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Odisha and Sports: A Story of Hope and Glory
by Boria Majumdar Vineel Krishna RavellaFor decades, Odisha was considered as one of India&’s most backward states. But under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, it has made huge strides in every sphere, from human-development indices and disaster management to becoming the role model for India&’s future sporting programme. This book, co-authored by Boria Majumdar, one of India&’s best known sports scholars and commentators, and Vineel Krishna, Secretary Sports for the Government of Odisha, is an attempt to make sense of that transformation, especially in the sporting space. It is a tale of what can happen when a wealth of untapped talent is harnessed by proper administration and planning, and the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure. It is the story of how a state stepped in at the last minute to stage a major event, and how its success turned into a springboard for future endeavours. It documents the sea change that has been witnessed in the past half-decade, with the creation of world-class stadia, high-performance centres and hostels to house the most talented kids from the relatively under-developed regions of the state. It&’s also testament to the resilience and determination of the athletes, many of whom have overcome colossal odds to shine on the world stage. Most of all though, it&’s a story of hope – of what can happen when a government prioritises its people and recognises the power of sport to bring about lasting and positive social change.
The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions
by Marek Kowalkiewicz&‘A damn well-written book . . . a thrilling, entertaining whirlwind tour of different AI algorithms and their industry applications.&’ —Tobias Lange, Senior Vice President, Siemens Digital Industries Software Welcome to the economy of algorithms. It&’s here and it&’s growing. In the past few years, we have been flooded with examples of impressive technology. Algorithms have been around for hundreds of years, but they have only recently begun to &‘escape&’ our understanding. We are so impressed by what they can do that we give them a lot of agency. But because they are so hard to comprehend, this leads to all kinds of unintended consequences. In the twentieth century, we had the economy of corporations. In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, we saw the emergence of the economy of people, otherwise known as the digital economy, enabled by the internet. Now we&’re seeing a new economy take shape: the economy of algorithms. – How can we use algorithms to automate the boring parts of our jobs, enhance decision-making and drive innovation? – Where is the line between algorithmic &‘help&’ and surveillance? – Can an algorithm take your job? – How do you advertise to a fridge? – Do algorithms dream of electric sheep? – Why is it so hard to predict where technology will go next? These questions and more are answered by this exciting and ground-breaking book, which includes nine rules for flourishing in the new economy of algorithms.
Banned: A Social Media Trial
by Boria MajumdarA social media trial can break you. There were 100,000 tweets of abuse for days on end, all premised on a set of untruths pushed by someone hugely powerful because he had played for the national team. Against the entitled, I never stood a chance. The online trial forced me and the family to draw on every last bit of inner strength, and yet left permanent scars. Having served the ban, I wanted closure in the form of this book. But no one knows better that there will never be a full stop. I will not get back the two years of opportunities that I lost, or the days and evenings when I was almost a stranger to my daughter. For two years, my wife and I never had a quiet dinner where we could just relax. There was not one evening when we didn&’t discuss the issue and the book. Which outsider can quantify the impact it had on the mental health of my family? On my wife, my mother, my sister and my daughter? I became cynical about a number of things, and it will be tough to change that. Writing this book and putting the truth out there has drained and exhausted me. The truth is that the falsehoods piled up against me, ratified by all-knowing social media trolls, changed my life and that of my family. There is no going back to what we were. This was our Long Covid.
