Jayalalithaa’s journey from a glamour queen to a towering political leader is one of the most extraordinary stories of contemporary India. The unlikely heir of the legendary screen idol and AIADMK founder, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa Jayaram triumphed over the odds stacked against her-as a woman and as a former actress-to successfully challenge the mainstream values of Tamil Nadu politics.
The Lone Empress candidly chronicles Jayalalithaa’s tumultuous political life, examining her battle with intra-party rivalry to become the first elected woman chief minister of India; the long-lasting hostility with her rivals; her pursuit of support from the Centre for political survival; and her discomfort with criticism and dissent. The book also shines light on Jayalalithaa’s choice of careers, first in cinema then in politics; the corruption charges that continued to haunt her; and her sudden death. Having breathed her last while in office for the sixth time as chief minister, Jayalalithaa left behind a dramatic power tussle in her wake, and she left Indian politics a little less colourful.
Drawing on interviews with Jayalalithaa’s family, school friends, film critics and actors, political commentators and party members, as well as from letters and journals, acclaimed journalist Vaasanthi offers an objective, insightful and empathetic portrait of this fascinating and enigmatic figure.
O.P. Munjal started Hero Cycles in 1956, fuelled by meagre resources and an insatiable ambition. His vision was to create an inexpensive and effective mode of transportation for a post-Independence nation on the move. The rest, as they say, is history: Hero Cycles went on to become the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer.This book chronicles the life of O.P. Munjal through anecdotes from his professional and personal life. He proved that a people-focused management style could be superior to the process-driven systems of the West. The book is a result of extensive conversations with O.P. Munjal, Hero employees, dealers and family members. Join bestselling author Priya Kumar as she takes you on a roller-coaster ride.
Karmayogi is the dramatic and inspiring story of E. Sreedharan, the much-admired engineer and technocrat who won accolades for finishing the Delhi Metro project within budget and on time, in the face of severe constraints. Known for his efficiency and discipline and regarded the world over for his productivity standards, Sreedharan has, surprisingly, never spent more than the eight-hour workday in office.
This fascinating book looks back on an extraordinary career full of sterling achievements-Sreedharan’s years with the Railways, the building of the Kolkata Metro and the Konkan Railway, followed by the Delhi Metro, and the many metro projects he is involved with now.
Translated from a bestselling biography in Malayalam, this is the uplifting story of a very private person who has become an icon of modern India because of his uncompromising work ethic.
Untold accounts of the biggest recent anti-terror operations
First-hand reports of the most riveting anti-terror encounters in the wake of the 2016 surgical strikes, the men who hunted terrorists in a magical Kashmir forest where day turns to night, a pair of young Navy men who gave their all to save their entire submarine crew, the Air Force commando who wouldn’t sleep until he had avenged his buddies, the tax babu who found his soul in a terrifying Special Forces assault on Pakistani terrorists, and many more.
Their own stories, in their own words. Or of those who were with them in their final moments.
The highly anticipated sequel to India‘s Most Fearless brings you fourteen more stories of astonishing fearlessness,and gets you closer than ever before to the personal braverythat Indian military men display in the line of duty.
Bihar Diaries narrates the thrilling account of how Amit Lodha arrested Samant Pratap, one of Bihar’s most feared ganglords, notorious for extortion, kidnapping and the massacre of scores of people. The book follows the adrenaline-fuelled chase that took place across three states during Amit’s tenure as superintendent of police of Shekhpura, a sleepy mofussil town in Bihar.
How does Amit navigate between his many professional challenges and conquer his demons? What does he do when the ganglord comes after his family? Bihar Diaries captures vividly the battle of nerves between a dreaded outlaw and a young, urbane IPS officer.
What makes a company truly outstanding?
What is the secret sauce of delivering successful results year-on-year?
What is common to Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, Marico, Axis Bank and Berger Paints?
They are Unusual Companies, built by Unusual Billionaires. The Unusual Billionaires tells the story of seven, truly outstanding companies which delivered 10 per cent revenue growth over the last ten years and 15 per cent return on capital employed. In simple words, these companies defeated 5000 other public listed companies to deliver high growth while maintaining profitability year-on-year for the last decade.
