its recognition by the Booker jury is a powerful affirmation of the importance of regional voices and the transformative power of translation.

This win marks a watershed moment not just for Kannada literature, but for all the unsung stories that are waiting — burning — to be told.

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