In a world full of conflict, The Book of Compassion by Nobel Peace Prize winners His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kailash Satyarthi offers a message of hope. It shows why compassion is essential, not just as a virtue, but as a key to survival and change in our connected world.
Read this excerpt to find your way towards a kinder, more compassionate way of living.
The Book of Compassion || His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, Pooja Pande
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Children, Choice and Compassion
His guest, of course, is nothing if not a man of action. ‘These ideas have to be put into practice on the ground’, he says, speaking of how they came to evolve for him, ‘I gave up my career in 1980 and I started finding solutions to the problem of misery and exploitation of children. I realized that the people who are exploiting children are not my enemies. They are sick somewhere, and I have to solve their problem as well. If I am compassionate towards that child, I am equally compassionate towards the exploiter. He just has a different problem. And we have to solve the problem through compassion.’
The Dalai Lama agrees, ‘All these troublemakers come from society only. And society only talks about material values, never (about) inner values.’ He says in an appeal steeped in science, ‘All the destructive emotions are very much based on appearances, and quantum physics also says that nothing exists as it appears. Quantum physics says that physical objects do not have their own absolute nature. Things do not exist as they appear to our perception.
He pauses and adds, ‘. . . effort to reduce negative emotion is very scientific’.
Kailash Satyarthi continues the train of thought: ‘We are all born with compassion. There is a seed, a spark of compassion and that is human instinct, human nature; it is biological. But then the new identities begin. Knowledge is imposed in the name of competition, fear and insecurity and it all gets very magnified.’
His Holiness adds, ‘The (education) system is useful but not complete.’ He speaks more about the missing elements: ‘We human beings have five sensorial consciousnesses, but the dominant force of this sensorial consciousness is mental consciousness. Modern education mainly deals with the sensorial level. It is kindness that brings peace, happiness and calm at the mental level. Mental consciousness is the sixth mind. The “chit” besides the five senses or organs’.
He makes an allusion to the practice of the Buddhist meditation tradition Vipassana and Kailash Satyarthi interjects the mood with some light-heartedness, ‘Please always look at her as she is the Vipassana person’, he says, gesturing at his wife of many years, Sumedha ji, ‘She used to do it and I never did!’
His Holiness seems to continue in a sombre mood: ‘We are facing a lot of problems in the world. Manmade problems’. With the familiar sense of mischief, not one to let the humour in a room fizzle out, he adds, ‘and in some cases, a “lady-made problem”.’ Bellows of laughter echo in response.
Kailash Satyarthi brings up the story of the infant Dalai Lama perched on his mother’s shoulders, directing her movements in tandem with his childhood whimsies, which has His Holiness nodding and smiling, ‘My mother, very kind.’
Talk of childhood nudges Kailash Satyarthi to share a favourite story from the epics: ‘When Sudama knocked at his door, Krishna didn’t tell his guard to attend to it. Krishna himself came down all the way and ran and greeted him. That was respect and love. Similarly, you cannot be a friend of a child until and unless you are ready to come down, as Krishna came down all the way from his throne to the field to hug Sudama. You have to give up your egos and break those barriers. So people like us—me, not us—who have some ego, who have some knowledge and all kinds of ideas and so many complications because of the conditioning of our brain through education . . . we have to try to give that up. If we are friendly to children, then we are friendly to the future. We have to learn to be with the child, respect the child and nurture a tendency to learn from the child—learning purity, learning simplicity.’
His Holiness vehemently agrees, ‘Yes, young children don’t care who is from another religion or other nationality—they play together. If you ask five-year-old children, ‘Do you prefer smiling face or angry face?’, they will say, ‘smiling face!’ So this is just nature. And that is, as the scientists say, that basic human nature
is more compassionate.’
The Dalai Lama too makes the argument against conditioning: ‘Once they join education . . . there is a lack of the oneness of humanity and the value of education only talks of material values. So the basic human nature becomes thinner and thinner. He circles back to the discussions of Day One: ‘A revolutionary education system should be there, and we should not expect (it to come) from some other country, particularly not the United States, too complicated!’
Kailash Satyarthi adds the gory facts: ‘In a number of countries, the number of soldiers is greater than the number of teachers. The number of weapons is greater than the number of books and toys. The number of military camps is greater than the number of schools. So this is the world we have created, Your Holiness, where only four-and-a-half days of global military expenditure ($22 billion) can take care of the education of all children in the world.’ He pauses and repeats, shaking his head, ‘Just four-and-a-half days . . .’
His Holiness offers comfort and hope in return: ‘I think let us concentrate here, in this country.’ He paints a picture of the future that he can already see: ‘After ten years, fifteen years, the world will see—“Oh! India has a unique education system.” And then more and more people will come.’
‘You see,’ he says, smiling back at Kailash Satyarthi and everyone in the room, ‘we are not talking about Nirvana or next life or God . . . but simply (about) how to build a happy family, a happy community and finally, a happy world.
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Get your copy of The Book of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, and Pooja Pande on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
What would you do if fate kept bringing you back to the one who got away? In The Right Guy, author Tarun Vikash spins a heartfelt tale of missed opportunities, unexpected reunions, and the courage to finally say what’s in your heart.
Read this exclusive excerpt where Dhruv and Avni face the harsh realities of love, family, and the courage it takes to hold on to the one who matters most.
The Right Guy || Tarun Vikash
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A Week Later
I reached Chennai.
Avni’s mom had asked me to meet her urgently. I was really nervous. Avni had not told me anything. She just said that something had happened at Bala’s wedding because of which her mom and dad were really upset. I’m already scared of Avni’s dad. I reached Avni’s home and Uncle opened the door. He looked at me angrily and went inside to his room. Aunty immediately came to the door and welcomed me in.
‘Dhruv, I think you are aware of what happened at Bala’s wedding,’ Avni’s mom said.
‘I don’t understand, Aunty. What happened?’
‘Look, we know Avni likes you and even you like her. But it will be good if you stopped meeting her from today onwards.’
‘Amma, please don’t talk to him like that,’ Avni interrupted.
Avni, let me talk, please.’
‘Aunty, did I make any mistake? I am sorry if I have hurt anyone,’ I said.
‘It’s not about you, Dhruv. It’s about your family.’
‘What happened, Aunty? Did anyone call and say something to you or Uncle?’
‘What was the point of getting Avni’s kundli matched with yours at Bala’s wedding, when I haven’t given any approval of your marriage with her?’
‘Huh? When did this happen?’
‘Ask your sister. She did all this,’ Aunty said. I looked at Avni. She nodded.
‘Your sister shamed my daughter in front of all the guests there.’
‘But what happened? Avni, at least you tell me,’ I asked.
‘Avni is manglik. And, till date, only we knew that. But now, due to your sister, everybody knows. In fact, your sister and Bala’s wife even laughed at Avni.’
‘Do you see my daughter? She’s still defending your sister. But what did your sister do? She made a joke about my daughter in front of so many people. Do you know that the pandit said, in front of everyone, that my daughter is not a good match for you? How do you expect me to feel, Dhruv?’ said Aunty.
‘Aunty, I had no idea about all this. I am so sorry, I’ll speak to—’
‘Now, all my relatives know about this. This is a gross invasion of our privacy, Dhruv. I didn’t expect this of your family. Does your mom know about this? Do you know how much we are being mocked right now? In our family, everyone has got to know that Avni is a manglik. Now, who will marry her?’ said Aunty.
I wanted to say that I would marry her but it was not the right thing to say right now. I was really scared. Why would Didi do something so stupid? Damn.
‘Does your mom know about this kundli match?’ Aunty asked me.
‘Aunty, I myself got to know about this today. How would Maa know?’
‘Check with your sister. She must have already informed your mom as she did to the rest of the world.’
‘I am really sorry, Aunty. Didi would not do anything to hurt Avni. This was all a mistake.’
‘I am not saying anything to you, Dhruv. Just don’t meet Avni from now on.’ Avni held her mom’s hand tightly.
‘We can’t get our daughter married to you. Not today, not ever,’ Aunty said.
‘Aunty, I apologize again on behalf of Didi. Everything will be all right. My mom doesn’t care about all this. She already loves Avni so much.’
‘That is why your sister made a joke of my daughter. Is it?’
