Publish with Us

Follow Penguin

Follow Penguinsters

Follow Penguin Swadesh

O.P. Singh’s Incredible Journey from Books to Badges!

Ever wondered what it takes to transform from a student of theory to a leader in action? From the lecture halls of Delhi University to cracking the civil services exam, explore the milestones that define O.P.Singh’s inspiring ascent. Are you ready to be inspired by the story of ambition, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence?

Read on for a glimpse into the extraordinary!

Crime, Grime and Gumption
Crime, Grime and Gumption || O.P Singh

***

The academic scene at the DU campus was competitive. I mean, you could really feel it, the sense and the urge to learn, to grow big. I found my years at DU intellectually most satisfying. I cannot escape the mention of some of my professors with whom I had the privilege to cover a distance. Randhir Singh, the master of political theory and thought, was an exceptional professor. His oratory skills had the audience eating out of his hands and he was quite popular among the students too. Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, another exceptional mind, handled comparative politics. International relations was the domain of Prof. Mahendra Kumar, while Prof. Susheela Kaushik talked about Indian politics. Last but not the least, Prof. M.P. Singh and Prof. R.B. Jain professed political theory and public administration, respectively. It was one august line-up and I immersed myself in the holy waters of Delhi academics.

 

Besides looking forward to the edifying lectures of eminent faculty members, I used to have after-dinner talks with Shekhar Singh, my senior in academics and also a lecturer at Kirori Mal College, till midnight. We would often discuss threadbare Western political thought, Indian political thought of leaders such as B.R. Ambedkar and M.N. Roy, and politics of representation and participation along with discussions on changing international political order. Shekhar Singh joined the IAS and retired as chief secretary of Telangana. The Central Library offered a refuge of a different kind. Innumerable boys and girls, research scholars and professors from different departments would converge and recreate a sangam, a confluence of varied interests. I, too, became part of the furniture in the library, and I could smell the aspiration for the civil services around me. I was convinced I had come to the right place. My preparation for the exam of my lifetime began in earnest.

 

I visited my mother and Gaya during the long breaks, especially during the summers. The train journey across the Gangetic plain held an unparalleled charm. In the company of friends and friends of friends, we travelled in a spirit of camaraderie. Second-class journey, reservation or no reservation, crowded platforms— nothing dissuaded our spirits of adventure. I still remember Gaya Station and its crazy, cacophonous milieu of coolies in red shirts, with their golden brassards in place, the shouting brigade of vendors and the lone shout of ‘chai-chai’ resounding even after one had left the premises of the rail station.

 

After my master’s with distinguished honours, I rested my eyes and hope on my MPhil programme in political science. My dream of clearing the civil services exam was still on. Deshbandhu College of Delhi University offered me a lectureship and I grabbed the opportunity. Thus began a small yet significant start to my career. Though my heart lay elsewhere, I was lucky to keep myself and my mind on course. The year was 1982. The urge and the thirst to do something big was alive and I knew it was just a matter of time.

 

Dates hold a strange fascination for me, and 19 May 1983 became another such landmark. No, it wasn’t the day of the results of the UPSC examination but the day I appeared for the selection interview. As I stepped out of the cool confines of the imposing UPSC building and on to Shahjahan Road, I exuded a certain confidence, the confidence of having arrived. The forty-five-minute interview had been a breeze. I was grilled by the chairperson of the interview board, R.O. Dhan. She was possibly the vice chancellor of some university and had real pointed questions in her armoury. Former IPS officer John Lobo, another board member, carried the legacy of having investigated the famous homicide case of Admiral K.M. Nanavati. From the United Nations to the Chauri Chaura incident, the interviewers were thorough in their approach.

 

The UPSC interview was held in the month of May. The news of my selection came through in June. Life has its own way of springing surprises. At times I think back on my journey to academic success, a candidate who cracked one of the toughest examinations in the country, in fact in the world. There is always a trigger that catapults one from a modest follower to a fiery leader. Fifth standard had been mine. I had started believing in myself and taking myself more seriously when I stood first then. This precisely was a moment when I reinvented myself afresh and a sense of competition was instilled in my young mind.

