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Archives: Books

The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Good News

Soon to be seen as a major motion picture Badnam Ladoo, this humorous yet inspiring story of a small-town woman’s fight against social stigma will resonate with every woman, and man

Thirty-four-year-old Ladoo, a simple middle-class divorcée from Rishikesh, wants only one thing from life–a baby. She eats gondh halwa, drinks badam milk, and takes folic acid, to slow down her ticking biological clock and become the world’s most fertile woman.

When an accidental meeting with a gynaecologist reveals that her ‘eggs are drying up’ and finding a sperm donor is her last chance of having a child, Ladoo races against time to find the right baby daddy, whose kundali matches her, while addressing her own mixed feelings about whether Mr Right Donor can also be Mr Right.

Along the way, Ladoo must figure out whether motherhood means marriage, whether being a single mother means loneliness, whether ‘my body, my rules’ applies to women, and whether doing something scandalous is outrageous or courageous.

The Art of Resilience

Losing sleep over what others think about you? Or can’t care less? Happiness in life nonetheless depends on what you think about yourself.
Social media has certainly given us individual authorship over how we present ourselves to the world. Susceptible to live by the dictates of ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ of others, we network with the world in a carefully filtered image of ourselves. But is it truly our authentic self that we are presenting to the world? Can it cater lasting happiness and honest relationships?
In this first volume of Yoga Stories, Gauranga Das takes you on an inner journey to explore your inner self, beyond the hills of expectation, through the valleys of disapprovals and beneath the layers of self-deception. Thus, bringing you closer to the home of your heart, enabling you to open the door and introduce yourself, to finally meet, the real you.

Wanderers, Kings, Merchants

One of India’s most incredible and enviable cultural aspects is that every Indian is bilingual, if not multilingual. Delving into the fascinating early history of South Asia, this original book reveals how migration, both external and internal, has shaped all Indians from ancient times. Through a first-of-its-kind and incisive study of languages, such as the story of early Sanskrit, the rise of Urdu, language formation in the North-east, it presents the astounding argument that all Indians are of mixed origins.It explores the surprising rise of English after Independence and how it may be endangering India’s native languages.

Makers of Modern Dalit History

In late-nineteenth-century Kerala, a man flamboyantly rode a villuvandi (bullock cart) along a road. What might sound like a mundane act was, at that time, a defiant form of protest. Riding animal-pulled vehicles was a privilege enjoyed only by the upper castes. This man, hailing from the untouchable Pulaya community, was attacking caste-based discrimination through his act. He was none other than Ayyankali, a social reformer and activist.

Featuring several such inspiring accounts of individuals who tirelessly battled divisive forces all their lives, this book seeks to enhance present-day India’s imagination and shape its perception of
the Dalit community. Based on original research on historical and contemporary figures such as
B.R. Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Gurram Jashuva, K.R. Narayanan, Soyarabai and Rani Jhalkaribai, among many others, Makers of Modern Dalit History will be a significant addition to the Dalit discourse. This definitive volume on some of the foremost Dalit thinkers, both past and present, promises to initiate a much-needed conversation around Dalit identity, history and politics.

Karma

“Full of valuable insights to guide you.”-WILL SMITH

“Thoughtful and life-affirming . . . a must-read.”-TONY ROBBINS

“Forget what you think you know about karma-Sadhguru shows us it’s not a punishment for bad behavior, but a vehicle for transformation and empowerment. This book will put you back in charge of your own life.”-Tom Brady

“Pursuing your truth. Understanding this human experience. Embodying the divine is such an ongoing process of unveiling, adapting, and redesigning. The words in this book are the key to unlocking your truth, to see with no eyes, to hear the truth that lies in silence, and to connect with your inner wisdom. Thank you, Sadhguru, for such an enlightening creation, an offering to all seekers.”-HRH Princess Noor bint Asem of Jordan

“At last, a book about karma that can be trusted. I have never found a book that explains-and solves-the mystery of karma with the simplicity, clarity, and hopefulness of this invaluable book.”-Deepak Chopra

“Sadhguru here offers an easy read on a difficult subject: karma, or the volition to perform action. A truly captivating view from a renowned yogi and mystic on free will and the destiny of the human mind.”-Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys, neurologist, University Hospital of Liège, Belgium

“The tools Sadhguru provides in Karma bring me to a place of peace within myself. Thank you for your wisdom and transformational guidance.”-Rosanna Arquette

“In Karma, Sadhguru brilliantly demystifies the concept of karma and how we can harness our perceptions to change our own futures and, in doing so, create a more sustainable, just, and spiritually enlightened world. If you want to be the change you want to see in the world, read Karma and begin the journey.”-Terry Tamminen, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

“This five-letter word that has baffled humans for thousands of years is finally explained in 272 pages. It’s a compass for navigating life. Thank you, Sadhguru.”-Jay Naidoo, Minister in President Nelson Mandela’s cabinet, recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France

A much-used word, Karma is loosely understood as a system of checks and balances in our lives, of good actions and bad deeds, of good thoughts and bad intentions. A system which seemingly ensures that at the end of the day one gets what one deserves. This grossly over-simplified understanding has created many complexities in our lives and taken away from us the very fundamentals of the joy of living.

Through this book, not only does Sadhguru explain what Karma is and how we can use its concepts to enhance our lives, he also tells us about the Sutras, a step-by-step self help & self improvement guide to navigating our way in this challenging world. In the process, we get a deeper, richer understanding of life and the power to craft our destinies.

Have You Met the Anglo-Indians? (Have You Met series)

#A gorgeously illustrated full-color book for kids showcasing lesser-known communities in India.
#Learn about community’s culture and heritage; customs and food habits; and famous people.
#Play along and learn with the interactive activities in the book.

