Returning to Pakistan in 1970 after a spell in England, Salima and her husband, Shoaib Hashmi, plunge into Pakistani cultural and political life. Along with her teaching at the National College of Arts, Lahore, where she pioneered a new system of art education, Salima also found time to dabble in photography, advertising and television.
In 1972, Shoaib and Salima conceived, scripted and acted in the pathbreaking Akkar Bakkar on Pakistan TV (PTV). Akkar Bakkar ran for six months and became the first Pakistani television programme to win an international award. Such Gup and Taal Matol, both hugely popular programmes, soon followed. It was a time of creativity and innovation.
During this time, Salima and Shoaib also became parents to Mira and Yasser. This period of Salima’s life came to an end with the ascent to power in 1977 of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. Amidst a programme of Islamization and a clampdown of dissent, Salima also had to deal with her father Faiz’s second spell of self-exile to Beirut between 1979 and 1982.
Enter Stage Left, the second of Salima’s two-volume memoir brings us up to date with events in Salima’s and Pakistan’s life until the present day.
Archives: Books
Gita for the Young and the Urban
Between your first breath and your last lies the journey of your soul.
You’ve got apps for meditation, dating, productivity, sleep, but do you still feel stuck in overthinking, people-pleasing, and chasing goals you’re not even sure you set?
In the middle of city lights, traffic jams, and silent midnight scrolling, your heart still whispers—is there more to life than this?
Gita for the Young and the Urban is that soft voice turned into words. A gentle fire. A call back home. Through stories, reflections, and soul-stirring truths, discover how Karma unfolds, how the mind can be mastered, how a Guru uplifts, and how surrender is strength in disguise.
This isn’t just a book. It’s your spiritual soundtrack. A bridge between what you’re chasing and what truly fulfils.
Sheher Mein Gaon
Delhi’s urban villages are paradoxical spaces—at once ancient and evolving, marginalized yet central to the city’s modern economy. These are places where centuries-old traditions coexist with pop-up cafés and start-ups, and where the past is never quite past.
Born out of state-led land acquisitions from the early 20th century, these villages were thrust into transformation through urban expansion. What emerged was not a seamless integration, but a complex in-between: part city, part village, part memory, part reinvention. This book journeys into those spaces—exploring how people remember, resist, and reimagine their place in a city that’s always on the move.
Through stories of place, identity, and power, Sheher Mein Gaon uncovers how these neighbourhoods reflect the deeper tensions of modern urban life—between tradition and progress, belonging and exclusion, history and ambition.
The Lost Author
In 1949, rising novelist Euan travels to a remote island at the invitation of his reclusive mentor, the legendary Malcolm Furnivall.
Malcolm has also gathered his loved ones to the island and tells Euan he needs help completing his masterpiece: one final book. But days later, he’s found dead, and Euan narrowly escapes an attempt on his own life.
As Euan searches for the killer and Malcolm’s missing masterpiece, the island reveals stranger secrets. Past and present blur, as Euan races to find the manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands.
A mystery steeped in ambition, grief, and the cyclical curse of legacy, The Lost Author is a haunting exploration of time and the stories that bind us.
Children’s Book of the Future
An illustrated, imaginative exploration of future technology and science for children that carries a message of hope and optimism.
This narrative non-fiction book offers an inclusive and hopeful vision of the future for children aged 7-9, taking inspiration from the latest scientific research.
This highly illustrated book makes complex ideas more accessible and shows the exciting futures that could be ahead. There are eighteen stories that each take inspiration from current research and present engaging, optimistic futures that could result from real-world science, with insets delving into how that science works.
This science book for children offers:
– A combination of sci-fi and science using short fictional descriptions combined with real-world scientific explanations to make the future come alive.
– An optimistic vision of the future with inclusive and diverse content for the generations that will not only live in it but shape it.
– A variety of different topics covered, including a train ride on Mars, life on a Dyson Sphere, a birthday on planet Venus, a trip to the bottom of the sea, and a chat with the extinct animals of the past!
The Children’s Book of the Future provides a diverse and multicultural approach that will appeal to children of all backgrounds. The exploration of future technology and some of the diverse visions explored include a plane ride on one of Saturn’s moons, a journey to a faraway star that is lightyears from Earth, life on a floating city, and living amongst robots. Inspire young changemakers with this book that sets out to reclaim the future for current and future generations of children.
