In this remarkable collection of essays about their mothers, women from Pakistan explore the many meanings of feminism and its varying interpretations through generations. How, they ask, do these meanings change, mould, attract and detract within and between generations? How do women bridge the cracks that emerge in these formations as they hold within them the joys, sorrows, conflicts and contradictions of their multiple feminisms?
Catagory: Biographies, Diaries & True Accounts
I Dare! (Revised and Enlarged Edition)
This is a no-holds-barred narrative packed with punch, spirit, and vitality.
Kiran Bedi, a distinguished and decorated police officer, stands as a beacon of inspiration and has earned numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career. She has steadily remained innovative and fearless to meet the diverse challenges posed by her various assignments.
I Dare! unfolds as an unapologetic and dynamic account of her life and career, pulsating with vigour, resilience, and an unwavering spirit. Within its pages, Kiran Bedi’s narrative emerges as a testament to the indomitable spirit that empowers individuals to lead with courage and leave a lasting impact.
This revised and updated bestseller meticulously chronicles her captivating journey, spanning from her formative years to the present day, and showcases her consistently daring and pioneering mindset in addressing challenges in policing, prison management, and training with unprecedented approaches. It sheds light on her trailblazing methods and how she faced each adversity head-on, earning her admiration and respect both nationally and internationally. It also features an additional section that explores the reasons behind her early retirement from the service, her visionary approach to leading the Delhi Police, and a glimpse into her current seminal ventures.
All in all, this narrative transcends the boundaries of a mere biography; it is the saga of India’s first and the highest-ranked woman officer in the Indian Police Service, marked by willpower, devotion to duty, innovation, compassion, and, above all, a never-give-up attitude.
The Jannayak Karpoori Thakur
Karpoori Thakur, often called Jannayak, was a legendary leader from Bihar who had a significant impact on India’s politics. In early 2024, he was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to society. Commemorating his birth centenary, this gripping biography brings to light the life, legacy and enduring relevance of Thakur. It focuses on Karpoori Thakur’s politics, which introduced ‘quota within quota’ and opens a window to his role in bifurcating reservation among the backward classes and women in 1978.
Deeply researched, anecdotal and unputdownable, The Jannayak promises to be a beacon for readers seeking to understand the complex landscape of Indian politics and society.
Madam President/मैडम प्रेसिडेंट
राष्ट्रपति द्रौपदी मुर्मू की पूरी राजनीतिक यात्रा उनकी सच्ची लगन, मेहनत और संयम की कहानी है। यह पुस्तक उनके प्रेरणास्रोत जीवन पर लिखा गया पहला विस्तृत व प्रामाणिक जीवनवृत्त है।
द्रौपदी मुर्मू को शुरूआती दिनों में बेहतर शिक्षा हासिल करने के लिए तमाम तरह के संघर्षों और बाद के दिनों में कई त्रासदियों का सामना करना पड़ा। व्यक्तिगत जीवन में दोनों बेटों और पति की असमय मौत के अलावा राजनीतिक जीवन में भी उन्हें कई तरह के उतार चढ़ाव देखने पड़े। उन्होंने बेहद धैर्य के साथ हर परिस्थिति का सामना किया और आज देश के सर्वोच्च पद पर आसीन हैं।
राष्ट्रपति द्रौपदी मुर्मू राजनीतिक निर्वाचन की पहली सीढ़ी, नगर निकाय में पार्षद बनने के बाद काम के प्रति समर्पण और कठोर मेहनत की बदौलत आदिवासी समुदाय से पहली भारतीय राष्ट्रपति बनीं। यह पुस्तक उनके जीवन से जुड़ी सभी घटनाओं का विस्तार से वर्णन करती है।
Maun
‘In the sanctuary of silence, a penetrating stillness beckons, inviting us to traverse the sacred realms within. Silence is not merely the absence of sound; it is a canvas upon which revelations unfold, the spirit discovers its inherent wisdom and the divine whispers in gently painted echoes.’
Set in Rajasthan, India, Maun presents an intriguing sketch of a thirteen-year-old spirited Sindhi girl, Nirmala, who walks a less travelled path of silence and self-discovery, while also challenging myth, superstition, and hypocrisy on all platforms. Through candid anecdotes and intimate reflections, the memoir offers a more inclusive and sensitive approach to oneness, inviting the reader to witness a journey of profound insight into the recesses of deep silence.
In essence, Maun is a personal yet universally interconnected narrative that boldly reveals the transformative power of our thoughts, inspiring and guiding those who seek clarity, solace, and a renewed sense of purpose in life. It is an offering to embark upon an unforgettable voyage into the secrets of silence and discover the sublime magic that lies therewith.