‘Aunty, to be frank, everyone in our friends circle knows that Avni and I want to marry each other. Maybe that is why Didi might have asked the pandit to match our kundli.’
‘And what about the mockery we are getting from everyone? Do you know what people are saying about my daughter now? We can’t even go to their houses now.’
I did not know what to say. I shouldn’t have come alone. I shouldn’t have even come here. Why did you do this, Didi?
‘I am sorry, Aunty,’ I said, folding my hands.
‘He is still here?’ Uncle entered and spoke to Aunty while looking at me.
‘Appa, please,’ Avni said.
‘Hi Uncle,’ I said, as I stood up. Uncle did not say a word.
‘Tell him not to meet my daughter from now onwards,’ Uncle said.
***
Get your copy of The Right Guy by Tarun Vikash on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life? From Chaos to Calm by Gauranga Darshan Das is here to help. In this excerpt, find out tips to calm your restless mind by treating it like a curious child—guiding it with gentle care. Dive in and discover practical tips inspired by the Bhagavad Gita to find peace and focus in your daily life.
From Chaos to Calm || Gauranga Darshan Das
*** Finding Peace Amidst Distractions
Once, I saw a little boy, hardly a year old, sitting on his mother’s lap, as she busied herself in a conversation with her friend. The boy was joyful and smiling. Every now and then, he tried to get out of his mother’s lap, or extend his hands and touch the objects around him.
When he touched a fruit, the mom smiled and allowed him to play with it. In a few moments, he threw the fruit, and it rolled on the ground. He crawled behind it for a few baby steps, but eventually gave up the chase. Then, he found a knife nearby and picked it up. His mother immediately came over, took it away and put him back on her lap. He was disappointed and flapped his hands and legs for freedom. So his mother offered a toy to pacify him, and he played with it for a while. Then, he left the toy, took his mother’s handbag and tried to put its belt into his mouth. His mother gently pulled it away as she continued to converse. She also put the toy back in her son’s hands. And this continued to happen . . .
Whenever the child touched something soft and harmless, the mother would allow him to do so, but when he reached out for something harmful, his mother immediately took it away and brought him back to her lap. Even when the baby cried, the mom comforted him and kept him on her lap. And this is how we need to control our curious, restless, fickle and unsteady minds. Interesting, isn’t it?
Getting distracted is natural, but remaining distracted is harmful.
The Kid Called Mind
The mind is like an innocent kid, lively and curious. To keep the mind calm and composed amidst the chaotic distractions of this world is a great challenge. The mind is also a storehouse of all kinds of thoughts, desires, emotions and feelings. Some of them positive, while others are negative. The mind collects all these impressions through the senses and interactions with people around us. The mind is always eager to explore everything, but it doesn’t know what’s right or wrong, good or bad. That’s where our intelligence comes in, just like a mom guiding her child. Intelligence keeps a watchful eye on the mind’s activities, just like a vigilant mother, and practises bringing the mind’s focus back to the task at hand. But our intelligence will function in this way only when it has been trained and sharpened. Now, the question is: Are we prepared to do so?
Two Keys to Tame the Mind
Lord Krishna responded to Arjuna’s concern by presenting two effective tips to regulate the mind’s distractions. He said:
asamśayam mahā-bāho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyat
‘O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly very difficult to regulate the restless mind, but it is possible by (1) Practice (abhyāsa) and (2) Detachment (vairagya).’
Lord Krishna also describes the hierarchy of the body’s elements, and says, ‘The senses are inferior to the mind, and the intelligence is superior to the mind.’
Because the mind is positioned between intelligence and the senses, we can regulate the mind from both sides by (1) Sense Control, and (2) Sharp Intelligence.
Combining the above two pairs of keys, we can tame our mind with the following two actionable practices, the first external and the second, internal:
1. Practise Sense Control
2. Cultivate Detachment with Intelligence
1. Practise Sense Control: The senses act as the entry points through which the mind receives various impressions. Therefore, by regulating the senses from overindulging in the sense objects, we eventually bring the mind under control. By doing so, we restrict unnecessary inputs to the mind, and thus regulate the mind’s distractions. This is the external way to tame the mind. As mentioned before: ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’
2. Cultivate Detachment through Intelligence: Although keeping distractions physically out of sight is a good way to control the mind, our inner thoughts can distract us too. With sharp intelligence, we should dismiss such thoughts, and cultivate detachment from things that are unfavourable for our well-being. Knowing the transient nature of the pleasures of this world helps us be detached from them. We can sharpen our intelligence by doing two things: (1) reading wisdom texts like the Gita and (2) learning from experienced people.
The mind can be brought from distraction to concentration, by using scriptural intelligence to analyse its thoughts and align them with values. Thus, by restricting the senses externally and sharpening the intelligence internally, we can tame our unsteady mind and make it our greatest friend.
When a lamp in a windy place wavers, we protect its flame by enclosing it with our hands. Similarly, we need to protect the flame of our minds from the wind of distractions with the hands of our intelligence.
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Get your copy of From Chaos to Calm by Gauranaga Darshan Das on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
The iconic Sudha Murty is celebrated for her engaging storytelling and heartfelt wisdom, crafting tales that resonate with listeners of all ages. Now, you have the perfect opportunity to experience her magic with these 13 must-hear audiobooks. Each one offers a journey into enchanting stories filled with warmth and charm, making them an ideal way to immerse yourself in her world. Whether you’re winding down for the evening or seeking a little inspiration, these special audiobooks bring a touch of wonder to every moment.
How the Bamboo Got Its Bounty || Sudha Murty
‘From human birth to death, our Bamboo finds one way or another to be useful to a common person. It is truly the unsung and the forgotten.’
In a lush, green forest, a shy, unassuming tree is presented with a reward by the forest queen. This makes all the forest inhabitants curious . . .India’s favourite storyteller brings to us the story of the humble bamboo that endures and selflessly gives.
A charming ode to our bountiful forests and trees, their resilience and the abundant gifts they bestow upon us, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction to the world of Sudha Murty.
The Magic of the Lost Story || Sudha Murty
After staying in the lockdown for over a year, Nooni is now visiting her Ajja-Ajji in Somanahalli. Memories of excavating the famous stepwell and experiencing village life for the first time in The Magic of the Lost Temple are still afresh in Nooni’s mind. Excited to finally step out of the confines of her home, little does Nooni know she will make yet another discovery, only this time it’s a missing puzzle in her family’s history.
Written in India’s favorite storyteller’s inimitable style, The Magic of the Lost Story captures the value of asking questions and keeping the answers alive. Packed with delightful artworks and wondrous terrains, this story takes you on an unforgettable journey as it follows the magnificent Tungabhadra River.
Here, There and Everywhere || Sudha Murty
Wearer of many hats—philanthropist, entrepreneur, computer scientist, engineer, teacher—Sudha Murty has above all always been a storyteller extraordinaire. Winner of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature, the Padma Shri, the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature, and the Raymond Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award, her repertoire includes adult non-fiction, adult fiction, children’s books, travelogues and technical books. Here, There and Everywhere is a celebration of her literary journey and is her 200th title across genres and languages. Bringing together her best-loved stories from various collections alongside some new ones and a thoughtful introduction, here is a book that is, in every sense, as multifaceted as its author.
Wise & Otherwise || Sudha Murty
Understanding humans and human nature is one of the toughest jobs. Many time what seems right and good or vice versa can be completely different if explored to proper depth. In many instances, we all form an opinion about the people we meet without actually knowing anything about them. But hearing and learning about such instances helps us to redefine our thought process and become wiser. Sudha Murty’s book Wise and Otherwise will take you to a journey across the length and breadth of India through narrations of 51 stories inspired by the extensive travels of the author herself.
Wise and otherwise has generated interest not just as an inspirational book of people’s struggles and how they overcame it, but also for its settings. It presents a realistic picture of India with its values, traditions and imperfections and lays before the listeners a certain set of moral values whose validity they have to judge for themselves. It unravels human nature and shows all that is good and bad in it and how it is often shaped by intention and circumstances. From the story of a son who leaves his father in an old age home pretending he is a stranger to the story of earthquake aid being exploited and not reaching victims, each story is a moving one and will generate myriads of emotions within the listeners, ranging from anger to kindness to pity to the realisation of reality of the world.
