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Secrets and Betrayal – Ponniyin Selvan Continues

Ponniyin Selvan continues its epic tale of ambition and betrayal, beautifully translated by Gowri Ramnarayan. Don’t miss the exclusive excerpt!

Front Cover The Cyclone: Ponniyin Selvan 2
The Cyclone: Ponniyin Selvan 2 || Kalki, Gowri Ramnarayan

 

It is the twilight hour at Kodikkarai. Peace reigns on land and sea. Fishing boats and catamarans are returning to the shore. The seabirds are flying home after ranging over the coastal waters in search of prey.

 

The beach is carpeted with white sand. Beyond the sandy stretch, the wilderness spreads thick and far. No branch moves on the trees, no leaf stirs. Silence prevails everywhere. The reddening sun hastens to sink on the horizon, while still lighting up the few clouds trying to hide his crimson rays.

 

A small boat floats on the waters close to the shore. Little waves rock the boat like an infant’s cradle.

 

A young girl is seated on the boat. As soon as we set eyes on her, we are reminded of Sendan Amudan’s description of his uncle’s daughter. Yes, she has to be Poonkuzhali—the girl with the flower in her hair. True to her name, a single screw pine petal is tucked into her long black tresses cascading over her strong, chiselled shoulders. She wears a necklace of shells and conches that had been washed ashore. These adornments gain in beauty because she is wearing them.

 

Leaning lithely on the boat, Poonkuzhali begins to sing. Does the sea lull its waves to hear her song? Do the gusting breezes waft in slow motion to catch those strains? The trees in the distant woods cease rustling, while the earth and sky remain unmoving. Entranced by her song, the sun halts on the horizon unwilling to sink into the sea. Let us listen to the song as it comes floating on the breeze.

 

When the restless ocean lies tranquil,
why do inner tides seethe and churn?
When the earth is buried in slumber,
why does a cussed heart heave and burn?

 

See, how birds of the wilderness
now wing their way to their nests.
See, how the hunters and tribesmen
turn homeward for a night of rest.

 

They lie plunged in an ancient silence,
both land and sky in a swoon.
Why then is a doe-eyed woman’s heart
seized by a nameless typhoon?

 

The sea is swathed in stillness
and the breezes blow, tender and balmy.

Why then is a woman’s heart battered,
by these night gales, swirling and stormy?

 

When the restless ocean lies tranquil,
why do inner tides seethe and churn?
When the earth is buried in slumber,
why does a cussed heart heave and burn?

 

The grief in her heart remains unknown. The pain in her voice remains untold. Was the song shaped with tears? Why should her melody overwhelm us? Why does it break our hearts? Poonkuzhali ceases singing. She plies the oars until the boat reaches the shore. She skips out, drags her boat towards the catamarans heaped together on the beach and props her boat against them.

 

There! The fire has been lit on top of the lighthouse. The flames will keep burning all night to warn the ships to keep off the coast. The waters are extremely shallow all along the Kodikkarai shore. Only small boats and catamarans can land there. Large ships would be mired in the sands. And if they approached at a high speed, they could run aground and be splintered. The Kodikkarai lighthouse renders a great service to seamen.

 

In the middle of the woods on the other side, a temple spire rises above trees squat and thick. The god Kuzhagar is enshrined under it. Two hundred years before our story begins, the poet Sundarar had visited Kodikkarai, worshipped the god who dwelt in the lonely woods and sang in distress, ‘Alas! Lord! Why do you dwell in the middle of these mangrove woods, alone, with no one for company? When there are scores of sacred towns, thronged by crowds of pilgrims singing your praises, why have you chosen to remain in this dreadful forest, in utter solitude?’

 

In the wild, beside the sea
Where biting winds do sharply blow
My sinful eyes are forced to see
You standing still in solitude
Forlorn—
With none to bear you company
My Lord!

 

What’s the harm if you should dwell
In bustling towns with devotees,
Whose chants and songs and praises swell
In joyful bursts of jubilance?
But you—
Still linger in this thorny dell
Dear Lord!

 

The grief in her heart remains unknown. The pain in her voice remains untold. Was the song shaped with tears? Why should her melody overwhelm us? Why does it break our hearts?

 

Poonkuzhali ceases singing. She plies the oars until the boat reaches the shore. She skips out, drags her boat towards the catamarans heaped together on the beach and props her boat against them.

 

***

 

Get your copy of The Cyclone: Ponniyin Selvan 2 by Kalki on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

The Epic Saga You Can’t Miss – Ponniyin Selvan Is More Than Just a Film!​

As Sundara Chozha, emperor of the Chozha kingdom, lies unwell, powerful minister Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar plots to deny Crown Prince Aditta Karikalan the throne. Aditta sends his friend Vandiyatevan to warn the emperor and his sister Kundavai Devi. Will Vandiyatevan outsmart the conspirators, and can Kundavai protect her family? Start with Fresh Floods — don’t miss the exclusive excerpt!

Front Cover First Flood: Ponniyin Selvan 1
First Flood: Ponniyin Selvan 1 || Kalki, Gowri Ramnarayan

 

At times, a trifling incident sets off events of great significance. Such an incident occurred in Vandiyatevan’s life at that very moment.

 

Vandiyatevan had been standing by the street and watching Pazhuvettaraiyar’s retinue go by. The last few troopers happened to catch sight of his horse, standing at a little distance.

 

One of them exclaimed, ‘Dei! Look at that horse!’ A jester among them quipped, ‘First of all, make sure whether it is a horse or a donkey.’

