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12 Books to Make Your Diwali a Little Brighter

Posted on November 6, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

Diwali is among the biggest Hindu festivals and is celebrated almost all over North India.
With the festivities going strong, what isn’t there to love about this time of the year? To add to the fun and excitement, we’ve put together a list of books for you to read this Diwali!
Take a look at our Diwali bookshelf, that is sure to brighten up your life even more!
Hindu Rites and Rituals: Where They Come from and What They Mean

Millions of Hindus the world over grow up observing rites, rituals and religious practices that lie at the heart of Hinduism, but which they don’t know the significance of. This handy book tells the fascinating stories and explains the science behind the Hindu rites and rituals that we sometimes follow blindly. It is essential reading for anyone interested in India’s cultural tradition.
Hinduism : An Alphabetical Guide

Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions; an amalgam of diverse beliefs and schools, it originates in the Vedas and is rooted in Indian culture. Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide illuminates complex philosophical concepts through lucid definitions, a historical perspective and incisive analyses.
The Book of Ram

Hindus believe that in stressful and tumultuous times chanting Ram’s name and hearing his tale, the Ramayan, brings stability, hope, peace and prosperity. Reviled by feminists, appropriated by politicians, Ram remains serene in his majesty, the only Hindu deity to be worshipped as a king.
Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana

This book approaches Ram by speculating on Sita—her childhood with her father, Janak, who hosted sages mentioned in the Upanishads; her stay in the forest with her husband who had to be a celibate ascetic while she was in the prime of her youth; her interactions with the women of Lanka, recipes she exchanged, emotions they shared; her connection with the earth, her mother; her role as the Goddess, the untamed Kali as well as the demure Gauri, in transforming the stoic prince of Ayodhya into God.
Book of Vishnu

Vishnu, the Supreme Being, is the preserver, the protector of the good and the guardian of dharma. Combining the skill of a storyteller with the insight of a scholar, Nanditha Krishna has brought to glorious life perhaps the most powerful and revered god in the Hindu pantheon.
Book of Hanuman

Hanuman is an outstanding scholar, a fearless warrior, and the ideal lieutenant: intelligent, totally committed to his master, selfless and humble. Drawing upon stories from Valmiki’s Ramayana, Parvez Dewan weaves an engrossing narrative that captures the significance of Hanuman, perhaps the most accessible deity in the Hindu pantheon.
The Book of Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the goddess of all that is good wealth (dhana), beauty (saundarya) and happiness (sukha). Using a range of sources, from ancient texts to sculptures and everyday religious customs and prayers, this fascinating and deeply-insightful book sheds new light not only on the figure of Lakshmi, but also on the fundamental tenets of Hinduism as it is practised today.
In Search Of Sita: Rivisiting Mythology

Sita is one of the defining figures of Indian womanhood, yet there is no single version of her story. In Search of Sita presents essays, conversations and commentaries that explore different aspects of her life. It revisits mythology, reopening the debate on her birth, her days in exile, her abduction, the test by fire, the birth of her sons and, finally, her return to the earth-offering fresh interpretations of this enigmatic figure and her indelible impact on our everyday lives.
The Ramayana

One of India’s greatest epics, the Ramayana pervades the country’s moral and cultural consciousness. Believed to have been composed by Vālmīki sometime between the eighth and sixth centuries BC, it recounts the tragic and magical tale of Rāma, the wrongfully exiled prince of Ayodhyā, an incarnation of the god Viṣṇu, born to rid the earth of the terrible demon Rāvaṇa. Widely acclaimed since its first publication in 1996, Arshia Sattar’s stellar translation is an absolute delight, successfully bridging time and space to bring us the wisdom, adventure and eroticism of this enduring classic.
Lost Loves : Exploring Rama’s Anguish

The essays in this book imagine what might have been the thoughts and feelings of Rama and Sita as they lived through those terrible years of trial and separation. They explore what happens to love in separation, and how public lives and private desires collide to devastating effect. By trying to see the events of their lives as Rama and Sita may have seen them, Arshia Sattar makes the existential conflicts of the Ramayana fascinatingly relevant and freshly inspiring for the contemporary reader.
Rig Veda

This selection of 108 of the hymns, chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, focuses on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, the sacred plant soma and the gods. Inspirational and profound, it provides a fascinating introduction to one of the founding texts of Hindu scripture – an awesome and venerable ancient work of Vedic ritual, prayer, philosophy, legend and faith.
The Upanisads

A brilliant introduction to the essence of living Hinduism the thirteen principal Upanisads, Sanskrit texts in the religious traditions of the Vedas, lie at the heart of Hinduism. This authentic and nuanced rendering makes accessible to the modern reader something of the beauty and variety of these ancient and rich texts of Hinduism. The Upanisads belong to the tradition of literature that is ‘heard’ rather than ‘remembered’, and in her translation Roebuck seeks to reveal the intent of the authors and arrive at ‘the original’ text.

Get Smarter This Month With These New Titles

Posted on November 2, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

There is a lot to learn this November. This month, we have a number of titles that will teach you about important people who shape the India we know today, as well as some on interesting mythology topics. Lots of real life incidents are brought to you and – to keep things fun – we’ve thrown a love story into the mix!
Here is a list of books for you from our November bookshelf!

Vanara: The Tale of the Beast Slain for Love

The love triangle between Baali, Tara and Sugreeva is arguably the world’s first. Written by Anand Neelakantan who gave a voice to Ravana in Asura, Duryodhana in the Ajaya series and Sivagami in the Baahubali series, Vanara is a classic tale of love, lust and betrayal. Shakespearean in its tragic depth and epic in its sweep, Vanara gives voice to the greatest warrior in the Ramayana-Baali.

