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Indian Business Women: इंडियन बिझनेस वूमैन
by Suman Vajpayeeप्रस्तुत पुस्तक में उद्यम-जगत् में अपना वर्चस्व कायम कर चुकी कुछ महिलाओं की निजी व प्रोफेशनल जिंदगी की प्रेरक घटनाओं का विवेचन किया गया है। इन महिलाओं का जीवन, सोच एवं मेहनत प्रेरणाप्रद है और इससे नई पीढ़ी को बहुत कुछ सीखने को मिलेगा। स्त्री-शक्ति को सही मायने में उद्घाटित करती नारी का सम्मान बढ़ानेवाली लोकप्रिय पुस्तक।
Wordsmith: How I Made My Dictionary
by Emile Littre T. K. GopalanWriter, physician, philosopher and lexicographer, Émile Littré was commissioned by Hachette in 1841 to compile a new dictionary of the French language. The work, finally started in 1845, took nearly 30 years to complete, during which period France went through a great deal of turbulence. Littré wrote this companion volume, a remarkable novella-length essay, Comment j?ai fait mon dictionnaire (`How I Made My Dictionary?), in 1880, which was translated and published for the first time in English in 1998 by a former Indian diplomat. The translation, now brought back into print by Hachette India, has been commended by Dictionaries, a journal of the Dictionary Society of North America, for being `accurate and conveying the original?s lively, intense effect.? This book is a vital philological addition to the study of words and language, and an insight into the remarkable men who made such study possible by embarking on epic ventures of the literary kind.
Forest of Tides: The Untold Story of the Sunderbans
by Manisha Sobhrajani`The Gosaba river stretched towards the horizon... It gave the impression of travelling through darkness to enter a forest of tides.? Perhaps the most enigmatic of India?s landscapes, the Sunderbans is a land where dense mangrove forests, a sprawling delta and rare wildlife come together to form one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. Till date, it remains amongst the most difficult terrains to live in. The locals lead precarious lives, battling not only nature ? in the form of cyclones and animal attacks ? but also an indifferent government that provides little infrastructural support. In Forest of Tides, Manisha Sobhrajani recounts her experience of living and working in the Sunderbans supervising the construction of a charitable hospital ? from adjusting to a life without basic amenities to trying to build permanent structures with fishnet and plastic bottles, while navigating the pitfalls of local politics. Interwoven with stories about the people she encounters ? honey-gatherers, wood-collectors, forest officials, even a former poacher ? this deeply personal account paints a richly nuanced picture of a challenging yet extraordinary land.
Pichai: The Future Of Google
by Jagmohan BhanverAn incisive look into the world?s most innovative tech company and the man chosen to lead it On 10 August 2015, an unassuming product expert who learnt his ropes at IIT Kharagpur was declared the next CEO of tech giant Google. Sundar Pichai?s appointment was hardly an unexpected one. Pichai is a man known as much for his veritable Midas touch with every product he has developed or led for Google ? Chrome, Chrome OS and Android, to name just a few ? as for his superlative people skills and open-minded approach to innovation. Yet, the company?s decision to restructure its product lines and appoint Pichai as the head of a leaner, more focused Google, has raised inevitable questions: ? What does Pichai?s role augur for the future of the tech giant? ? Will Google consolidate its position for existing products or will they focus on creating new ones? ? And will Pichai transform the organization that Schmidt, Page and Brin created and led, or confirm the belief of a minority of naysayers that he is not yet ready for this daunting role? Pichai: The Future of Google provides answers to these questions while throwing light on Sundar Pichai?s childhood and education; his entry into the tech world and quick rise up the ranks in Google; and his key contributions as a leader and tech-guru to Google?s most successful properties. Timely and insightful, this book offers a rare glimpse into the fascinating ecosystem of a path-breaking company and shows us what it takes to be a dynamic leader in the 21st century.