 

‘We will,’ said another as he approached the horse and tried to mount it. Recognizing that the man was not his master, the intelligent animal bucked and shied, refusing to allow the stranger to get on its back.

 

‘Cranky beast! He will allow only a member of an ancient royal clan to mount him! In that case, Tanjavur Mutharaiyan will have to return to ride this horse!’ This wisecrack drew much laughter as the Mutharaiyan clan had been extinct for well over a century. The Chozha flag with its tiger emblem flew over Tanjavur now.

 

Another gagster interposed, ‘Tandavaraya! Make sure that he’s a real horse and not the dummy horse from the temple festival!’

 

‘Let me check it out,’ Tandavarayan retorted as he twisted the animal’s tail. The horse kicked its hind legs and galloped away.

 

‘He is running! A real horse after all!’ The men’s cries incited the horse to run faster through the crowd of pilgrims gathered for the temple festival. A stampede ensued as people tried to save themselves from being trampled under the horse’s hoofs. But a few people did get hurt as the animal ran amok in a wild frenzy.

 

All this happened in a twinkling. From the look on his face, Azhvarkadiyan guessed that the horse belonged to Vandiyatevan.

 

‘Tambi! See what the Pazhuvur louts have done! Why don’t you show them the bravado you showed me?
Vandiyatevan was roused to fury but managed to keep it under control. The Pazhuvur men were large in number. It would be folly to attack them. Nor did they wait to engage with him. They moved on, guffawing over the runaway horse.

 

Vandiyatevan followed the horse in the direction it had taken. He knew that it would come to a halt after a short sprint. But the thought impressed itself firmly on his mind that, one day, he should teach a sharp lesson to the arrogant men of Pazhuvettaraiyar’s company.

 

He found the horse standing sadly all by himself in a deserted tamarind grove. The animal neighed at him in reproach. ‘Why did you abandon me to face this trouble?’

 

Vandiyatevan led it back to the road with a comforting pat. Several voices upbraided him, ‘Why did you bring this wild horse into the crowd? It kicked so many people to the ground!’ Others tried to mollify the accusers by saying, ‘What can this young man do, or the horse for that matter, when the mishap was caused by the Pazhuvur men?’

 

Azhvarkadiyan was still waiting on the street. Vandiyatevan scowled in exasperation, thinking, ‘What a pain! Why won’t he leave me alone?’

 

‘Where are you going?’ Azhvarkadiyan asked.

 

‘I? Well, I go west, take a turn to the south, go around to the east, then move along to the southwest.’

 

‘All I want to know is, where are you spending the night?’ ‘Why do you want to know?’

 

‘I have something to do in Sambuvaraiyar’s mansion at Kadambur, in case you are planning to stay there.’

 

‘Are you a magician? How do you know I am going to the Kadambur palace?’

 

‘You don’t need magic to know that! Guests from many different places are bound for Kadambur today. Why, Pazhuvettaraiyar and his retinue are going there.’

 

‘Is that so?’ Vandiyatevan exclaimed in surprise.

 

‘Didn’t you know? The elephant, palanquin and other gifts of honour have been dispatched from the Kadambur palace to welcome Pazhuvettaraiyar.’

 

Vandiyatevan fell into a reverie. To lodge anywhere with Pazhuvettaraiyar as a fellow guest was by no means an everyday occurrence. He might even find a chance to get acquainted with the great warrior. However, he could not get over his bitterness in his encounter with the Pazhuvur troopers.

 

‘Tambi! Will you do me a favour?’ Azhvarkadiyan pleaded.

 

‘What can I do for you? I am new to these parts.’

 

‘I am not asking for anything you cannot do. Take me with you to the Kadambur palace today.’

 

‘Why? Is some Saiva to be found there with whom you can argue about whether Siva or Vishnu is the greater god?’

 

‘No. Don’t think I am interested only in wrangling. A grand dinner will be served at the Kadambur palace tonight. Various entertainments will be showcased after dinner. I want to see the kuravai koothu12 performance!’

 

***

 

Get your copy of First Flood Ponniyin Selvan 1 by Kalki  on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Listen to the Legacy of Tata – A Walk Down Memory Lane

There’s nothing like the joy of immersing ourselves in a good story especially when we can listen to it on-the-go or in the comfort of our homes. This carefully curated selection of audiobooks offers a rich selection of tales that transport us to new worlds, deepen our understanding, and fill our days with inspiration and excitement. Plug in, sit back, and let these stories keep you company as we remember the Tatas and their contribution to the nation.

 

Audiobook Cover Tatalog
Tatalog || Harish Bhat

 

Tatalog presents eight riveting and hitherto untold stories about the strategic and operational challenges that Tata companies have faced over the past two decades and the forward thinking and determination that have raised the brand to new heights. From Tata Indica, the first completely Indian car; to the jewelry brand Tanishq; and Tata Finance, which survived several tribulations, Tatalog, written by a Tata insider, reveals the DNA of every Tata enterprise – a combination of being pioneering, purposive, principled, and “not perfect”.

Audiobook Cover Beyond the Last Blue Mountain
Beyond the Last Blue Mountain || R M Lala

 

“His vision made giants out of men and organizations.” A pioneer, an adventurer, a great industrialist and a caring, courageous human being…the story of J.R.D. Tata is fascinating. His biography is the tale of determination, integrity and prodigious intelligence.