Iconoclast
In Iconoclast, Dr Anand Teltumbde, a distinguished public intellectual and leading authority on the Dalit movement, presents a groundbreaking biography of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Far from the embellished narratives often associated with his legacy, Teltumbde strips away the layers of myth and hyperbole to reveal the man behind the legend.
With meticulous research and intellectual honesty, Teltumbde delves into the life of Ambedkar, situating him within the dynamic context of his time. He explores the complexities of Ambedkar’s persona, offering a nuanced portrait that challenges conventional perceptions. Rich with poignant photographs, this biography paints a vivid picture of Ambedkar as a visionary and as a human, and above all as an iconoclast driven by a relentless pursuit of social justice and equality. From his tireless advocacy for the Dalit community to his visionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, Ambedkar’s legacy reverberates through the ages, inspiring generations to strive for a more just society.
With incisive analysis and a deep understanding of Ambedkar’s philosophy, Teltumbde extends the narrative beyond the confines of history, examining Ambedkar’s enduring impact on contemporary India. Iconoclast is a masterful tribute to a towering figure in modern history, offering profound insights into the epic struggle for social emancipation and the quest for a truly inclusive society.
Just a Mercenary?
At the start of his career as sub-collector of Parvathipuram sub-division in north-coastal Andhra Pradesh way back in 1974, Subbarao learnt—the hard way—that tribal development requires more than enthusiasm; it requires, most of all, an understanding of poverty.
Nearly forty years later, in 2013, as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India in the midst of a fierce exchange rate crisis, Subbarao learnt—once again the hard way—the harsh challenges of emerging economies in an unequal world.
Bookended by these assignments is the remarkable journey of a small-town boy from a modest background to the top echelons of India’s civil service and then on to the helm of the country’s central bank. Subbarao recounts that journey—his hopes and despair, his successes and setbacks, his mistakes and misdeeds, and the lessons he learnt along the way—with rare candour and honesty. The subtext of that story though is his constant soul searching about whether he has given back to society more than he received.
Just a Mercenary? is a warm, engaging and earnest account of an extraordinary career that is bound to inform and inspire young professionals trying to find their way up their career ladders and discover meaning in their journeys.
This Land We Call Home
In 1871, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in India, branding numerous tribes and caste groups as criminals. In This Land We Call Home, Nusrat F. Jafri traces the roots of her nomadic forebears, who belonged to one such ‘criminal’ tribe, the Bhantus from Rajasthan.
This affecting memoir explores religious and multicultural identities and delves into the profound concepts of nation-building and belonging. Nusrat’s family found acceptance in the church, alongside a sense of community, theology, songs and carnivals, and quality education for the children in
missionary schools.
The family’s conversion to Christianity in response to caste society highlights their struggle for dignity. Parallelly, we see the family’s experiences during Gandhi’s return to India in 1915, the Partition, the World Wars, the Emergency and the prime ministers’ assassinations.
In a way, this is a story like and unlike the stories all of us carry within us—the inherited weight of who we are and where we come from, our tiny little freedoms and our everyday struggles and, mostly, the intricate jumble of our collective ancestry. Nusrat pays homage to her foremothers, the first feminists, and her forefathers, the ones who tried hard to fit into a caste society only to be disappointed, eventually choosing alternative faiths in pursuit of acceptance.
Knife
On the morning of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was standing onstage at the Chautauqua Institution, preparing to give a lecture on the importance of keeping writers safe from harm, when a man wearing black clothes and a black mask rushed down the aisle toward him, wielding a knife. His first thought: So it’s you. Here you are.
What followed was a horrific act of violence that shook the literary world and beyond. Now, for the first time, and in unforgettable detail, Rushdie relives the traumatic events of that day and its aftermath, as well as his journey toward physical recovery and the healing that was made possible by the love and support of his wife, Eliza, his family, his army of doctors and physical therapists, and his community of readers worldwide.
Knife is Rushdie at the peak of his powers, writing with urgency, with gravity, with unflinching honesty. It is also a deeply moving reminder of literature’s capacity to make sense of the unthinkable, an intimate and life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art—and finding the strength to stand up again.
The Autobiography of God
Are you a seeker, rebel, non-conformist and free-spirit? Yes? … This book is for you.
This book is for the rational, the practical, the seeker, the non-conformist, the leader, the rebel and the free spirit . . . This book is for you, dear reader, to destroy your self-limiting beliefs and realize your full potential.
As this journey of self-discovery spanning eighteen years unfolds, Lenaa keeps a promise she made to herself during her darkest hours: ‘If I can stay off psychiatric medication for two years, I will write a book for fellow sufferers of anxiety, depression and the rigid psychiatric system.’ Now, five years later, the clarity has distilled down to five questions, one answer and a system of instant self-realization.
What am I? Who am I? Where am I? When am I? Why am I?
Can you answer these questions to your own satisfaction? If the answer is not a definite ‘Yes’, dive right into The Autobiography of God.