Searching for Home: Stories of Indians Living Abroad
by Simran ChawlaA compelling chronicle of what it means to be Indian in a foreign land. In an age when India is one of the strongest emerging markets and a developing superpower, tens of thousands of Indians leave the country each year to seek new lives on distant shores. What are they looking for and what do they really find? In a first-of-its-kind narrative, journalist and American expat Simran Chawla documents the contemporary Indian immigrant experience in various corners of the world ? from Alaska to the UK, Europe to Africa, the Americas to the Middle East. In this book, she tells the story of families like the Singhs who farm in the heartland of Italy just south of Verona; discovers the lucrative Indian wedding industry in the Gulf or United Arab Emirates; learns about the community of ?aunties? in Orlando who have found meaning in their lives once again by organizing sewing get-togethers; watches a cricket match between diamond traders in Antwerp; and explores the heartbreaking price of living illegally in London. In lucid, affecting prose, Searching for Home tells the stories of people who, though separated by thousands of kilometres, share experiences that continue to bind them to their homeland. THE AMAZING RACIST`Outrageously funny and deeply moving. In this cracker of a debut novel, Tenduf-La writes on Sri Lanka from the intriguing perspective of the outsider inside.? ? Ashok Ferrey, author of The ProfessionalEddie Trusted, an English school teacher in Colombo, wants to spend his life with Menaka Rupasinghe, a vibrant Sri Lankan beauty, but as with all matters of the heart, there?s an obstacle. If Eddie wants to wed Menaka, it is Thilak Rupasinghe, her orthodox terror of a father, whom he must woo and whose farts he must kiss ? Thilak wants his daughter to marry someone of the same race, religion and caste, and if possible from the same locality.In a desperate bid to make his dream a reality, Eddie tries to connect with Thilak in other ways ? eating curries that make him bleed spice and breathe fire, driving drunk through red lights, threatening co-workers with violence, and sleeping with snakes. But will Eddie ever be good enough for a man who hates the colour of his skin?Sparkling with wit and featuring an endearing cast of characters, The Amazing Racist is the story of a man who finds a home among strangers, of a father-in-law whose bark is worse than his bite, and of bonds that grow to be stronger than family ties.end
Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat
by Saurabh DuggalThe inspiring story of one of India?s greatest wrestling coaches In 2000, after the Olympic Games closed with much fanfare in Sydney, legendary wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat watched, dejected, as the prize reserved by his state government for the winner of an Olympic gold medal went unclaimed. Determined to never see this instance repeated, Phogat decided to do the unthinkable. Much to his neighbours? curiosity, he spent two days digging a pit in his courtyard and asked his young daughters and nieces to join him there at the break of dawn one day. Little did they know that this unusual command from their father would change their lives forever. Yet, each of their wins in the ring, every ambition he had for them, came at great personal cost. In the small village of Balali in Haryana, a state infamous for its practice of female foeticide and low literacy rates, Phogat had to battle not just deep social stigma and an apathetic government but also a disapproving family and personal tragedy to train the girls in his sport. Akhada tells the remarkable story of a man of tremendous fortitude, of a father who fought against all odds to give his daughters a future they could not have dreamed for themselves.
Kamala Harris: The American Story that Began on India’s Shores
by Hansa Makhijani Jain‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.’ – Shyamala HarrisWhen US presidential candidate Joe Biden chose Kamala Harris, senator and attorney, as his running mate in the race for the President’s post, the world sat up in attention. For the first time in the country’s history, a Black–Asian woman had emerged as a candidate for the most powerful offices in the land. And, when the Democratic Party won, the fire-brand leader became the first woman vice-president elect in the history of the United States. Ever since Biden’s announcement, the questions have buzzed on: What is it that makes Kamala Harris perfect for the top job? Why does she attribute so much of her success to her Indian immigrant mother? And how did she manage to seize – and hold – the imagination of a nation in one of the most polarized and keenly contested elections in modern America? Kamala Harris: The American Story that Began on India’s Shores tells the extraordinary tale of this courageous and charismatic woman who beat the odds and stuck to her principles in the unforgiving milieu of today’s politics. Harris is a pioneer in her own right, a symbol many look up to in the hope of a more inclusive world, and her inspirational rise to the top promises that she will not be the last woman to conquer this mountain.