All of My Heart

When Rehaan moves to London, he is hopeful to meet his childhood love, Zynah, whom he hasn’t been able to forget even after all these years. It turns out that Zynah is just as he remembers her-fun-loving, adventurous and beautiful. However, she is getting married. What will Rehaan do-risk ruining their friendship and tell her he loves her or let her marry the man she has chosen?

Didi: The Untold Story of Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee, with her unique style of politics, was able to defeat the formidable three-decade-old Left Front Government in 2011. Exploring her struggles and achievements, Didi opens a window to the life and times of one of the most dynamic politicians of our country.

26/11: Stories of Strength Book 1

In 26/11 Stories of Strength, The Indian Express dips into ten years of reportage on Mumbai’s terror survivors to find that single mothers have attended night school to get an education, children who lost a parent have dared to dream big, those who lost sons have learnt to find new purpose in living.

The Asthma Cure

Asthma Cure is a step-by-step practical guide with natural remedies, easy-to-follow wholesome recipes and daily food plans to help a person heal bronchial asthma, wheezing and other lung-related conditions naturally.
From outlining the relationship between food and inflammation to the role digestion plays in healing asthma, and the foods that strengthen and heal the lungs, this is the most comprehensive and solution-oriented book on the subject yet.

Duryodhanization: Are Villains Born, Made, or Made Up?

‘Duryodhanization’ refers to the birth and processes of development of a villainous character-whether in works of history or mythology. In this book, Uppal ekes out the dark side of management and leadership by studying fascinating characters from the Mahabharata. He probes into what it really means to be a villain, and if villainous traits are inherent or cultivated.

Nehru: Invention of India

The author of India: From Midnight to the Millennium provides a close-up portrait of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, the influential politician who led his newly independent nation from colonialism into the modern world, and his lasting legacy in terms of India’s history and world.

Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy’s Turning Point

As the world once again confronts an eruption of authoritarianism, Gyan Prakash’s Emergency Chronicles takes us back to the moment of India’s independence to offer a comprehensive historical account of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency of 1975-77. Stripping away the myth that this was a sudden event brought on solely by the Prime Minister’s desire to cling to power, it argues that the Emergency was as much Indira’s doing as it was the product of Indian democracy’s troubled relationship with popular politics, and a turning point in its history.

The Tata Saga: Timeless Stories from India’s Most Iconic Group

The Tata Saga is a collection of handpicked stories published on India’s most iconic business group. The anthology features snippets from the lives of various business leaders of the company: Ratan Tata, J.R.D. Tata, Jamsetji Tata, Xerxes Desai, Sumant Moolgaokar, F.C. Kohli, among others. There are tales of outstanding successes, crushing failures and extraordinary challenges that faced the Tata Group.
Why I Am a Liberal: A Manifesto for Indians Who Believe in Individual Freedom

The stamping out of difference, the quelling of diversity and the burial of argument is, in fact, most un-Indian. Anyone who seeks to end that dialogue process is ignoring Indianness and patriotism.The liberal Indian argues for the rights of the marginalized in the tradition of Gandhi for trust, mutual understanding and bridge-building. Real patriotism lies in old-fashioned ideas of accommodation, friendship and generosity; not in force, muscle flexing and dominance. Why I Am a Liberal is Sagarika Ghose’s impassioned meditation on why India needs to be liberal.
The Book of Avatars and Divinities

This first-of-its-kind book brings together the major deities of the Hindu pantheon, describing the different manifestations by which they are recognized, celebrated and worshipped-from Durga to Sita to Kali, and from Narasimha to Parashurama to Krishna. The contributions by Bulbul Sharma, Namita Gokhale, Nanditha Krishna, Parvez Dewan, Royina Grewal and Seema Mohanty offer enchanting stories about our favourite divinities.

The Penguin October Bookshelf: What to Read this Fall

Posted on October 6, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

This fall, we have a number of books, across various genres, for you to enjoy. You can choose by author or by subject, or pick something you’d never see yourself reading!

The Radical in Ambedkar: Critical Reflections – Anand Teltumbde and Suraj Yengde (Eds)

This landmark volume, edited and introduced by Anand Teltumbde and Suraj Yengde, establishes B.R. Ambedkar as the most powerful advocate of equality and fraternity in modern India. An extraordinary collection of immense breadth and scholarship that challenges the popular understanding of Ambedkar, The Radical in Ambedkar is essential reading for all those who wish to imagine a new future.

The Best Couple Ever – Novoneel Chakraborty

Do you flaunt your happy moments in the form of filtered photographs on Facebook, Instagram, etc.?
Do you and your partner set relationship goals for others on social media?
Do you make people jealous of the perfect life you are living?
If no, then chill. If yes, then congrats! You are their next target.

Open Embrace: India-US Ties in the Age of Modi and Trump – Varghese K. George

Varghese K. George, in Open Embrace, provides an overview of the changes occurring in America’s relations with the world under the Trump presidency and what it means for India. While Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush emphasized that the US’s relations with India would shape the twenty-first century, Trump’s ‘America First’ politics is a repudiation of the nation’s strategic culture.

Invisible Men: Inside India’s Transmasculine Network – Nandini Krishnan

In this remarkable, intimate book, Nandini Krishnan burrows deep into the prejudices encountered by India’s transmen, the complexities of hormonal transitions and sex reassignment surgery, issues of social and family estrangement, and whether socioeconomic privilege makes a difference. With frank, poignant, often idiosyncratic interviews that braid the personal with the political, the informative with the offhand, she makes a powerful case for inclusivity and a non-binary approach to gender.