Audiobook Cover The Story of Tata 1868 to 2021
The Story of Tata 1868 to 2021 || Peter Casey

 

One day, the headlines boldly declared that the chairman of the board of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry, had been fired. What went wrong? In this exclusive and authorized book, insiders of the Tata businesses open up to Peter Casey for the first time to tell the story. From its humble beginnings as a mercantile company to its growth as a successful yet philanthropic organization to its recent brush with Mistry, this is a book that every business-minded individual must hear.

Audiobook Cover The Learning Factory
The Learning Factory || Arun Maira

 

Founded in 1868 by Jamshetji Tata, the Tata Group symbolizes the great Indian story of hope, growth and phenomenal success.The group played the role of a nation builder in post- independent India. In The Learning Factory, Arun Maira narrates people-centric episodes that bring alive the values of the Tata Group, standards that combine the high-velocity practices as well as the old-fashioned principles that make the Tata Group the giant it is today.

Audiobook Cover The Tata Group
The Tata Group || Shashank Shah

 

With over 100 companies offering products and services across 150 countries, 700,000 employees contributing a revenue of US $100 billion, the Tata Group is India’s largest and most globalized business conglomerate. A deepdive into the Tata universe, The Tata Group brings forth hitherto lesser-known facts and insights. It also brings you face-to-face with the most intriguing business decisions and their makers. How did Tata Motors turn around Jaguar Land Rover when Ford failed to do so? Why wasn’t TCS listed during the IT boom? Why wasn’t Tata Steel’s Corus acquisition successful?

Audiobook Cover #Tata Stories
#Tata Stories || Harish Bhat

 

The Tatas have a legacy of nation-building over 150 years. Dancing across this long arc of time are thousands of beautiful, astonishing stories, many of which can inspire and provoke us, even move us to meaningful action in our own lives.#TataStories is a collection of little-known tales of individuals, events, and places from the Tata Group that have shaped the India we live in today.

Audiobook Cover Jamsetji Tata
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. In this carefully researched account, R. Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat provide insights into the entrepreneurial principles of Jamsetji that helped created such a successful and enduring enterprise. Interwoven with engaging real-life stories and interesting anecdotes that went into the making of India’s popular brands such as Tata Tea, Tata Motors, Titan and Tanishq, this unique account brings alive the vision of Jamsetji Tata and what we can learn from it.

 

India on the Move – Protests, Politics, and a Nation in Transition

When protests erupted at JNU, students found themselves labeled as “anti-nationals,” sparking a nationwide debate on patriotism. Slogans like Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram transformed from symbols of pride into charged political expressions. This book explores these events, from JNU to the farmers’ protests, unearthing the deepening divides over what it means to be truly patriotic.

Read the excerpt below for a powerful glimpse into India’s evolving identity.

Front Cover India on the Move
India on the Move || Marya Shakil, Narendra Nath Mishra

 

Time: Sometime in 2019

Place: A WhatsApp group of friends

 

Adnan: Not sure how all of you will take my comments but the political situation really worries me. Over the last five years the BJP has polarized votes to such an extent that political parties are shying away from giving tickets to Muslim candidates. I mean they feel just by doing it, it will cost them the Hindu vote bank.

 

Ahmed: You are right, the Congress, in particular, has reduced the number of tickets to Muslims due to fear that it will backfire electorally. No one is really willing to confront the BJP on its practice of exclusion of Muslims. They are afraid of being branded pro-Muslim, and therefore anti-Hindu.

 

Mohammad Sajjad: Truly. I believe this whole concept of Hindu majoritarianism is aimed at making India’s Muslims electorally irrelevant.

 

Ahmed: I think the fault also lay in the fact that the Congress looked at Muslims only as a ‘vote bank’ and did little to promote leadership within the community.

 

Mohammad Ashfaq: I don’t even think it is just a Muslim issue. I think the Congress, for one, needs to rethink its politics not just for the sake of Muslims but to salvage its own image as a party that is committed to the constitutional principles of secularism and pluralism.

 

Hasan: Whatever it is, I hope good sense prevails sooner rather than later and as a country we do not lose our pluralistic ethos.

 

* * *

 

Hobson’s Choice

‘Some sections of society have an impression that the party is inclined to certain communities or organisations. Congress policy is equal justice to everyone. But people have doubts whether that policy is being implemented or not. This doubt is created by the party’s proximity towards minority communities,’ A.K. Antony, veteran Congress leader, said.

 

After the Congress Party faced a resounding defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, being relegated to as low as forty-four seats, a review committee set up under A.K. Antony’s leadership found minority appeasement to be one of the major causes of its electoral loss. It was found that a significant section of Hindus felt that most non-BJP parties overlooked their interests and focused mainly on minorities. It didn’t help that the BJP seemed to be advancing the notion that the Congress Party and the other so-called secular parties engaged in religious pandering to secure their Muslim vote bank in the garb of secularism.

 

Post the 2014 elections, it stands to reason then that there was little talk of secularism by parties as there was the potent fear of being labelled ‘minority appeasers’. From the A.K. Antony report to the more recent Raipur Plenary of the Congress Party (the 85th plenary session of the Congress that concluded in Raipur in Chhattisgarh outlined a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election) ‘how to remove the anti-Hindu tag’ has been a key focus area within the Congress. The obvious solution was to pivot to brandish their own Hindu credentials to blunt the BJP’s appeal. In the words of political activist Yogendra Yadav, ‘Secular politics faced a Hobson’s choice: it could take a “hard” line and face electoral marginalization. Or it could go for “soft Hindutva” and betray its cause.’

