Kalidasa is the greatest poet and playwright in classical Sanskrit literature and one of the greatest in world literature. Kalidasa is said to have lived and composed his work at the close of the first millennium BC though his dates have not been conclusively established. In all, seven of his works have survived: three plays, three long poems and an incomplete epic. Of these, this volume offers, in a brilliant new translation, his two most famous works-the play Sakuntala, a beautiful blend of romance and fairy tale with elements of comedy; and Meghadutam (The Cloud Messenger), the many-layered poem of longing and separation. Also included is Rtusamharam (The Gathering of the Seasons), a much-neglected poem that celebrates the fulfillment of love and deserves to be known better. Taken together, these works provide a window to the remarkable world and work of a poet of whom it was said: ‘Once, when poets were counted, Kalidasa occupied the little finger; the ring finger remains unnamed true to its name; for his second has not been found.’
Archives: Books
Bhagavata Purana Boxset (Set of 3)
A seamless blend of fable and philosophy, the Bhagavata Purana is perhaps the most revered text in the Vaishnava tradition. It brings to life the legends of gods, asuras, sages and kings-all the while articulating the crucial ethical and philosophical tenets that underpin Hindu spiritualism.
The narrative unfolds through a series of conversations and interconnected stories. We are told how the sage Vyasa was inspired by Narada to compose the Bhagavata Purana as a means to illumine the path to a spiritual life. We learn of the devotion of Prahlada, the austerity of Dhruva, and the blinding conceit of Daksha. Also recounted are tales of the many incarnations of Vishnu, especially Krishna, whom we see grow from a beloved and playful child to a fierce protector of the faithful.
Women’s Wellness Boxset
True well-being begins when we understand our bodies, nourish them consciously, and let go of shame, confusion and misinformation. This powerful three-book box set brings together leading voices in holistic health, nutrition and body literacy to help you do exactly that.
In Heal Your Gut, health coach Dimple Jangda reveals how gut health governs physical, mental and emotional vitality, blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern nutrition science to show how food can prevent and even reverse disease.
With warmth, humour and science-backed clarity, Dr Cuterus dismantles shame and stigma around our bodies, offering an honest, inclusive and empowering guide to everything you’ve ever wondered about your ‘private’ bits—and much more.
Completing the journey, The Satvic Revolution presents a practical, sustainable lifestyle framework built on seven transformative habits that address not just physical health, but also mental calm and spiritual well-being.
Together, these three bestselling guides form a holistic wellness library—designed to help you heal deeply, understand yourself fully, and live with energy, confidence and balance.
Migrants and Other Poems | A Collection of Reflective Poetry on Loss, Migration, and Displacement
An old man sits in a corner of the verandah, gazing at the distant horizon—remembering a homeland he can never return to, a home and hearth left behind in exchange for an uncertain future in an alien land, his evenings tinged with sorrow.
From such moments, Mukherjee’s poems draw their quiet power, evoking the ache of loss: of homeland, of loved ones, and of the self in the anonymity of modern life. Shaped by images and myths, and written with empathy and delicacy, these poems linger on rootlessness and apathy, the fragility of human relationships, and the fleeting, impermanent nature of existence.
John Muir Trail India | A Book for Nature Lovers on the Man Who Inspired the Leave-No-Trace Philosophy
In 1903, legendary naturalist John Muir, the foremost architect of Yosemite National Park, journeyed across India. His travels took him through the living traditions of Calcutta (Kolkata) and its historic botanic gardens, the mist-laden landscapes of Darjeeling, the spiritual depths of Benares (Varanasi), and the Mughal grandeur and British legacy of Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and Delhi. He further explored the majestic Himalayan peaks and deodar forests of Shimla, concluding his India tour in Bombay (Mumbai) before he sailed onwards to Suez.
John Muir Trail India retraces this 123-year-old route that captures the essence of India as Muir experienced it. Drawing on rare archival research and immersive fieldwork, this book reimagines India as a living trail—one rooted in conservation, wonder, and Muir’s enduring philosophy of ‘leave no trace.’
Battleground Bengal
Long considered a bastion of the Left, the state of West Bengal has been politically dominated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for more than a decade, to the extent that the opposition parties here have been reduced to electoral irrelevance. But over the last few years, the TMC has been faced with a new challenger: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has slowly made inroads into the state’s political arena, winning seventy-seven seats in the 2021 assembly election, a significant jump from its 2016 tally of three assembly seats.
Does this mean that the end is near for the TMC as the BJP prepares for a historic wipeout, reminiscent of the Left’s decimation in 2011? Or will Mamata Banerjee manage to hold her own by utilizing her grassroots presence and still-formidable public appeal? In Battleground Bengal, author and scholar Sayantan Ghosh attempts to answer these questions, and to gauge the anxiety and excitement in the build-up to the 2026 assembly election in the state.