The Great Smog of India – Siddharth Singh

With clarity and compelling arguments, and with a dash of irony, Siddharth Singh demystifies the issue of air pollution: where we are, how we got here, and what we can do now. He discusses not only developments in sectors like transport, industry and energy production that silently contribute to air pollution, but also the ‘agricultural shock’ to air quality triggered by crop burning in northern India every winter. He places the air pollution crisis in the context of India’s meteorological conditions and also climate change. Above all, and most alarmingly, he makes clear what the repercussions will be if we remain apathetic.

What China and India Once Were: The Pasts That May Shape the Global Future – Sheldon Pollock and Benjamin Elman

In the early years of the 21st century, China and India have emerged as world powers. In many respects, this is a return to the historical norm for both countries. For much of the early modern period, China and India were global leaders in a variety of ways. In this book, prominent scholars seek to understand modern China and India through an unprecedented comparative analysis of their long histories.

Sikkim: Dawn of Democracy – G.B.S. Sidhu

It was in 1973 that G.B.S. Sidhu, a young official with the newly set-up Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), took charge of the field office in Gangtok in 1973. With an insider’s view of the events that led to the Chogyal’s ouster, he presents a first-hand account of the fledgling democracy movement and the struggle for reforms led by Kazi Lhendup Dorji in a society that was struggling to come to terms with the modern world.

Doab Dil – Sarnath Banerjee

Why was the appreciation of gardens considered a symbol of Victorian aristocracy? Why do the Japanese find it easy to power-nap in public spaces? Why did Charles Baudelaire ascribe Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s restless nocturnal wanderings to a pathological dread of returning home? And what do any of these mean for the average person immersed in the ‘daily decathlon’ of life?

The Runaways – Fatima Bhutto

Anita Rose lives in a concrete block in one of Karachi’s biggest slums, languishing in poverty with her mother and older brother. On the other side of Karachi lives Monty, whose father owns half the city. And far away in Portsmouth, Sunny fits in nowhere. These three disparate lives will cross paths in the middle of a desert, a place where life and death walk hand-in-hand, and where their closely guarded secrets will force them to make a terrible choice.

What We Talk about When We Talk about Rape – Sohaila Abdulali

Writing from the viewpoint of a survivor, writer, counsellor and activist, and drawing on three decades of grappling with the issue personally and professionally and her work with hundreds of survivors, Sohaila Abdulali looks at what we-women, men, politicians, teachers, writers, sex workers, feminists, sages, mansplainers, victims and families-think about rape and what we say…and also what we don’t.

House of Screams – Andaleeb Wajid

When Muneera finds out she’s inherited her uncle’s old house on Myrtle Lane, she decides to move in with her husband, Zain, and their three-year-old son, Adnan. But they soon realize there’s more to the house than its old-world charm. As the terrors threaten to tear their little family apart, they discover the shocking extent of the house’s gory history. And unless they manage to leave, they’re going to become a part of it.

The Best Mistakes of My Life – Sanjay Khan

Once deemed the most handsome man in Bollywood, Sanjay Khan’s tryst with fame and stardom led him to many adventures across the world. Honest, engaging and revelatory, The Best Mistakes of My Life is the story of a star and a survivor who has resurrected himself with a vengeance each time life has thrown a curveball at him.

Skin Rules: Six Weeks to Glowing Skin – Dr Jaishree Sharad

In Skin Rules, Dr Jaishree Sharad, one of India’s top cosmetic dermatologists, gives you a revolutionary six-week plan to healthy, blemish-free skin. From the basics-identifying your skin type, acquainting yourself with the fine print on labels-to home remedies, choosing the right make-up and the latest advancements in skincare treatments, this book has the answers to all your skin woes.

Tryst with Prosperity: Indian Business and the Bombay Plan of 1944 – Medha Malik Kudaisya

The Tryst with Prosperity is the story of the Bombay Plan which was initiated in 1944. Eight remarkable individuals from the world of industry, like J.R.D. Tata, Lala Shri Ram and G.D. Birla, came together and drafted this plan. Seventy-five years later, the Bombay Plan’s legacy continues to be unmistakable in the economic life of contemporary India. Rivetingly told, business historian Medha M. Kudaisya, narrates an important chapter from the story of Indian business.

The Tata Saga: Timeless Stories from India’s Most Iconic Group

The English Maharani: Queen Victoria and India – Miles Taylor

In this new and original account, Miles Taylor charts the remarkable effects India had on Queen Victoria as well as the pivotal role she played in India. Drawing on official papers and an abundance of poems, songs, diaries and photographs, Taylor challenges the notion that Victoria enjoyed only ceremonial power and that India’s loyalty to her was without popular support. On the contrary, the rule of the queen-empress penetrated deep into Indian life and contributed significantly to the country’s modernisation, both political and economic.

Changemakers: Twenty Women Transforming Bollywood from Behind the Scenes – Gayatri Rangachari Shah, Mallika Kapur

This book tells the story of twenty incredible women, many with no prior connections in the Bollywood industry, who have carved successful careers despite significant challenges. They often work away from the public gaze-as studio heads, producers, directors, make-up artists, stylists, script writers, lyricists,editors, choreographers, stunt artists, set designers, and in the many other jobs that support the making of a movie.

The Non Violent Struggle for Freedom 1905-1919 – David Hardiman

It was Gandhi, first in South Africa and then in India, who both evolved a technique that he called ‘satyagraha’ that he characterised in terms of its ‘non-violence’. In this, ‘non-violence’ was forged as both a new word in the English language, and as a new political concept.
The Non-violent Struggle for Freedom brings out in graphic detail exactly what this entailed, and the formidable difficulties that the pioneers of such resistance encountered in the years 1905-19.

