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Check Your August Book Cart – Here’s What’s New!

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!

Naam, Namak, Nishan 2
Naam, Namak, Nishan 2 || Anurakshat Gupta, Arnabh Sengupta, Hitesh Mahato,

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

The Best New Children’s Books to Grab this August!

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
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
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 | An illustrated collection of timeless tales from India’s favourite storyteller, perfect for read along | Ages 8 and up
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 (Series: Songs of Freedom)
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 (Series: Songs of Freedom)
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.

Awesome August Books for Children

Welcome to an exciting new world of discovery and imagination with our newest August releases! Whether you’re curious about distant planets and stars, mystic creatures, or want to know more about the power of science and become the ultimate smartypants in town, this collection of stories has something for children of all ages.

So, buckle up and let the adventurous journey begin! Happy Reading!

Sinbad and the Rise of Iblis
Sinbad and the Rise of Iblis || Kevin Missal

You might be wondering why I’m still speaking in the midst of chaos. Well, danger has now become my constant companion. In my reckless quest for power, I shattered the trust of those who once stood by my side. The words ‘betrayer’ and ‘broken’ are now etched into my very being.But there is no time to give in to my misery. The dreaded devil, once imprisoned, has risen from the depths of Qlitop. With a legion of abominable creatures at his command, he now threatens to unleash unrestrained havoc upon the world.

Time is rapidly pushing us towards the abyss. Desperate, I must embark on a harrowing journey to acquire three mystical artefacts that can save our ravaged Earth. Yet, as fate would have it, these
objects can only be found within alternate universes, adding another layer of torment to my already tormented existence.

Prepare yourself for the final instalment in Kevin Missal’s Sinbad series, a gripping reimagination of the legendary sailor from the classic One Thousand and One Nights!

 

How to Reach Mars and other (Im)possible Things
How to Reach Mars and other (Im)possible Things || Menaka Raman

Rabia is one of the most curious girls you’ll meet. She’s always full of questions: How, Why,
What, Where and When!
When she hears a classmate say that women can’t be scientists, she has to find out if it’s true. Luckily, she’s soon visiting the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on a field trip with her classmates, where she bumps into Dr Mary, a physicist.

When Rabia learns that Dr Mary is one of the scientists working on a daring mission to Mars, she asks her all the questions that she can think of about the mission.
Join Rabia and Dr Mary as they walk through ISRO and learn everything about making the impossible-possible!

 

Earthquakes for Smartypants
Earthquakes for Smartypants || Anushka Ravishankar

Earthquakes for Smartypants
Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like–
What is the surface of the Earth called?
Is the Earth actually a rainbow cake?
How do you measure an earthquake?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!

 

Vacciness for Smartypants
Vacciness for Smartypants || Anushka Ravishankar

Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like-
Are all germs bad?
What is an antibody?
Do T cells go to school?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!

 

Newton's Laws of Motions for Smartypants
Newton’s Laws of Motions for Smartypants || Anusha Ravishankar

Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like-
What is force?
What is acceleration?
Will you go to jail if you break Newton’s laws?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!

 

Dhara's revolution
Dhara’s revolution || Varsha Seshan

Sarvaloka Public School calls children ‘future citizens’ but makes every decision without ever talking to the students. Nine-year-old Dhara is determined to change that. She sparks a revolution, and gets the whole school to vote for the very first time. However, caught in the storm of elections, Dhara loses sight of what is really important to her.

Can she find her way back to what truly matters before everything spirals out of control?

Indulge in the August Bliss with these Reads

Get ready to clear some space on your bookshelves as we present you our newest releases for the month of August! From riveting political commentaries and self-help books that unlock your true potential to gripping tales of love and transformation and historical explorations, these remarkable reads are set to take over your library and will ignite your imagination and inspire your soul.

 

Strange Burdens: The Politics and Predicaments of Rahul Gandhi
Strange Burdens: The Politics and Predicaments of Rahul Gandhi || Sugata Srinivasaraju

Strange Burdens is not a biography but a book of political commentary. It examines and analyses Rahul Gandhi’s ideas and leadership since he officially entered politics in March 2004. It journeys all the way to the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on 30 January 2023 and captures the dilemmas of his
disqualification a couple of months later.