 

Whether it meant betraying their cause or not, most opposition parties chose the latter. While it may seem ironic that the cure for the BJP’s marginalization of the Muslims was to make the Congress more Hindu, the Congress Party’s manifesto in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 included setting up gaushalas, or cow shelters, in each of the state’s 23,000 panchayats; it also committed itself to developing the Ram Van Gaman Path, or the route that was taken by Lord Rama on his way to exile that was widely revered by Hindus.

 

Despite these sporadic efforts, the 2019 Lok Sabha polls turned out to be an encore for the BJP, with it garnering the highest-ever national vote share. According to Lokniti-CSDS’ post-poll survey for the 2019 elections, the BJP and its allies managed to secure close to 52 per cent of the Hindu votes all over India, the highest consolidation of Hindu votes nationally in three decades. Intriguingly, the oath-taking ceremony for members of Parliament to the seventeenth Lok Sabha was drowned in shouts of ‘Jai Shri Ram’; the chant particularly gaining decibels during the oath-taking of specific members of the Opposition.

 

***

 

Get your copy of India on the Move by Marya Shakil, Narendra Nath Mishra on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

 

Bundle of Joy – Children’s Books to Cuddle Up With

When the days grow shorter and the air fills with the scent of something magical, there’s nothing like curling up with a book that sparks imagination and wonder. Here’s a collection of books that are perfect for reading under a blanket or by a window on a chilly afternoon. Let’s turn the page and find your next storytime favorite!

Front Cover Go Wild
Go Wild || Bijal Vachharajani

 

Meet an army of ants, a chorus of frogs, a plague of pigeons, a ballet of mantis, a grove of trees, a colony of bee-eaters, a herd of elephants, a lone owl and vulture and groups of human beings. Listen to a tale of three lakes, climb up a mountain, dive into the ocean, travel back in time and look at the natural world anew.

Some of India’s most celebrated nature writers and illustrators come together to celebrate the planet we call home.

Front Cover Nisha Small: The Strand of Silver
Nisha Small: The Strand of Silver || C.G. Salamander

 

Nisha Small and Jamie have a difficult mystery to solve.

When a barn full of bulls is burnt down, Small and Jamie need to figure out who is behind this terrible crime. And there are very few clues . . .

Front Cover Folk Tales from Meghalaya
Folk Tales from Meghalaya || Sobhona Bhattacharjee, Utsa Bose

 

A collection of sixteen magical myths and fables that will transport you to the abode of clouds!

In the beautiful hills of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia in Meghalaya, there are fairies that can create rivers, a plant that can make people invisible and a fern bush which can ward off evil spirits. There are also three-headed giants, queens and villagers, animals and birds, and many other fascinating plants and creatures. Passed down by word of mouth over hundreds of years, these sixteen magical folk tales from Meghalaya, in the north-east of India, are full of adventure, wonder and excitement.

Front Cover Gana Bajana
Gana Bajana: Music of Hindu Gods || Devdutt Pattanaik

 

Shiva’s damaru to Krishna’s flute,
Durga’s ghanti and Ravana’s lute.
Dance to the rhythm and embrace the sound,
As divine melodies swirl around.

Well-known mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik introduces young readers to the fun and fascinating musical instruments of Hindu gods with his unique art and easy-to-read text.

Front Cover The School for Bad Girls
The School for Bad Girls || Madhurima Vidyarthi

 

Nineteenth-century Calcutta is abuzz with social reforms, especially with regard to womens’ rights and education. And in this time, Kadambini Ganguly dreams of going to university—and in the ultimate audacious hope—wants to become a doctor. The fictionalised story of Kadambini, one of the first women graduates of the British Empire and the first woman to get a degree from an Indian medical college, is rivetingly told by Madhurima Vidyarthi, in a fascinating portrait of nineteenth century life, society and its arbitrary mores.

She’s the World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend – But Wait Until You Find Out Why!

What if the love of your life slipped away, leaving only a quiet ache and an unfillable void? World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend explores the bittersweet pull of unresolved love as Daksh and Aanchal, after a brief spark at a wedding in Dubai, are unexpectedly thrown back together. Read the excerpt below to know more.

 

Front Cover World's Best Ex Girlfriend
World’s Best ex Girlfriend || Durjoy Datta

 

Intro Every city transforms in five years. New buildings obscure the older ones. Roads are widened. More cars spill on to the road. Dubai does that faster than any city. I pass by landmarks I recognize, but most of what I remember has been painted over, built over, broken and rebuilt. It’s a small kindness that this city no longer looks like the city that wrested everything away from me.

 

The closer I get to the Atlantis, my discomfort shifts from the city to her. The nearer I am to her, a torrent of haunting memories surges forth—the ugly words, the echoes of past arguments—and anxiety begins to seep into my very marrow. The last thing I want is to bump into that over-smart, cold, heartless person I was once in love with. Until this very moment, I didn’t realize the visceral hate I still feel for Aanchal. It feels like yesterday.

 

I feel it rattling in my bones.

 

‘Don’t stop the trip,’ I repeat to the driver as I pull out the suitcases outside the Atlantis.

 

It’s 6 p.m. so there’s still plenty of time for the cocktails function to start. I make my way in. The front desk has a long serpentine queue with tourists lugging their carry-on bags and checking if they’ve lost their passports.

 

‘I’m here to drop off Gaurav Madan’s luggage,’ I tell the lady managing the check-ins.

