It is truly a wonder how India, with all its vastness and diversity, manages to function as a country. In fact, before India could be governed as a free country, one of the biggest challenges faced by its future government was constituting its citizens. In a country driven by religion, language and caste, this challenge was anything but easy.
As the Constitution came together, it grandly embraced a transcendental ideal of citizenship that was free from particular identities. It was Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, who laid the foundation, and politically policed this difficult relationship between the citizen and the nation.
‘The Indian Citizen and Its Nation’ is a collection of Nehru’s letters that talk about the importance of nurturing this relationship, adding new dimensions to the conversation about what it really means to be a citizen of a nation like India.
‘Once your mind stretches to a new level it never goes back to its original dimension.’
There are many reasons why A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s most cherished president, was so loved: he was inspiring, he was smart, he was funny, he could connect with children and adults alike, but most of all, he was the kind of person one could tell had figured out the secret of living a happy life.
‘A Beautiful Life’ is a collection of some of Kalam’s most riveting speeches that talk about cherishing and celebrating the small moments in life. Read on.
‘Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.’
Oftentimes, our desire to succeed doesn’t account for the failure, when in fact, failing at something can teach us the most about how to succeed.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was a perennial optimist and had unflinching faith in the ability and intent of the Indian youth to overcome every single problem the nation faces.
In ‘Failure Is a Teacher’, read some of Kalam’s most profound ideas about failing and using that failure to propel ourselves towards success.
‘We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness.’
As the most influential president of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s ideas are far too vast and his vision too deep to be summarized in just a few pages. His idea about collective progress—instead of simply looking at one’s individual growth—truly paints the picture of an ‘Incredible India’.
‘To Give Is to Gain’ contains his most captivating thoughts on getting ahead by helping another person succeed. Read on.
‘A dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.’
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s greatest legacy is the generations of Indians he inspired to dream, excel and rise. His story has shown millions of Indians that the choices and effort one makes in life can conquer any odds or disadvantages of birth.
‘Dream Your Dreams’ is a collection of some of Kalam’s most inspiring speeches and thoughts. Read on to begin the journey towards achieving your own dreams.
India’s most popular president was also an extremely disciplined man. Whether it was maintaining his social engagements or dealing with professional shortcomings, Kalam tackled it all with aplomb and dignity. And when it comes to learning important life lessons, who could be a better teacher than Kalam himself?
‘Some Life Lessons’, a collection of his thoughts articulated at different moments of his life, and largely focused on the youth, will motivate and energize the youth to become future nation builders. Read on.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was one of India’s most beloved presidents and youth icons. His radical ideas combined with his vision for the nation moved generations.
Every speech, every piece of writing that came from Kalam’s desk had one common thread: an undying, unconditional love for his country. No one can evoke better the deep sense of national pride and enthusiasm, be it in children or adults, than Kalam could.
‘Loving Your Country’ is a collection of some of Kalam’s most enthralling speeches about India. Read on.
A remarkable Englishman-turned-Indian, Verrier Elwin was an Oxford scholar who somehow became the foremost spokesman for India’s tribal people.
Despite constituting almost 8 per cent of the nation’s population, the tribals of India had been (and continue to be) ignored by the national freedom movement. It was Elwin, an esteemed—if not controversial—public figure in his adopted homeland, who decided to champion their cause.
The people he influenced are at the epicentre of the Maoist rebellion in the country today. It is absolutely imperative that we familiarize ourselves with Elwin’s thoughts and ideas. Read on as Ramachandra Guha sheds light on his most influential writing in the chapter titled ‘Verrier Elwin: The Defender of the Tribals’.
Born in 1891 into an untouchable family, Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is the acknowledged modern Indian leader of the struggle against social injustice. In this concise biography, eminent scholar Gail Omvedt presents the inspiring story of how Ambedkar got educated, overcame the stigma of untouchability and gradually rose to become a lawyer of international repute, a founder of a new order of Buddhism and a framer of India’s Constitution. She contextualizes Ambedkar’s argument with the elite nationalists, particularly Gandhi, that India could never be truly free without the liberation of its most oppressed sections.
Ambedkar: Towards an Enlightened India describes with empathy the lifelong efforts of a national leader whose thought remains key to understanding the paradoxes of twenty-first India.
‘Successfully demonstrates why Ambedkar has to be owned by every Indian’ Outlook
Gitanjali, the book of poems for which Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, was in fact a collection of songs. Much of what Tagore experienced-joy and frustration, grief and devastation-was expressed through music, and during his lifetime, Tagore was most renowned for his songwriting. The distinction of his musical oeuvre lay in the near-perfect balance he achieved between the evocative lyrics, the matching melody and the rhythmic structure in which each song was bound.
The Singer and His Song is a unique biography of Tagore with music as its leitmotif. It traces the musical journey of the poet with anecdotes and allusions, and includes translations of some of his most resonant songs. Written in elegant prose and accompanied by relevant photographs and paintings, this highly original book is a fitting tribute to Tagore’s enduring musical legacy.