Through archival documents, electoral data, interviews with political leaders and experts, and years of field reporting, Ghosh presents a critique of the contemporary political scene—from Mamata’s welfare-oriented populism to the BJP’s organizational crises—and looks back at the state’s recent history for clues about its possible future. In the final analysis, Battleground Bengal reveals how identity, patronage and fear continue to shape Bengal’s politics, regardless of who is at the helm.
Nobody’s Girl
‘If books can shape history, this is one.’ DAILY MAIL
‘Both devastating and uplifting … fearless and frank – angry and empowering. It speaks to the thousands of other victims out there about how to start fighting back.’ EMILY MAITLIS
Daughter. Prisoner. Survivor. Warrior. Nobody’s Girl … This is Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s last word.
In 2011, Virginia Roberts Giuffre hit the headlines as Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s most outspoken victim: the woman whose decision to speak out helped send both serial abusers to prison and whose photograph with Prince Andrew catalyzed his fall from grace. But first and foremost, she became known as a voice of courage and resilience for women everywhere. This is her story, in her own words. A story that has never been told in full before now. It demonstrates with extraordinary power that victims are made, not born. And that once you come to truly understand the horrifying impact of abuse, you will never again question why a victim stays, or returns over and over again. In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life. She left behind a memoir written in the years preceding her death and stated unequivocally that she wanted it Pub Date: 21 October 2025 ISBN: 9781529986204 / 1529986206 Price: £17.99 Format: 234mm x 153mm Binding: Trade Paperback Extent: 400 pages Territory: Exclusive UK,IE,CW; ROW open mkt excluding US,PH,CA (with restrictions) Bar C ode: 9781529986204 Thema: True stories of survival of abuse and injustice, Memoirs, Modern slavery / Human trafficking, United States of America, USA, Australia, Later 20th century c 1950 to c 1999, Early 21st century c 2000 to c 2050, Relates specifically to the life experience of women or girls Web A ddress: www.penguin.co.uk A uthor Location: Near Perth, Australia Book Locale: global A I Last Updated: 11 February 2026 published. This is the powerful story of an ordinary girl who would grow up to confront adversity and trauma of the darkest form, yet found the strength to move forwards, reclaim her voice and shine a light on evil – advocating for others and fighting for a safer, fairer world. Nobody’s Girl is a remarkable recounting of one woman’s fortitude in the face of depravity and despair, and the legacy she leaves behind.
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
THE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Mumbai Marathon
Once a year, the Mumbai Marathon passes by Silverline Apartments.
This year, seven more women are racing to the finish.
Set in the heart of the city, Mumbai Marathon follows the complicated lives of seven women. An actress who will risk everything for a billboard. A psychiatrist who cannot outrun her own past. A maid who sells her grief to survive. A widow who mourns strangers. A socialite left behind by the spotlight. A woman who learns that motherhood can arrive without birth. And a rich girl who wants to matter.
Each stands between what was and what comes next, stumbling forward without spectacle or applause. Because for women, stopping is not an option.
Aarambhh M Singh’s Mumbai Marathon is a finely observed novel about identity, ambition, and desire. It is not a story of victory, but of motion—of lives lived in the long, ordinary middle. A quiet, compelling read that stays with you long after the pages stop turning.
Memories on a Platter
This book—Rohini’s third foray into the world of gastronomy—takes the reader through her encounters with Indian cuisine back in her childhood and later, recipes from the Rana heritage when she was a young bride in Nepal. In this book, she has tried to combine recipes from India and Nepal with the taste and flavours of cuisines encountered during her travels accompanying her husband on global postings. Rohini has woven these culinary memories into her craft, reviving the flavours of her childhood, recipes once nurtured by the khansamas of the British Raj, as well as forgotten and lost dishes of feudal India.
In Memories on a Platter, these treasured heritage culinary delights are combined with food prepared by the Bajais of Nepal’s Rana households and dishes from other parts of the world. Each of these beautiful recipes are either original or artfully marinated, sautéed, simmered and fused to harmonize with the modern palate and today’s lifestyle.
Love Jihad
In February 2024, the Calcutta High Court ordered the change of the name of a lioness Sita in the Siliguri Safari Park. Some organizations had objected to her being housed with a lion named ‘Akbar’. In India today, even lions are subject to the same political pressure as Hindu-Muslim couples.
The propaganda, legislations and police actions are based on the premise that Muslim men are luring Hindu women into marriage, and that ‘love’ is a tool for ‘jihad’.
The book argues that ‘love jihad’ is not a category of relationship—it is a surveillance slogan. It allows vigilantes to enter homes, check phones, question faith and dissect the friendships of adult women.
The author explores the multidimensional lives of Hindu women, Muslim men and Dalit Bahujan masses and through humour, poetry and personal stories draws connections to reports, statistics and legal battles, making the work a truly delightful read.
Irreverent in its tone and blunt in its arguments, it is a book like no other.