Nandini Satpathy: The Iron Lady of Orissa
by Pallavi RebbapragadaObliterated from the pages of history, as women often are, Odisha&’s first woman Chief Minister, Nandini Satpathy, known also as the Iron Lady of Orissa, was born to a family of revolutionaries and intellectuals. During her teenage years in the &‘40s, this petite girl in a starchy cotton saree was jailed for pulling down the Union Jack from atop the edifice of Ravenshaw College. Thus began the makings of a force to be reckoned with. Coming up through the ranks to ultimately reach the hallowed halls of the Rajya Sabha at the mere age of 31, this grassroots student politician went on to become the I&B minister in Indira Gandhi&’s first government, where she facilitated the working of the Free Bangla Radio that played a key role in the information war that was &’71. She hobnobbed with the likes of Raj Kapoor, Nargis, and Meena Kumari as India produced films around socialist films and warmed up to Russia. And still, in Delhi circles, she is best remembered as &‘Indira Gandhi&’s friend&’. Nandini&’s political career was as tumultuous as her friendship with Indira Gandhi. They were a close-knit duo, brought together by circumstances and kept together by a strong sense of affection and loyalty. That was until the Emergency. Where once she had enjoyed the proximity to the PMO and all the privileges that it came with, Nandini&’s opposition to the Emergency led to a fall from grace. This loss was not just the loss of a friend; it also meant the loss of her political career. During her chief-ministerial tenure, she implemented radical land reforms and tore down the tobacco trade mafia. These were actions that made her a lot of enemies. Once protected by her friendship with the prime minister, she was now subjected to brutal vendetta. In the twilight years of her life, Nandini succumbed to the deep grief of losing her husband and the ignominy of political obscurity. This is the story of Nandini Satpathy.
Love in the Time of Hate: In the Mirror of Urdu
by Dr Rakhshanda JalilKabhi hum bhi tum bhi thhe aashna tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho Once you and I were friends, whether you remember it now or not--Momin Khan Momin This is a book about love—love for one&’s country and for all that goes to make it one we can be proud to belong to. Poetry, it has been said, flourishes when all else is uncertain. With that in mind, renowned literary historian and translator, Rakhshanda Jalil, uses Urdu poetry to look at how the social fabric of secular India is changing. Rakhshanda delves into the past, to the events that have threatened communal harmony, from the bloodletting of partition, or the politics of successive elections, to communal riots, Mumbai, Gujarat and so on, to the present moment, to recent events around Ayodhya, cow slaughter and &‘love jihad&’. The book is divided into four sections: politics, people, passions, places. Strewn with delightful, thoughtful Urdu couplets that bring depth, lyricism and gravitas to the narratives, the writer cautions us against current popular sentiments based on hating the &‘other&’. Living in an India that now requires us to be resolutely one or the &‘other&’, all of us are losing the wonderful capacity to contain within ourselves many seemingly diverse ideologies and beliefs which is a motif that is reiterated through the verses and words in this book. The section titled &‘People&’ has the most delightful, charming vignettes of popular icons, from Tipu Sultan and Rani Lakshmi Bai to Gandhi and Nehru, from Ghalib and Majaz to Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, viewed through an Urdu lens that makes each person memorable, unique and an advocate of peace and unity. From essays doused in the language of secular patriotism like Har Dil Tiranga, to pieces redolent with nostalgia like Dopahar ki Dhoop Mein, Rakhshanda invokes the power of love, inclusivity and communal harmony that is the trademark of poetry and literature, and which must continue to permeate the way we live our lives if we want to bequeath a meaningful legacy to the generations to come in our country.