Common Yet Uncommon || Sudha Murty
Meet these people: Bundle Bindu, so named because he likes his truth with a little embellishment, Jayant the shopkeeper who doesn’t make any profit, and Lunchbox Nalini, Sudha Murty herself, who brings her empty lunchbox—to be filled with food—wherever she goes!
Written in Sudha Murty’s inimitable style, Common Yet Uncommon is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the foibles and quirks of ordinary people. In the fourteen tales that make up the collection, Sudha Murty delves into memories of childhood, life in her hometown and the people she’s crossed paths with. These and the other characters who populate this book do not possess wealth or fame. They are unpolished and outspoken, transparent and magnanimous.
Their stories are tales of unvarnished humans, with faults and big hearts.
Testament to the unique parlance of a small town, Common Yet Uncommon speaks a universal language of what it means to be human.
The Magic of the Lost Temple || Sudha Murty
Discover the magic of the lost temple
Are you a curious person, ready to explore the depths of the magic hidden in the lost temple of Karnataka? Are you ready to join Nooni as she travels around to discover the answers to her questions? If yes, then this book, ‘The Magic of the Lost Temple’ is a must have.
Nooni is a city girl who is very surprised at the unexpected pace of life in her grandparents’ village in the state of Karnataka. Not being fazed with the turn of events, she engages herself in many of the odd jobs that are available in the village. She resorts to doing work like Papad making, organising enjoyable picnics, learning to ride a cycle and a long list of activities with her new found friends.
Join Nooni as things get complex and she discovers something really exciting
Things get far from exciting when Nooni comes across a very ancient stepwell that is located right in the middle of a forest. As she tries to discover the mystery behind this well, the story takes a drastic turn when she unravels things she didn’t envisage before. Join Nooni as she unfolds the secrets linked to this stepwell along with her friends as they bask in the experience of a lifetime.
Unfold the secrets hidden in the forest
Join the very curious character of Nooni as she unfolds the mystery behind the stepwell. Her incessant urge to abstracting information is what leads her on this adventure. This much awaited book by Sudha Murty is indeed a heart-warming listen.
The Magic Drum || Sudha Murty
A princess who thinks she was a bird, a coconut that cost a thousand rupees and a shepherd with a bag of words, kings and misers, princes and paupers, wise men and foolish boys, the funniest and oddest men and women come alive in this sparkling new collection of stories. The clever princess will only marry the man who can ask her a question she cannot answer the orphan boy outwits his greedy uncles with a bag of ash and an old couple in distress is saved by a magic drum. Sudha Murty’s grandparents told her some of these stories when she was a child others she heard from her friends from around the world. These delightful and timeless folk tales have been her favourites for years and she has recounted them many times over to the young people in her life. With this collection, they will be enjoyed by many more people, of all ages.
How the Earth Got Its Beauty || Sudha Murty
Have you ever stopped to marvel at the earth’s beauty: at snow-capped mountains and oceans so deep; at colorful flowers and extraordinary animals? The tale of how such beauty came into existence is a curious one indeed.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Mango Got Its Magic || Sudha Murty
We all love the sweetness of mango and how it quenches our thirst on a hot summer day, but have you ever wondered how the mango got its magical sweetness? The tale of how such sweetness came into existence is a fascinating one indeed. India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this delightful tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Grandparents’ Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
It’s 2020, and children are stuck indoors as the novel coronavirus finds its way into India. A nationwide lockdown is announced, and amidst the growing crisis, Ajja and Ajji welcome their grandchildren and Kamlu Ajji into their house in Shiggaon.
From stitching masks, sharing household chores, preparing food for workers to losing themselves in timeless tales, the lockdown turns into a memorable time for the children as they enter the enchanting world of goddesses, kings, princesses, serpents, magical beanstalks, thieves, kingdoms, and palaces, among others. The myriad stories told by their grandparents become the biggest source of joy, making the children compassionate, worldly-wise and more resilient than ever.
Following the trail of the best-selling Grandma’s Bag of Stories, India’s favorite author Sudha Murty brings to you this collection of immortal tales that she fondly created during the lockdown period for listeners to seek comfort and find the magic in sharing and caring for others. Wonderfully woven in her inimitable style, this book is unputdownable and perfect for every child’s bookshelf!
Grandma’s Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
Memories of a grandparent spinning tales around animals and mysterious characters have kept many of us rapt till date. Sudha Murty’s Grandma’s Bag of Stories is simply delightful. The story starts with Anand, Krishna, Raghu and Meena arriving at their grandparents’ house in Shiggaon. Overjoyed Ajji and Ajja (Grandmother and Grandfather in Kannada) get the house ready, while Ajji prepares delicious snacks for children. Finally, times comes when everyone gathers around Ajji, as she opens her big bag of stories. She tells stories of kings and cheats, princesses and onions, monkeys and mice and scorpions and hidden treasures.
Though unlikely in combination, stories makes perfect sense when Grandma is the one narrating them. This book is ideal for young children and those who are 5+ in age. Stories are accompanied morals. Lucid and simple language of the book make it thoroughly enjoyable.
How the Sea Became Salty || Sudha Murthy
A long, long time ago, seawater was sweet and drinkable. How it became salty is a remarkable story.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Onion Got Its Layers || Sudha Murty
Have you noticed how the onion has so many layers? And have you seen your mother’s eyes water when she cuts an onion? Here is a remarkable story to tell you why.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Here’s your chance to discover the incredible stories and facts about our Indian Armed Forces with Naam Namak Nishan 2: The Ultimate Indian Armed Forces Quiz Book. This quiz will take you through the bravery and legacy of our nation’s heroes, offering you a chance to learn and be inspired by their remarkable contributions.
Dive in, test your knowledge, and celebrate the spirit of our defenders!
This Independence Day, let’s celebrate the India of today—a land shaped by its people, ideas, and dreams. From exploring the pillars of our democracy to discovering the hidden stories of our nation, these books invite you to take pride in being Indian and to understand the forces shaping our modern identity.
Whether you want to be inspired, informed, or simply proud, these reads are your perfect companions.
We, The Citizens || Khyati Pathak, Anupam Manur, Pranay Kotasthane
We, The Citizens, by Khyati Pathak, Anupam Manur and Pranay Kotasthane, decodes public policy in the Indian context in a graphical narrative format relatable to readers of all ages. If you want to be an engaged citizen, aspire to be a positive change-maker, or wish to understand our sociopolitical environment, this book is for you.
The Idea of Democracy || Sam Pitroda
Today global democracy is at a crossroads because of the rise in polarized politics, authoritarian regimes and the use of social media to manipulate and amplify lies, hate and misinformation.
While electoral democracy continues to be the most prevalent form of government, a series of indicators measuring political and civic freedom reveal that the institution of democracy is in deep distress. With the liberal foundations of democracy shakier than ever before, confidence in institutions has plummeted. This book looks at this paradox of so-called democratic success coupled with its liberal decline. It provides a detailed analysis of the essence of democracy, its workings, the kind of values it needs to encapsulate, forces and safeguards which work in liberal democracy’s favour and how they can be preserved.
The Idea of Democracy is meant to stimulate conversation, particularly among the youth on what the idea of democracy means to them and the role that they can play in helping democracy survive—and thrive—in the coming era.
The Republic Relearnt || Radha Kumar
Despite the clear danger of the rise of totalitarianism in India today, The Republic Relearnt aim is to look forward to the moment when democracy will be renewed in the country and ask what lessons can be learnt from past experience to anchor it more firmly when the opportunity arises. It is generally assumed that Indian democracy has had an unbroken run since Independence, with the brief disruption of the 1975–77 Emergency. While those two years saw a stark assault on democratic institutions, Indian democracy had been repeatedly punctured prior to the Emergency, and it has been threatened many times since. The country underwent almost four decades of democracy decay after the founding years of the republic, as compared to the three relatively short-lived waves of democracy renewal. That fact makes an examination of these three waves rather significant.
India’s Forgotten Country || Bela Bhatia
India’s Forgotten Country captures Bela’s early years as an activist in rural Gujarat, her research on the Naxalite movement, her investigations of violations of democratic rights in different regions, and her recent years dealing with the ongoing conflict between the state and Maoists in Bastar. The essays build on first-hand investigations conducted in states ranging from Bihar and Telangana to Rajasthan and Nagaland, besides Kashmir. People such as Deepa Musahar, Kaliben, Muchaki Sukadi, Zarifa Begum, Tareptsuba and others have ample space in this book to speak for themselves.
