Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2021
‘A personal story of the way that the caste system in India [. . .] imprison[s] the humanity of those within them’-Gloria Steinem
Kumaon, 1856. History has already begun its steady march. Six native women clad in black and scarlet pichauras huddle around Naineetal Lake, attempting to cleanse it of ominous influences. These are the days of Upper Mall Road (for Europeans and their horses) and Lower Mall Road (‘for dogs, servants and other Indians’). Amidst a theatre of British impunity, feisty young Tilottama Dutt, whose uncle is hung when he protests the reigning order, and her daughter, Deoki, confront change as Indians and as women.
Things to Leave Behind brings alive the romance of the mixed legacy of the British-Indian past. Full of the fascinating backstory of Naineetal and its unwilling entry into Indian history, throwing a shining light on the elemental confusion of caste, creed and culture, illuminated with painstaking detail, here is a fascinating historical epic and Namita Gokhale’s most ambitious novel yet.
Madhav’s ghazals offer a much-needed insight into the transforming (and transformed) society and the lives of men who endure the daily trials of walking barefoot on burning coals-falling prey to a growing restlessness. Life and Man play two essentially distinct roles in this refreshing and timely perspective on life in the modern city.
In these ghazals, the many uncertainties of everyday life are presented in various different ways. Even though he talks about social concerns, the individual is always at the heart of Kaushik’s poems:
Main sangtaraash bhi hota toh kya bana leta
Sheher mein koi nahin kadradaan patthar ka
Bestselling author Sanjeev Sanyal’s fresh and provocative vision of India
In three original and insightful books, acclaimed writer Sanjeev Sanyal takes readers on a journey through India’s fascinating prehistory, its glorious ancient lineage and its quirky contemporary times. In the celebrated book, Land of the Seven Rivers, combining scholarship with sparkling wit, Sanjeev sets out to explore how India’s history was shaped by its geography, moving from geological and genetic origins to present-day Gurgaon. In the ambitious The Ocean of Churn, Sanjeev chronicles the grand sweep of history along the Indian Ocean, from East Africa to Australia, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into the heart of a vibrant civilization. Sanjeev’s first work of fiction, Life over Two Beers and Other Stories, is an entertaining ride through the charming absurdities of twenty-first-century India, crackling with irreverence and wit.
Here is the perfect collection to savour, treasure and gift for those who wish to see a different India.
The complete story of Kali and Ponna-and the heartbreaking dilemma that besets them.
In One Part Woman, Kali and Ponna’s desperate hopes for a child converge on a possible solution that puts their marriage-and their love-to the ultimate test.
In the two parallel sequels that follow-both of which pick up the story right where One Part Woman ends-two completely different scenarios play out, exploring unforeseen consequences in the future of this once-happy couple.
*ITC’s Engage, one of India’s leading fragrance brands and a segment leader with its pocket perfumes, collaborated with the best-selling romance author of India, Durjoy Datta in an exciting crowd-sourced campaign to invite micro tales that celebrate the unexpected moments of love. The crowd-sourced online campaign, to launch the convenient and innovative pocket-sized Engage ON, received a staggering 11,200 entries within a month. The best micro tales have been compiled – infused with Durjoy’s own moments of love – to represent an intriguing journey of playful romance.
Memories of Fire is the compelling story of five childhood friends meeting after a gap of fifty-four years. They embark on a journey into the past, laden with nostalgia and humour, and encompassing all the ugly and wonderful things life has to offer.
Inspired by true events and interspersed with the dark contemporary history of India and Pakistan, Ashok Chopra has created remarkably realistic characters who tackle prejudice, prestige, privilege and even prison head-on. He skillfully weaves together five storylines as the friends move in and out of each other’s lives. The result is a defining voyage through life, one that queries tough choices and the price one is willing to pay for them. It also asks the epic questions: What makes for happiness? Why do people make certain choices and not others? And why do men and women willingly make tremendous sacrifices for those they love?
Ashok Chopra has created an authentic, densely peopled universe with a distinctive period charm. Memories of Fire is a vast, colourful, emotional, political and social journey, with a cast of characters who are interesting, sympathetic and lifelike.
‘A simple, gripping tale which unfolds across a turbulent period of modern Indian history. The strength of this novel lies in its fascinating mix of complex characters. Through expressive dialogue and eloquent description, Chopra takes his readers on a memorable journey across terrain that is both familiar and surprising’-Shashi Tharoor, MP and author
‘I really enjoyed Ashok Chopra’s memoirs and I look forward very much to reading his first venture into fiction’-Vikram Seth, author
This book is a modern interpretation of the Bhagvadgita by one of India’s foremost thinkers and visionaries, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He presents a version of ancient wisdom that can cater to the needs of the present times.
A sequel to the bestseller Maharaja. A rare treasure of true stories that offer a deep insight into the glamorous and sensuous Lives of the Indian and European Maharanis of India. Intriguing as well as valuable. Maharani is at once a historical romance and a sociological document, as it vividly recounts a bygone era, an era perhaps never to return again. The author served Indian Maharajas for over 50 years accompanying them on their amorous trips to private retreats in India and abroad. He brilliantly recounts the extraordinary lives of the Maharanis of the richest Men the World has ever seen.
Captivating, true stories full of intrigue, adventure, desire and romance from the royal households- stories of love and betrayal which have been retold across generations. The descriptions of the harems of these Maharajas in India and Europe, their royal palaces, queens and courtesans, horses and cavalries, Rolls Royce cars, lion-hunting, royal feasts and grand durbaars will keep you glued till the end. These are an insider’s account of a priceless past of extravagance and lavish expenditure.
This book is also an account of Diwan Jarmani Dass’s own fascinating, intimate thoughts, as a person who walked among the rich and famous as their equal. This is a re-telling of his first-hand experiences. Of valor, sacrifice, love and betrayal, these stories reveal the mysteries of the private worlds of Maharajas and Maharanis. They are based on events post the fall of the British Raj.
This is the story of Debashish Roy’s life, told in the most unique and interesting manner. Suddenly, a beautiful girl has come into his life and has turned it upside down. This novel candidly explores the issues faced by young adults in their daily lives.