THE CHILDRENS BOOK OF TRUTHS
by VariousWhy do people fight? What?s the use of education? Is India rich or poor? Why are stories important? Can anyone be a leader? Is science only about exams? Will planting trees save the earth? Growing up throws up a lot of questions ? about people, events and the world around us. Sometimes the answers are in simple black and white, wrong and right, but mostly they are not. In this book, ten truth-explorers and idea-shapers share with you their thought-provoking views on important topics close to your heart and mind. Drawing on their experiences, they help you see many different sides of a question and arrive at the most important truth ? your own conclusion, your own interpretation, your own answer. Subroto Bagchi on Leadership Shaheen Mistri on Education Vivek Menon on Nature Meeta Kumar on the Economy Manjula Padmanabhan on Gender Bias Omair Ahmad on Conflict Bibek Debroy on God and Religion Roopa Pai on Stories Hartosh Singh Bal on Science and Maths Kapil Dev on Sports
The History of India for Children: From Prehistory to the Sultanates (Vol #1)
by Archana Garodia Gupta Shruti GarodiaThere were ostriches in India. Gold was dug up in the Himalayas by animals. Coins of Greek rulers in India showed Krishna wearing Greek clothes. Ethiopian military slaves founded kingdoms across India. Jump into an action-packed history of India told like never before. Discover our incredible heritage and uncover delightful nuggets about our grand old country. Travel through time and see how people lived, why things happened and how we came to be what we are. Written by BBC Mastermind `Champion of Champions? Archana Garodia Gupta and history-geek Shruti Garodia, this volume spans the ages from the dawn of humans until the Delhi and Deccan sultanates, and tells the story of India?s rulers and invaders, traders and architects, sculptors and poets, scientists and innovators, farmers and businessmen, and millions and millions of just ordinary, everyday men and women. With a chatty style, simple explanations and well-rounded coverage, this is the definitive Indian history in two volumes for young readers. Filled with photographs, illustrations, activities and quotable facts, this is one retelling of history you don?t want to miss.
Hachette Childrens Yearbook and Infopedia 2018
by InhouseIt?s a fact-finder, it?s an almanac, it?s a G.K. book, it?s a compendium of must-know topics. Yes, it?s indispensable for every student who wants to know what in the world is going on. The Hachette Children?s Yearbook & Infopedia 2018 is a ready reference book that?s jam-packed with interesting and essential information, making it the perfect tool for homework and projects for every student. All About India, Current Affairs, Inside the Earth, Out There in Space, Climate Change, History Timelines, Countries of the World, Must-watch Movies, Tech Updates, Sports Spotlights, Top Newsmakers, and much, much more.
The History of India for Children: FROM THE MUGHALS TO THE PRESENT (Vol #2)
by Archana Garodia Gupta Shruti GarodiaRembrandt sketched portraits of Jahangir. Akbar?s pet cheetah had its own personal drum procession. A British official often paraded across Chandni Chowk with his 13 Indian wives on elephants behind him. Mahatma Gandhi took his goat, Nirmala, with him everywhere ? even via ship to London! Discover even more amazing facts about our grand old country in this volume. Travel through time and see how people lived, why things happened and how we came to be what we are. Written by BBC Mastermind `Champion of Champions? Archana Garodia Gupta and history-geek Shruti Garodia, this volume covers the centuries from the Mughals to Modi, and continues the story of India?s movers and shakers, artists and traders, patriots and traitors, and the millions of ordinary folk. With a chatty style, simple explanations and well-rounded coverage, this is the definitive Indian history in two volumes for young readers. Filled with photographs, illustrations, activities and quotable facts, this is one retelling of history you don?t want to miss.
Temple Tales: Secrets and Stories from India's Sacred Places
by Sudha G. TilakWhich holy place in India has the mysteries of the universe hidden away in an icy cave?Where would you find a shrine for a goddess of veggies? At which deity’s temple is the daily offering a tonic, of all things? This delightful and enchanting book opens the doors to the secrets and surprises hidden in temples across the country. These unique temples are not just places of worship, but living museums of architectural wonders, mind-boggling sculptures, graceful dances, colourful crafts and many other cultural activities. More than anything, they are treasure troves of lore and legend, teeming with tales of gods and goddesses, demons and devotees, plants and beasts, the magical and the mysterious – all just waiting to be discovered by you. Join Sudha G. Tilak as she takes you on an unusual journey to the country’s most sacred places, where the lines between fact and faith are blurred and stories come alive!