Red Card by Kautuk Srivastava

Set in the suburban Thane of 2006, here is a coming-of-age story that runs unique as it does familiar. Hopscotching from distracted classrooms and tired tutorials to the triumphs and tragedies on the muddy grounds, this is the journey of Rishabh and his friends from peak puberty to the cusp of manhood.

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Let these Books Inspire you to Travel

Posted on September 27, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

“Don’t listen to what they say: Go see.”

But where should you go first? In light of World Tourism Day, we’ve put together a list of books to inspire you to take a break, and go discover (yourself) and a new place!
Following Fish : Travels around the Indian Coast

In a coastline as long and diverse as India’s, fish inhabit the heart of many worlds food of course, but also culture, commerce, sport, history and society. Journeying along the edge of the peninsula, Samanth Subramanian reports upon a kaleidoscope of extraordinary stories. Pulsating with pleasure, adventure and discovery, and tempered by nostalgia and loss, Following Fish speaks as eloquently to the armchair traveler as to lovers of the sea and its lore.
Falling Off The Map

The author of Video Night in Kathmandu ups the ante on himself in this sublimely evocative and acerbically funny tour through the world’s loneliest and most eccentric places. From Iceland to Bhutan to Argentina, Iyer remains both uncannily observant and hilarious.
Don’t Ask Any Old Bloke For Directions – A Biker’s Whimsical Journey Across India

After twenty years in the Indian Administrative Service, P.G. Tenzing throws off the staid life of a bureaucrat to roar across India on an Enfield Thunderbird, travelling light with his possessions strapped on the back of his bike. Life on the road is full of pot holes in more ways than one, but Tenzing acquires a wheelie’s sixth sense.
If It’s Monday It Must Be Madurai: A Conducted Tour of India

This delightful travelogue, in which Srinath Perur embarks upon ten conducted tours, is full of rich experiences: hanging on to a camel in the Thar Desert, joining thousands on a pilgrimage in Maharashtra, crossing living root bridges near Cherrapunji, rediscovering music while on the trail of Kabir, and a lot more.
Beyond The Border: An Indian In Pakistan

Departing from the fiercely polemical rhetoric common in Indian and Pakistani accounts of each other, Yoginder Sikand, not only gives lie to the strategist’s view of the India Pakistan divide, but dispels the myths that have filtered into the Indian psyche about Pakistan being the terrible other. In this brilliantly perceptive and quirky travelogue, he illuminates the Pakistani side of the story, while telling his own tale of exploration and Self-discovery.
Butter Chicken in Ludhiana

Pankaj Mishra’s Butter Chicken In Ludhiana: Travels In Small Town India was first published in 1995. This book is a classical non-fiction, aiming to describe the changing face of India, during globalisation. The lifestyles of both village and city folk are depicted by the author in this book, which narrates the differences between the dreams and psychology of these people. In Butter Chicken In Ludhiana, the author also talks about the reason of unemployment, which is caused by small fast food chains in small towns.
Land of Naked People

In The Land of Naked People, Madhusree Mukerjee provides a look at the Sentinelese, a group of Stone Age people living on a remote island in the Andaman chain of the Bay of Bengal, details their primitive civilization and reflects on the influence of modern culture on their vanishing lifestyle.
Kathmandu

One of the greatest cities of the Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal, is a unique blend of thousand-year-old cultural practices and accelerated urban development. In this book, Thomas Bell recounts his experiences from his many years in the city—exploring in the process the rich history of Kathmandu and its many instances of self-reinvention.
Where the Rain is Born: Writing about Kerala

The southernmost part of India was born, it is said, when the mighty Parasurama, sixth avatar of Vishnu threw his battle axe to carve out the territory that would henceforth be his. In this anthology, writers as diverse as Arundhati Roy, Ramachandra Guha, O.V. Vijayan, Vaikkom Mohammad Basheer and Kamala Das combine to bring alive the languid beauty and charged social and political ethos of this tiny state that has been listed as one of the top fifty holiday destinations in the world.
Reflected in Water: Writings on Goa

Reflected in Water is a collection of essays, poems, stories and extracts from published works that bring to life both the natural beauty and the changing social and political ethos of Goa.
From Heaven Lake

After two years as a postgraduate student at Nanjing University in China, Vikram Seth hitch-hiked back to his home in New Delhi, via Tibet. From Heaven Lake is the story of his remarkable journey and his encounters with nomadic Muslims, Chinese officials, Buddhists and others.
Tales of the Open Road

Ruskin Bonds travel writing is unlike what is found in most travelogues, because he will take you to the smaller, lesser-known corners of the country, acquaint you with the least-famous locals there, and describe the flora and fauna that others would have missed. And if the place is well known, Ruskin leaves the common tourist spots to find a small alley or shop where he finds colourful characters to engage in conversation.
The Shooting Star

Shivya Nath quit her corporate job at age twenty-three to travel the world. She gave up her home and the need for a permanent address, sold most of her possessions and embarked on a nomadic journey that has taken her everywhere. With its vivid descriptions, cinematic landscapes, moving encounters and uplifting adventures, The Shooting Star is a travel memoir that maps not just the world but the human spirit.

A Must Read Crime-Thriller Trilogy

Posted on September 13, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

A Rising Man

India, 1919. In the bid to have a fresh start Captain Sam Wyndham takes up an important position in Calcutta’s police force. He is summoned to look into a terrible murder of an official, as a warning to the British to leave India.
With the stability of the Empire under threat, Wyndham and the quick-thinking Sergeant ‘Surrender-not’ Banerjee must solve the case quickly. But there are some who will do anything to stop them…

A Necessary Evil

India, 1920. Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee are visiting the kingdom of Sambalpore to investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharaja’s son…
As Wyndham and Sergeant ‘Surrender-not’ Banerjee endeavour to unravel the mystery, they become entangled in a dangerous world—riven with internal conflicts regarding the throne. They must find the murderer, before the murderer finds them.