On A Stormy Course: In the Hot Seat at St. Stephen's
by Valson ThampuWhat is the institution that the world knows as St. Stephen?s College, Delhi? Is it only an anthology of nostalgic tales, mythological anecdotes, free-wheeling assertions and transitory opinions? Or does it have a distinctive birth that defines its worth and dictates its mission? For four decades, Reverend Valson Thampu served St. Stephen?s College, Delhi, first as a member of the faculty and then as principal, significantly impacting the stature of this prestigious educational institution. The last nine years of his tenure were rife with controversy. From accusations that he was `Christianizing? the college to contentious debates over his educational qualifications to allegations that he was curbing the fundamental rights of the students, Reverend Thampu faced a constant barrage of storms. In On a Stormy Course, Reverend Thampu lays bare, for the first time, the truth behind those years of tumult. Against the backdrop of the vision and ideals of the founding fathers of the institution that in turn shaped his own principles and professional ethics, he reveals how he stayed steadfast and committed to the betterment of his alma mater in the face of hostile peers, media trials and public scorn. As thought-provoking as it is searing, this account offers a ringside view of the inner life of higher academics in India, mired as it is in disruptive institutional politics and unfortunate compromise. The incisive insights it presents reveal how rejuvenating and reforming India?s higher education system could well enable the country?s venerated institutions to serve their purpose of shaping young minds and thus, ultimately, the nation itself.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज
by Krishnarao Arjun Keluskarगुरुवर्य कृष्णराव अर्जुन केळूसकर गेल्या शतकातील एक महान चरित्रकार आहेत. छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांचे मराठीतील पहिले विस्तृत चरित्र त्यांनी लिहिले. विख्यात चरित्रकार डॉ. धनंजय कीर लिहितात, 'केळूसकरकृत शिवचरित्राएवढे समग्र व सविस्तर चरित्र आजपर्यंत कोणीही लिहिले नाही. तसेच गौतमबुद्ध आणि संत तुकाराम यांचे पहिले चरित्रकारही केळूसकरच आहेत.' राजकीय ऋषी मामा परमानंद, न्यायमूर्ती माधवराव रानडे, महाराजा सयाजीराव गायकवाड यांनी गुरुवर्य केळूसकरांच्या लेखणी व विचारांची प्रशंसा केली. ते धर्मशास्त्र, अर्थशास्त्र, शिक्षणशास्त्र, इतिहास आणि तत्त्वज्ञान या विषयांवर ग्रंथ लिहिणारे प्रकांड पंडित होते. पण बहुजनसमाजाच्या लेखकाच्या वाट्याला येणारी फरपट केळूसकरांच्या वाट्याला आली. महाराष्ट्राच्या वाङमयमहर्षीची उपेक्षाच झाली. छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांचे साधार प्रदीर्घ चरित्र लिहिताना केळूसकरांनी ऐतिहासिक सत्याच्या आधारे विवेकशील मांडणी केली आहे. भारतभूमीला यवनसत्तेपासून मुक्त करण्याचा सत्संकल्प केलेल्या या महाप्रतापशाली वीराने सर्व जाती-धर्मांच्या मदतीने, मुत्सद्दीपणा व गनिमी कावा या कौशल्याने हिंदवी स्वराज्य उभारिले. कल्पक प्रशासनाच्या आधारे जनसामान्यांचा कैवार आणि गुणवंतांचा आदर करत शत्रू पक्षांवर मात केली. मराठ्यांचे नाव जगाच्या इतिहासात अजरामर करून ठेवलेल्या छत्रपती शिवरायांचे मराठीतील हे चरित्र एक उत्तम उदाहरण आहे. केळूसकर गुरुजींचा हा ग्रंथ म्हणजे केवळ शिवाजी राजांचा चरित्रग्रंथ नसून त्यात इतिहास, भूगोल, समाजव्यवस्था, राज्यव्यवस्था, अर्थकारण, नेतृत्व, चारित्र्य, मानवी संबंध अशा अनेक विषयांची तपशीलवार मांडणी आहे. हा युगपुरुष महाराष्ट्रदेशी अवतरला हे इथल्या रयतेचे भाग्य! आज राष्ट्रउभारणीसाठी देशातल्या प्रत्येक तरुणाने छत्रपतींच्या व्यूहनीतीचा साकल्याने विचार व अंगीकार करणे क्रमप्राप्त आहे.