The Spark That Changed Everything: Stories of the Greatest Discoveries, Ideas and Inventions
by Veena PrasadFirst, they made fire. With fire, they made food… and later tools to cultivate more food. With cultivation came homes… which became societies and then civilizations. And humans are still thinking of extraordinary ideas every day!Countless discoveries, ingenious inventions and lucky accidents have gone into shaping the world as we know it today. This book delves into science, history and every subject in between, revealing the stories behind the most significant breakthroughs that humans have made through the ages – from clothing, cartography and chemistry to music, maths and metallurgy. Find out who had the biggest brainwaves, how these set other innovations in motion and why some great ideas are not necessarily good ideas! Peppered with illustrations, photographs and fabulous facts, The Spark That Changed Everything is a lively and fascinating account of the marvels of human imagination and enterprise. So what are you waiting for? Take a trip to our thrilling past and see how we got here.
The Mad and Magical World of Sukumar Ray
by Sukumar RayWelcome to the extraordinary world of Sukumar Ray – King of Humour and Wizard of Wordplay!A gifted poet, writer, playwright and illustrator, Ray wrote stories of various shapes, colours and flavours, transforming words into things of wonder and whimsy for generations of readers. Featuring broken stars and enchanted forests, cures for anger and greed, lazy pigs and sly parrots, wicked sorcerers and talking dolls, many of the tales in this unusual medley have been translated into English for the first time. The collection highlights not only Ray’s crazy imagination but also his ability to breathe life into fables from faraway lands. Brimming with wit and magic, this dazzling display of Sukumar Ray’s storytelling genius is sure to leave you utterly spellbound.
Young Pandavas: The City of Elephants
by Anupam ArunachalamNine-year-old Sahadev and his four brothers – Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjun and Nakul – are happy in their little forest home, until a forgotten curse changes their lives forever. They return as princes to Hastinapur, a city full of riches … and secrets. Soon enough, the young Pandavas soon discover that being royalty means a lot more than endless bowls of almond kheer from the fabled palace kitchens, rides on prized warhorses, and having an army of attendants to do their every bidding. There is danger lurking round every corner of their new home, and the five have to use all their wits and skills to get out of sticky situations – especially the ones that involve their 101 cousins, the Kauravas.Lively and action-packed, this illustrated reimagining of the Mahabharata will bring alive the fantastical world of the great India epic like never before!
Young Pandavas: School for Warriors
by Anupam ArunachalamEven princes have to go to school! Arjun’s dream is finally coming true! The elders of Hastinapur are sending the Kuru princes off to boarding school, so that they can learn the art of war from the legendary Guru Dronacharya. His brothers – Yudhishthir, Bhim, Nakul and Sahadev – are, however, less than thrilled. School is hard, and training to be magic-wielding warriors isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. Also, getting into Guru Drona’s good books is next to impossible, especially when he has a clear favourite – his own son, Ashwatthama. But Arjun’s determined to be the BEST student in the gurukul, even if it means defying Drona himself. Meanwhile, Bhim has to be careful not to destroy everything he touches… The second book in the exciting Young Pandavas series is packed with even more surprises, action and magic than the first!
Hachette Childrens Yearbook and Infopedia 2020
by Inhouse11th UPDATED EDITION! KNOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE! * If you want a fact-finder... * If you’re looking to expand your GK... * If you wish you had a ready reckoner of must-know information... * If you need to know what in the world is going on... This book is indispensable for you! The Hachette Children’s Yearbook & Infopedia brings you news, general knowledge, current affairs, fascinating facts and loads more about your favourite focus points in every annual bestselling edition. With well-researched and updated content and data, this book is the essential companion for every smart student who wants to stay ahead.Pick it up and start to explore – for reference, homework and projects! Plus facts and stats on India and every country in the world! What You’ll Find Inside:1. News Highlights from India and around the World2. People Who Made Headlines 3. Inside the Earth 4. Out There in Space 5. History Timelines 6. Science Basics That Matter 7. Literature Info 8. Sports Spotlights 9. Geographical Records 10. The Year Ahead
Amazing Space Mysteries and Marvels
by Gayathri Ponvannan• It rains diamonds on Saturn. And on Jupiter. And on Neptune too! • A comet once fell into the sun…and came out of the other side!• Some stars turn into black holes! Humans have been gazing at the skies for ages, trying to figure out just what lies beyond us. Over the years, we have calculated the speed of light, the brightness of stars and the size of galaxies. We have landed spacecraft on our moon and on Saturn’s moon too. We have even sent probes that are currently travelling beyond the solar system, complete with messages for aliens! From the Big Bang to the Big Freeze, from the greatest theories to the weirdest mistakes, from the far reaches of the universe to our closest celestial neighbours, Amazing Space Mysteries and Marvels covers stars, moons, planets, comets, asteroids, meteors, galaxies, black holes and many more out-of-the-world topics that will make you go ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’! With bite-sized information and photographs, this well-researched book is perfect for aspiring astronauts and anybody curious about the mysteries of the universe. What are you waiting for? Step into the 501 Facts Factory for a spectacular journey through space.