Smoke and Ashes

Set against the backdrop of the fervent fight for Indian independence, and rich with the atmosphere of 1920s Calcutta, Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee is the brilliant new historical mystery in this award-winning series.
Battling a serious addiction to opium, which he must keep a secret from his superiors in the Calcutta police force, and haunted by the memories of the Great War, Captain Sam Wyndham has been called to investigate a gruesome murder. With the aid of his sharp Indian Sergeant, Surrender-not Banerjee, Sam must try to solve the two murders, all the while keeping his personal demons secret, before somebody else turns up dead.

Set against the backdrop of the fervent fight for Indian independence, and rich with the atmosphere of 1920s Calcutta, Smoke and Ashes is the brilliant new historical mystery in this award-winning series.
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Your September Wish List

Posted on September 6, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

Do you know it’s possible to want something, without realizing you want it? Take books, for example. There may be a great book out there, waiting to be read by you—waiting to change your life. How will you know unless you try?
Here is your September wish list. A list you may not have known you even had! Take a pick from this wide range of topics and authors…who knows, you may discover a new favorite author!
Stories at Work

Storytelling in business is different from telling stories to friends in a bar. It needs to be based on facts. Stories at Work will teach you how to wrap your stories in context and deliver them in a way that grabs your audience’s attention.
Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World

This magnificent book tells the story of Gandhi’s life from his departure from South Africa to his dramatic assassination in 1948. It has a Tolstoyan sweep, showing us Gandhi as he was understood by his contemporaries, with new readings of his arguments with (among others) Ambedkar, Jinnah, and Churchill, and new insights on our freedom movement and its many strands.
Hippie

In Hippie, his most autobiographical novel to date, Paulo Coelho takes us back in time to re-live the dream of a generation that longed for peace and dared to challenge the established social order-authoritarian politics, conservative modes of behavior, excessive consumerism, and an unbalanced concentration of wealth and power.
Heart: A History

For centuries, the human heart seemed beyond our understanding: an inscrutable shuddering mass that was somehow the driver of emotion and the seat of the soul. As the cardiologist and bestselling author Sandeep Jauhar shows in Heart: A History, it was only recently that we demolished age-old taboos and devised the transformative procedures that have changed the way we live.
The Non Violent Struggle for Freedom 1905-1919

In recent years, there has been a surge of writing on the technique and practice of non-violent forms of resistance. Much of this has focused on movements that occurred after the end of the Second World War, many of which have been extremely successful. Although the fact that such a method of resistance was developed in its modern form by India is acknowledged, there has not until now been an authoritative history available to show exactly how this occurred.
This book provides such a study.
The Women’s Courtyard

Set in the 1940s, with Partition looming on the horizon, The Women’s Courtyard cleverly brings into focus the claustrophobic lives of women whose entire existence was circumscribed by the four walls of their homes, and for whom the outside world remained an inaccessible dream. Daisy Rockwell’s elegant and nuanced translation captures the poignance and power of Khadija Mastur’s inimitable voice.
The Shooting Star: A Girl, Her Backpack and the World

Shivya Nath quit her corporate job at age twenty-three to travel the world. With its vivid descriptions, cinematic landscapes, moving encounters and uplifting adventures, The Shooting Star is a travel memoir that maps not just the world but the human spirit.
Life’s Amazing Secrets: How to Find Balance and Purpose in Your Life

Das is one of the most popular and sought-after monks and life coaches in the world, having shared his wisdom with millions. His debut book, Life’s Amazing Secrets, distils his experiences and lessons about life into an accessible book that will help you align yourself with the life you want to live.

Through Two Doors at Once

With his extraordinarily gifted eloquence, Anil Ananthaswamy travels around the world and through history, down to the smallest scales of physical reality we have yet fathomed. Through Two Doors at Once is the most fantastic voyage you can take.
The Man Who Wasn’t There

Understanding “the self” has long been thought to be neuroscience’s greatest challenge, a mystery perhaps that never can be solved.
We are who we are, but mystics, Buddhists and even scientists have told us the self is an illusion. We know who we are but then no matter how successful and healthy you are, sometimes we wonder, who is that inside our heads? Who am I really? Are you sure you know?
The Rabbit and the Squirrel

Illustrated by Stina Wirsén, this poignant and moving fable for all ages was originally conceived by the author as a private gift of love for a beloved friend. Featuring a bisexual bunny and an heiress squirrel, by turns witty and absurd, endearing and brave, this little book harbours a fine ache that lends it a timeless quality.
The Sage’s Secret

In the year 2025, twenty-year-old Anirudh starts dreaming of Krishna. But these visions that keep flashing through his mind are far from an ordinary fantasy-they are vivid episodes from the god’s life. Through these scenes, as Krishna’s mystifying schemes are revealed, Anirudh slowly comes to terms with his real identity . . .

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Things to know before reading 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Posted on August 28, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

Sapiens questioned the past and Homo Deus imagined the future. Yuval Noah Harari gives a thrilling account of the history of the humankind and its future with a blend of science, history, philosophy and every discipline in between in these two books. Occupying the space between these books is Harari’s latest work 21 Lessons for the 21st Century which talks about the present scenario of the world with its deep-rooted problems regarding technology and ecological cataclysms.
Addressing the issues that are staring humankind in the face, Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a marvellous follow-up to his earlier works.
Here are some things you should know about his previous books before reading the latest one:

The history of humankind and its progression.