 

Unlocked The Power of You
Unlocked: The Power of You || Gezim Gashi

Unlocked: The Power of You is compelling self-help book will inspire you to pursue your biggest dreams, regardless of your background or upbringing. It illustrates that by unlocking our true, authentic selves, we can unleash our greatest potential in a world without limits, even in the aftermath of a pandemic.
Author Gezim Gashi recounts his extraordinary journey-from escaping the Kosovo genocide to becoming the first Albanian-Swede to launch a high school institute in the United States – Gezim lays out a path to personal success and fulfillment that is accessible to all, regardless of their background. With his mentorship, readers will be inspired to overcome obstacles and achieve their biggest goals.

 

A Walk Up The Hill
A Walk Up The Hill || Madhav Gadgil

A Walk Up the Hill is an account of Madhav Gagil’s life walking up and down the country’s hills and dales, watching peacocks dance and elephants prance, living among fisherfolk on the west coast, horticulturists on Western Ghats, and the tribals of Manipur and Maharashtra, all the while being a part of a vibrant scientific community.

 

Data Science: A Beginner's Guide
Data Science: A Beginner’s Guide || C. Raju

Data science is a perfect blend of 10 per cent maths, 20 per cent statistics, 30 per cent common sense and 40 per cent applied knowledge. While you can learn maths and statistics, you need to accumulate certain experience for common sense to kick in and apply what you have learnt.
This introductory book on data science builds upon an individual’s innate knowledge and arms you with the tools to use this interdisciplinary academic field in everyday scenarios. With straightforward real-world examples and applications, it takes you on a path that may seem daunting but is made simple through Professor Raju’s easy manner. It endows you with a holistic and flawless understanding of the fundamental principles required to build a solid foundation in data science.

 

Unlocking Unicorn Secrets
Unlocking Unicorn Secrets || Kushal Lodha, Ishan Sharma

Unlocking Unicorn Secrets captures the entrepreneurial journeys of some of India’s new-age founders and looks at the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. It covers themes such as developing an idea, building out the minimum viable product (MVP), finding a co-founder, setting up the founding team, raising funds and scaling the business, among others. Through primary research and a series of interviews conducted with the founders of these billion-dollar companies, the authors weave a narrative that is both accessible and informative.

 

Pause, Rewind Natural Anti- Ageing Techniques
Pause, Rewind Natural Anti- Ageing Techniques || Nawaz Modi Singhania

In Pause, Rewind, Nawaz Modi Singhania writes about the role of fitness, nutrition and good mental health in ageing well. She shares techniques she’s developed over her years as a leading fitness consultant, including facial fitness exercises, muscle work, how to build the immune system and health-promoting foods.

 

Dhruva
Dhruva || | Gauranga Darshan Das

Discover practical answers to these questions within the pages of DHRUVA, an enthralling narrative penned by Gauranga Darshan Das, an esteemed author, educator and monk, hailing from the prestigious IISc.
Prince Dhruva’s awe-inspiring journey evokes a spectrum of emotions–love, heartbreak, revenge, passion, guilt and devotion. As you immerse yourself in this gripping tale, Gauranga Darshan artfully weaves his realizations as pearls of wisdom that are refreshingly simple yet remarkably effective.

 

The Memoirs of Valmiki Rao
The Memoirs of Valmiki Rao || Lindsay Pereira

The Memoirs of Valmiki Rao the story of Rameshwar Shinde and Ravinarayan Kumar, a young woman called Janaki, and the neighbours they live with, in the shadows of towers. It is a story of families torn apart by bigotry, an unmissable retelling of the epic Ramayana set at a time when blood mixed with the grime of Mumbai’s streets. A tale more pertinent than ever, in a country once again teetering on the edge.

 

Heart Tantrums
Heart Tantrums || Aisha Sarwari

In this large and messy voice of a memoir, Heart Tantrums artfully describes the scatter of catastrophic losses-the loss of author’s father in early adolescence; leaving behind her family home in East Africa; and trying to fit into a completely different culture in Lahore after marriage. In 2017, when Aisha first held her husband Yasser Latif Hamdani’s brain MRI against the light, she began to also lose the man she loved to a personality-altering brain tumour.