How did these companies do it? Why couldn’t this be reciprocated by other companies? What are they doing differently?
Saurabh Mukherjea, bestselling author of Gurus of Chaos, delivers an outstanding book with lessons to learn from these seven businesses. Mukherjea tells you why focusing on the core business could save a company’s life or how giving control to top management could be a boon. Packed with these learnings are riveting corporate stories of how Hindustan Unilever made aggressive bids to buy Mariwala’s business, but had to sell it to the same company in a few years, or how Page Industries found an exciting way to stop unionization at their manufacturing units. It also includes the turnaround of Axis Bank and the boardroom coup that led to its chairman’s downfall, and how Vijay Mallya lost control of Asian Paints to the Dhingra Brothers.
These and many more makes this book a mandatory read for all corporate leaders to simulate and implement.
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata was born in 1839, and in his lifetime India remained firmly under British rule. Yet the projects he envisioned laid the foundation for the nation’s develoent once it became independent. More extraordinary still, these institutions continue to set the pace for others in their respective areas. For, among his many achievements are the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, which has groomed some of the country’s best scientists, the Tata Steel plant in Jamshedpur, which marked the country’s transition from trading to manufacturing, his pioneering hydro-electric project, and the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, one of the finest in the world. In these as in other projects he undertook, Jamsetji revealed the unerring instinct of a man who knew what it would take to restore the pride of a subjugated nation and help it prepare for a place among the leading nations of the world once it came into its own. The scale of the projects required abilities of a high order. In some cases it was sheer perseverance that paid off”as with finding a suitable site for the steel project. In others, such as the Indian Institute of Science, it was his exceptional persuasive skills and patience that finally got him the approval of a reluctant viceroy, Lord Curzon. In For the Love of India, R.M. Lala has drawn upon fresh material from the India Office Library in London and other archives, as also Jamsetji’s letters, to portray the man and his age. It is an absorbing account that makes clear how remarkable Jamsetji’s achievement truly was, and why, even now, one hundred years after his death, he seems like a man well ahead of the times.
Sachin Tendulkar made an immediate impact on the cricket world at the tender age of 16 in 1989. For the next 24 years he went from strength to strength and even in his teens was recognized as one of the world’s greatest batsmen. By the end of his career in 2013 he had cemented his place as one of cricket’s all-time greats.
This best-selling biography was first released in 2002, followed by the second and third editions in 2010 and 2012. The Collector’s Edition marks the master’s 50th birthday, a decade since his retirement.
Prolific author Gulu Ezekiel pens a compelling account of Sachin the man and the legend. He tracks him from his childhood and follows him on his meteoric rise to international stardom. With meticulous attention to detail, Ezekiel reconstructs the crucial matches and events that have marked Tendulkar’s glittering career.
‘An eminently readable life story of India’s most loved sportsperson’–JT Jacob, The Hindu
‘I realised that I had to do something in my life so that people would stop looking at me with pity’
National level volleyball player Arunima Sinha had a promising future ahead of her. Then one day she was shoved from a moving train by thieves as she attempted to fight them off. The horrific accident cost the twenty-four-year-old her left leg and sporting career, but it never deterred her. Two years later she had retrained as a mountaineer and become the first female amputee to reach Mount Everest. This is her unforgettable story of hope, courage and resilience.
Salman Khan turns fifty on 27 December 2015. Having made his film debut in 1988, he has found his place in the hearts of millions, with blockbuster movies ranging from Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun to the more recent Dabangg, Ek Tha Tiger, Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan to his credit. He is also well known for his magnanimity, including his work with the non-profit charitable organization, Being Human, which he runs.
Salman’s stint with controversies has been as long as his career. His personal life has often made headlines, as have his involvements in the blackbuck poaching case and the hit-and-run case. He has a reputation for getting hot under the collar and abusive when riled. These attributes have earned him the dubious title of the ‘bad boy of Bollywood’.
Which is the real Salman Khan? Why is he the way he is?
This book delves into Salman’s family lineage and his personal history to reveal interesting vignettes and unknown facts about the enigmatic and immensely popular superstar, and will help his many fans understand what ‘Being Salman’ is all about.