Buland Awaaz: बुलंद आवाज
by Nand Kishore Yadavबुलंद आवाज एक ऐसी आवाज, जिसे अनसुना करना नामुमकिन 'नंद किशोर यादव: बुलंद आवाज बिहार भाजपा के जनप्रिय नेता' नंदूजी यानी संघर्ष और विकास के प्रतीकपुरुष श्री नंद किशोर यादव के संसदीय जीवन का सफरनामा है। नेता प्रतिपक्ष और विपक्ष के विधायक के तौर पर जन- आवाज बनकर उन्होंने जो अमिट लंबी लकीर खींची है, उसी का दस्तावेजीकरण प्रस्तुत पुस्तक में हुआ है। जदयू से गठबंधन टूटने के बाद सरकार से अलग होने पर वर्ष 2013 में श्री नंद किशोर यादव को भारतीय जनता पार्टी ने बिहार विधानसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष का दायित्व सौंपा। सदन के भीतर और बाहर नीतीश कुमार जैसे मुख्यमंत्री की उस सरकार, जिसमें थोड़े दिन पहले तक वे खुद भी साझीदार थे, को उसकी विफलता का आईना दिखाना बड़ी चुनौती थी। सरकार से हटने के बाद जल्द ही प्रभावी विपक्ष के तेवर में स्वयं को ढालना और पार्टी का नेतृत्व करना सरल नहीं था, लेकिन बिहार की जनता ने देखा कि नंद किशोर यादव ने करीब दो साल नेता प्रतिपक्ष की अपनी भूमिका का किस आक्रामकता के साथ निर्वाह किया।"
Shuttle Ki Rani P. V. Sindhu Ki Biography: शटल की रानी पी. वी. सिंधु की बायोग्राफी
by V. Krishnaswamyचिडि़यों की उड़ान नौ साल की उम्र में पी.वी. सिंधु ने खेल-खेल में एक विजिटिंग कार्ड डिजाइन किया था, जिस पर लिखा था- बैडमिंटन अर्जुन अवार्डी। चौबीस साल की उम्र में उन्होंने अपनी अलमारी में सन् 2020 के ओलंपिक स्वर्ण पदक के लिए एक स्थान खाली रखा था। ‘शटल की रानी’, इन दो चरणों के बीच उनके सफर की कहानी है। जब वह रेलवे कॉलोनी से प्रशिक्षण मैदान तक प्रतिदिन पचास किलोमीटर से अधिक की यात्रा करती थीं, तो सिंधु का एक ही सपना था- भारत की सर्वश्रेष्ठ बैडमिंटन खिलाड़ी बनना। वॉलीबॉल, जो उनके माता-पिता का खेल था, उसकी चर्चा डिनर टेबल पर हुआ करती थी, लेकिन स्पोर्ट्स आइकन पुलेला गोपीचंद उनके आदर्श थे। ऐसे समय में जब साइना नेहवाल एक उभरती हुई स्टार थीं, सिंधु भी उन्हीं की अकादमी में शामिल हुई और इस फैसले ने उनकी जिंदगी बदल दी। आज वह एक ओलंपिक रजत पदक विजेता, पद्मभूषण और फोर्ब्स द्वारा जारी दुनिया की सबसे अधिक पैसा कमाने वाली एथलीटों की सूची में शामिल होनेवाली एकमात्र भारतीय खिलाड़ी हैं। उन्होंने भारी पराजय के झटके और जोश भरने वाली जीत के साथ विश्वप्रसिद्ध प्रतिद्वंद्विता भी देखी। फिर भी वह एक ऐसी लड़की हैं, जिन्हें फिल्मों, शरारतों और मैसूर पाक से प्यार है। ‘शटल की रानी’ पुस्तक बताती है कि कैसे दिग्गज बैडमिंटन खिलाडि़यों की हताशा युवा पीढ़ी के लिए एक परिवर्तनकारी बदलाव लेकर आई; क्यों भारत में खेल के सर्वश्रेष्ठ खिलाड़ी एक ही शहर हैदराबाद से आते हैं और इन सबसे बढ़कर, कितने परिश्रम, त्याग और संघर्ष के बाद एक विश्व-विजेता खिलाड़ी तैयार होता है।
Siddhartha: The Boy Who Became the Buddha
by Advait KottaryHis family was happy to see him, but they had hoped to meet the Siddhartha they knew, not the Buddha he had become. Long before he became the enlightened leader, he was a boy oblivious of the world. As the young prince navigates politics and relationships, he slowly begins to question his oppressively perfect life. Meanwhile his family struggles to maintain their deception - from banishing the old and sick to hiding their own advancing age - in the hope that they can mould him into a dutiful king. In Advait Kottary's intricately woven narrative, raw human emotion and conflict is tempered with the boundless compassion of the Buddha. Exciting and insightful in equal measure, Siddhartha is at once a riveting story and a profound meditation on our shared quest for truth.
