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.
Archives: Books
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!
Off to Tamil Nadu (Discover India)
Get set to discover Tamil Nadu
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka have gone right across India and all the way to Tamil Nadu. They are going to see amazing temples, eat the softest idlis, see magnificent palaces and peep into the lives of people in Tamil Nadu.
Join them on their Tamil Nadu adventure!
Off to Goa (Discover India)
Get set to discover Goa
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka are off to explore Goa. Join them as they find out how Vasco da Gama changed Goa forever. Explore incredible beaches. Step into Goan homes and take a whiff of what they eat. And simply feel Goa for yourself.
So get your backpack ready and plunge right in!
Off to Uttar Pradesh (Discover India)
Get set to discover Uttar Pradesh
Daadu Dolma, Mishki and Pushka are all set to visit amazing Uttar Pradesh. Go along with them as they climb forts, pray in ancient temples, stare amazed at how kings and queens lived thousands of years ago and taste the amazing food of Uttar Pradesh.
What are you waiting for? Join them quick!
The Sacred Sword
‘We are warriors, Painda. The Khalsa does not think of war as entertainment; death is not a joke, killing men is no festival,’ said Gobind.
A boy grows up, suddenly, into adulthood when he is brought the severed head of his father. He is born to rule but never acts like a monarch. Invincible as a warrior, he has the soul of a mystic. Poetry fills his heart. Few men before or after him have used a bow as he does, few men mastered their sword like him. Guru Gobind Singh turned villagers into warriors, sent shivers up the spine of the army of Aurangzeb and set the foundation stone of the great Sikh empire. The Sacred Sword is a historical fiction based on his life and legend.
Yama’s Lieutenant and The Stone Witch
As Yama’s Lieutenant, Agni Prakash, has diligently been tracking down demons and spirits that threaten peace on earth and dispatching them to his lord’s thousand hells. Danger is a constant in his job, but this time an apocalypse threatens his entire world. Agni must go up against a terrifying sorceress-adept in the ancient art of stone magic-and her bestial army of demoniacal creatures who used to be humans before they were transformed into willing killing machines. The witch has a nightmarish vision for a new world that involves large-scale culling of the humans-and it falls to Agni to stop her. He must find the Samayakalas, the mysterious keepers of time, and reset the clock before all life is destroyed. However, any contact with the Samayakalas is forbidden to mortal and immortal alike, and those who flout the ancient decree risk incurring punishment far worse than death.
The price asked of him is an impossible one, but Yama’s Lieutenant does not have a choice. Enlisting the help of old friends, he must submit to being borne across an ocean of death and destruction to find the Samayakalas before darkness engulfs them all.