 

My training and induction were fixed to commence in the first week of December. For me, the ultimate had happened. God had blessed me with his indulgent embrace. My mother was with me in the momentous occasion, so were my sisters and brother Shree Prakash. Babuji was missing in the picture and that stung me.

 

And then, out of nowhere, the love of my life tiptoed into the family and straight to my heart.

***

Get your copy of Crime, Grime, and Gumption by O.P. Singh wherever books are sold.

10 Things You Should Know About Akash Verma

Akash Verma is a man of many talents. Not only is he a bestselling author but also an established entrepreneur. His profile lists him as the co-founder of two start-up companies before which he had also dabbled various roles in major corporations like Coca-Cola, Big FM and Red FM.
Akash is back with his fourth novel, You Never Know: Sometimes Love Can Drag You Through Hell…, a romance thriller which will keep you at the edge of your seat till the last page.
Here are a few things facts about the bestselling author.
Early beginnings!
You Never Know Blog Creative 1.png
Master of many talents
You Never Know Blog Creative 2 (1).png
Woah!
You Never Know Blog Creative 3.png
It’s all in the genes.
You Never Know Blog Creative 4.png
Relate!
You Never Know Blog Creative 5 (2).png
Quite a quirk that is…
You Never Know Blog Creative 6 (2).png
The next time you want some gossip about the tinsel town, you know whom to turn to.
You Never Know Blog Creative 8.png
Wow!
You Never Know Blog Creative 9.png
Aww!
You Never Know Blog Creative 10.png
How many of these facts did you already know about the author?
You Never Know Blog Creative Footer.png

5 Reasons You Should Be Reading Jo Nesbo

Reading crime novels comes with the suspense of not knowing what comes next. If you’re one of those who love the feeling of suspense and still haven’t got your hands on the books by Jo Nesbo, you are missing out big time. Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian crime novelist with more than 15 thriller novels to his name is a must read for every book lover.
So here are five reasons on why should you be reading Jo Nesbo:
His Harry Hole Series
Nes 1.png
The series revolves around Detective Harry Hole, a classic anti-hero who has alcoholic tendencies and opposes any kind of authority.  The novels in this series, like all Nesbo novels, are complex and ambitious constructions combined with high-voltage suspense.. With twelve books in the series, Harry Hole has risen to become a cult figure among the lovers of the thriller genre.
His Novels have been Adapted to films
Nes 2.jpg
His stand-alone novel Headhunters was adapted into a film in 2011. The film stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and was nominated for many awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film category. His other novels, The Son and The Snowman are also slated to be adapted into motion pictures.
He is an Award-Winning Author
Nes 3.jpg
Nesbo has many accolades to his name. His debut novel The Bat won the Riverton Prize for Best Norwegian Crime Novel of the Year and the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel of the Year. His other works such as The Redbreast, Nemesis, The Snowman and The Devil’s Star have also been awarded by many prestigious platforms.
He is Multi-talented
Nes 4.png
Nesbo is not just a crime novelist but also writes books for children. His Doctor Proctor series revolves around a eccentric professor who is waiting for the opportunity to make it big in the world. The series evokes the legacy of Roald Dahl’s books as it encourages the readers to believe in themselves. He also conceptualized the Norwegian political thriller TV series, Occupied.
His Latest Novel, Knife

In his new book , Knife, Harry Hole is about to face his darkest case yet. The first killer he put behind bars is out to get him. Harry is responsible for the many years Finne spent in prison but now he’s free and ready to pick up where he left off.
When Harry wakes up with blood on his hands, and no memory of what he did the night before, he knows everything is only going to get worse . . .
Ready to get your hands on Nesbo novels? Tell us which one you liked the most.

error: Content is protected !!