These stories, written originally in Hindi, reveal an author who can think and create in two languages with rare fluency. With her faultless ear for the cadences of Hindustani, Sara Rai illuminates the life of small towns with details which perhaps only a bilingual writer would pick up on. Equally important to her in the landscape of human lives is the presence of trees, birds, insects, and fish. Her Zen-like meditations on the silent yet profound movements of this world are presented in a language that is pared down, spare, and evocative. She remains unseen, but her presence animates each of her characters, whether it be Surabhi from ‘Catfish’, the eponymous Nabila, or Sour Face and Shrew from ‘Golden Anniversary’. The stories are presented here in a lucid translation by Ira Pande and the author.
Archives: Books
Walking Out, Speaking Up: Feminist Street Theatre in India
The late 1970s and 1980s marked an era of energetic and dynamic feminist street theatre in India. Everywhere, across cities and towns, groups, both amateur and professional, many led by women, presented stunning, audacious, moving stories of everyday violence, sexism, abuse and women’s resilience and strength in countering new and old forms of patriarchies. The presence of strong, vocal women at street corners, in marketplaces, in universities, presenting their stories and those of their sisters shattered the mould of the docile, invisible woman. The streets rang out with the sound of tambourines, drums, songs and so much more and words, music; actions engaged diverse audiences across the spectrum.
Deepti Priya Mehrotra’s empathetic and engaged study documents the plays produced during the time, as groups and individuals that came together to protest and build a theatre of pain, rage, protest, that grew along with the autonomous women’s movement of the time. She shows how, in this process, perceptive, outspoken women emerged and rejected their ascribed roles, in order to carve out their own identities and remake the world as they wished it to be. Incorporating oral histories, auto-ethnography, playscripts, visuals, archival material and meticulously researched histories, Deepti Priya Mehrotra presents a layered analysis of this important moment in the history of the Indian women’s movement.
Ittehad: A Life Together
Known and celebrated in her time, Guli Sadarangani, the first woman writer of Sindh, later sank into oblivion. Perhaps this was because she dared to write about a Hindu-Muslim romance that culminated in marriage. The novel that told this story, Ittehad, was first published in undivided India, and later appeared under another title, Melaapi Jeevan. Rita Kothari’s elegant and empathetic translation of the love story of Asha and Hamid teases out the nuances of their understated relationship and reveals how pre-Independence and pre-Partition India held so many possibilities of living and loving together. Perhaps that is why, the translator speculates, members of the Sindhi community trying to find their feet in post-Partition India were uncertain of showcasing a writer whose writings represented a world that no longer seemed possible.
How to Let Things Go: Free Yourself Up for What Matters | 99 Empowering Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control | Perfect for Gifting
“You might have encountered the ‘let them’ theory, inspired by the book of the same name by motivational speaker Mel Robbins. . . . Another book with a similar message [is] How to Let Things Go. . . . Perfectly designed for modern readers . . . it provides a deeply practical approach to life.” —Buddhistdoor Global
Feeling overwhelmed? Step away from life’s demands and free yourself up for what matters with this succinct and sensible guide by the Zen Buddhist author of the international bestsellers The Art of Simple Living and Don’t Worry.
Amid the relentless cycle of news, social media, emails, and texts, it can be hard to know when, if ever, you can take a break from everything clamoring for your attention. The internationally bestselling Buddhist monk Shunmyo Masuno offers a radical message: You can leave it all be, and, indeed, sometimes the best thing you can learn is how to do nothing. How to Let Things Go will teach you to:
– Lesson #2: Give people space—being caring and being nosy are not the same thing.
– Lesson #15: Remember that social media is a tool and nothing more.
– Lesson #19: Let a relationship come to an end rather than force it.
– Lesson #40: Think of letting things go not as throwing them away but as setting them free.
– Lesson #75: Make decisions in the light of the morning—don’t rush into them.
– Lesson #90: Slow down and take more breaks.
With these and ninety-three other practical tips, you can abandon the futile pursuit of trying to control everything and discover the key to a fulfilling social life; individual well-being; and a calmer, more focused mind.
The Rest of Our Lives | Shortlist Booker Prize 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2025
An Observer ‘Novel to look out for in 2025’ and an FT ‘Best Summer Read’
‘Moving, smart and life-affirming.’ OBSERVER
‘Why aren’t all novels like this?’ THE CRITIC
‘A triumphant twist on the great American road novel.’ GUARDIAN
‘So funny, wise and knowing.’ CLARE CHAMBERS
What’s left when your kids grow up and leave home?
When Tom Layward’s wife had an affair he resolved to leave her as soon as his youngest daughter turned eighteen. Twelve years later, while taking her to Pittsburgh to start university, he remembers his pact, and keeps driving West.