 

1947-1957, India
1947-1957, India || Chandrachur Ghose

The first decade after India’s independence, 1947-1957, was probably the most crucial in the nation’s history. Opening a window to this period, this book weaves a story out of the complex ideas and events that have largely remained beneath the surface of public discourse. The transfer of power, the framing of the Constitution and the formation of the governance machinery; the clash of ideas and ideologies among parties and personalities; the beginning of the disintegration of the Congress and the consolidation of political forces in the opposition; Nehru’s grappling with existential problems at home and his quest for global peace; the interplay between democratic ideals and ruthless power play-all these factors impinged on each other and shaped the new republic in its formative decade.

Thought-provoking, argumentative and unputdownable, 1947-1957, India: The Birth of a Republicis a must-read for anyone interested in Indian political history.

 

World's Best Girlfriend
World’s Best Girlfriend || Durjoy Datta

D and A meet under improbable circumstances in the most unlikely of places-a posh resort in the Andamans. While A is fighting hard to escape the shackles of a lower middle-class existence, D is aimless and unsure of what his future holds. Strangely, they are drawn to each other. Four years later, when they meet again, D’s world has crumbled around him. The burden of caring for his sick father and six-year-old sister has left him with little time for anything else. Yet, despite their diverging paths, D and A find themselves reconnecting in unexpected ways. Their mutual attraction deepens.

Till now, fate has been pushing them together, but what will happen when they decide to take matters into their own hands? Will life be as they’ve imagined, or will destiny take even that away from them?

 

Operation Payback
Operation Payback || Aditi Mathur Kumar

Operation Payback is a thrilling novel about a Veer Nari who proves that she indeed is a yoddah and a hero. This is a story about bravery, about the true meaning of heroism and about making the most of this life even when you thought it has been unfair to you.

 

Beyond Fear
Beyond Fear || Ian Cardoza

The stories featured in Major General Ian Cardozo’s book Beyond Fear, stories that inform the reader that fear is not exceptional. It is common to all human beings. The question is: Do we face fear or run away from it? Through these thirteen stories, he reveals to the reader how military personnel conquer fear. He calls it ‘biting the bullet’.

 

The Book of Vows
The Book of Vows The Mahabharata Trilogy Volume 1 ||Amit Majmudar

The Book of Vows is the first part of a trilogy on the Mahabharata. Grounded in the original Sanskrit epic, Majmudar recreates the ancient epic for a contemporary audience. It is his finest work yet and is one of the most accessible, magical and unputdownable retellings of the Mahabharata. The Book of Vows will be followed by The Book of Discoveries and The Book of Killings.

 

Cold War 2.0
Cold War 2.0 || Madhav Das Nalapat

Cold War 2.0 details the crosscurrents of Great Powers’ dynamics in the twenty-first century, and why it is important for a future-focused rather than a past-obsessed approach towards each other by the two biggest democracies on the planet, India and the US. Each needs to reinforce the other to jointly overcome the multi-dimensional challenge posed by the Communist Party of China to the global future. Just as in the case of Cold War 1.0, the democracies need to prevail in Cold War 2.0 as well.

 

Empire Building
Empire Building The Construction of British India: 1690–1860 || Rosie Llewellyn-Jones

From military engineers and cartography to imported raw metals and steam power, Llewellyn-Jones considers the social and environmental changes wrought by colonialism. This period was marked by a shift from formerly private, Indian-controlled functions, such as education, entertainment, trading and healing, to British public institutions such as universities, theatres, chambers of commerce and hospitals.

Stepping aside from ongoing colonialism debates, Building Empire is a fascinating account of India’s physical transformation during the Company period.

 

The Quest for Modern Assam
he Quest for Modern Assam : A History || Arupjyoti Saikia

Definitive, comprehensive and unputdownable, The Quest for Modern Assam explores the interconnected layers of political, environmental, economic and cultural processes that shaped the development of Assam since the 1940s. It offers an authoritative account that sets new standards in the writing of regional political history. Not to be missed by any one keen on Assam, India, Asia or world history in the twentieth century.