In his book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari spans the entire human history, from the earliest humans to walk the earth to the recent breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions. Deducing on conceptions from biology, anthropology, palaeontology, and economics, he studies how the trends in history has shaped the human societies, animals, and plants around us.
The consequence of coupling the old myths with new-age technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.

In Homo Deus, Yuval Noah Harari maps the new destinies that are in store us. Looking at the future Harari traverses how global power might shift, pertaining to the principal force of evolution – intelligent design replacing natural selection.

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In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari explores the present and confronts some of the most urgent questions facing every human being.
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Independence Day Bookshelf

Posted on August 14, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

August 15^th, celebrated annually commemorating the nation’s Independence from the British forces is a day to celebrate one’s freedom. This Independence Day, we have a selection of hand-picked books that will surely lift your patriotic spirits!
Here we have books exploring the origins of India to the internal political workings of the nation. These are bound to hold your interest in the most engaging way. From the ancient history of India, to the importance of this history on a global level, these books span the growth of India and its journey of becoming one of the biggest economic powers in the world.
Take a look at our list!

The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to ad 1300 (rejacketed edition)

Romila Thapar’s historical tribute to Indian history and the rich culture and heritage of ancient India, the book explores India’s past quite vividly, helping readers to visualize the formation of a nation and how it grew and flourished over generations. Beginning from the prehistoric era, it explores the good and bad of every era. Charting the emergence of all the great dynasties of India, the book also enumerates what it meant for India. This book offers a refreshing take on prehistoric India.

India’s Legal System: Can it be Saved?

With the second-largest legal profession in the world, India gives little confidence to the common man. In this book, India’s renowned constitutional expert and Senior Supreme Court lawyer Fali S. Nairman looks for possible reasons for the delays and chronic impediments in the judicial system. He discusses some of the key issues such as inequality and affirmative action, providing real cases as illustrations of the on-ground situations.

The Idea of India

This exciting book by Sunil Khilnani addresses the paradoxes and ironies that have surrounded the project of inventing India. India was a project which gave Indians a considerable amount of political freedom, carrying their huge democracy to the verge of being Asia’s greatest free state, but there were many Indians that were left in poverty. With the project of India being in jeopardy bevause of divisive religious nationalism, Sunil Khilnani provokes this question: Can the original idea of India survive its own success?

Letters for a Nation: From Jawaharlal Nehru to his Chief Ministers 1947-1963

Chronicling the letters that Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to the heads of the country’s provincial governments in October 1947, this book constitutes the careful selection of among 400 letters. These letters span momentous world events and the many crises and conflicts the country faced during the first sixteen years after Independence.

10 Judgments that Changed India

Listing Supreme Court’s ten crucial judgments that have played a part in the turning the Indian democracy and redefined our daily lives, this book explores themes such as custodial deaths, reservations and environmental jurisprudence. Written by one of India’s most respected lawyers, Zia Mody, this book provides an understanding of India’s legal system and the foundations of our democracy.

Non-stop India

In the book, Mark Tully captures voices of the nation. As India is likely to become one of the vital economies of this century, there are many unresolved questions about the sustainability of such growth and its effect on the stability of the nation. Spanning from the survival of India’s languages and protection of wildlife, to the nation’s thriving industries and colourful public affairs, this book draws an unforgettable image of this emerging superpower.

Incarnations: A History of India in 50 Lives

Sunil Khilnani in this book fills the space that is between the Indian history and its myths, stories and moral epics, by recapturing the human dimension of how the world’s largest democracy came to be. Bringing to foray the emperors, warriors, philosophers, film stars and corporate titans – this book gives insight to dilemmas that extend from ancient times to our own.

Indian Railways: The Weaving of a National Tapestry

Describing the growth of Indian railways from the 1830s to Independence, Bibek Debroy and his co-authors explore how the railway network was built, the challenges it went through, and how it finally became a lifeline that still connects and makes the nation.

Bollywood Boom: India’s Rising Soft Power

National award-winner Roopa Swaminathan recounts the spectacular growth and success of Bollywood worldwide in the twenty-first century. From Amitabh Bachchan and Raj Kapoor enjoying their fame only in selected areas of Russia, East Europe and Africa, to the Oscar-nominated Lagaan, Bollywood has come a long way for us all to see. This book shows how Bollywood contributes to the country’s real income, tourism and also enhances the global standing.

Left, Right and Centre: The Idea of India

This book brings together diverse views from people across a wide spectrum of life-politicians. Approaching its 70^th year of Independence, India and its people continue to struggle with multitude of issues: a few from the Left, a considerable sum form the Right and yeat a lot from the Centre. Nidhi Razdan opens a window to understanding India that largely remained untold and unknown for a long time.

India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes

The accounts of the soldiers of Army, Air force and Navy in their extreme moments, Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh cover fourteen true stories of extraordinary courage and fearlessness, Giving a glimpse into the kind of heroism our soldiers display in hostile conditions and under grave provocation

12. India and the World: Catalogue of the Exhibition

Creating a dialogue between the world and India through a fascinating array of artefacts, this books talks about the evidence of human history in India and how that compares with the other parts of the world. Questions like – the difference between Ashoka’s inscriptions when compared with the public inscriptions of other emperors, the imagination of the divine by different civilizations and many more.

Liberating Reads for this August

Posted on August 6, 2018February 23, 2020 by Penguin India

August is here and along with the new month comes some fun liberating reads! Our list of new books includes memoirs, biographies, research and case studies. Whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction you’re sure to find something to suit your taste here.
So take a look at our bookshelf for August, and tell us which book you’d like to pick up first!