 

‘Do you know the room number, sir?’ she asks. I call Gaurav. And as usual, he doesn’t pick up the call.

 

‘Listen, the person’s not taking my call. Can you call their room and inform them?’

 

She looks at the line behind me and is about to protest.

 

‘They’re wedding clothes, or I wouldn’t waste your time,’ I inform her.

 

She checks the room number and makes the call. She shakes her head and puts the receiver down.

‘Sir, no answer,’ she says.

 

‘You can keep the luggage here and go check in the open area. Maybe you will find the guest there. That’s the best I can do for you.’

 

‘Perfect,’ I tell her.

 

Except that it’s not perfect. I should have been in my taxi, going away from this city, away from her. Not towards her. Not towards the reason I spent a couple of years in absolute misery. A dread fills me up. I’m going to see her. I push the thought out, just in case people are right about manifestation and the law of  attraction.

 

After wandering through the multiple corridors, I spot the cocktail venue. Vanita Weds Aditya, says the signage in an ornate flower arrangement. Vanita never struck me as someone who would get married so early, but here we are. I call Gaurav’s number again. There’s no answer. I walk towards the venue. A small part of me is commanding me to go back. Leave the suitcases at the reception and leave the city, it tells me. She’s here, the voice inside my head warns me. I can feel the air crackle with bad energy.

 

I look for someone near the stage, anyone I could pawn off the suitcases to. The stage is being given the final touches, the lights are being tested, the harried staff is running around shifting chairs, arranging flowers, testing the sound system. The wedding planners in black T-shirts bark instructions over their walkie-talkies. White people look on, watching curiously. Faint sounds of Hindi songs are in the air. I look around there’s not a single guest there. This is taking way too long.

 

Fuck it. I turn back and walk towards the reception.

 

That’s when I see her.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

For a moment, I think I have imagined her. I hope that I have imagined her. But there she is.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

In flesh and blood. All of her.

 

Aanchal fucking Madan.

 

A wave of hatred crashes upon me.

 

My biggest regret.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

The World’s Worst Girlfriend.

 

I am consumed by how much I despise her.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

It engulfs me entirely. I thought I had gotten over the hurt, but my revulsion towards her overwhelms me.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

My body sears with the heat of my loathing, it burns.

 

Aanchal Madan.

 

My first instinct is to turn away, to avoid her presence altogether, just pretend I never saw her and walk past like she doesn’t exist.

 

***

 

Get your copy of World’s Best Ex Girlfriend by Durjoy Datta on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

How General Satish Dua’s Bold Plan Turned a Militant Into a Beacon of Change!

Lieutenant General Satish Dua retired as the chief of Integrated Defence Staff in 2018. In A General Reminisces, he reflects upon this time, his interactions with bureaucrats and experiences about the atmosphere at the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Read the excerpt of this inspiring story below.

Front Cover General Reminisces
General Reminisces || Satish Dua

 

He was the firstborn in the family of Sonuallah, a humble farmer who also ran a small dhaba. Sonuallah and his wife, Raja Begum, named the boy Nazir—Arabic for administrator—and had dreams of educating him well so they could all have a secure future. But they also expanded the family with three more boys in quick succession. The income that Sounallah earned from the farm and the dhaba was not enough to make ends meet.

 

Nazir’s early years were part of a peaceful, slow-paced life. Later, he would recall three incidents that left a deep impact on his young mind.

 

The first was his Kashmiri Pandit teacher at school, Pandit Shubhan Ji, whom everyone called Boba-ji. There were hardly any Hindu students because there was practically no Hindu population in their village. But Boba-ji made a profound impact on Nazir. One day, during the holy month of Ramzan, Nazir asked him, ‘Masterji, aap roza rakhte hain [Sir, do you fast]?’ When Boba-ji answered in the negative, Nazir asked with childish bluntness, ‘Toh aap kafir hain [So you are an infidel]?’ Boba Ji smiled at his pupil and said, ‘Main Navratra ka upwaas rakhta hoon [I fast during the Hindu holy days of Navratra].’ The teacher then explained patiently how different religions had different customs. It was like using different modes of transport to reach the same destination. ‘Jab tum shahar jaate ho toh koi cycle se jaata hai, koi bus par aur koi paidal. Akhir mein sab shahar pahunch jaate hain [You could travel to the city on a bicycle, by bus or on foot. But the destination is the same].’

 

Nazir was intrigued: ‘Toh aap namaz bhi nahin padte [So, you don’t even say the customary Islamic prayers]?’ By now, a few other boys were also listening to the teacher’s explanation with interest. Boba-ji then explained to the young lads how Muslims and Hindus have co-existed in harmony in Kashmir for centuries.

 

He told them about the spirit of Kashmiriyat and how the festivals of Hinduism and Islam are celebrated by people of both religions. Kashmiriyat is the centuries-old indigenous tradition of communal harmony and religious syncretism in the Kashmir Valley. It exemplifies the joint HinduMuslim culture, festivals, language, cuisine and clothing in the Kashmir Valley. In the spirit of Kashmiriyat, festivals of Hinduism and Islam are celebrated by both faiths. It was started by SultansZain-ul-Abidin in the sixteenth century, who promoted a policy of religious tolerance. He banned the slaughter of cows to be sensitive to Hindus. He allowed the Hindus to build their temples and follow the personal law according to the Dharmashastras. Nazir’s young mind could not follow all of it, but he grasped the spirit of it. What he particularly found fascinating was the story of the Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded, in which her body turned into a mound of flowers, half of which was cremated by the Hindus and the other half buried by Muslims, and serves as an emblem of the Kashmiriyat that keeps it alive until today. As per another account, her body turned into liquid in a basin, which was cremated and buried by Hindus and Muslims, respectively, as she was revered by both faiths.