The Last Heroes || P Sainath
In The Last Heroes, these footsoldiers of Indian freedom tell us their stories. The men, women and children featured in this book are Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, Brahmins, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. They hail from different regions, speak different languages and include atheists and believers, Leftists, Gandhians and Ambedkarites.
The people featured pose the intriguing question: What is freedom? They saw that as going beyond Independence. And almost all of them continued their fight for freedoms long after 1947.
The post-1947 generations need their stories.
To learn what they understood. That freedom and independence are not the same thing. And to learn to make those come together.
Breaking the Mould || Raghuram Rajan, Rohit Lamba
India is at a crossroads today. Its growth rate, while respectable relative to other large countries, is too low for the jobs our youth need. Intense competition in low-skilled manufacturing, increasing protectionism globally and growing automation make the situation still more difficult. Divisive majoritarianism does not help. India broke away from the standard development path—from agriculture to low-skilled manufacturing, then high-skilled manufacturing and, finally, services—a long time back by leapfrogging the intermediate steps. Rather than attempting to revert to development paths that may not be feasible any more, we must embark on a truly Indian path.
The Elephant Moves || Amitabh Kant, Amit Kapoor
Charting out a roadmap for India depends on a sound understanding of how India is unique and why it is shaped the way it is.
The Elephant Moves unfolds a captivating saga, tracing India’s economic journey through the lens of competitiveness. From unraveling economic history (‘origins unveiled”) to navigating global dynamics (“sailing the tides”), the book explores the forces shaping nations. It delves into the facets of many Indias, unveiling opportunities in heterogeneity.
Roadwalker || Dilip D’Souza
The length of India, though. Think of that. The magnitude of it takes my breath away, even months later. When next will I get such an opportunity? As the Yatra got going, through its early days in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, that question began to haunt me. Through those early days, the challenge of finding an answer came to mean something to me. Something deep, profound, elemental. The challenge of the walk, yes. But what it helped me articulate for myself, too. The way it dredged up long-ago experiences, reminded me of what they had meant, wrung new meaning from them now, said things about my country, my family, myself. All in all, it helped me decide — if I wasn’t doing the whole trip, there was a next best thing I could do.’
Dilip D’Souza joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra four times. This is the story of that experience. But even more, this is the story of how he found energy, empathy and enthusiasm in the Yatra. How it spoke to him of renewal. How it filled him, and many others, with hope. ‘This was my chance to make my own slice of personal history,’ he writes. ‘That was enough for me.’
Middle of Diamond India || Shashank Mani
Middle of Diamond India proposes a revolutionary idea – that India has long ignored its largest and most talented segment, citizens in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 districts, its Middle. Replete with characters, anecdotes, insights, research and accounts of an annual pilgrimage on a special train-Jagriti Yatra, and an enterprise ecosystem established in Deoria district, the book outlines a new vision of India focussed on its rising Middle. It proposes a Banyan Revolution over the coming twenty-five years of Amrit Kaal, using the tool of enterprise or Udyamita that can ignite a national renaissance.
Lilliput Land || Rama Bijapurkar
India is already the world’s fifth-largest economy. Unlike most markets of its size, India is, and for a long time will be, driven by lots and lots of small consumers earning and spending just a little bit each, which adds up to an enormous amount. On the supply side, these consumers are served by numerous small, agile suppliers who challenge large companies by innovating to satisfy their price-performance demands. India’s vibrant digital revolution now offers the keys to cracking open this infamously tricky market. Digital business models will be the future of competition as they harness the power of the small and create large-scale businesses in the years to come. Lilliput Land provides a ‘people lens’ to understand the paradoxes and challenges that dot India’s market opportunity, and discusses the drivers and shapers of its future. A comprehensive three-part framework of structure-behaviour-supply discusses the present and future of India’s mega consumption story, the most exciting in the world, with over half of its GDP accounted for by domestic consumption.
India’s journey to Independence is a story of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve, led by extraordinary individuals who shaped the nation’s destiny. As we reflect on their contributions, these 17 books delve deep into the lives of the brave souls who fought for our country, uncovering the true cost of our hard-earned freedom.
Find inspiration in their patriotism, vision, and enduring legacy, which continues to guide and uplift us as a nation even today!
Tilak||Vaibhav Purandare
Before Mahatma Gandhi, there was Bal Gangadhar Tilak – the revolutionary who ignited the spark of Indian nationalism. The Times, London, called him ‘the father of Indian unrest,’ and the one-time Secretary of State for India Edward Montagu felt he had ‘the greatest influence of any person’ on the Indian people. Above all, for the British Raj, Tilak was sedition-monger-in-chief, and it prosecuted him thrice for sedition.
Rediscover an icon of Indian history whose ideas and actions continue to resonate today. Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s story is not just a tale of resistance but a testament to perseverance and conviction.
Being Hindu, Being Indian || Vanya Vaidehi Bhargav
Meticulously researched and eloquently written, Being Hindu, Being Indian offers the first comprehensive examination of Lajpat Rai’s nationalist thought. By revealing the complexities of Rai’s thinking, it provokes us to think more deeply about broader questions relevant to present-day politics: Are all expressions of ‘Hindu nationalism’ the same as Hindutva? What are the similarities and differences between ‘Hindu’ and ‘Indian’ nationalism? Can communalism and secularism be expressed together? How should we understand fluidity in politics? This book invites readers to treat Lajpat Rai’s ideas as a gateway to think more deeply about history, politics, religious identity and nationhood.
Bose || Chandrachur Ghose
There are not many Indian heroes whose lives have been as dramatic and adventurous as that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. That, however, is an assessment of his life based on what is widely known about him. These often revolve around his resignation from the Indian Civil Service, joining the freedom movement, to be exiled twice for over seven years, throwing a challenge to the Gandhian leadership in the Congress, taking up an extremist position against the British Raj, evading the famed intelligence network to travel to Europe and then to Southeast Asia, forming two Governments and raising two armies and then disappearing into the unknown. All this in a span of just two decades.
Pacey, thought-provoking and absolutely unputdownable, Bose: The Untold Story of an Inconvenient Nationalist will open a window to many hitherto untold and unknown stories of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The Foresighted Ambedkar || Anurag Bhaskar
In The Foresighted Ambedkar, Anurag Bhaskar argues that India’s Constitution was drafted not just between 1946 and 1950 but over the course of four decades. Dr Ambedkar was the only person to have been involved at all the stages related to the drafting of the Indian constitutional document since 1919. These stages bear the imprint of his contribution and role.
This Land We Call Home || Nusrat F. Jafri
In 1871, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in India, branding numerous tribes and caste groups as criminals. In This Land We Call Home, Nusrat F. Jafri traces the roots of her nomadic forebears, who belonged to one such ‘criminal’ tribe, the Bhantus from Rajasthan.
This affecting memoir explores religious and multicultural identities and delves into the profound concepts of nation-building and belonging. Nusrat’s family found acceptance in the church, alongside a sense of community, theology, songs and carnivals, and quality education for the children in missionary schools.
M.K. Nambyar || K.K. Venugopal
It is rare to see a lawyer from a district court occupy centre stage in the Supreme Court but M.K. Nambyar achieved this remarkable feat. Starting his practice in a district court in Mangalore, M.K. Nambyar rose to become an eminent constitutional lawyer. Written by his son K.K. Venugopal, a legal luminary himself, this biography provides a fascinating account of Nambyar’s life. It not only describes the man but also recapitulates India’s legal history from the pre-Independence era. The book includes some landmark cases argued by Nambyar that have significantly contributed to the development of constitutional law in India such as A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras and I.C. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab, where he sowed the seeds of the ‘basic structure’ doctrine. These cases continue to guide and inspire lawyers and judges today.
Fighting Retreat || Walter Reid
Winston Churchill was closely connected with India from 1896, when he landed in Bombay with his regiment, until 1947, when Independence was finally achieved. No other British statesman had such a long association with the subcontinent—or interfered in its politics so consistently and harmfully.
