Unlike traditional biographies of combat leaders, which focus primarily on military operations or regimental histories, in this book Major General V.K. Singh concentrates on personal accounts, anecdotes and reminiscences in order to highlight these leaders’ personalities, and to draw out the human face behind the military facade. Through the stories of these twelve military leaders, the book also throws new light on several historical events and the role of political leaders during India’s fight for independence and the partitioning of the subcontinent. He gives an overview of India’s military history after independence, including major operations, and describes many hitherto unknown or little-known incidents concerning smaller operations like Nathu La in 1967 and Goa in 1962.
Written records tend to glorify the actions of battalions as well as individuals, Singh says, magnifying achievements while suppressing the mistakes and glossing over failures. Leadership in the Indian Army provides a truer picture of the strength of character and convictions of each of these leaders. A must-read for anyone interested in India’s military history.
Archives: Books
Pain
No human is unacquainted with the concept of pain. It is an inescapable universal experience. Shweta Kirti’s pain has been, unfortunately, very public because of the death of her thirty-four-year-old brother, the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
What she learnt, however, is that while pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. It is pain that can teach us how to rise above suffering and the limits we create for ourselves with our attachment to material goals like money, fame, success and relationships. In this book, Shweta shares her learnings so that no one is alone on this hard but necessary odyssey.
Synthesizing science, spirituality and philosophy, Pain: A Portal to Enlightenment is an invitation to embark on a transformative journey to find inner peace and fulfilment no matter what life throws at you.
Roman Stories
In ‘The Boundary’, one family vacations in the Roman countryside, though we see their lives through the eyes of the caretaker’s daughter, who nurses a wound from her family’s immigrant past. In ‘P’s Parties’, a Roman couple, now empty nesters, finds comfort and community with foreigners at their friend’s yearly birthday gathering-until the husband crosses a line.
And in ‘The Steps’, on a public staircase that connects two neighbourhoods and the residents who climb up and down it, we see Italy’s capital in all of its social and cultural variegations, filled with the tensions of a changing city: visibility and invisibility, random acts of aggression, the challenge of straddling worlds and cultures, and the meaning of home.
These are splendid, searching stories, written in Jhumpa Lahiri’s adopted language of Italian and seamlessly translated by the author and by Knopf editor Todd Portnowitz.
Lighter (Marathi)/Lighter/लायटर
आपल्या अंतरात डोकावून स्वत:मध्ये आणि जगामध्येसुद्धा मानसिक सुधारणा घडवून आणण्यास प्रतिबंध करणारे आपल्या मनावरचे ओझे कसे दूर करायचे, याची एक अगदी पूर्णपणे सहृदय अशी योजना।
अनेक वर्षे मादक द्रव्यांने त्यांच्या तनमनाचा कब्जा घेतल्यानंतर युंग पेब्लो यांनी ‘उपचार व सुधारणा प्रक्रिये’चा मार्ग निवडला आणि अनुसरला। त्या प्रक्रियेदरम्यान त्यांच्या असे लक्षात आले की, आपल्या अंत:प्रेरणेवर पूर्ण विश्वास ठेवून, ध्यानधारणेवर लक्ष केंद्रित करून ते जेव्हा त्यांच्या मनाला ग्रासून बसलेल्या चिंता, काळजी, भीती या सर्वांना सरळ सरळ सामोरे गेले, तेव्हा त्या सगळ्याचे ओझे मनावरून दूर होऊन त्यांना एकदम हलके वाटू लागले आणि त्यांची त्यांच्या मनाशी चांगली ओळख झाली, हृदय आणि मनाचे अस्तित्व त्यांना जाणवू लागले।
या पुस्तकात युंग पेब्लो यांनी त्यांनी स्वीकारली तशीच एखादी ‘उपचार व सुधारणा प्रक्रिया’ निवडून आपणही त्या मार्गावर कशी प्रगती करू शकतो – प्रथम स्वत:कडे सहृदयतेने पाहायचे, मागचे सगळे सोडून द्यायचे आणि मग प्रक्रियेनुसार सुधारणा घडवून आणून भावनांच्या परिपक्वतेची प्राप्ती करून घ्यायची – हे समजावून सांगतात। आपल्या सर्व कृतींमध्ये अधिक सहेतुकता आणून, निर्णयांमध्ये अधिक सहृदयता आणून, आपल्या विचारात अधिक स्पष्टता व स्वच्छता आणून आपला भविष्यकाळ उज्ज्वल होण्यासाठी आपल्यामध्ये परिवर्तन कसे घडवून आणायचे, याचे हे पुस्तक उत्तम मार्गदर्शक आहे।
Another Sort of Freedom
Another Sort of Freedom is a funny, moving and honest memoir of a man’s struggle to break free from expectations. Gurcharan Das was born in Lyallpur, Punjab, during World War II, when Hitler, Churchill and Hirohito were bashing everyone around. His mother noted in her diary, ‘This is a restless baby.’ By age two he had become ‘a difficult child’, and by three she was calling him a ‘troublemaker’. He discovered one day that he could run, and he has been running ever since.