The Eye of the Archer
by Giti Chandra‘The worse it gets, the harder we’ll fight – it’s what we do’Deep in the cosmic centre, Yggdrasil, the battle between Edasich the Hyena, and Elrai the Good Shepherd, is not going well. The signs that warn of unmitigated destruction are everywhere, and Harish Chandra’s Clan must fight for its very life and the future of the world. Lives will be given and lives will be taken when the gods themselves join forces with the Coven, Hsimah the Fang Collector and Álfhildur, Queen of Elves, to fight the final war against the evil Edasich. Once more into the breach, the twins lead the charge – while Adit has to journey to the centre of the Earth with Vera, a powerful witch gone rogue, Akshat must bring the Book of Guardians alive. Amar and Ananya, Tarini and Noor take their powerful gifts and indomitable hearts to war, risking everything in this last stand. Meanwhile, urgent questions loom: Who will hold the centre steady when Ragnarök, the Churning of the Ocean, begins? Can their uncle H’s new avatar, the centaur, foresee the future in the stars? Does someone hold another Starstone, the repository of supreme powers? And the most terrible knowledge of all: Who is the most formidable foe on the battlefield? Spellbinding and intense, The Eye of the Archer concludes the tenacious campaign of six extraordinary young people against a fearsome force that threatens to destroy everything good, everything worth saving, everything alive.
The Phoenix in the Sky: Tales of Wonder and Wisdom from World Religions
by Indira AnanthakrishnanWhy does a prince give up everything in the search of truth?What can a little squirrel do to help Rama build a bridge acrossthe sea?How does a coat end up becoming a guest at a banquet?This fascinating collection of stories answers these questionsand more, while introducing you to the everyday wisdom ofancient scriptures.Handpicked from a range of texts – from the Mahabharata andthe Upanishads to the Bible and the Quran, from the Jatakasand Jain parables to Lao Tzu’s teachings – these are tales ofwise kings and wandering monks, of ordinary people and theirextraordinary deeds, of great escapes and mighty miracles, ofclever creatures and foolish gods.Heart-warming, uplifting and sprinkled with gentle wit, thesestories will comfort and inspire you every time you read them.
The Blue Horse and Other Amazing Animals from Indian History
by Nandini SenguptaIt’s not just humans who make history, you know. So move over, chroniclers and historians. For centuries, we’ve been ignored, forgotten, occasionally footnoted (thanks a lot). It’s time we took centre stage. Strongest allies, faithful friends…we’ll even go so far as to say we were the soulmates of great kings and queens, princes and princesses, warriors and administrators. From saving their lives (while putting ours at risk) and leading them to victory in war to being a constant source of joy and love, we’ve done it all. Take a tour of Akbar’s dazzling court with his favourite cheetah, Samand Manik. Learn about the heroic battle of Haldighati – straight from Chetak’s mouth. Find out what Chhatrapati Shivaji was really like – from his dog, Waghya. Full of daring exploits, epic romances and heart-wrenching moments, these underdog (oh calm down, Bucephalus, it’s just a term!) stories are unlike anything you’ve ever read before!