Churchill strove to sabotage any moves towards Independence, crippling the Government of India Act over five years of dogged opposition to its passage in the 1930s. As prime minister during the Second World War, Churchill frustrated the freedom struggle from behind the scenes, delaying Independence by a decade. To this day for Indians, he is the imperialist villain, held personally responsible for the Bengal Famine of 1943.
This book reveals Churchill at his worst: cruel, obstructive and selfish. However, the same man was outstandingly liberal at the Colonial Office, risking his career with his generosity to the Boers, the Irish and the Middle East. Why was he so strangely hostile towards India?
Nehru and the Spirit of India || Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee
Jawaharlal Nehru was Plato’s philosopher king, who ‘discovered’ an India that remains an undiscovered possibility. Nehru and the Spirit of India is a critical and nuanced perusal of his intellectual and political legacy.
From the ‘politics of friendship’ between Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah, Nehru’s defense of secularism in the Constituent Assembly Debates, to what propelled Nehru to curb free speech in the First Amendment, Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee draws from political history to illuminate fierce debates in India today: Kashmir, the CAA, and hate speech. Be it contemporary events like the miracle of Ganesha drinking milk and the use of Vedic astrology in Chandrayaan-2, or the agonising suicide of a doctor, the author examines the fractured nature of Indian modernity, which Nehru had suggestively called a ‘garb’. Bhattacharjee bolsters Nehru’s view that India is enriched by the encounter of cultures and that we must not discard the past, but engage with it.
The Discovery of India || Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the book ‘The Discovery of India’, during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar fort for participating in the Quit India Movement (1942 – 1946). The book was written during Nehru’s four years of confinement to solitude in prison and is his way of paying an homage to his beloved country and its rich culture.
The book started from ancient history, Nehru wrote at length of Vedas, Upanishads and textbooks on ancient time and ends during the British raj. The book is a broad view of Indian history, culture and philosophy, the same can also be seen in the television series. The book is considered as one of the finest writing om Indian History. The television series Bharat Ek Khoj which was released in 1988 was based on this book.
Bravehearts of Bharat || Vikram Sampath
History has always been the handmaiden of the victor. ‘Until the lions have their own storytellers,’ said Chinua Achebe, ‘the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter!’ Exploring the lives, times and works of the fifteen long-forgotten and mostly neglected unsung heroes and heroines of our past, this book brings to light the contribution of the warriors who not only donned armour and burst forth into the battlefield but also kept the flame of hope alive under adverse circumstances.
Pacy and unputdownable, Bravehearts of Bharat chronicles the stories of courage, determination and victory, which largely remained untold and therefore unknown for a long time.
Gandhi’s Assassin || Dhirendra K. Jha
Gandhi’s Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India lays bare Godse’s relationship with the organizations that influenced his world view and gave him a sense of purpose. The book draws out the gradual hardening of Godse’s resolve, and the fateful decisions and intrigue that eventually led to, in the chaotic aftermath of India’s independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. On a wintry Delhi evening on 30 January 1948, Godse shot Gandhi at point-blank range, forever silencing the great man. Godse’s journey to this moment of international notoriety from small towns in western India is, by turns, both riveting and wrenching.
Drawing from previously unpublished archival material, Jha challenges the sanitization of Gandhi’s assassination, and offers a stunning view on the making of independent India.
Anarchy Or Chaos || Ole Birk Laursen
Driven by the urge for complete freedom from colonialism, authoritarianism, fascism and militarism, which are rooted in the idea and politics of the nation-state, Acharya fought for an international vision of socialism and freedom. During the tumultuous opening decades of the 1900s—marked by the globalization of radical inter-revolutionary struggles, world wars, the rise of communism and fascism, and the growth of colonial independence movements—Acharya allied himself with pacifists, anarchists, radical socialists and anti-colonial fighters in exile, championing a future free from any form of oppression, whether by colonial rulers or native masters. Drawing on a wealth of archival material, private correspondence and other primary sources, Laursen demonstrates that, among his contemporaries, Acharya’s turn to anarchism was unique and pioneering in the struggle for Indian independence.
Anarchy or Chaos is the first comprehensive study of M. P. T. Acharya. It offers a new understanding of the global and entangled history of anarchism and anti-colonialism in the first half of the twentieth century.
Bhagat Singh || Satvinder S. Juss
The continual tussles over Bhagat Singh’s identity, even more amplified of late, are a testament to the heroic status the man continues to hold in the annals of the Indian freedom struggle. Despite him having addressed his views on religion, politics and activism, there are many willing to forge completely new narratives of his life, and many more willing to believe them.
A timely antidote, this meticulously researched biography is an expansive foray into the life of Bhagat Singh. The volume deliberates upon his family from before when he was born, examining along the way the role that various episodes, policies and people played in shaping the identity of a legendary revolutionary, while also delving into his opinions on important questions of the time. It shines a bright light on the oft-ignored personal influences that made Singh who he was, along with the issue of his contested identity in today’s politics. This is the definitive Bhagat Singh biography of our times.
Anecdotal, candid and evocative, Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye brings to light the true stories from this Army veteran’s life. It focuses on the personal, professional and, most importantly, family life of a soldier in the Army, and will not only provide an insight into the trials and tribulations he faced but will also inspire a wide spectrum of readers, especially young defence aspirants.
Bipin || Rachna Bisht Rawat
Bipin: The Man behind the Uniform is the story of the NDA cadet who was relegated in the third term for not being able to do a mandatory jump into the swimming pool; of the young Second Lieutenant who was tricked into losing his ID card at the Amritsar railway station by a 5/11 Gorkha Rifles officer posing as his sahayak; of the Major with a leg in plaster who was carried up to his company post on the Pakistan border because he insisted on joining his men for Dusshera celebrations under direct enemy observation; of the Army Chief who decided India would retaliate immediately and openly to every act of cross-border terrorism; of the Chief of Defence Staff who was happiest dancing the jhamre with his Gorkha troops.
The Man Who Avenged Bhagat Singh || Abhijeet Bhalerao
In 1929, Bhagat Singh surrenders after a daring bomb attack in the heart of Delhi’s assembly. Behind bars, he prepares for an ideological battle against the empire. However, a shocking betrayal shatters his world.
Phanindra Nath Ghosh, a trusted comrade, becomes a British approver, revealing every secret of the HSRA. His damning testimony leads to multiple arrests, and then the British hang Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdeo. Popularly known as the ‘king’s witness’, he had singlehandedly brought on an armed revolution.
But with their leaders gone and British oppression at its peak, surviving HSRA members rally around one burning desire: revenge. Their target is the man who dismantled their life’s work. But with limited resources, their hopes rest on a lone figure.
From the shadows emerges Baikunth Sukul, an unassuming teacher and devoted admirer of Bhagat Singh. He swears to exact revenge on behalf of the martyrs and the HSRA.
Will he succeed in this nearly impossible mission? What happens when he locks horns with the formidable British Raj? And to what lengths will he go to avenge Bhagat Singh’s death?
India’s journey to Independence was filled with deeds of forgotten heroes. This is one such story of sacrifice and revenge—of a patriot against a traitor, a common man against the empire.
Savarkar || Vikram Sampath
Decades after his death, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar continues to uniquely influence India’s political scenario. An optimistic advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity in his treatise on the 1857 War of Independence, what was it that transformed him into a proponent of ‘Hindutva’? A former president of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar was a severe critic of the Congress’s appeasement politics. After Gandhi’s murder, Savarkar was charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination. While he was acquitted by the court, Savarkar is still alleged to have played a role in Gandhi’s assassination, a topic that is often discussed and debated.
In this concluding volume of the Savarkar series, exploring a vast range of original archival documents from across India and outside it, in English and several Indian languages, historian Vikram Sampath brings to light the life and works of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of the most contentious political thinkers and leaders of the twentieth century.
Step into the world of India’s most powerful stories with Penguin. Through these 10 books, you’ll meet individuals who have broken barriers, stood up against injustice, and shown remarkable strength. These stories highlight the diversity of experiences in India, offering a glimpse into the lives, struggles, and victories of those often overlooked. Discover voices that challenge stereotypes, confront injustices, and inspire change in our society.