The Beauty of all My Days

Each chapter of this memoir is a remembrance of times past, an attempt to resurrect a person or a period or an episode, a reflection on the unpredictability of life. Some paths lead nowhere; others lead to a spring of pure water. Take any path and hope for the best. At least it will lead you out of the shadows.

The RSS: A View to the Inside

The RSS is the most influential cultural organization in India today, with affiliates in fields as varied as politics, education and trade. Backed by deep research and case studies, this book explores the evolution of the Sangh into its present form, its relationship with the ruling party, the BJP, their overseas affiliates and so much more.

Kama: The Riddle of Desire

Here, in his magnificent prose, Gurcharan Das examines how to cherish desire in order to live a rich, flourishing life, arguing that if dharma is a duty to another, kama is a duty to oneself. It sheds new light on love, marriage, family, adultery and jealousy as it wrestles with questions such as these: How to nurture desire without harming others or oneself? Are the erotic and the ascetic two aspects of our same human nature? What is the relationship between romantic love and bhakti, the love of god?

The Kipling File

Narrated by Kay Robinson, The Kipling File is a moving story of doomed friendship and difficult love recounted against the powerful backdrop of Anglo-Indian life in a Punjab that has begun to stir with anti-colonial sentiment. Through his eyes unfold the turmoils that shaped the author of beloved classics like The Jungle Book and Kim.

Polite Society

Keenly observed, sharply plotted and full of wit and brio, Polite Society reimagines Jane Austen’s Emma in contemporary Delhi to portray a society whose polished surface often reveals far more than is intended.

Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition

Analysing Prime Minister Modi’s foreign and military policies in the context of India’s evolving socio-political and economic milieu, this book offers a critical perspective that helps explain why India has not progressed much towards becoming a consequential power.

The Last Englishmen: Love, War, and the End of Empire

Dense with romance and intrigue, and of startling relevance to the cross-cultural debates and great power games of our own day, The Last Englishmen is an engrossing and masterful story that traces the end of empire and the stirring of a new world order.

Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman

Featuring intimate interviews with the soft-spoken virtuoso, as well as insights and anecdotes from key people in his life, this balanced, uplifting and affectionate book is the definitive biography of A.R. Rahman–the man behind the music and the music that made the man.

Not Quite Not White

At the age of twelve, Sharmila Sen emigrated from India to the US. The year was 1982, and everywhere she turned, she was asked to self-report her race. Part memoir, part manifesto, Not Quite Not White is a witty and poignant story of self-discovery.

Imagining Lahore

An anecdotal travelogue about Lahore – which begins in the present and travels through time to the mythological origins of the city attributed to Ram’s son, Lav. Through the city’s present – its people, communities, monuments, parks and institutions – the author paints a vivid picture of the city’s past.

Kartikeya and his Battle with the Soul-Stealer

Surapadma’s reign of terror flourishes and the fate of all creatures-mortal and immortal-hangs in the balance. Shiva’s son, Kartikeya, must destroy several formidable asuras before he can confront the Soul Stealer and salvage the dying, gasping universe…

The Man Who Saved India

Sardar Vallabhai Patel saved India. The very shape of India that we recognize today was stitched together by Patel, the Iron Man of India. The Man Who Saved India unravels the personality of one of the greatest men in Indian contemporary history.

Love, Take Two

When Vicky Behl and Kritika Vadukut meet on the sets of the period drama Ranjha Ranjha, everyone agrees they have serious chemistry–and not just on screen. But will the pressure and scrutiny of Bollywood allow them a happy ending or will there be a twist in the tale?

Feminist Rani

Feminist Rani is a collection of interviews with path-breaking and fascinating opinion leaders. These compelling conversations provide a perspective on the evolving concept of feminism in an age when women are taking charge and leading the way.

Glow

Build strength and immunity, brighten and clarify your skin and obtain peace of mind with these potent Indian remedies. These combinations, recipes, home-made face masks, oils and morning infusions will transform not just your skin but also your body and mind. After all, outer beauty is only a symptom of inner health.

When Coal Turned Gold

In When Coal Turned Gold, former chairman and managing director of CIL, Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya, tells the story, warts and all, of how he dealt with the Dhanbad coal mafia, how he changed the way the industry was perceived, how he dealt with the trade unions and the government and, most importantly, how he was able to script one of the greatest success stories the country had ever seen.

A Game Changer’s Memoir: Ex-SEBI chief recalls defining moments of his tenure

A masterful strategist, Bajpai, in this book, recounts his truly inspiring journey as he weaved through complex rules and frameworks in his efforts to turn SEBI into an effective financial regulator for the country.

Ways of Being Desi

Ways of Being Desi is a brilliant, provocative and deeply honest exploration of the ingredients that make us who we are. It is not a simple listing of food, films or even the universal importance of ‘Aunties’ in South Asian culture; it is a meditation on the subcontinent’s recent past and all that happens when we decide to forget our shared histories.

The Perfect Us

They’ve been together for ten years, surviving everything… Now Avantika wants to take the next step. But will Deb be able to catch up? Or will it rip them apart? No matter how hard he tries, Deb can’t convince Avantika that he’s the one for her. The Perfect Us is love’s struggle to find the happily ever after. . .

Ninety-Seven Poems

This is a book of pictures—of a park bench and a prescription. And a toothbrush in a mug. It’s got half-lit cigarettes and broken geysers. And a cute apartment in Prague. There’s a fortune cookie, some pigeons in cages and stars tumbling from the sky. There’s the usual traffic, a digital wristwatch and a violin from Uncle James—we can go on, but you’d rather see for yourself.
For we think this book has pictures. But some say it’s full of poems.