 

The second memory, again from his childhood, was from the time he was travelling to another village in the higher reaches with a friend and his family to visit a distant cousin. En route, they saw a few foreign men and women walking with backpacks. They were laughing, chatting and taking pictures with their cameras. He asked his friend about them. His friend’s father explained to both of them, ‘They are foreign tourists who have come for trekking in Kashmir.’

 

‘Why would they want to walk when they have the money to travel by bus?’ Nazir wanted to know.

 

‘Because our Kashmir is so beautiful, they don’t want the journey to end so soon.’

 

The third such incident had to do with a retired soldier in the village. Sometimes, he would recount tales from his army days to a few young boys. His descriptions of army life and soldierly activities always made for a fascinating evening for Nazir and others who sat around and listened. One day, Nazir asked him, ‘Aapne bandook chalai hai [Have you ever fired a gun]?’ The soldier replied with pride in his voice: ‘Maine teen jung mein ladai ladi hai [I’ve fought in three wars].’ Nazir was impressed, and his young mind concluded that it must be a heroic thing to be at war. He suddenly said, ‘I will also fight wars when I grow up.’ The retired fauji (soldier) laughed as he said, ‘Oh, you are very brave.’ Little did he know that this young boy would one day become the recipient of the highest medal for bravery.

 

***

 

Get your copy of General Reminisces by Lt. Gen Satish Dua on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

 

How the Most Beautiful Girl in the World Redefines Perfection!

Sixteen wonderful writers come together in this powerful anthology to share narratives that explore multiple themes on body positivity with the hope of helping empower teenagers navigate their modern worlds.

Read the excerpt below to explore these stories.

Front Cover Hug Yourself
Hug Yourself || Vinitha et al.

 

She crosses the gravel path and starts climbing the stairs leading to the main door of the building. Now, nudges are being exchanged, heads are turning as she walks down the corridor. Little explosions of laughter come to her ears. She sees eyes widen and jaws drop. Don’t they know that their faces give them away? These eyes-widened, jaw-dropping-in-surprise people—surely, they aren’t that dumb? She passes groups of boys and girls, giggling, sudden snorts of laughter bursting out of them. Why, it’s almost as if there’s a huge newspaper-style headline hovering over their heads, in bold letters, that says: It’s an elephant; it’s a hippo . . . no, it’s a new girl!

 

Headlines are meant to be read, which is why they are in those thick, dark letters. And that’s why no one tries to hide them. No one attempts to make them smaller . . . or less hurtful. Except at home, of course, where Amma is constantly scanning the things people say and do so that she can stop the ugly words from reaching Shalu’s ears, so that she can save her from the hurt. It’s like there’s a constant headline over Amma’s head, too. At times, it says: Keep it from Shalu! At other times, it says: What not to talk about to Shalu.

 

Shalu knows that Amma has two lists running through her head. One is a list of the things that she can tell her daughter. This one has silly, everyday things that aren’t likely to upset Shalu. On this list is also anything to do with school, studies, exams and higher education. There’s a certain logic that’s at work here, and after years of observing the grown-ups around her, Shalu now knows what that logic is.

 

Amma (and the world with her) thinks fat girls ≠ love life. And so, Amma (and the world with her) decide, fat girls = studies + books + interest in academics.

 

The other list of Amma’s has things that she tells Baba when Shalu isn’t around. On it are stories about girls who do the kinds of things that teenagers are supposed to do— partying with hordes of friends and spending the rest of the time talking to them on the phone. Exciting tales of ongoing battles with their parents about the clothes they buy and the things they do also feature here. Amma’s friends and cousins and colleagues supply her with these stories, and she laps up the details and then pours them out to Baba when he’s trying to read the newspaper.

 

Amma says none of this to Shalu, who has moved schools too often to have friends. And who, therefore, has no one to chat or go to parties with. And she says nothing at all about the boyfriends these girls begin to acquire and the ecstasy and heartache they bring. She’s doing it to protect Shalu, but surely, she can’t think her daughter is blind and stupid. After all, Shalu spends all day with boys and girls. Normal boys and normal girls. She sees the way they look at each other, eyes sliding casually before they stop at the face that’s taken their fancy. Sometimes, the eyes catch and hold, and Shalu knows then that there’ll be a new couple in the class in a few days. Those same eyes slide over her when she walks into her new classroom. But once they’ve taken in her size, they widen and jump, as if she’s the obstacle they want to avoid. And instantly, headlines appear over their heads: Is that the new girl? How much does she weigh?

 

The boys are turning away, their shoulders shaking as they laugh into their cupped hands. They slap each other’s backs on the new joke that’s walked into their lives. The girls stare at her, seeing the way the school skirt bulges out under the belt in the front and back. The uniform looks like a sack tied around her middle. They manage to see everything in that one sweep—the thickness of Shalu’s legs, the wobbly bits that hang from her arms and jiggle with every movement. They are glad to see all this. Shalu can see it in the words dancing over their heads: That’s not me! I am thinner than her!

 

They exchange glances, congratulating each other, celebrating their thinness, their extraordinary normalness. It takes them a minute more to realize what Shalu’s entry means, and when it does, Shalu sees the horrified headline that appears over them: Who will sit beside her?