Keedajadi/कीड़ाजड़ी || Anil Yadav
क्या आप जानते हैं कि पिंडर घाटी कहाँ है, जोती कौन है, वहाँ की ज़िन्दगी, धाराएँ और ऊँचाइयाँ कैसी हैं?
क्या आप जानते हैं कि पर्वतारोहण के रोमांच भरे खेल का रास्ता किन लोगों की पीठ पर से होकर गुज़रता है?
एक आदमी पहाड़ की बिन बिजली.सड़क.मोबाइल वाली घाटी में प्राइमरी के बच्चों को पढ़ाने जाता है जो दानपुरी बोली और हिन्दी भाषा के बीच पड़ने वाले जंगल में फँसे हुए हैं। यहाँ फसले हँसिया युग से पहले के औज़ारों से काटी जाती हैं, मुसाफ़िरों के भूत दर्द से फटते पैर सेंकने के लिए नमक और गरम पानी मांगने आते हैं, बादल मासिक.धर्म के कारण फटते हैं, भगवान भक्त को अपना मोबाइल नम्बर दे जाते हैं, बच्चे थाली में बैठकर बर्फ़ पर स्कीईंग करते हैं, जवान अपने खेत नहीं पहचानते और सपने, मैदानों के जैसी बराबर ज़मीन पर चलने के आते हैं।
तीन ग्लेशियरों के तिराहे पर बसी इस घाटी में भटकते हुए वह धीरे.धीरे कीड़ाजड़ी निकालने वालों, आदिम पर्वतारोहियों, स्मगलरों, दलालों, अनवालों और जागरियों के संसार में खो जाता है। वह हैरान आँखों से देखता है कि कामेच्छा, ‘विकास’ की लीला वहाँ भी रच सकती है जहाँ पहुँचने में सरकारें भी झेंपती हैं।
अनिल यादव का एक ट्रैवलॉग वह भी कोई देस है महराज दस साल पहले आया था। अब पिंडर नदी के धगधग प्रवाह जैसा यह दूसरा . . .
ये कहानियाँ बताती हैं कि कैसे एक समय टूटी हुई निब बदल पाने में अक्षम अशोक खाड़े की कंपनी दास ऑफशोर आज बॉम्बे हाई में तेल निकालने वाले कुएँ के प्लेटफॉर्म बनाती है। किस तरह कल्पना सरोज ने बंद पड़ी मुंबई की कमानी ट्यूब्स को मुनाफे में ला दिया। कभी मजदूरी करने वाले आगरा के हरी किशन पिप्पल अस्पताल चलाते हैं, और अहमदाबाद की सविताबेन कोलसावाला टाइल्स बनाती हैं, जबकि भावनगर के देवजीभाई मकवाना फिलामेंट यार्न। दलित करोड़पति में ऐसे 15 लोगों की कहानियाँ हैं, जिन्होंने पिछले कुछ सालों में करोड़ों का कारोबार खड़ा कर लिया है। उनकी कहानियाँ यह दिखाती हैं कि उन्होंने कैसे रोड से करोड़ों तक का सफर तय किया। ये कहानियाँ हैं—संघर्ष और सफलता की, सीमाओं के बंधन और उनके टूटने की, जाति और पूँजीवाद की। ये हमें उस जातीय भेदभाव के बारे में भी बताती हैं, जो रोजमर्रा के शहरी जीवन में समाज के सबसे निचले पायदान पर खड़े लोगों को झेलना पड़ता है। ये उनकी ताकत, साहस और लगन के बारे में बताती हैं, जो सारी रुकावटों के बावजूद ऊपर उठ सके और उन लोगों के लिए एक मिसाल बन गए, जिनमें आगे बढ़ने और सपने देखने का साहस है। —सुरिंदर जोधका समाजशास्त्री, जेएनयू.
Omprakash Valmiki ki Yaadgari Kahaniyan || Omprakash Valmiki
स्त्री को पुरुष समाज कितना भी कमज़ोर समझे, लेकिन वह कमज़ोर नहीं है। ओमप्रकाश वाल्मीकि ने अपनी कहानियों में ऐसी ही अदम्य साहस से परिपूर्ण स्त्रियों का चित्रण किया है। वाल्मीकि जी की कहानियों में सिर्फ दलित चिंतन ही नहीं है बल्कि स्त्री शोषण, अत्याचार आदि पर भी उनकी लेखनी उतनी ही पैनी है, जितनी दलित शोषण और चिंतन को लेकर। अपनी कहानियों के माध्यम से वाल्मीकि जी ने समाज तथा परिवार में हो रहे स्त्री शोषण का बहुत ही बारीकी से चित्रण किया है। इनकी कहानियों में स्त्री पात्रों तथा उनके शोषण को पढ़कर ऐसा लगता है कि ये स्त्री चरित्र सिर्फ वाल्मीकि की कहानियों का ही प्रतिनिधित्व नहीं करतीं, बल्कि हमारे समाज की अधिकांश स्त्रियों का प्रतिनिधित्व करती हैं। जो हमेशा इस समस्या से टकराती है। यह समस्या हमारे समाज में कोढ़ की तरह है जो दिन पर दिन घटने के बजाय बढ़ती जा रही है। हम 21वीं सदी के प्रांगण में प्रवेश तो कर गए हैं लेकिन स्त्री के प्रति हमारा जो नज़रिया है वह आज भी पुरातन वाला है। समाज के नज़रिए का प्रतिरोध करती वाल्मीकि जी की ये यादगारी कहानियॉं अपने आपमें बेजोड़ हैं।
The Truth About Me || A Revathi, REVATHI A
Revathi was born a boy, but felt and behaved like a girl. In telling her life story, Revathi evokes marvellously the deep unease of being in the wrong body that plagued her from childhood. To be true to herself, to escape the constant violence visited upon her by her family and community, the village-born Revathi ran away to Delhi to join a house of hijras. Her life became an incredible series of dangerous physical and emotional journeys to become a woman and to find love. The Truth about Me is the unflinchingly courageous and moving autobiography of a hijra who fought ridicule, persecution and violence both within her home and outside to find a life of dignity.
Seeing Like A Feminist || Menon Nivedita, Nivedita Menon
THE WORLD THROUGH A FEMINIST LENS
For Nivedita Menon, feminism is not about a moment of final triumph over patriarchy but about the gradual transformation of the social field so decisively that old markers shift forever. From sexual harassment charges against international figures to the challenge that caste politics poses to feminism, from the ban on the veil in France to the attempt to impose skirts on international women badminton players, from queer politics to domestic servants’ unions to the Pink Chaddi campaign, Menon deftly illustrates how feminism complicates the field irrevocably.
Incisive, eclectic and politically engaged, Seeing like a Feminist is a bold and wide-ranging book that reorders contemporary society.
A Brief History of the Present || Hilal Ahmed
A Brief History of the Present attempts to go beyond the obvious to rethink the role of minorities, specifically Muslims, in the ‘New India’ that has revealed itself since 2014. By diving deep into the complexities of Muslim identity and its role in everyday life while at the same time viewing the Muslim communities through a historical lens, the author attempts to provide a far more accurate picture of Indian Muslims than what is perceived currently.
Terminal 3: A Graphic Novel set in Kashmir || Debasmita Dasgupta
It’s August 2019 and Khwab Nazir is waiting to board the plane at Terminal 3 of New Delhi International Airport. Set to represent India at an international jiu-jitsu tournament, Khwab nervously looks towards her unknown future. She also reflects on her complicated past-of growing up against the insurmountable difficulties of life in Kashmir.
Between happiness and emptiness, desire and grief, penance and peace-Khwab has endured. She has a dream that life will be a paradise, one day. Breathing against the backdrop of conflict, Terminal 3, is the story of the everyday people striving to live their dreams in the Valley.
Bipathu and a Very Big Dream || Anita Nair
When school reopens in the village of Kaikurussi after the pandemic lockdown, nine-year-old Bipathu makes new friends-Madama, a blind lady who has moved to the village, Maash, a neighbour, Rahul, a boy who loves football as much as she does, and Duggu, a rescued puppy. When Madama gifts Bipathu’s brother Saad, a special needs child, a pair of braces, Bipathu starts believing in the power of the universe. So, when Suleiman, the class bully, roughs up Rahul to prevent him from training for the football match selections, Bipathu looks to the universe for help.