The Sage’s Secret

What if the legend of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu, is an elaborate hoax created by Lord Krishna? In the year 2025, twenty-year-old Anirudh starts dreaming of Krishna. But these visions that keep flashing through his mind are far from an ordinary fantasy-they are vivid episodes from the god’s life. Through these scenes, as Krishna’s mystifying schemes are revealed, Anirudh slowly comes to terms with his real identity . . .

Not Just Grades

Not Just Grades is about schools that have proved that it is possible to weave positive personal development together with academic excellence. Innovative and full of creative ideas, these schools have a made in difference in imparting education in the absence of extensive resources or capital.

13 Books to Pick Up this World Day for International Justice

Posted on July 17, 2018February 21, 2020 by Penguin India

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
In an effort to recognize the emerging system of international criminal justice, and to acknowledge it, we celebrate July 17 as the World Day for International Justice. On the occasion, we went through our bookshelves to bring forth 13 Legal books, you must take a look at.
10 Judgements That Changed India by Zia Mody

This book presents a compilation of 10 essays on some of the most influential judgments’ that were passed by the Supreme Court of India and proved to be life-altering for the common man and the democracy of the nation.
India’s Legal System: Can it Be Saved? by Fali S. Nariman

In lucid and accessible language, Fali S. Nariman discusses key social issues such as inequality and affirmative action, providing real cases as illustrations of the on-ground situation.This frank and thought-provoking book offers valuable insights into India’s judicial system and maps a possible road ahead to make justice available to all.
On Balance by Leila Seth

The first woman Chief Justice of a High Court in India, the first woman Judge of the Delhi High Court, the first woman to top the Bar examinations in London: Leila Seth has led a full life. In this autobiography, Leila talks about its joyous as well as its difficult moments.
The Case That Shook India by Prashant Bhushan

On 12 June 1975, for the first time in independent India’s history, the election of a prime minister was set aside by a High Court judgment. The watershed case, Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain, acted as the catalyst for the imposition of the Emergency. Based on detailed notes of the court proceedings, The Case That Shook India is both a legal and a historical document of a case that decisively shaped India’s political destiny.
Republic of Rhetoric by Abhinav Chandrachud

Exploring the legal and political history of India, from the British period to the present, Republic of Rhetoric examines the right to free speech and it argues that the enactment of the Constitution in 1950 did not make a significant difference to the freedom of expression in India.
The Dramatic Decade – Landmark Cases of Modern India by Indu Bhan

some cases have impacted the collective conscious of the entire nation. But There was a lot that happened inside the courts during these trials which has remained hidden from public view. The Dramatic Decade is a collection of these stories. The book gives the reader a ringside view of what happened both inside and outside the courts.
The Hanging of Afzal Guru and the Strange Case of the Attack on the Indian Parliament by Arundhati Roy

On 13 December 2001, the Indian Parliament was attacked by a few heavily armed men. Fifteen years later, we still do not know who was behind the attack, nor the identity of the attackers. This reader brings together essays by lawyers, academics, journalists and writers who have looked closely at the available facts and who have raised serious questions about the investigations and the trial of Afzal Guru, was hanged to ‘satisfy’ the ‘collective conscience’ of society
Legal Eagles: The Story of the Top Seven Indian Lawyers by Indu Bhan

Indian judicial system has garnered worldwide fame through its historical and remarkable judgements and the hard work of its judges and lawyers rarely catches the glaze of common public. Legal Eagle tries to bridge this gap. Indu Bhan’s ‘Legal Eagles: Stories of top seven Indian lawyers’ traces the story of the top seven lawyers in India.
The Man Before The Mahatma: M.K. Gandhi, Attorney At Law by Charles Disalvo

At the age of eighteen, a shy and timid Mohandas Gandhi leaves his home in Gujarat for a life on his own. At forty-five, a confident and fearless Gandhi, ready to boldly lead his country to freedom, returns to India. What transforms him? The law, the man before the Mahatma is the first biography of Gandhi’s life in the law.
The Rebel: A Biography of Ram Jethmalani by Susan Adelman

In The Rebel, A Biography of Ram Jethmalani, Susan Adelman, a longtime friend, presents the most updated, authentic and detailed account of Ram Jethmalani’s life. Peppered with personal accounts, unknown facets of his life and insider titbits, the book reveals the man behind the larger than life persona of Ram Jethmalani.
Opening Doors: The Untold Story of Cornelia Sorabji, Reformer, Lawyer and Champion of Women’s Rights in India by Richard Sorabji

British historian Richard Sorabji’s book Opening Doors: The Untold Story of Cornelia Sorabji, Reformer, Lawyer and Champion of Women’s Rights in India is the riveting story of a woman who was intellectually courageous and physically daring at a time when women of this category were far and few. This tale is about a genuinely – remarkable lady, one who was a beauty with brains and ambitious too.
Legal Confidential : Adventures Of An Indian Lawyer by Ranjeev Dubey

Rookie lawyer Ranjeev C. Dubey slogs his way through the corridors of Delhi’s trial courts and realizes that the legal system is anything but fair. In this dark, racy memoir, the now-well-known corporate lawyer exposes the world of the black robes with his trademark wit and leaves you wanting more.
Breaking Up : Your Guide to Getting Divorced by Mrunalini Deshmukh, Fazaa Shroff

Divorce is usually painful and complex. Breaking Up: Your Guide to Getting Divorced, answers every question you might have on the subject. Mrunalini Deshmukh is one of India ‘s top divorce lawyers. She and her associates have handled some of the most high-profile cases in the country. Using their twenty years of experience and expertise, they have put together this book on understanding divorce law.