There are strange twists in his journey, from Partition’s chaos to misguided attempts at winning over first loves. Setting out to become an engineer, he ends up with a philosophy degree from Harvard University. He then abandons a promising academic career in ivy-covered halls to become a salesman for Vicks VapoRub in India’s dusty bazaars. This leads him to the CEO’s position of Procter & Gamble India. One day, at the peak of his professional life, his high-powered corporate mask crumbles, and he walks away to become a celebrated writer and public intellectual.
Candid, witty and wry, the memoir is filled with moments of deep introspection at every turn alongside wise observations on the author’s encounters with history on four continents. This is Gurcharan Das as you have never seen him before.
Doctor Steel
In the 1980s, the steel produced in India was not cost-effective, plagued by quality issues and unable to meet the standards required to take India a step ahead in its development goals.
Enter Jamshed Jiji Irani, fondly known as ‘Doc’ to all, whose efforts aimed at modernizing Tata Steel changed everything. Today, Tata Steel produces low-cost, high-quality metal of international standards. Under his leadership, Tata Steel ushered India into a new age of economic growth. But his story doesn’t end there. A leading industrialist, Irani was keenly involved in the 1990s economic liberalization that put India on the global map. He held positions on various Tata boards, and was part of the Confederation of Indian Industry and several other government-appointed committees. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and an honorary knighthood by the British government for his work.
Behind his formidable exterior was a man with a big heart and a fondness for life. He was a man of integrity and conviction, devoted to Tata Steel and the people there. The chapters that make up Doctor Steel—the result of freewheeling conversations between Irani and N.K. Sharan in the months before the former’s passing—look back at this journey.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 100 Anecdotes: Inspirational Biography of Indian President & Rocket Scientist | Illustrated Gift Edition for All Ages
On 15 October 1931, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, popularly known as A.P.J Abdul Kalam, was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. He went on to become one of the most revered personalities of Independent India. A scientist, leader, thinker, teacher, and writer who achieved great success in various fields, Dr Kalam realized his dreams against all the odds.
This one-of-a-kind book, with gorgeous illustrations, is a collectible edition that celebrates an extraordinary man who serves as a role model for all. Starting from his days growing up in the island town of Rameswaram, to working on India’s space programmes, to his years as the eleventh President of India and his life thereafter, the hundred anecdotes in the book have been chosen with utmost care to demonstrate the importance of hard work, commitment, courage, and innovative thinking that he stood for.
This book, apart from sharing amazing life lessons, also shows the importance of scientific curiosity and celebrates the scientific progress that we owe to great scientists like Dr Kalam. It is a wonderful tribute to a remarkable life.
Why You Should Read the Book?
• A special collector’s edition to celebrate life of a remarkable icon.
• A part of a series of interesting biographies done in a special format that includes books like Gandhi in 150 Anecdotes, Satyajit Ray in 100 Anecdotes and His Holiness The Dalai Lama in 100 Anecdotes.
• Striking wood-cut style of illustrations to complement the engaging text, episodic narrative that is accessible.
• A must for every library, in school, college or at home.
Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers
Now in paperback, master the evergreen traffic strategies to fill your website and funnels with your dream customers in this timeless book from the $100M entrepreneur and co-founder of the software company ClickFunnels.
“If you have an existing business, then Traffic Secrets is like throwing gasoline on the fire!”
— Daniel Rosen, founder and CEO of Credit Repair Cloud
The biggest problem that most entrepreneurs have isn’t creating an amazing product or service; it’s getting their future customers to discover that they even exist. Every year, tens of thousands of businesses start and fail because the entrepreneurs don’t understand one essential skill: the art and science of getting traffic (or people) to find you.