Nation First
by Shikha Akhilesh SaxenaTwo decades after India's resounding victory at Kargil, stories and accounts of the war continue to be narrated with immense pride. Yet, one pertinent perspective has been largely overlooked - that of the army wives. In this remarkable book, Shikha Akhilesh Saxena, wife of artillery officer Captain Akhilesh Saxena, describes the turmoil endured by the families of military officers in the face of conflict.As a young couple, Shikha and Akhilesh unexpectedly found themselves in the midst of war. Shikha deftly depicts her own experiences as well as those of Akhilesh, who took part in missions at Tololing, the Hump and Three Pimples. What does a soldier go through, when marching off to a near-suicidal mission? And what does it take to survive, even thrive, having sustained serious injuries in battle? This detailed memoir shows the boundless bravery of the Indian troops, as well as the emotional tumult experienced by their families both during and after the war. Nation First is a story of grit, determination and heroic patriotism shown by the men and women who give their all to safeguard the country.
Sálim Ali for Children: The Bird Man of India
by Zai WhitakerOF COURSE THERE WERE BIRDS IN THE BUSHES, TREES AND SKIES BEFORE SÁLIM ALI. BUT IT WAS HE WHO PUT THEM ON INDIA'S MAP FOREVER.From being a trigger-happy airgun-toting nine-year-old boy to becoming one of the foremost bird scientists in the world, Sálim Ali did not follow a straight path. Somewhere along his adventures between India, Burma and Europe, he developed such a single-minded zeal for the study of feathered creatures that he spent all his time close to them. Over the long course of researching bird life, in the days when there were no computers or internet, he wrote the first Indian field guide to birds, using just a notebook and binoculars. 'Sálim Bhai' - as he was widely known - had neither wealth nor connections in high places, but his passion for birds, a phenomenal memory and discipline made him one of the most famous ornithologists in the country and beyond. In Sálim Ali for Children, his grand-niece Zai Whitaker brings to life the inspiring story of this brilliant, quirky man who left behind an incredible legacy.
The Viceroy's Artist: A Novel
by Anindyo RoySomewhere in the foothills of the Himalayas, a sixty-two-year-old English painter falls off his sketching stool. Overweight, asthmatic and prone to attacks of epilepsy, Edward Lear is nevertheless on a mission – to paint the mighty Kanchenjunga for his patron, the Viceroy of India.Lear is an oddity, an outsider, simultaneously fascinated and repelled by the world the British have built in India. Even as he battles the fatigue of travelling on pony carts, jampans and trains, Lear reflects on those who run the vast machinery of the Empire – administrators and missionaries, kitmutgars and kamsamahs.Duelling pompous British officers with his wry humour, Lear turns his ear to the polyphony of local languages to compose nonsense poetry with a uniquely Indian flavour. Woven into this vivid account are flashes from Lear's own life – deep-seated fears stemming from an unhappy childhood and the memory of unfulfilled adult relationships. Inspired by the journals of this celebrated artist and poet, Anindyo Roy brings to life Lear's little-known Indian sojourns. In lyrical prose, and occasional verse, The Viceroy's Artist paints a picture of an exceptional man who inspires by his unhindered imagination, curiosity and compassion for the world.
Surviving in My World: Growing Up Dalit in Bengal
by Manohar Mouli Biswas Angana Dutta Jaideep Sarangi Sekhar BandyopadhyayIT GIVES US great pleasure to present the English translation of Manohar Mouli Biswas's Bengali autobiography Amar Bhubane Ami Benche Thaki (2013). The book consists of the autobiography and a detailed interview of the author; the latter attempts to bridge the gap between Biswas's days of struggle as a dalit child labourer, as narrated in the autobiography, and his later (so far unrecorded) life as an accomplished dalit literary activist, as one of the leading members of the Bangla Dalit Sahitya Sanstha. His auto¬biography surprises us by its inherent truth and beauty.