Did you know that after the British left India in 1947, many British families decided to stay back and make India their new home? They came to be known as Anglo-Indians because their families were of both British and Indian descent.

The Lovedales are one such family. Meet Aunty Joyce and Uncle Charlie; their two wonderful children, Rosie and Leslie; and a third child who’s rather fluffy, Penny-the-Pom, a Pomeranian.

Come, discover Anglo-Indian food, festivals and lingo with the Lovedale family! Learn to cook yummy treats, decorate your Christmas tree with DIY ornaments and plan an Easter egg hunt. Also find out about iconic Anglo-Indians such as
Ruskin Bond and Derek O’Brien.

So let’s get started, men!

Have You Met the Parsis? (Have You Met series)

#A gorgeously illustrated full-color book for kids showcasing lesser-known communities in India.
#Learn about community’s culture and heritage; customs and food habits; and famous people.
#Play along and learn with the interactive activities in the book.

Did you know that several Parsi families, originally from Iran, sailed to India on large wooden boats? They landed in a town called Sanjan in Gujarat and blended in peacefully with the people.

The Theatrewalas are one such family. Say ‘su karech’ to Uncle Cyrus and Aunty Jeroo; their three kids, big brother Darius and twin sisters Farah and Freya; and the sixth member of the family, Twiggy Theatrewala, the dachshund.

Come, discover Parsi food, festivals and attires with the Theatrewala family! Learn to cook lip-smacking Parsi bhonu, fill your pocket of good deeds and make beautiful decorations next Navroz. Also find out about iconic Parsis such as Freddie Mercury and Jamsetji Tata.

So let’s get started, dikras and dikris!

One String Attached

In the ancient town of Ayodhya, two lovers of different faiths, Shivam and Aaina, have just begun to come together-she, a college student and he, an aspiring tailor. Unfortunately, the day they decide to confess their love is also the day he loses his all, his shop, his parents and his blue-eyed beauty, to a riot. Only painful memories are left behind.
Bitter and broken, Shivam shifts to Delhi, to lose himself in the bustle of the city and his work. Then, one day, the past comes back to him like a whiff of air, and he gets the impression that Aaina is alive. With the information he gathers, Shivam stitches a path-a journey that takes him all the way to Dubai in search
of Aaina.What is love if not a thin thread of hope . . .

Gods and Ends (Shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature, Tata Lit Live First Book Prize)

Philomena Sequeira knows what she wants by the time she turns fourteen. Her father wants something else. Life is unyielding for tenants of the rundown Obrigado Mansion in Orlem, a Roman Catholic parish in suburban Bombay. They grapple with love, loss and sin, surrounded by abused wives and repressed widows, alcoholic husbands and dubious evangelists, angry teenagers and ambivalent priests, all struggling to make sense of circumstances they have no control over.
Gods and Ends takes up multiple threads of individual stories to create a larger picture of darkness beneath a seemingly placid surface. It is about intersecting lives struggling to accept change as homes turn into prisons. This is a book about invisible people in a city of millions, and the claustrophobia they rarely manage to escape from.

Escaped

LONDON CALLING

London has emerged as a safe haven for those who want to escape the law in India. Through eyewitness accounts and archival records, DANISH KHAN and RUHI KHAN delve into twelve extraordinary cases of extradition over seven decades to unravel the legal quagmire that has caused much debate in Her Majesty’s courts, and consternation in New Delhi’s corridors of power.
Escaped examines the extradition of billionaire VIJAY MALLYA and diamantaire NIRAV MODI, throws a spotlight on their ultra-luxe world, uncovers the complex ownership of their UK assets and brings to life the intense courtroom battles. The book also chronicles the saga of cricket bookie SANJEEV CHAWLA, now dispatched to India, and that of
music director NADEEM SAIFI, who has been exonerated but can never return home. It explores how drug lord IQBAL MIRCHI and terror accused HANIF PATEL evaded extradition, and investigates the loopholes that saved convicted paedophile RAYMOND VARLEY and NRI parents ARTI DHIR and KAVAL RAIJADA, accused of murdering their adopted child. The book reveals the inside story of how RAVI SHANKARAN, the alleged spy, was set
free, and how the famed NARANG BROTHERS were snagged for trading in stolen Indian artefacts. Taking a trip through history, the book recounts how a newly independent India managed to bring back two powerful
industrialists, DHARMA JAYANTI TEJA and MUBARAK ALI AHMED, who were involved in financial crimes.
Escaped decodes why London is an irresistible
siren for Indian fugitives.

The book by Danish Khan and Ruhi Khan is based on in-depth research of 12 cases of fugitives from India who reached the United Kingdom. For anyone who is interested in knowing how extradition proceedings are really conducted and what kind of scrutiny is done before granting extradition this is an extremely useful and easy to read book. The poor rate of success is largely due to shoddy paperwork and the unhygienic conditions of Indian prisons. The lesson for Indian policy makers is to make the Indian criminal justice system more humane. – Faizan Mustafa, law expert and vice-chancellor, NALSAR University of Law

An exhaustive and meticulously researched study of the Indian rogues and fraudsters who have sought shelter behind Britain’s complicated extradition laws, which is entertaining as it is illuminating. – Mick Brown, Journalist, The Telegraph, UK

Escaped has 12 gripping accounts of Indian fugitives who have found shelter in the UK. London residents and authors Danish Khan and Ruhi Khan craft a book that offers more than a deep-dive into how the famous fugitives made their great escape. It also offers rare insights into their lives before and after their fall. The book covers a wide gamut of issues surrounding the crime – from the loopholes that allowed the criminals to escape, to the ineffective foreign policy…what made Escaped come alive are cases that are now lost in dusty files, crimes that were staged long ago. – MoneyControl

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