Knowledge Encyclopedia Ocean! Our Watery World As You’ve Never Seen Before
Dive into our planet’s largest and least explored world in this stunning encyclopedia of whales, waves, wrecks, wind farms, and everything oceanic!
Using 3D illustrations and a level of detail you can’t find in other books, this children’s ocean encyclopedia is perfect for home learning and study support. It takes you on a world tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet, taking in marine biology, geography, geology, and ecology. See the sharks, jellyfish, turtles, dolphins, octopuses, penguins, seahorses, and other animals that call the ocean home and learn how their anatomy and behaviour is adapted to deal with a watery habitat.
Discover what lies beneath the waves – from the dramatic landscapes of the deepest trench and the longest mountain range on Earth, to coral reefs and kelp forests teeming with life. Find out, too, about the science behind the seas. How do islands form? What are tsunamis? How can you help with marine conservation?
Beautifully illustrated and packed full of facts, Knowledge Encyclopedia: Ocean! is the ultimate reference book for children curious about our planet’s watery world.
Knowledge Encyclopedia Dinosaur!
Journey back in time when fearsome dinosaurs roamed the land, menacing pterosaurs patrolled the skies, and the seas were filled with awesome reptiles.
Perfect for home learning, this fully revised edition of Knowledge Encyclopedia: Dinosaur! is loaded with more than 60 prehistoric creatures, from the age of dinosaurs to the Ice Age. See every type of prehistoric animal in unprecedented detail and with stunning realism. Find out how these fascinating creatures lived, why they died out, and what their fossil traces tell us.
Did you know that Velociraptor had three large “killer claws” on each foot to hunt down prey? Or that the long-necked Diplodocus was as long as three school buses? Can you imagine what a strange life it would be for Saltasaurus with no toes on their front feet? Would you believe that Carcharodon megalodon was an ocean monster with a fearsome bite at least six times stronger than today’s great white shark?
Packed with jaw-dropping 3D images including the Pterodactylus, ferocious Tyrannosaurus, the gigantic snake Titanoboa and mighty woolly mammoth, this fact-filled book is made for kids.
How to Be Happy with Who You Are | Puffin Chapter Book | Full-colour, Gorgeous Illustrations | Perfect Introduction to Sudha Murty | Ages 5+
‘True happiness comes not from comparison, but from accepting who we are.’
The young Princess of the Sea wants to be like her friends—strong like a mountain, sweet like a river, or full of life and colour like a tree. But with each change, she faces new surprises.
With the turn of seasons and shifting forms, she learns a gentle lesson: you shine brightest as yourself.
A magical, thoughtful tale about nature, change and self-acceptance, this charming chapter book is the ideal introduction to the imaginative world of Sudha Murty.
Talking to the Baby in the Womb
The months of pregnancy have emotional, physical, mental and sensory aspects. A healthy coordination of all four is important to make it a pleasant experience.
Garbha Vidya, the groundbreaking technique developed by Dr Andal Bhaskar and Dr S. Bhaskar, is a practice rooted in Indian tradition, focusing on nurturing the mind and spirit of the unborn child through positive communication, music, and mindfulness.
Developed through years of observation, research, and practical application, this holistic approach not only enhances the mother’s emotional well-being but also promotes the baby’s development and emotional intelligence. Practising the technique has been seen to make the expecting mother happy and confident, something that in turn lead to her bonding with her unborn child.
Apart from being a comprehensive guide to Garbha Vidya, this book also addresses crucial aspects of pregnancy, including the right diet, yoga and meditation practices, exercises, and tips for an easy normal delivery.
Whether you’re a first-time mother or looking to enhance your pregnancy experience, Talking to the Baby in the Womb is your go-to resource for a joyful and confident journey to motherhood.
The Art of Conversation
In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, where information flows freely and attention spans are fleeting, the ability to communicate effectively is more critical than ever. Yet so many of us struggle to articulate our thoughts clearly, connect with others authentically, and leave a lasting impression. The good news is that communication is a skill, not an innate talent. And like any skill, it can be learned, honed, and mastered with practice and the right guidance. That’s where this book comes in. It’ll guide you through a holistic approach to communication that focuses on developing your inner strength, understanding the nuances of human interaction, and crafting narratives that captivate and inspire. Think of this book as your personal communication coach, your trusted confidant, and your storytelling mentor all rolled into one. It’ll challenge you to step outside your comfort zone, confront your fears, and embrace your unique voice. It’ll equip you with the tools and techniques you need to navigate any conversation with poise and confidence, whether it’s a job interview, a client pitch, or a networking event.