Forgotten Kings: The Story of the Hindu Sahi Dynasty
by Changez Jan&‘This Hindu Sahiya dynasty is now extinct, and of the whole house there is no longer the slightest remnant in existence. We must say that, in all their grandeur, they never slackened in the ardent desire of doing that which is good and right, that they were men of noble sentiment and noble bearing.&’People and their acts of bravery are often lost to the annals of history. But what of mighty lineages? Generations of kings and the lands and people they fought for? What of kings who fought against their own people?The Hindu Sahi kings, to whom honour and pride were more important than their own survival, fought a near 150 year rear-guard action as they continued to be pushed east from Kabul, their original homeland, changing their capitals and defending themselves from their own countrymen.The last of their house had the misfortune of confronting the juggernaut that was Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. Where obedience to the Sultan would have allowed their house to endure, their honour would have them confront him over and over.But who were they?This book tries to piece together their story from the limited sources that are available from an age where historical sources were few and, in the case of the Sahis, mostly from the point of view of their enemies.This is the story of a dynasty that represented a resurgent Hindu faith in a land that was long dominated by Buddhism but also coincided with the arrival of the Muslims.
Infectious: Pathogens and How We Fight Them
by Dr John S. Tregoning&‘This book catapults us to the frontier of the vital science of infections and immune responses. Tregoning is a perfect guide, writing with wit and intelligence about a subject which surely everyone feels the importance of now. Brilliant and right on the zeitgeist.&’Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure and The Secret Body &‘Packed with fascinating facts, intriguing anecdotes and more than a few Dad jokes, Infectious is an expertly guided, pacey tour through the world of all the stuff that&’s trying to kill us and how our immune systems and human ingenuity are fighting back.&’Dr Kat Arney, science communicator and author of Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution and the Science of Life Nature wants you dead. Not just you, but your children and everyone you have ever met and everyone they have ever met; in fact, everyone. It wants you to cough and sneeze and poop yourself into an early grave. It wants your blood vessels to burst and pustules to explode all over your body. And – until recently – it was really good at doing this… COVID-19 may be only the first of many modern pandemics. The subject of infection and how to fight it grows more urgent every day. How do pathogens cause disease? And what tools can we give our bodies to do battle? Dr John S. Tregoning has dedicated his career to answering these questions. Infectious uncovers fascinating success stories in immunology and virology, making this book not only a vital overview of infection, but also a hopeful story of ongoing human ingenuity.
Maverick Commissioner
by Boria MajumdarThe Indian Premier League. Its mere mention forces cricket fans across the world to sit up and take notice. World cricket&’s most valued property has only grown stronger with time. Conceived and implemented by Lalit Modi in 2008, the IPL has forever revolutionised the way cricket is marketed and run globally. Modi had built and orchestrated the tournament by his own rules and after the stupendous success of the IPL, the same rules were questioned by the administration. Modi was subsequently banned for life.How and why did it happen? What went on behind the scenes? How did it all start to go wrong between Modi and the others? Are there secrets that will never come out? This book is all about everything you never got to know. Each fact corroborated by multiple sources who were in the thick of things, Maverick Commissioner is a riveting account of the IPL and the functioning of its founder, Lalit Kumar Modi. Did Modi have a long telephone conversation with a BCCI top brass the day he left India for good? What really was discussed? Is Lalit Modi the absent present for the IPL and Indian cricket?Soon to be made into a film by Vibri Motion Pictures, Maverick Commissioner documents things exactly as they happened. No holds barred and no questions left out. It doesn&’t judge Lalit Modi. All it does is narrate his story. Who is the real Lalit Modi? Let the readers decide.
