Battles in the Mind provides a unique insight into the human spirit, the beauty of trials and tribulations, and the subsequent emergence of a positive self. In the book, author Anna Chandy, co-founder of the Live, Love, Laugh Foundation along with actress Deepika Padukone, shares her deeply moving personal story sprinkled with highs and lows, and how she found a way out of it. She also shares techniques of transactional analysis, and how mental health issues can be dealt with to bring about a difference in people’s lives. Battles in the Mind is a book about hope and a way to transition from pain to happiness and success.
Archives: Books
Mgr
Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran, or MGR-founder of the AIADMK founder and three-time chief minister, Bharat Ratna recipient-dominated Tamil Nadu’s stratosphere for four decades.
In this richly detailed biography of the man often called vathiyar or teacher, R. Kannan traces MGR’s life from his early poverty-ridden years-a Class Three dropout-to his rise as a matinee idol, before becoming a politician of repute. He examines MGR’s lifelong association with mentor Annadurai and other Dravidian cultural icons, and his tumultuous political friendship with Kalaignar Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, his cine heroine and political protégé.
The book dissects MGR’s years in power: His early administration, the legendary midday meal scheme launched in 1982 that fed 92 lakh schoolchildren, his well-intentioned farm subsidies and freebies that strained the exchequer, his largesse to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as well as his unabashed sponsorship of liquor barons and private medical and engineering colleges that aided the transformation of the state, but also fuelled corruption.
Honest and insightful, MGR provides a portrait of a warm larger-than-life figure, whose legacy has left an indelible stamp on Dravidian politics.
Hack into Your Creativity
If you’re new to writing prompts, indulge in all the different ways you can kick-start the creator inside of you. If you’re a veteran of writing prompts from the Internet or newspapers, you will find comfort in familiar formats, but also challenge yourself with ones you’ve never seen before and discover interests and abilities that you didn’t even know you had.
From casual flash fiction authors and scriptwriters to non-fictioneers and branding executives, this book will set your creativity on fire. Be a story alchemist. Transform your writing. And above all else, have fun doing it!
Remembering Partition
The dawn of India’s freedom was stained by the Partition and its accompanying violence which rent the subcontinent. Seventy years later, the nations that came into being are yet to fully overcome a persistent sense of anger and loss. The five iconic books in this collection look at the different faces of Partition, from the larger political and historical view to the very personal tales of hatred, grief, courage and friendship. Together, they commemorate one of the most defining moments of our history whose reverberations are felt to this day.
The Bones of Grace
On the eve of her departure to discover evidence of the near mythological walking whale Ambulocetus Natans, Zubaida Haque falls in love with a stranger she meets at a piano concert. But after a tragedy sends her back to her hometown of Dhaka, she seeks solace in the figure of an old friend, and makes a rash decision with disastrous consequences.
In a bid to escape familial constraints, she moves to a southern port city to help a charity working on the infamous shipbreaking beaches. Here she meets Anwar, a shipbreaker whose story holds a key that unlocks for Zubaida not only the mysteries of her past, but the possibilities of a new life. The third instalment of the Bengal trilogy, The Bones of Grace brings the arc of Bangladesh’s tumultuous recent history full circle in an epic of loss and love.
Left, Right and Centre: The Idea of India
As India approaches its seventy-fifth year of Independence, its people continue to grapple with multiple discourses: a few from the left, a considerable sum from the right and an impressive lot from the centre. This book brings together diverse views from people across a wide spectrum of life-politicians, activists, administrators, artistes, academicians-who offer their idea of India. With a contextual introduction by Nidhi Razdan, this politically charged, argumentative, candid and humorous book opens a window to our understanding of India that largely remained untold and unknown for a long time.
Margot: Sister Nivedita of Vivekananda
Among all disciples of Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita occupies pride of place. Margaret Noble arrived at India’s shores in the late nineteenth century, took the vows of a brahmacharini, and devoted the rest of her life to the cause of India. Apart from educating women, Nivedita wrote valuable treatises on Hindu thought and Indian culture, inspiring nationalist sentiment and unity. She won over leading national figures of the day with her fierce intellect, and even influenced the ending of Rabindranath Tagore’s novel, Gora. Known to be ‘drunk with India’, she provided immense professional support to the brilliant scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose; dialogued with great leaders like G.K. Gokhale and Aurobindo Ghosh; and inspired Abanindranath Tagore to create a painting that eventually became the iconic Bharat Mata. In this compelling biography, the author traces the development of Margaret from a loyal Irish woman into Sister Nivedita, and finally into ‘Lok Mata’ or ‘People’s Mother’-a title bestowed on her by Tagore. She draws on Nivedita’s vast corpus of writings and personal letters to provide an intimate view of her life and thought. Through an insightful and moving narrative, Margot reveals the feisty, irrepressible spirit behind one of India’s greatest friends.
Off to Maharashtra (Discover India)
Get set to discover Maharashtra
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka are super excited to discover magnificent Maharashtra. They have planned to climb every fort, eat every dish, explore houses, palaces and temples-and have a blast. You can join them too!
So pack your bags and be off to Maharashtra!
Off to Gujarat (Discover India)
Get set to discover Gujarat
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka have picked up their dandiya sticks and are all ready to dance. They are off to discover the incredible state that is Gujarat. They are going to trek through deserts, peep into palaces, climb into wells and have a fantastic time dancing away.
Are your bags packed? Quick, go along with them!
Off to West Bengal (Discover India)
Get set to discover West Bengal
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka are going to discover everything about West Bengal. They are going to learn the language, experience the culture, dance during Pujo, meet famous Bengali folks and eat the yummiest sweets.
So keep your bags ready as you set out to join them on this wonderful trip!