Before Memory Fades: An Autobiography
by Fali S. NarimanBefore Memory Fades by Fali S. Nariman is a revelatory, comprehensive and perceptive autobiography – candid, compelling and authoritative.Internationally admired and respected, Fali S. Nariman is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India. He began his career at the Bombay High Court in November 1950, and has since been active in the legal profession. Over the years, he has held several prestigious posts at both the national and international levels. He became a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) in November 1999. He is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1991) and the Padma Vibhushan (2007). Starting with his formative years, when he had the good fortune to interact with many eminent judges and advocates, Fali S. Nariman moves on to deal with a wide variety of important subjects, such as, the sanctity of the Indian Constitution and attempts to tamper with it. crucial cases that have made a decisive impact on the nation, especially on the interpretation of the law, the relationship between the political class and the judiciary, the cancer of corruption and how to combat this menace, the author outlines measures to restore the now-low credibility of the legal profession, he also delineates his role in several high-profile cases. In recognition of his track record, the Government of India nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. He describes the highlights of his tenure there. Both members of the legal profession and the lay reader will find the contents informative and useful.
The Life and Times of Baba Ramdev
by Ashok RajThe continuing saga of a contemporary mass leader who sought out a vision and a method to amalgamate yoga and health care into the mainstream consciousness Baba Ramdev’s emergence as the new ideologue of a national and global spiritual resurgence is considered by many as a curious phenomenon. This work is a study on the making of the Ramdev spectacle with all its inescapable assertiveness, mass enthusiasm and, of course, controversies. It seeks to locate his philosophy in today’s socio-cultural milieu, while tracing its origins in Indian spiritual history, and the past landmark reformist movements that have been initiated in the country by earlier path-breakers including Sri Aurobindo, Swami Dayananda, Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Bhagwan Nityananda, J. N. Krishnamurty and Sri Ramana Rishi. Indeed, Ramdev represents a renewed continuity to the great revival of the ancient Indian spiritual traditions and yoga that took place in the twentieth century and received recognition worldwide. With his own version of holistic yoga as a ploy for instituting the universal right to health, Baba Ramdev has proposed two distinct ideological alternatives to the current established order of the world – pranayama and the yogic way of life as the key to health restoration and well-being; and manifestation of an enabling spiritual environment for personal and social transformation. Ramdev’s arrival once again underlines the continuing significance of Oriental spiritualism the world over as it offers perhaps the most promising insights for the creation of a ‘new spiritually-awakened man’ – a man at ease with himself and with the world around him.
Ink in My Veins: A Life in Journalism
by S. Nihal SinghA never-say-die journalist’s life story with an in-depth analysis of crucial historical events, fascinating anecdotes about the high and mighty, revealing behind-the-scenes events and a bouquet of delightful snippets . . .This book traces one man’s journey stretching from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru to the Manmohan Singh era. As a journalist, S. Nihal Singh had a ringside seat in observing and analysing important developments in India and the world: The 1969 split in the Congress, with Indira Gandhi emerging victorious; the Emergency imposed by her in June 1975, her downfall, her phoenix-like rise and her assassination; the game of musical chairs with the Congress as music master as prime ministers came and went in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s; the tempestuous relations between India and Pakistan; the 1991 Gulf war; and the litany of scams that have buffeted the Manmohan Singh Government. The scandals facing the government had been long in the making, but they illuminate features like the erosion of the country’s once-famed administrative structure, the rise of corruption in an increasingly consumer-oriented acquisitive society, the democratization of polity by the inclusion of hitherto excluded sections and the decline of the mother Congress Party. The Manmohan Singh–Sonia Gandhi harness in a two-horse tonga became necessary because Sonia’s so-called foreign birth turned into a major political controversy. The scandals, and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s desire to milk them, merely accentuated the problems of a prime minister without the politician’s ability to tame events while his co-ruler, the party president, became the recognized power centre. Over the decades, editing two major Indian newspapers (The Statesman and the Indian Express) and Dubai’s Khaleej Times ensured a varied and eventful life with never a dull moment. Outside his home country, Nihal Singh was a witness to dramatic events in South-east Asia, Eastern and Western Europe and the United States. His tour of duty also took him to Moscow, where he rubbed the Soviets the wrong way.