While Bipathu and Saad, along with Duggu, help Rahul ace up his game, will her own dream of playing football ever come true?
When Blackbirds Fly (Not Our War series) || Hannah Lalhlanpuii
Life is sweet growing up in Aizawl, with his family and friends, and all the narrator wants is a peaceful life. But the independence movement in Mizoram means that regardless of what he wants, he is drawn inexorably into a world where everyone has to choose where they stand …
Set in the initial stages of the two-decade-long struggle for Mizoram’s independence and against the backdrop of the 1966 bombing of Aizawl, this stunning debut novel is an universal story of how individual dreams and lives are shattered when larger conflicts arise.
Unfair || Rasil Ahuja
Auditions are on for the seventh grade annual play. Lina sets her heart and sights on the lead role, but the drama teacher seems to think Lina isn’t the right shade for the part. All Lina wants is a #FAIRCHANCE to try out for the role. Will narrow-minded Miss Deepa derail Lina’s dream?
Meher finds maths far more interesting, and less dramatic, than Macbeth. When her extroverted BFF Lina suddenly becomes distraught and withdrawn, Meher tries to figure out what she may have done wrong, but things just don’t seem to add up. Will their friendship fade or will Meher find a solution to this problem and score #FRIENDSHIPGOALS?
As the monsoon rains sweep across India, August arrives not just with showers but with the spirit of freedom and celebration. This month, as we commemorate India’s Independence, there’s a delightful collection of new books perfect for cozying up indoors. Whether you’re in the mood for exciting thrillers, inspirational self-help, or simply want to experience the magic of romance, these new releases have something for every reader.
Celebrate the monsoon and the spirit of independence with a good book!
Did you know that an IAF officer commanded the Ghana Air Force as its first air chief? Or that the Teen Murti Memorial honours Indian soldiers from the princely states of Jodhpur, Hyderabad and Mysore who fought in World War I? Or that an iconic Indian military vehicle’s name is actually an acronym honouring its city of origin? Or that a British lady anthropologist once led an intelligence-gathering guerrilla unit in the North-east and was called the ‘Queen of the Nagas’?
Find out the answers to these and more in Naam, Namak, Nishan 2, the much-awaited sequel to Naam, Namak, Nishan—India’s first quiz book on Indian military trivia that connects the Indian Armed Forces to more topics, exploring trivia in new, engaging formats. Written by a team of quizzer-doctors from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, this is military history like you’ve never read before.
A Brief History of the Present || Hilal Ahmed
A Brief History of the Present attempts to go beyond the obvious to rethink the role of minorities, specifically Muslims, in the ‘New India’ that has revealed itself since 2014. By diving deep into the complexities of Muslim identity and its role in everyday life while at the same time viewing the Muslim communities through a historical lens, the author attempts to provide a far more accurate picture of Indian Muslims than what is perceived currently.
A Woman on a Suitcase || Shazaf Fatima Haider
Newly married Seema Hyderi is tired of being thrown out of her husband’s house. Now, sitting on her suitcase after a third eviction, she has a choice to make: obey her husband and submit, or listen to her instinct and leave forever.
The consequences of her decision will take Seema on a journey: from a world of unloving mothers and manipulative matchmakers to new avenues filled with anxiety, exploration and pleasure. In delightful prose filled with wicked humour and immense pathos, Haider takes Seema and her suitcase on a rollercoaster ride from Karachi to London and back again.
Bird Milk and Mosquito Bones || Priyanka Mattoo
Priyanka Mattoo was born into a wooden house in the Himalayas, as were most of her ancestors. In 1989, however, mounting violence in the region forced Mattoo’s community to flee. The home into which her family poured their dreams was reduced to a pile of rubble.
Mattoo never moved back to her beloved Kashmir—because it no longer existed. She and her family just kept packing and unpacking and moving on. In forty years, Mattoo accumulated thirty-two different addresses, and she chronicles her nomadic existence with wit, wisdom, and an inimitable eye for light within the darkest moments.
From Chaos to Calm || Gauranga Darshan Das
From Chaos to Calm by spiritual guru Gauranga Darshan Das is an enlivening journey designed to help you break free from the shackles of chaos. With a global reputation for insightful wisdom and authorship of over thirty-five illuminating books, Gauranga Darshan Das unveils a transformative road map drawn from the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita, revealing 108 life-enriching practices.
India’s Near East || Avinash Paliwal
This book scripts a new history of India’s eastward-looking diplomacy and statecraft. Narrated against the backdrop of separatist resistance within India’s own northeastern states, as well as rivalry with Beijing and Islamabad in Myanmar and Bangladesh, it offers a simple but compelling argument. The aspirations of ‘Act East’ mask an uncomfortable truth: India privileges political stability over economic opportunity in this region. In his chronicle of a state’s struggle to overcome war, displacement and interventionism, Avinash Paliwal lays bare the limits of independent India’s influence in its near east.
Jamsetji Tata || Harish Bhat, R Gopalakrishnan
Jamsetji Tata pioneered modern Indian industry. He has been a key catalyst in the economic growth and development of the country.
From Empress Mills to the Iron and Steel Plant, from the establishment of Indian Institue of Science to the building of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Jamsetji’s vision made India stand tall. In this carefully researched account, R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat provide insights into the entrepreneurial principles of Jamsetji that helped create such a successful and enduring enterprise.
Poles Apart || Aditya Sondhi
Poles Apart is a unique and original investigation of the comparative roles of the military, to study their influences on the growth of democracy in the two nations. The book highlights the divisive outcomes of military coups on Pakistan’s democratic trajectory while also closely analysing potential scenarios in India when the army could have gone astray, but chose to stay apolitical.
Ravana’s Lanka || Sunela Jayewardene
Demonized as he was after his death, the reign of King Ravana of Lanka, and his ancestors, the powerful Mayuranga, has long been obscured and shrouded in myth. Once, their kingdom is believed to have reached beyond the shores of the island, capturing lands across the seas—a kingdom of that magnitude was never seen again on Lanka. In a bid to shed light on this lost era, Sunela Jayewardene travelled through Sri Lanka, and listened to the storytellers and poets, researched Sri Lanka’s folklore, sifted through race and religion . . . to stitch together a history of a forgotten landscape.
This remarkable, vivid book is the story Sunela learnt of King Ravana and the kingdom that he lost.
Shaping the Future of Work || Chandrasekhar Sripada
This book not only addresses the challenges of building an inclusive human capital framework for India but also highlights some unconventional ideas around work and models of employment which can create this much-needed inclusion. It is imperative that we adapt and shape the future of work possibilities around flexibility. By doing so, we can considerably address India’s jobs and employment challenges.
Shiva || Nityanand Charan Das
Lord Shiva, the most mystical and enigmatic deity of the Vedic pantheon, remains the most popular and yet, the least understood personality.
From being the destroyer to the most compassionate, being the personification of anger to the one who is easily pleased, living a life of complete detachment from the material to blessing his worshipers with material opulence, he remains a perfect puzzle to most.
Lord Shiva is often depicted in deep meditation, symbolizing transcendence and inner peace. With his third eye, he represents wisdom and insight, capable of both annihilating ignorance and bestowing enlightenment. As the lord of renunciation, he challenges devotees to transcend worldly attachments and embrace spiritual ascension. Yet, he is also the benevolent protector, offering solace and guidance to those in need.
Strategic Conundrums || Rajiv Sikri
Strategic Conundrums: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy focuses on India’s immediate and strategic neighbourhood. It also looks at important issues like energy security, economic diplomacy, the interaction between defence and diplomacy, and foreign policy institutions. A unique feature of the book is that it combines the perspectives of a historian, a diplomat and a scholar. With many new out-of-the-box ideas and policy suggestions, it makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate on foreign policy within India’s strategic community.
The Art of Laziness || Library Mindset
Do you constantly feel unmotivated to work on your dreams?
If the answer is yes, then this book is for you. Laziness stops us from enjoying the little time we have. It doesn’t help you accomplish your goals. It stops you from starting anything new. It makes your life miserable.
This book will teach you:
How to overcome laziness
How to stop procrastination
How to improve your productivity
The Big Book of Odia Literature || Manu Dash
With a literary history spanning centuries, the languages of Odisha have found myriad expression in prose, poetry, mythology, history, and politics. The Big Book of Odia Literature goes where very few have dared—into a history of language, literature and song that can be traced back all the way to the tenth century.
