देश के बंटवारे के बाद पाकिस्तान से आई एक हिंदू रिफ्यूजी महिला की कहानी जो चंडीगढ़ में अपने पत्रकार पति के साथ रहती है और कई द्वंदों में जीती है। उसे विभाजन के दिनों का भाईचारा याद आता है, हिंसा याद आती है और दगाबाजियाँ भी याद आती है। इस पुस्तक में प्रेम है, विछोह है, जड़ों की ओर लौटने की तड़प है और विचारधाराओं का द्वंद है। कुल मिलाकर यह किताब एक खंडित व्यक्तिक्व की महिला की कहानी है जो बंटवारे के बाद अपनी जड़ों से उखड़ चुकी है, प्रेम और आकर्षण के बीच के अंतर को समझ नहीं पाती और फिर नारीवाद की कई परतों से गुजरकर एक पारिवारिक लेकिन लगभग एकाकी जीवन जी रही है जिसमें उसका पति तो साथ है, लेकिन वह भी अपनी दुनिया में डूबा हुआ है।
Archives: Books
Under the Night Jasmine
How complex are relationships between men and women? How corrupted is a man’s thinking for women he interacts with? Even though a woman gives birth to a man, how little a man understands her!
When the pandemic strikes and the lockdown happens, the usually, always travelling Rohit is forced travel within himself and explore his relationships thus far: with his mother, his teacher, his lovers—relationships that affect his current thought process, his relationships now. With the first stirrings of sexual attraction for his teacher and her lover came the shame of desire. His relationship with his lost girlfriend, with Dushyant, brings in guilt and remorse. What could he have done differently? What kind of a shameless person was he, using people to fulfil himself?
Fluctuating between poetry and prose, questioning even the method of writing Under the Night Jasmine is a world that is layered and many-splendored. It’s a coming-of-age novel — A micro look at a man’s world that both pushes back and fascinates.
Babur
Babur, the visionary founder of Timurid Empire in Hindustan, had a fair share of early struggle following his father’s tragic demise in AD 1494. Then on, Babur embarked on an unyielding pursuit of power amid treacherous political landscapes, the narrative unveils his moniker, ‘the chessboard king,’ portraying his adept navigation through political intricacies and adversities.
From his ascent to rulership in Ferghana amidst familial threats to fleeting victories and losses in Samarkand, the book paints a poignant picture of Babur’s journey. It portrays his retreat to tribal lands after relinquishing hopes of reclaiming Ferghana, eventually establishing a mountainous kingdom in Kabul, a pivotal milestone preceding his ambition to expand into Hindustan. Recounting his initial endeavour to penetrate Hindustan in AD 1505, his alliances, and subsequent setbacks after Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah’s demise, leaving him as the sole Timurid prince in power, the book opens a window to Babur’s failed second attempt to enter Hindustan, encapsulating the initial thirteen to fourteen tumultuous years of his reign, marked by exile, fleeting victories, and delicate alliances.
Gripping, anecdotal and deeply researched Babur: The Chessboard King delves into Hindustan’s economic landscape during Timurid rule and portrays Babur as a multifaceted ruler, challenging the typical depiction of an infallible conqueror and a good human being. Meticulously sourced from the Persian manuscript of the Baburnama and other primary sources, this book represents a milestone in Babur’s biographical genre, essential for comprehending the ambitions of this enigmatic king.
Rocket Science for Smartypants
Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like—
What makes a rocket take off?
What is a satellite?
Can you take off like a rocket if you eat a lot of beans?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Cell Theory for Smartypants
Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like—
Can you see an animal cell?
Does a Golgi body need exercise?
How many cells does a cat have?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Set Theory for Smartypants
Are you a Smartypants?
Do you ask a lot of questions? Like—
Can a set have a bicycle and a banana?
Can there be a set with nothing in it?
Do cats like tuna or chicken?
If you do, then you just might find the answers in this book.
It has gorgeous pictures, simple explanations and a very curious cat!
Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open
‘I am constantly caught dreaming with my eyes open during the day because the nighttime is when my mind is most awake. Taking in every single possibility of how my life could be or how it will play out as if I know the answer to either.’
Joey Kidney started his channels on social media in order to share his journey navigating the highs and lows of mental health, and to inspire others to find their own happiness. In this wonderful collection of poems, we continue with Joey on his journey as he provides insights into his mind, his daily battles with mental health, and how he navigates the path. Whether it is love, guilt, pain, happiness or sorrow, the poems in Dreaming With My Eyes Open resonate, helping people realize that they are not alone.
What’s the Rush?
In What’s the Rush, YouTube creator and mental health expert Joey Kidney comes to terms with his own depression, anxiety and sadness. He welcomes the reader into his life, documenting every experience, including his heartbreak, love, loss, hardship and happy times. Joey’s goal in writing the book is to share his journey, the obstacles he’s overcome and his often not so straight road to recovery. His message is simple, it might be a struggle to get out of bed, take a shower or brush your teeth, but he hopes that you can decide what you need from this book, and make it your own.
Take Your Time & Hurry Up
Have you ever felt lost or alone in your thoughts, feelings and experiences?
Take Your Time and Hurry Up continues Joey’s experiences as he leaves his early twenties and heads toward adulthood. This book appeals to anyone who is navigating ‘adulting’ without a compass or a map, and who is searching for a sense of belonging.
Joey gently encourages his audience to find comfort, mindfulness, guidance and connection. A clear theme is woven through each passage: a reminder to slow down. After all, what’s the rush.
Shubhda/शुभदा
वह आकर बोला, अपने संदूक की चाभी दे।’ गला बड़ा मोटा था – भारी। अचानक, सुनते ही ख़्याल होता था, मानो कोशिश करके वह ऐसा भारी गले से बोल रहा था। शुभदा कुछ नहीं बोली।
उसने फिर वैसे ही स्वर में, लाठी को फिर एक बार ज़मीन पर पटककर कहा, ‘चाभी दे, नहीं तो गला दबाकर मार डालूँगा।’
अब शुभदा उठ बैठी । तकिए के नीचे से चाभियों का गुच्छा निकालकर पास ही फें ककर धीरे-धीरे शांत भाव से बोली, मेरे बड़े सन्दूक के दाहिनी ओर के खाने में पचास रुपए का नोट हैकृवही लेना। बाईं ओर विश्वनाथ बाबा का प्रसाद है, उसपर कहीं हाथ न डालना।’ जिस तरह शांत भाव से उसने यह सब कह डाला, उससे यह नहीं मालूम होता था कि उसे अब रत्तीभर भी डर लग रहा है। शुभदा एक ऐसी नारी की मार्मिक कथा है जो गरीबी की यातनाएंॅ भोगते हुए अपने नशेड़ी पति के प्रति समर्पिता ही नहीं, बल्कि स्वाभिमानिनी भी है – शुभदा और उसकी विधवा बेटी के माध्यम से शरत् बाबू ने नारी वेदना की गहन अभिव्यक्ति की है। संभवतया इसी कारण उन्हें ‘नारी वेदना का पुरोहित’ कहा जाता है।