Matters of Discretion: An Autobiography
by I. K. GujralThe first-ever autobiography written by an Indian prime minister. Only once in a lifetime comes a book that simply must be read! An absorbing, authentic and definitive account, by a former prime minister, of crucial events that had a significant impact on the nation’s destiny after independence. I K Gujral has penned his life story in a forthright and candid manner. He entered the political fray as a freedom fighter in the British era, and after the tumultuous events that rocked the Indian subcontinent in the wake of the partition in August 1947, crossed over from Pakistan to India, where he had to begin life from scratch. Despite facing tremendous odds, on the basis of his perseverance, resilience and never-say-die attitude, Gujral’s achievements allowed him to witness and shape India’s contemporary history. Gujral joined Congress Party and was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1964. He was the Information and Broadcasting Minister when emergency was imposed, which entailed arbitrary press censorship. Since he refused to bow down to the de facto powers, he was unceremoniously replaced and later sent by Indira Gandhi as India’s ambassador to the USSR, a post he handled with commendable tact and finesse. After his stint in Moscow, he returned to India and re-entered the ‘political whirlpool’ by joining the Janata Dal. He became minister for external affairs under V P Singh (1989) and Deve Gowda (1996). Gujral reached the pinnacle of his career when he became the prime minister on 1997. During his priministership, despite the exigencies and pressures of running a coalition government, he endeavoured to achieve progress in many spheres. The Gujral Doctrine (a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India’s immediate neighbours) was widely acclaimed in both India and the West. This volume, a valuable addition to the literature on contemporary history, provides a deep insight into the political scene as it unfolded after independence and delineates the roles played by a wide spectrum of politicians, bureaucrats, and many others.
I Want to Live: The Story of Madhubala
by Katijia AkbarMadhubala – the very name conjures up vivid images of a love goddess possessing bewitching beauty, dazzling radiance, subtle sensuality, and, above all, a tantalizing screen presence. Her ‘reel life’ histrionic performances held (and continue to hold) audiences/viewers entranced. Her talent was phenomenal, and she could literally glide through a movie, whatever be the role. She could convey an impressive array of emotions with her eloquent eyes and facial expressions without resorting to melodramatic contortions. Tragedy, romance, comedy, drama, and what have you – she could take everything in her stride, exquisitely and flawlessly, as convincingly proved by superhits such as Mahal, Tarana, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and the magnum opus, Mughal-e-Azam. All this she achieved despite a major heart disease, which assumed serious proportions as her career soared. This volume presents a fascinating panorama not only of the ‘reel life’ Madhubala but also of the ‘real life’ Madhubala, who was an extremely compassionate and caring human being, but lived in the shadow of her dominant father. The author recounts her captivating saga, right from her first film – Basant (1942), as a child star, up to the magnificent Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and beyond. Enthralling cameos from her masterpieces such as Mahal, Mr & Mrs 55 and Amar, are depicted in graphic detail. Also, all the drama involved in her love affair with Dilip Kumar, which culminated in intense acrimony, has been poignantly portrayed. The last few years of her life were spent in virtual solitude in spite of her being married to Kishore Kumar, and death, in a way, came as a release for her.
Thakur - Sri Ramakrishna: A Biography
by Rajiv MehrotraThe story of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the most beloved Hindu spiritual leaders. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. One should not think, ‘My religion alone is the right path and other religions are false.’ I had to practice each religion for a time – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity. Infinite are the paths and infinite are opinions. - Sri Ramakrishna. In Thakur - Sri Ramakrishna: A Biography, Rajiv Mehrotra explores the ‘challenge and the riddle’ presented by the great mystic who, more than a century after his death, continues to dominate secular Hindu consciousness. Sri Ramakrishna brought a new vitality not only to the practices, rituals and symbols of the Hindu heritage but also the celebration of divinity in diverse forms, and reinforced the underlying possibility of a real harmony between all religions. It is this vision that makes him one of the great religious teachers of all time and so profoundly relevant today. This illuminating and intimate biography is most reader-friendly and comprehensive, revealing this boundless power and magnetism of Sri Ramakrishna, as well as the Order that was inspired by his spiritual quest. Mehrotra’s narrative gift is remarkably precise and richly evocative, integrating all details of an aspect into a visual and verbal complex of significance. This is a book for all those who want to know more about Sri Ramakrishna, as well as for anyone looking for a brilliant read.
