Gulzar reminisces about an old school poet – an eccentric man named Bhushan Banmali. Bhushan had a wife and a mother but at heart he was a nomad, and one day when their tug-of-war over him got too much, he packed his bags and moved in with Gulzar himself! Suddenly Gulzar found himself at parties full of rum and fried fish and kebabs, overflowing with poetry from dawn to dusk. One day Gulzar and Bhushan pack their bags to go to the mountains, and freezing and tired, they manage to find a spark of generosity to keep their cold nights hilariously warm. Taken from Gulzar’s life, these stories will enthrall any fan with a universally heartwarming touch.
Catagory: Literature & Fiction
The Last Vicereine
It was the spring of 1947 when Lord and Lady Mountbatten arrived in New Delhi. India was on the brink of civil war. The reluctant Vicereine was a rebel, a rule-breaker. She was a troubled soul, a great beauty, a firecracker. But there was more to Edwina than met the eye. The glamour was a façade; behind it was a highly intelligent woman of influence and power.
The only one to truly understand her for who she was was Jawahar, her friend, confidant and so much more.
No one could have imagined the maelstrom of intrigue, and the events and relationships that would change their lives and those of millions of Indians forever. Set amid the turmoil of Partition, The Last Vicereine is a heartbreaking story of the birth of two nations, of love, grief, tragedy, inhumanity and the triumph of hope.
Vyasa
On a huge battlefield stand two armies facing each other. The dust stirred by soldiers covers the sun.
Rain-clouds shower flesh and blood, drenching the troops. Along the ground a wind rises; the small stones that the wind carries with it, hit the warriors.With cinematic effects, full of cuts and intercuts, Vyasa-with 1600 electrifying visuals for hot-hearted adults-sets in motion the battlefield of Kurukshetra. From the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas to the interpenetration of life instincts and death instincts, this first book in this graphic book series rolls out the beginning of interplay of lust and violence which gives to the tale of war, revenge and peace the unmatched regal look.
Padmini
At the beginning of the fourteenth century, an ambitious sultan, Ala-ud-Din Khilji, becomes infatuated with the famed beauty of Rani Padmini. He arrives at her doorstep in Chittor and lays siege to her fort. Padmini convinces her husband, Maharawal Ratan Singh, and his warriors to abandon any thought of surrender. Despite putting up a brave fight, when defeat seems imminent, Padmini chooses death by jauhar over dishonour.
Narrated from Padmini’s perspective, this moving retelling of the famed legend brings to life the atmosphere and intrigue of medieval Rajput courts. We cannot help but be swept along as Padmini grapples with the matter of her own life and death, even as she attempts to figure out what it means to be a woman in a man’s world.
Unreal Aliens
For the first time in human history, a nation is playing host to an alien delegation. And it is Modi-led India that has this high honour. Prime Minister Modi rolls out the red carpet for the aliens. He receives them at the airport, shows them the sights in Delhi and convinces them to invest in the Make in India campaign. The leader of the alien delegation even holds a broom to promote Swachh Bharat. But what is the real reason the aliens have come to India? Are they friends? Or will they turn foes? Read this hilarious, rib-tickling novel from the authors of Unreal Elections to find out.
Lost in Terror
Set in the backdrop of the uprising against the
armed forces in Kashmir in the late 1980s, Lost in Terror
is the tale of a young, educated, career-conscious woman
who finds herself sucked into a maelstrom of death and
destruction. She also cherishes the dream of Azadi and plays
strong to face the wrath of the security forces. But when she
uncovers her husband’s discreet links with gunmen who have
become obsessed with the dream of Azadi at the expense of
the family’s security, she becomes fragile and begins to lose
her hold on her home, her relationships and Azadi itself.
When her dreams for a perfect family and a thriving
career are turned upside down and her life comes to
a standstill, fate offers her a leap of faith-but will she take it?
Shiva
Seventeen-year-old Shiva is young and penniless, eking out a living at a small tea stall in north Kolkata. When a boxing trainer notices him and takes him under his wing, Shiva believes that his luck has finally turned. Steadfast and hard-working, he punches his way up through local matches, finding prestige and money for the first time in his life.
However, when adversity unexpectedly robs Shiva of his new-found fame, he finds himself broken and destitute, vowing never to throw a punch again. But when an unmissable opportunity presents itself, will he stay away from his true calling for long?
From the grittiness of life on Devdas Pathak Road to the euphoria of being in the boxing ring, Shiva is a heart-warming tale of hope, resilience and a hero determined to triumph against all odds.
Undying Affinity
True love never dies. It might vanish, but if it is true, it will always find its way back
Twenty-two-year-old Zarish has everything in life she could ever ask for. She is rich, beautiful and popular. She and Haroon, her handsome childhood sweetheart, are inseparable until a new finance professor joins their university-Ahmar Muraad. Every girl in the university has eyes for him. He is attractive, charming and intellectual. Even Zarish is drawn by his suave personality.
But would he ever be interested in her?
Caught in a web of passion, little does Zarish know that one individual can completely change her perspective towards life.
Packed with romance, drama and tragedy, Undying Affinity will stay in your heart forever.
Prithviraj Chauhan
Prithviraj Chauhan was destiny’s chosen one, singled out for glory and greatness. During the course of an extraordinary life, he transcended the limits imposed on mortals and achieved Godlike luster. The conquering hero dreamed of a united land where peace prevailed over war and love over hate.
Princess Samyukta loved him from afar, and when Prithviraj Chauhan claimed her for his own, defying the wrath of an implacable foe, their happiness was complete. Victorious in love and war, Prithviraj Chauhan was soon to discover that success came with a terrible price – trials, treachery and tragedy. What happened next? Read the tale of the legendary warrior who lives on in the hearts of those who remember his unmatched valor and timeless heroism.
Harivamsha
A gorgeous, lucid rendering of the majestic conclusion to the Mahabharata
As an epilogue to the greatest epic of all time, the Harivamsha further elaborates on the myriad conflicts of dharma and the struggle between good and evil. Stories abound-from the cosmogony of the universe to the legends of the solar and lunar dynasties and even a foreshadowing of kali yuga in the future. At the centre of all these magnificent tales is the mercurial figure of Krishna, whose miraculous life and wondrous exploits are recounted with vivid detail. In offering a glimpse into Krishna’s life-as a mischievous child, as an enchanting lover, as a discerning prince-this luminous text sheds light on many questions left unanswered in the Mahabharata.
Brimming with battles and miracles, wisdom and heroics, philosophical insight and psychological acuity, Bibek Debroy’s splendid translation of the Harivamsha is absolutely essential reading for all those who love the Mahabharata.