Penguin Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Penguin Random House India

6 Sessions to Look Out for at JLF ’17

Posted on January 19, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

It’s that time of the year!
10 years since the first JLF, the Festival has grown into the world’s largest free event of its kind. Having hosted 1300 speakers and welcomed nearly 1.2 million book lovers, its success has been astonishing and heartwarming.
Some of the biggest Penguin authors have rocked the stage at JLF and this year promises to be even better. From commercial superstars to critical bigwigs, this year we are getting the crème de la crème from our author roster.
Here are a few of the sessions you’ll not want to miss at the Festival.
Gulzar
Gulzar and Pavan K. Varma in conversation

People usually run out of superlatives when talking about the evergreen Gulzar. One of the greatest artists to ever grace the JLF, Gulzar Sahib’s session, along with Pavan K. Varma, will be on his latest work – Suspected Poems. You’ll not want to miss his musings on poetry, literature and the state of the world.
Tabish Khair
Manju Kapur and Tabish Khair in conversation with Ashok Ferrey

Currently teaching English at Aarhus University in Denmark, Tabish Khair was born and educated in Bihar. At the session, the former journalist will be talking to Ashok Ferrey about the context and inspiration for his works. He will also talk about his book Jihadi Jane, a powerful novel about two Muslim girls who decide to join ISIS.
You can also catch him at the Festival along with Saeed Naqvi, Qaisra Shahraz, Sadia Dehlvi and Ornit Shani as they talk of the conflicts and polarities of being an Indian Muslim in an increasingly divided world.
Ashok Ferrey
Ashok Ferrey, Kyoko Yoshida and Marina Perezagua in conversation with Sunil Sethi

Ashok Ferrey will be in conversation with Sunil Sethi on the pursuit of fiction that involves a leap of faith between material and literary reality. He will be joined by other notable contemporary writers as they also discuss how writers enter and access fictional journey. The bestselling Sri Lankan author will also explore the devil within as he discusses his latest book The Ceaseless Chatter of Demons.
From talking about the thin red line between a person’s beliefs and politics with Tabish Khair to joining Ashwin Sanghi on his talk about the art of writing thrillers, Ashok Ferrey will also be at various other sessions with other authors.
Ravinder Singh
Ira Trivedi and Ravinder Singh in conversation with Lucy Beresford

Romantic fiction reaches out across time and history to every successive generation with tales of love. The King of Romance, Ravinder Singh’s session is about love in contemporary India. The author who is known for writing from the heart, about the heart will speak about the psychology and the changing mores of love in our times.
Devdutt Pattanaik
Devdutt Pattanaik introduced by Amrita Tripathi

Ancient Greece and India have both bequeathed a lasting body of myth to the world. In his latest work Olympus, Devdutt Pattanaik attempts to understand how an Indian reader raised on a steady diet of local myths and legends might respond to classical Greek mythology. By reversing the gaze, he explores the fascinating connections between these stories and sagas. At the Festival, Pattanaik will talk about both the mythologies and their lasting legacy.
Devdutt Pattanaik will have two more sessions at JLF – on the history and legacy of the Vedas and on his book The Girl Who Chose.
Arshia Sattar
Arshia Sattar and Volga in conversation with Vayu Naidu

A symbol of chastity and loyalty, the goddess Sita has evolved into a feminist icon for her silent strength and endurance. In her session, Arshia Sattar will talk about her highly acclaimed translation of the ‘Uttara Kanda’. She will talk about the sacrifice, choice and the complex moral universe of the Ramayana.
Arshia Sattar will also be in various other sessions at the Festival discussing atheism in the ancient world to understanding the brilliant A.K. Ramanujan.

———

The themes of equity and democracy run through the Festival’s veins bringing humanitarians, historians, politicians, business leaders, sports people and entertainers together on stage. Access to these renowned thinkers along with some of the finest writers in the world provides a potentially life-changing opportunity to visitors.
We hope to see you at Jaipur!

—————–

6 Quotes that Showcase the Brilliance of Haruki Murakami

Posted on January 12, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

Haruki Murakami’s greatest novels dwell in the threshold between realism and fable, whodunit and science fiction. Arguably the most experimental Japanese writer to have been translated into English, he is one of the greatest writers of our time.
His works are filled with allegorical worlds, assembled with familiar symbols as well as things that are just out of this world, leading to a strange hybrid narrative that captivates readers. That is exactly what these quotes show, his uncanny ability to stitch the peculiar with the normal, seamlessly.
Celebrate the birthday of this amazing writer with a few of his most memorable quotes.

Wishing you a very happy birthday Haruki Murakami-san!

————–

Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Sacred Sword by Hindol Sengupta

Posted on January 10, 2017February 25, 2020 by Penguin India

About the book:
The book is a riveting, first of its kind historical fiction based on the life, teachings and battles of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last living guru of the Sikh faith. A poet, philosopher, theologian and legendary warrior, Gobind Singh redefined the landscape of India and transformed its history. This book, the first ever historical fiction written on him, is being published on the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. This is also the first fiction from best-selling non-fiction writer Hindol Sengupta.
“Guru Gobind Singh is one of the most captivating figures of Indian history. The Game of Thrones seems like a petulant skirmish once you start to unravel Sikh history. This book is the beginning of my exploration into this history and I am thrilled to start with Guru Gobind Singh – he is a hero’s hero, an ascetic warrior, a monk king.” – Hindol Sengupta
“The Sacred Sword is an explosive and unputdownable historical fiction based on the king of kings, and the divinity of the enlightened teacher-Guru Gobind Singh.” – Priya Doraswamy, Lotus Lane Literary
“I am delighted to be publishing The Sacred Sword by Hindol Sengupta on the eve of Guru Gobind Singh’s 350th birth anniversary. Hindol is a prolific writer and this will be his first novel in which he will delve into Sikh history through the life of the legendary and brave warrior Guru Gobind Singh.” – Milee Ashwarya, Editor-in- Chief, Commercial and Business Books
About the author:
Hindol Sengupta is an award-winning writer, journalist, public speaker and social entrepreneur. He is the author of seven books. He is the youngest ever, and only Indian, to be nominated for the Hayek Prize given by the Manhattan Institute in memory of the Nobel laureate economist F. A. Hayek. He is the youngest winner of the PSF award for public service which has also been won, among others, by the late Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
He is the founder of the not-for- profit Whypoll Trust. He was invited to present his research on Hinduism and technology at the XXI World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religion. An alumnus of the Australia-India Youth Dialogue (AIYD), he won the 2015 grant to write a people’s history of Indians in Australia and Australians in India. He was part of IdeaMensch’s 2012 list of 33 entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place to live in for his work on ideating India’s first women safety mobile app. He is Editor-at-Large for Fortune India where he writes on the political economy and entrepreneurship.

9 inspirational quotes from literature to start off the New Year

Posted on January 7, 2017December 30, 2020 by Penguin India

The start of the New Year is the best time to reflect on the year past and to make a new start, whether in your relationship, your career or even your health. That is why we bring to you nine quotes from literature, which we are sure, will motivate, challenge and inspire you in the new year.