 

Mansions of the Moon
Mansions of the Moon || Shyam Selvadurai

Drawing on ancient records and historical sources, and weaving it with fiction and mythology, Shyam Selvadurai creates a vivid portrait of Yasodhara, a remarkable woman on a remarkable journey. Mansions of the Moon is an evocative, thought-provoking novel and a must-read for anyone interested in spirituality, mythology and the power of the human spirit.

 

One Among You
One Among You || A S Panneerselvan, M K Stalin

One Among You, a translation of Volume 1 of Stalin’s Tamil autobiography, Ungalil Oruvan, is the story of the first twenty-three years of his life, from 1953 to 1976. These formative years were witness to Stalin’s school and college days, his early involvement with the DMK and his integral role in the party publication, Murasoli. But Stalin’s journey extends beyond politics. He also had a profound connection to the world of theatre and cinema, where his passion for art intersected with his pursuit of social change.

 

On the Edge
On the Edge 100 Years of Hindi Fiction on Same-Sex Desire || Ruth Vanita

On the Edge is a first-of-its-kind collection of short stories and extracts from novels centred on theme of same-sex desire, translated from the original Hindi. The sixteen beautiful and provocative stories featured here (published between 1927 and 2022) include classic works by Asha Sahay, Premchand, Ugra, Rajkamal Chaudhuri, Geetanjali Shree, Sara Rai and Rajendra Yadav, among others. An important anthology, On the Edge shifts the focus on stories and characters who have, for far too long, remained in the shadows and brings them (and us) into the light.

Friendship, nature and adventures: August bookshelf for the young readers!

It’s a new month and we have new friends and new adventures lined up for the young minds!

Which ones would they like to begin with?

 

Friends Behind Walls

Friends Behind Walls || Harshikaa Udasi

 

Why won’t anyone let Inu and Putti be friends?

Putti is spending his summer vacation in Deolali and he thinks life is going to be fun with his new friend Inu. But with their parents FORBIDDING them from playing with each other, the two kids are flabbergasted. Flab-ber-gas-ted. Means shocked. Nothing to do with food and farts.

Join the two of them have decided to find out why.

 

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Ladakh Adventure

Ladakh Adventure || Deepak Dalal

 

On their visit to the Changthang plateau of Ladakh, Vikram and Aditya find themselves on the run along with Tsering, a young Tibetan boy they meet while camping on this grand yet barren frontier of India.

Determined to protect Tsering from the mysterious band of men chasing him, the three boys traverse the majestic land beyond the Himalayas in search of answers.

Join them to journey across journey across one of India’s most splendid destinations.

 

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Unearthed

 

Unearthed || Meghaa Gupta

Protesting against dams, protecting tigers, hugging trees, saving seeds, making room for elephants, battling mountains of waste, fighting air pollution, coping with soaring temperatures-India and its people have shared a remarkable relationship with the environment.

Full of trivia, tales of eco-heroes and humorous cartoons, this easy-to-read account uncovers the story of a past with the hope that we will rewrite India’s future.

 

 

 

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Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure

 

Awesome Friendly Adventure || Jeff Kinney

You’ve never seen the Wimpy Kid World like this before – an entirely new, awesome, friendly, truly fantastic fantasy quest from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney!

From the imagination of Wimpy Kid’s Rowley Jefferson comes an adventure of epic proportions! Join Roland and his best friend, Garg the Barbarian, as they leave the safety of their village and embark on a quest to save Roland’s mum from the White Warlock. Will our heroes survive?

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Liberating Reads for this August

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

  1. The Beauty of all My Days


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

  1. The RSS: A View to the Inside


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

  1. Kama: The Riddle of Desire


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

  1. The Kipling File


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

  1. Polite Society


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

  1. Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition


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

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


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

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


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

  1. Not Quite Not White


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

  1. Imagining Lahore


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

  1. Kartikeya and his Battle with the Soul-Stealer


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

  1. The Man Who Saved India


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

  1. Love, Take Two


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

  1. Feminist Rani


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

  1. Glow


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

  1. When Coal Turned Gold


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

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


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

  1. Ways of Being Desi


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

  1. The Perfect Us


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

  1. Ninety-Seven Poems


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

  1. The Sage’s Secret


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

  1. Not Just Grades


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

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