Strange Encounters: Adventures of a Curious Life
by Parikshat SahniDrawing its wisdom from Hindu, Judaic and Islamic philosophies, this is the multicultural, multifaceted saga of Parikshat Sahni's journey from being a film student in Soviet Russia to surrendering Stanislavski for Indian cinema. Strange Encounters is a prismatic collection of travel portraits, impressions and life lessons that Parikshat Sahni has accumulated in his itinerant life moving within the golden autumns of Moscow to the tune of Tchaikovsky, returning to Mumbai and his roots, entering Bollywood, and finding fame. Sahni chronicles stories from a life whose pendulum swings wildly from the humorous to the utterly horrifying. He confronts his thanatophobia on film sets and his atheism on an ill-prepared trek to Amarnath; he gives us drinking lessons with screenwriter friends and a profound insight into the state of culture wars in present-day Kashmir; he recalls the thrill of young love in Russia and its attendant treacheries of the heart, as well as a study of Pakistan, a history of India as the land of many, and a look at the current political discourse through the eyes of a refugee.
My Country Is Literature: Adventures in the Reading Life
by Chandrahas Choudhury'A book is only one text, but it is many books. It is a different book for each of its readers. My Anna Karenina is not your Anna Karenina; your A House for Mr Biswas is not the one on my shelf. When we think of a favourite book, we recall not only the shape of the story, the characters who touched our hearts, the rhythm and texture of the sentences. We recall our own circumstances when we read it: where we bought it (and for how much), what kind of joy or solace it provided, how scenes from the story began to intermingle with scenes from our life, how it roused us to anger or indignation or allowed us to make our peace with some great private discord. This is the second life of the book: its life in our life.' In his early twenties, the novelist Chandrahas Choudhury found himself in the position of most young people who want to write: impractical, hard-up, ill at ease in the world. Like most people who love to read, his most radiant hours were inside the pages of a book. Seeking to combine his love of writing with his love of reading, he became an adept of a trade that is mainly transacted lying down—that is, he became a book reviewer.Pleasure, independence, aesthetic rapture, even a modest livelihood: all these were the rewards of being a worker bee of literature, ingesting the output of the publishers of the world in great quantities and trying to explain in the pages of newspapers and magazines exactly what makes a book leave a mark on the soul. Even as Choudhury's own novels began to be published, he continued to write about other writers' books: his contemporaries at home and abroad, the great Indian writers of the past, the relationship of the reading life —in particular, the novel—to selfhood and democracy, all the ways in which literature sings the truths of the human heart.My Country Is Literature brings together the best of his literary criticism: a long train of perceptive essays on writers as diverse as VS Naipaul and Orhan Pamuk, Gandhi and Nehru, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay and Jhumpa Lahiri. The book also contains an introductory essay describing Choudhury's book-saturated years as a young writer in Mumbai, the joys and sorrows and stratagems of the book reviewer's trade, and the ways in which literature is made as much by readers as by writers.Delightfully punctuated with 15 portraits of writers by the artist Golak Khandual, My Country Is Literature is essential reading for everyone who believes that books are the most beautiful things in life.
Cat People
by Devapriya RoyIn Karachi, a writer house-sits for her father and his cat, while keeping track of his - the cat&’s - list of obsessions: ironed white sheets, kheer, KFC fries, warm custard, finely chopped sausages, and the flaky tops of chicken patties. In San Francisco, a couple adopt a cat, without anticipating what it will do to their relationship. In Noida, a cat and two dogs line up peacefully every morning for their daily dose of vitamin syrup. In Bombay, a lyricist and screenwriter roots through the litter tray first thing in the morning, to investigate if his cat&’s UTI is better. In wintry London, a young millennial wonders if she is actually a cat.Capturing the many moods of felines and their humans, in many forms and voices, Cat People, is a timely celebration of the most memed creature today: the cat. This collection of short stories, personal essays, lists, original art and photographs is are a treat, not just for cat lovers everywhere, but for all who love a story well-told – and, on occasion, a theory well-spun.