 

***

 

Get your copy of Hug Yourself by  on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Cosy Up with New Reads This Season

As sweater weather rolls in, there’s no better time to snuggle up in a warm blanket, piping hot cup of tea, and one of our November new releases – the perfect trio! Which one are you going to pick up first?

Front cover Headstart
HeadStart || Vivek Gambhir, Sunder Ramachandran

 

HeadStart: Unlock the Secrets to Career Success is here to help. Co-authored by industry pros Vivek Gambhir and Sunder Ramachandran, this is your personal playbook for crushing it in today’s fast-paced world. Packed with insider tips, real-life stories and actionable strategies, it’s designed to give you the edge you need. From mastering new skills to acing job transitions, HeadStart covers it all. It’s not just about surviving the workweek—it’s about thriving and building a rewarding and impactful career. If you’re serious about taking your career to the next level, then HeadStart is your ultimate guide. The future you want starts here.

Front Cover Air Warriors
Air Warriors || Arijit Ghosh

 

A newly independent country acquires its first heavy bomber from an Aircraft Graveyard and flies it for two decades! A young Flight Lieutenant flies a daring dawn attack on a heavily defended Pakistani Airfield in the 1965 War and returns safely. Only to perish in a crash a week later. Two wartime foes, one of whom shoots down the other in air combat, meet later as friends in life. These and other compelling human-interest stories form the backbone of Air Warriors, an anthology of untold stories from the Indian Air Force.

Front Cover The Bose Deception
The Bose Deception || Anuj Dhar, Chandrachur Ghose

 

What exactly is this controversy about Netaji’s ‘disappearance’?

Does new material offer new evidence on Bose’s reported death in 1945?

In January 2016, the Government of India began declassifying classified PMO, MEA, MHA and Cabinet Secretariat files related to the mysterious ‘disappearance’ of Subhas Chandra Bose at the end of the Second World War. No one could have imagined that even seventy years after Bose’s disappearance, the government had been holding hundreds of files related to him in utmost secrecy. In this fascinating investigative work, Dhar and Ghose have rummaged through more than two thousand files declassified in India, and in the UK, USA and Taiwan to unentangle the complex web of a deception plan, that has kept the whole country on tenterhooks for decades.

Front cover The Drowning
The Drowning || Nidhi Upadhyay

 

Shattered by the loss of her twins, software engineer Viji becomes the prime suspect in a chilling crime—the drowning of her best friend Neha’s baby. ASP Kanika, haunted by her own personal loss, is pulled into an investigation that quickly spirals into a nightmarish descent. When Neha’s mutilated body is discovered, branded with the same grotesque symbol, Kanika realizes she’s up against something much more terrifying than a serial killer. As she unravels a web of evil tantric practices, Kanika confronts a horrifying possibility: Is she hunting a twisted killer, or has she awakened an ancient, malevolent force? And if so, how long before it comes for her?

Front Cover Alwan-E-Nemat
Alwan-E-Nemat || Salma Husain

 

Alwan-e-Nemat (Colours of the Table), the sixteenth-century Persian manuscript offers a rare taste and glimpse into Mughal Emperor Jehangir and queen Nur Jehan’s kitchen. Meticulously calligraphed on 155 pages of cream-coloured paper with a painted blue margin, it is possibly the first book in the world to be devoted entirely to recipes and methods of processing and serving food. It is also the only manuscript that highlights the unique contribution of Empress Nur Jehan.

Front Cover Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan || Vikram Sampath

 

Over two centuries have passed since his death on 4 May 1799, yet Tipu Sultan’s contested legacy continues to perplex India and her contemporary politics. A fascinating and enigmatic figure in India’s military past, he remains a modern historian’s biggest puzzle as he simultaneously means different things to different people, depending on how one chooses to look at his life and its events. Meticulously researched, authoritative and unputdownable, the book opens a window to the life and times of one of the most debated figures from India’s history.

Front cover Unloved
Unloved || Harshita Gupta

 

There isn’t anyone who hasn’t been shattered by heartbreak. It is the most devastating yet universal experience that leaves us feeling lost and alone. In a world plagued by love gurus and hopeless romantics, Unloved presents a guide to loving oneself through the process of heartbreak. The chaos after the calm, this self-help book offers an antidote to heartache with a uniquely Indian point of view. With practical advice and inspiring insights, it empowers you to transform heartache into strength, paving the way for a new chapter of love in your life.

Front cover You Will Be Alright
You Will Be Alright || Sonali Gupta

 

Grief is overwhelming, unpredictable and deeply personal. Everyone goes through it, yet we are almost never prepared for it when it comes. In You Will Be Alright, Sonali Gupta addresses the silence that surrounds grief, talks about the myths around loss and builds a vocabulary about what we are feeling when we grieve. The book talks about how grief shows up physically and emotionally for us, and also what the first few days of loss look like. It addresses practical concerns such as grieving in a digital age and the challenges around sorting deceased’s possessions, and topics such as closure, grief integration and more.

Front Cover The Ivy League Playbook
The Ivy League Playbook || Athena

 

Elite American admissions systems seem shrouded in mystery. Plummeting acceptance rates suggest that even the most stellar academic record no longer suffices to differentiate a candidate from the rest of the applicant pool. Through in-depth analyses of 25 Common Application Essays that have succeeded at Ivy League and “Ivy+” (Stanford, Caltech, UChicago) universities, you’ll discover the transformative journey of composing an outstanding college essay that leaves a lasting impression.