In this careful curation, The Big Book curates essays, stories, poems, and plays that have defined the culture of a state and a people. A first of its kind, the volume is for lovers of linguistic history and literary traditions.
The Book of Compassion || His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, Pooja Pande
In the post-pandemic world, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi thrashes out the idea to cultivate compassion and why honest concern for others is the key factor in improving our day-to-day lives. From inequalities to injustice to climate change, the influence of Gandhi to ancient Indian and Tibetan knowledge system, importance of education for children, and the idea of an interconnected world, among others, in The Book of Compassion two globally renowned spiritual and moral leaders reveal their vision for a globalized compassion that promotes freedom, joy and inner peace.
Candid, anecdotal and absolutely unputdownable, this book is your perennial source of courage, compassion and wisdom.
The Satvic Revolution || Subah Saraf, Harshvardhan Saraf
If you are looking for a practical guide to help you achieve peak health, increased energy in your day, optimal weight and a calm mindset even amidst chaos, then The Satvic Revolution is for you.
Authors Subah and Harshvardhan, co-founders of the Satvic Movement, battled chronic diseases for many years. After trying all available solutions with no success, they turned to natural health wisdom. They adopted seven life-changing habits, using which, they were able to fully heal themselves. In this book, they share these with you.
These habits draw from the best of both worlds―ancient wisdom and modern science. While the first four elevate your physical health, the last three focus on deeper aspects that are often overlooked―your mental and spiritual health.
The Right Guy || Tarun Vikash
Dhruv meets Avni in college and falls head over heels in love with her. But he never musters the courage to confess his love fearing that she would reject him. They graduate from college and go their separate ways.
Four years later, Dhruv is in Goa with his family on vacation. As luck would have it, Avni is in the same hotel as Dhruv. Will Dhruv tell her how he feels, all these years later? And will Avni reciprocate his love or has she already found her perfect someone?
Based on a true story, The Right Guy is a heartwarming story about finding the courage to express love, knowing the other person may not feel the same way. It’s about taking chances and maybe, just maybe, finding the right guy along the way.
The Power of Ignored Skills || Manoj Tripathi
Do you want to know how the skills we tend to ignore play a significant role in our success? How did scientific observations lead to important inventions? How did the Suez Canal help Mumbai become a business hub? How do world leaders use communication skills to achieve their objectives? How do MNCs use the power of purpose to connect with customers and employees? Why is India left behind in the economic race? And how did fire help humans become wiser?
Through various examples and stories, all the above questions are answered in The Power of Ignored Skills. This book not only highlights problems but also offers solutions for some of the most complex challenges. With more than fifty examples and case studies, this book is a handy resource for a student, a learner or anyone climbing the corporate ladder.
The DMK Years || R Kannan
The DMK’s pioneering public distribution system and welfare populism have been a model for other states. Of late, the party has touted its ‘Dravidian Model’ of development as a viable national alternative. Its renewed emphasis on Tamil cultural nationalism and cooperative federalism aims to counter the current majoritarian political narrative.
Yet, seventy-five years later, the DMK is more than ever under assault from caste and ultra-nationalist elements and persisting charges of unjust enrichment and dynastic politics.
At this pivotal moment in history, as the ethos of Indianness is being redefined, veteran political observer and commentator R. Kannan explores the trajectory of the DMK and its future direction. Drawing on a substantial body of first-hand accounts, The DMK Years narrates the story of the party objectively and in its entirety, making this volume essential to understanding the contours of Tamil Nadu politics.
The Smart and the Dumb || Vishal Vasanthakumar
Education achieves many things—it pulls people out of poverty, enables socio-economic mobility and promises a route to dignity. But what does education mean to different people, what does it do and whose needs are being met by education?
Even as globalization and formal education have established themselves as unquestionable truths, only a privileged few have cornered its benefits. In this process, education is being reconceived and its promises are being rewritten. Today, there clearly is more to education than going to school, getting credentials and getting a job.
This book is an attempt to capture what this ‘more’ is, by exploring education’s connections to caste, class and gender and understanding how they affect the promise of education. In documenting the fractured realities of the many children who want guns for Christmas and the psychological trauma of conflict in Manipur, how a ban on toddy-tapping affects educational choices in Tamil Nadu or why a grandmother chose to get her fifteen-year-old granddaughter married to a seventeen-year-old truck driver in rural Rajasthan and many such stories, this book attempts to paint a portrait of the political and cultural processes that affect education.
Tilak || Vaibhav Purandare
Hailed as ‘Lokmanya’ or ‘One Revered by the People,’ Tilak transformed India’s fight for freedom from polite discourse to a mass uprising. His fierce writings, relentless activism, and controversial stances earned him the title ‘enemy of the British government’ from the Raj, which saw him as its greatest threat. And at a time the British were undermining Indian self-esteem and dismissing Indians as ‘uncivilized heathens,’ Tilak argued powerfully and relentlessly that there was much of enormous value in India’s past, its culture, heritage and civilization, awakening Indians to a sense of their own identity. This definitive biography traces Tilak’s journey from his early days in Konkan to his influential role across India, highlighting his battles against the British, imprisonments, and commitment to Swaraj.
August is finally here, and it’s bringing a bunch of exciting new children’s books! This month’s releases are packed with fun stories and adventures that are sure to keep young readers hooked. Looking to refresh your child’s bookshelf? Scroll down to find the perfect new read for them!
Men of Steel || Tanushree Podder
From the frigid heights of the Himalayas to the scorching deserts of the west and the humid wetlands in the east, India’s borders mirror the nation’s diversity. Amidst these rugged landscapes, Indian soldiers battle not only the enemy but also the unforgiving terrain.
Within these pages, meet extraordinary heroes like Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum, and Lance Naik Albert Ekka. Their valour, akin to that of Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Naik Digendra Kumar and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, forever serves as a guiding light, inspiring us with courage and resilience.
Baloo’s Big Win || Mamta Nainy, Saumya Oberoi
‘Does anyone really win when not everyone gets to play?’
Right from his childhood, Baloo loved cricket. But he lived at a time when the rules of the game weren’t fair. Despite being a great bowler, he wasn’t allowed on the team because he was from a lower caste. Not one to give up easily, Baloo worked hard and was eventually picked to play on the team. But even after this, he wasn’t allowed to mix freely with his teammates.
Could Baloo overcome this obstacle and change the game of cricket?
Grandpa’s Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
Join Anoushka, Krishna, Meenu and Raghu along with Ajja-Ajji on their adventure to Mayawati, a beautiful hilly region in Uttarakhand. Little do they know their trip will be filled with unexpected magic as, this time, their dear Ajja becomes their new storyteller. Amidst snow-capped mountains and towering deodar trees, Ajja weaves tales of kings and princesses, mermaids and bitter gourds, imparting wisdom and compassion along the way.
As the children explore the mountains, they make new friends, learn about Pahadi folk traditions, marvel at breathtaking sunsets and travel to various destinations.
From the bestselling author of Grandma’s Bag of Stories and Grandparents’ Bag of Stories, Sudha Murty, comes another collection of immersive, captivating and sensorial tales with an exciting new twist!
A Melody in Mysore || Shruthi Rao
Mysore, 1932
The rest of India is ablaze with the fervour of the freedom movement, but Mysore remains tranquil under the maharaja’s benevolent rule. For twelve-year-old Leela, the movement feels distant, just words in the pages of newspapers—until Malathi Akka moves into her neighbourhood, bringing with her thrilling ideas, new perspectives, and . . . a gramophone!
As Leela gets swept up by the winds of change, it dawns on her that participation in the freedom struggle can take on forms she hasn’t even imagined . . .
The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.
Rebellion in Ranchi || Swati Sengupta
Ranchi district, 1915
Sibu’s life is changing as the Oraons who live in the forests of Chota Nagpur, are slowly moving to the Tana Bhagat movement, where they begin to protest the injustices that the zamindars and the British Raj perpetrate on the Adivasis. And by stories of German Baba, who will help defeat the British in the Great War and bring freedom to the Oraons and to India.
Yet, though the Tana Bhagats follow the path of non-violence, violence is rearing its head in the world around them . . .
The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.