Russell Brunson, CEO and co-founder of the multimillion-dollar software company ClickFunnels, reveals the classic and foundational direct marketing techniques that will allow you to be at the front of new trends, see opportunities that are invisible to most everyone else, and master emerging tactics before most people even know they exist.
With step-by-step instructions to master multiple traffic sources, Brunson reveals the market-tested strategies for:
• Understanding exactly who your dream customer is
• Discovering where they are congregating
• Throwing out the hooks that will grab their attention and pull them into your funnels so you can tell them a story and make them an offer.
Don’t wait for people to come to you. Implement these evergreen traffic strategies now so you can find your people and focus on changing their world with the products and services that you sell.
The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER TO HELP YOU OVERCOME ANXIETY AND BECOME MORE CONFIDENT, EFFECTIVE, AND FULFILLED
From Mel Robbins, #1 podcast host, best-selling author and expert on change and motivation.
In her global phenomenon The 5 Second Rule, Mel Robbins taught millions the five second secret to motivation. Now she’s back with another simple, proven science-backed tool you can use to take control of your life: The High 5 Habit.
Don’t let the title fool you. This isn’t a book about high fiving everyone else in your life. You’re already doing that. Cheering for your favorite teams. Celebrating your friends. Supporting the people you love as they go after what they want in life.
Imagine if you gave that same love and encouragement to yourself. Or even better, you made it a daily habit.
You’d be unstoppable.
In this encouraging book, Mel teaches you how to start high fiving the most important person in your life, the one who is staring back at you in the mirror: YOURSELF.
If you are:
• Struggling with self-doubt (and who doesn’t?) …
• Tired of that nagging critic in your head (could somebody evict them already?) …
• Successful but all you focus on is what’s going wrong (you’re not alone) …
• Sick of watching everybody else get ahead while you sit on the couch with your dog (don’t bring your dog into this) …
…Mel dedicates this book to you.
Chapters Include:
You Deserve a High 5 Life
Science Says This Works
I Have a Few Questions…
Why Do I Torture Myself?
Am I Broken?
Where’s All This Negative Crap Coming From?
Why Am I Suddenly Seeing Hearts Everywhere?
Why Is Life So Easy for Them and Not Me?
Isn’t It Easier If I Say Nothing?
How About I Start . . . Tomorrow?
But Do You Like Me?
How Come I Screw Everything Up?
Can I Actually Handle This?
Okay, You May Not Want to Read This Chapter
Eventually, It Will All Make Sense
It’s time to give yourself the high fives, celebration, and support you deserve.
With this book, you’ll learn how to:
• Use the High 5 Habit to overcome negative self-talk and limiting beliefs
• Create a clear vision for your life and set goals that align with your values
• Take consistent action towards your goals, even when you don’t feel like it
• Develop a mindset of resilience and perseverance
• Achieve more success and happiness in all areas of your life
“When I stopped trashing myself and started giving my reflection a high five instead, it was more than an encouraging gesture on a low day. It flipped that self-criticism and self-hatred on its head. It changed the lens through which I viewed my life.
That was the beginning of a massive shift in my life. A line in the sand.
The beginning of a brand-new connection to the most important person in my life—myself.
A new way of thinking about myself and about what was possible for me. It inspired me to create an entirely new way of experiencing life.
That’s why I wrote this book.
It’s time to cheer for YOU.”
Love,
Mel Robbins
Using her signature science-backed wisdom, deeply personal stories, and the real-life results that The High 5 Habit is creating in people’s lives around the world, Mel will teach you how to make believing in yourself a habit so that you have more confidence, transform your mindset, and achieve your dreams.
The Ocean in a Drop: A Spiritual Voyage through Depths of the Sea
This mesmerising tale takes you on an enchanting journey to the whale-shaped island of Rodrigues, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean. In the deep waters of this ocean, Mystic, a wise blue whale, guides her disciple, Lucy, a sea drop, on a spiritual journey.
As Lucy follows Mystic, she learns how to connect with her true self, find inner peace, and overcome obstacles to become a better version of herself. On this magical journey, Lucy meets several unforgettable characters along the way and uncovers the wonders of the underwater world. The Ocean in a Drop is a reminder that wisdom doesn’t solely belong to the human species; it belongs equally to all the living beings and forces of nature.
With spectacular prose and breathtaking imagery, this mystical tale invites readers to explore the depths of their souls and embark on a spiritual voyage that will uplift, inspire, and make them embrace the beauty of life.