An unforgettable road trip novel, The Rest of Our Lives beautifully explores the nuance and complications of a long-term marriage.
Rukmini Aunty and the R K Narayan Fan Club
Rukmini aunty’s newly built house in Mysore is near a dilapidated relic with its roof caved in, marring the view from her specially designed Zen-like meditation nook. She abhors the house that reeks of litigation and lawsuits and wants it gone, until she discovers that the house belonged to the illustrious writer, R.K. Narayan. It is close to being torn down brick by brick, when the city authorities step in and designate it as a Heritage building and stop the demolition. The fate of Narayan’s abode hangs between the builder’s scalpel and the limited coffers of the city, while they scramble for funds to buy it from his heirs at the prevailing market rate. Only Rukmini aunty and the ‘R.K. Narayan Fan Club’ ladies group in her neighbourhood can now save the house
Whither Human Rights in India
Whither Human Rights in India, edited by Anand Teltumbde, one of India’s prominent human rights activists, is a searing and indispensable anthology that brings together some of the most important thinkers, activists and human rights defenders of our time. The essays trace the historical and ideological roots of India’s human rights discourse—from colonial legacies and constitutional guarantees to the challenges posed by majoritarian politics, state violence and systemic inequality.
Contributors critically examine institutions and practices shaping the current landscape: judicial responses, hate speech, impunity, ‘bulldozer justice’ and contested models of development. They also turn to the lived realities of vulnerable communities—Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, Christians, women, children, LGBTQI+ people and prisoners—whose struggles for dignity illuminate the larger battle for justice and democracy.
Featuring incisive contributions from Harsh Mander, Kalpana Kannabiran, Aakar Patel, Teesta Setalvad, Gautam Navlakha, Mihir Desai and others, this volume offers an unflinching exploration of human rights at a critical juncture in India’s history.
Dedicated to the memory of Father Stan Swamy and Prof. G. N. Saibaba, Whither Human Rights in India is both a record of resistance and a call to rethink the future of democracy and human dignity.
Designed to Win
Tata Elxsi may not be the first company you think of when you think of the Tata group. However, as the highest valued Tata company, Tata Elxsi has been revolutionizing the world of electric vehicles by offering innovative solution in the area of electric energy and embedded product design.
And it’s not just automakers — Elxsi helps broadcast and communication companies design new-age set-top boxes, app frameworks and cloud services for Smart TV and OTT platforms. With a client base that includes the likes of Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, Mahindra, Motorola, Comcast, Echostar, Panasonic and many more, Tata Elxsi has dramatically transformed itself from a company on the brink of bankruptcy to one of the most valued companies delivering consistent growth.
What drives Tata Elxsi’s success? What has it done differently to transform itself from a highly debt-ridden company to an immensely successful organization benefitting shareholders, investors and consumers alike?
What lessons can readers learn from Tata Elxsi in entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, strategy and many other management areas? This book is an attempt to answer these and many such questions to enlighten readers about a little-known but unique Tata group company.
Bacchon Ki Doctor’s Desi Parenting Book
Welcome to the wild, messy, wonderful world of parenting—where the nights are long, the diapers are explosive, and unsolicited advice comes at you from every direction.
In Bacchon ki Doctor’s Desi Parenting Book, pediatrician and popular parenting voice Dr. Madhavi Bhardwaj brings you the guide every new parent wishes they had: practical, science-backed and sprinkled with the humour and honesty that made her Instagram a trusted haven for millions.
From breastfeeding struggles to sleepless nights, from decoding cries to surviving blowouts, Dr. Madhavi walks you through the first year of your baby’s life with empathy and zero judgement. Think of it as advice from a doctor who’s also been in the trenches as a mom—someone who knows when to tell you to relax, when to reassure you, and when to hand you a survival hack that actually works.
Real, relatable, and reassuring, this is not just a baby book—it’s a sanity-saver for parents everywhere.
The Battle of Narnaul
The Battle of Narnaul was one of the fiercest battles of 1857, marked by heavy loss of life and forgotten heroes. Among them was the valiant Rao Tula Ram, a man whose story remains largely unknown.
Rao Tula Ram was not just a warrior but also a strategist. For years, he gathered resources, built secret alliances with Rajputana kingdoms, and later sought support from Persia, Afghanistan, and Russia to fight the British. His efforts are an overlooked chapter of India’s struggle.
Through meticulous research and thorough analysis, Kulpreet Yadav and Madhur Rao revive these narratives, detailing the valour and sacrifices of these unsung warriors while providing a vivid, detailed account of the conflict and the relentless six-year resistance that followed.
Clear, deeply researched, and compelling, The Battle of Narnaul is a gripping retelling of a forgotten fight for freedom, a book for both history lovers and general readers.