His Holiness The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje: A Biography
by Tsering Namgyal KhortsaA fascinating and riveting life sketch of one of the most respected spiritual leaders of our times, which also delves deep into the various facets of Buddhism . . . The seventeenth Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the leader of the Karma Kagyu School, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 1985 in eastern Tibet to nomadic parents, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the sixteenth Karmapa who passed away in the US in 1981. He became the first Tibetan reincarnation to be recognized by both the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government. The 15-year-old monk made headlines when he escaped to India in 2000. Currently living near Dharamshala (in Himachal Pradesh, India), the Karmapa is widely seen as an important spiritual leader of the twenty-first century. Over the past decade and a half, he has grown up into a formidable leader and an impressive orator. Behind the façade of scandals and controversies surrounding the Karmapa is an extraordinary young man, full of charisma and intelligence. Yet few know who the Karmapa is and what he believes in. What are his teachings and what is his vision for the world? How is he restoring his 900-year-old Tibetan Buddhist institution of which he is the head? In a unique mixture of biography, travelogue and reportage, the author brings alive the life of the Karmapa, who is grappling with immense challenges to modernize spirituality, while keeping its essence alive. Here is a timely volume that is highly relevant today given the worldwide attention on the developments in Tibet and its impact on Beijing.
First Raj of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Banda Singh Bahadur
by Harish DhillonBanda Singh Bahadur appeared in Sikh history for a relatively short period (1708-1716) but, after the Sikh gurus, influenced it more significantly than any other individual. Banda Singh Bahadur is among the most colourful and fascinating characters in Sikh history. From an ascetic he was transformed into Guru Gobind Singh’s most trusted disciple. So much so that when the seriously injured guru could not lead his Sikh army against the Mughal forces, he appointed Banda Singh Bahadur as his deputy. As proof of this appointment he gave Banda his sword, a mighty bow, arrows from his own quiver, his battle standard and his war drum. Banda rode out from Nanded (where Guru Gobind Singh passed away; now in Maharashtra) at the head of a small band of Sikhs, which, by the time it reached the Punjab, had grown into a formidable army. Over the next few years his exploits against the Mughal rulers, both in pitched battles and in skirmishes, became the stuff of legends. He became the first of many legendary Sikh generals, famous both for their personal heroic courage and their skill in warfare. His many encounters with the Mughal rulers eroded the very foundation of the Mughal empire and ensured its quick demise. As he said when questioned on what he had achieved: ‘I have ensured that never again will the crown sit easily on the Mughal emperor’s head.’ He also prepared the coming generations of Sikhs for future conflicts, which later greatly helped Maharaja Ranjit Singh in creating a Sikh empire. Banda was a true leader who led from the front, not only in the battlefield but also in civil administration. He established a secular government which swept aside 700 years of slavery and the myth of domination by foreign powers, proclaimed freedom of worship, allowed the people to follow professions of their choice and stopped forcible marriages even while recovering abducted women for return to their families. His land revolution abolished zamindari in parts of North India, thereby redistributing land equally amongst the tillers. This book seeks to tell the story of this remarkable and brave man and his equally remarkable ahievements. Perhaps, the finest of Banda Singh Bahadur’s biographies.
The State of the Nation
by Fali S. NarimanA definitive, analytical and meticulous account of the present state of the nation – from a constitutional perspective – by one of India’s most respected legal luminaries An ardent defender of the Constitution of India, Fali Nariman has today attained the status of an outstanding lawyer who strongly believes in the rule of the law and stands by his convictions. In this timely volume, the author highlights crucial issues that the legislature, the executive, judiciary, the bar and the common people have to deal with virtually on a day-to-day basis. His main focus is on corruption at various levels and in ‘hallowed’ institutions, including the judiciary. The author contends that the legislative and executive wings of the government – the elected representatives of the people – were (and are) expected to provide for the welfare of the people. He points out that they have failed miserably simply because making of laws is not enough; applying and enforcing laws – which are also the primary duties of the government – have left much to be desired. Consequently, it is the judiciary that tells the government when and how to distribute excess food, what crops to grow and what not to grow, which economic projects are good for the country and which are not, and what fuel should be used in our vehicles and whether 2G/3G licences should be allotted only through auctions! The judiciary is hence accused of overreach! The contents also throw light on other important subjects such as: the implications of reservations for certain sections of the population (including minorities); the true purpose and significance of the Constitution; Centre–State relations; and whether the Constitution has benefited the common people over the years. This is a book that is absorbing as well as thought-provoking that will make the readers put on their thinking caps.