Elevate
Elevate Shannah || Kennedy, Colleen Callander

 

Elevate breaks away from traditional self-help advice, providing a unique blend of personal insight, professional wisdom, and practical strategies. Kennedy and Callander, renowned for their expertise as a life coach and CEO respectively, share their secrets to building a life of incredible health, success, happiness, and fulfillment. Packed with a comprehensive toolkit and actionable strategies, the book equips you with everything you need to design and implement a plan for achieving both personal and professional success.

Front Cover The Art of Letting Go
The Art of Letting Go || Nick Trenton

 

Your mind should ideally be your safe zone, not the noisiest place in the world. Although that is rarely the case, and if you are always on edge and unable to relax, this book is for you. The Art of Letting Go is about organizing the mess in our minds. For that, it is important not to dwell on the past, or obsess over the future that may never occur; but that is easier said than done. Learn how to trust that things will be okay, how to control your self-talk, and transform your internal worldview.

You’re One Step Away from a Stress-Free Life – Read This Now!

Feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of everyday life? In Stress to Zest, Aritra Sarkar explores seven common stress triggers—from money troubles to work pressure—and how they impact us. Through relatable stories, this book shows how you can tackle these stressors and rediscover your zest for life. Ready to transform your stress into strength?

Read this excerpt to get started!

 

 

Stress to Zest
Stress to Zest || Aritra Sarkar

***

Almost everyone juggles multiple priorities in life. Family, career, education, finances, health, grooming . . . the list of tasks is endless. In every sphere, we spend lots of time and energy trying to satisfy the needs and expectations of others. On the other hand, we seldom reflect on the question, ‘Who do I want to be?’ This central question of our existence—the purpose of life—gets relegated to the backwaters of our consciousness amid the noise and hustle of daily life. The absence of purpose can result in low self-esteem, make us susceptible to the diktats, control, or influence of others, erode our sense of autonomy, and lead us down the dank alleyway of harmful behaviour. If this happens, various negative feelings may creep into our minds, causing unhappiness. 

 

Stress is a debilitating swirl of negative feelings—frustration, anxiety, depression and anger—induced by our compulsion to meet expectations. These expectations may be our own creations, or they may be foisted onto us by others. Stress that stems from trying to meet internal expectations is called ‘inner stress’; while that which arises when we attempt to satisfy the demands of others, is called ‘external stress’. 

 

Both forms of stress can be devastating to our well-being. However, they tend to manifest themselves differently. The difference between how inner stress and external stress affect us is explained with metaphors below. 

 

Inner Stress 

Imagine yourself about to run on a treadmill. You’ve preset it to roll at a specific pace and incline, but these settings can’t be changed as long as the machine is in motion. Moreover, the duration of the run has been preprogrammed by the manufacturer and you can’t see the timer. You’ve listened to numerous people who’ve all said that the only way to improve your speed and stamina is to run on that particular treadmill, at a certain pace and intensity. These opinions tend to override one’s own instinct. ‘What do I know about improving my well-being?’ you ask. ‘Being experts, these folks must be right,’ you think. ‘That thing sure looks unpleasant, but I’m unaware of a better option to improve my fitness,’ you deliberate. Ultimately, you ignore your own opinions on treadmill running and decide to get on the machine. Following the advice of others, you then calibrate the settings to make your run uncomfortable and challenging. 

 

Now picture yourself running in these circumstances. After some time, you’ll surely feel exhausted. Your body will cry, ‘Please stop!’ But you’ll find it hard to do that because you’ll be worried about squandering the progress you’ve already made. At some stage, your mind will scream, ‘That’s enough!’ You’ll realize you’ve pushed yourself hard to pursue an activity you really don’t care about. Fatigue will overcome you and leave you gasping for breath. 

 

You’ll feel jaded. You’ll feel listless and in pain. These feelings will only intensify as you run for longer and longer, with no end in sight. You’ll want to jump off that treadmill. But now you’ll worry that by stepping off, you might end up letting everyone down. Anxiety and confusion will cloud your mind and make it impossible to act in your own best interest. Congratulations, you’ve set yourself up for a lifetime of misery! 

 

External Stress 

Now let’s look at an example of how the pressure of external stress ruins one’s mental well-being. 

 

Imagine yourself running a 100-metre race against an army of faceless runners. Before you can say ‘Usain!’ the contest is over. Irrespective of the result, a gang of officials drags you to the starting line of another race as soon as you finish the first. There, you see another crop of faceless souls lined up next to you, keen to bag the next gold medal. In a jiffy, this one’s over too. After that, you’re dragged to another race . . . then another . . . and another . . . in perpetuity. Before you know it, you’ve got leaden feet! How would you feel enduring through the unending races? 

 

As you run a series of races (whose results are preordained) against a continuously changing pantheon of competitors, you will feel anxiety. As you compete in a race over which you have no control or influence, you will feel frustrated. Weighed down by the cumulative force of all that mental negativity, you will tell yourself in resignation, ‘I either have to put up with the system or quit the stadium altogether!’ 

 

That’s external stress for you. Stress is the toxic by-product of the modern, mechanical life. It’s the life we’ve embraced—abandoning our true calling in order to ensure certainty of income and a certain standard of living. By letting these strains into our system and giving them free rein to pollute our hearts and minds, we run the risk of turning into emaciated husks. 

***

Get your copy of Stress to Zest by Aritra Sarkar on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

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