The Urdu writer, Zeenath Sajida dominated the literary and intellectual circles of Hyderabad for half a century. Often compared with Ismat Chughtai for her boldness, defiance and verbal craft, Zeenath wrote a number of popular short stories. But she was best known for her humorous khaake (pen portraits) and inshaaiye (light sketches). Yet, her work has rarely been curated and translated for an English reader.
Nazia Akhtar’s nuanced translation brings Zeenath’s sparkling wit and eloquent prose to a new readership and reminds us of the neglected legacy of Hyderabadi women writers. Through The Deccan Sun we celebrate Zeenath Sajida’s place in a larger tradition of Urdu writing and culture, while also specifically enriching and diversifying perspectives on women’s writing in Urdu.’
To save the world from cosmic annihilation, Lord Vishnu takes on his second avatar, that of the Kurma, or the tortoise. The Kurma Purana is one of the eighteen classic Hindu texts known collectively as the Puranas. The origins of the Kurma Purana can be traced back to 600 to 900 CE, and we encounter Indradyumna, Varaha, Devi, Vyasa, and the divine presence of Shiva in this text as we delve into the deep and nuanced tale of one of the greatest Hindu legends.
The seventh book in the Purana series, this translation of the Kurma Purana by Bibek Debroy is an attempt to bring to readers, the rich and layered history of our myths and classics.
Previous books in the series include the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana, Markandeya Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Vishnu Purana and the Shiva Purana.
The foundational text on dharma and Hindu philosophy, exquisitely rendered by one of our most eminent Sanskrit translators
As a spiritual guide, the Bhagavadgita is a mesmerizing account of the debate between right and wrong, and the bond between action and consequence. One of the core Hindu scriptures, it is part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, and unfolds in the form of a dialogue between Krishna and the Pandava prince, Arjuna.
This beautifully produced bilingual edition is a masterful verse-for-verse translation, providing the original Sanskrit verses alongside the English rendition. Bibek Debroy’s deep familiarity with the text yields a treasure trove of insights that will delight the scholar and the lay reader alike, making this essential reading for anyone with an abiding interest in Indian scriptures.
‘Like the whirlpool, still centre of a giddy circling,
the homeland’s an ocean that scatters us in all directions.’
Mir Taqi Mir (1723–1810)
Mir, one of the greatest Urdu poets, lived through extraordinarily turbulent times in a Delhi besieged by marauders, and in exile elsewhere in North India. By the time he died, aged eighty-seven, he had witnessed a long era of violence and chaos. Yet, through it all, he crafted the most exquisite poetry, shaping the Urdu language from the resources of Khari Boli, Persian and Brajbhasha. A thoughtful selection of 150 of his asha’ar or couplets by Ranjit Hoskote, The Homeland’s an Ocean reveals a far more political Mir than we know, a many-sided poet of melancholia, irreverent humour, love and audacious social vision. Hoskote’s fresh, contemporary translation brings Mir’s poetry back to a world that needs such a passionately urgent voice. Framed by the translator’s substantial introduction to Mir’s life and his literary, linguistic and political contexts, this book invites readers to look through a unique eighteenth-century lens at our current crises of homeland, identity and belonging.
A beautifully designed slipcase containing five of the greatest novels ever written in English.
The Best of Vintage Classics Collection is a boxset of five of the greatest novels ever written in English. Discover a satire of the madness of war, a genre-bending literary quest, a visionary dystopia, a tortured love affair and a gangster thriller – all the finest examples of their genre. This is a selection of must-read classic books.
Contains:
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
If On A Winter’s Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino
Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
‘Among the eighteen classic Hindu texts called the Puranas, the Brahmanda Purana recounts the stories and lores associated with Brahma, the creator and one of the trinities of the supreme divinity along with Vishnu and Shiva. A relatively early Purana, its composition can be traced back to approximately 400 to 600 BCE, predating many other Hindu texts. While the first volume talks of the cosmology, creation, and geography, the lineages of rishis and shraddha rites, ending with Parashurama’s stoory, the highlight of volume 2 is its emphasis on Lalita’s greatness, the slaying of Bhandasura, Madana’s rebirth and the glory of Kamakshi. Translated and annotated from the original Sanskrit by Bibek Debroy, this edition of the Brahmanda Purana is a precious and rare volume for the lovers of Hindu mythology and religion.
This is the sixth volume in the Purana series; the others include the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, the Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana, and the Shiva Purana.’
Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) is widely remembered as the fiery iconoclast who fought against the structures of oppression and orthodoxy. The iconic ‘rebel poet’ of Bengal, Nazrul continues to be loved for his songs and poetry. But what of his prose, his journalism, and his politics?
Selected Essays reveals to us the extraordinary versatility of Nazrul as an essayist. Addressing subjects as diverse as social reform, politics, communal harmony, environmental concerns, education, aesthetics, ethics, and philosophy, this rich collection showcases Nazrul’s dynamic vision and unique use of language as an instrument of change. The essays chart his evolving consciousness as a thinker, writer and activist, offering vivid glimpses of the ethos of his times, his relationships with leading figures such as Tagore and Gandhi, and his active engagement with social, political and cultural processes. These new translations bring Nazrul’s powerful voice to life, all its vibrant immediacy.
‘Among the eighteen classic Hindu texts called the Puranas, the Brahmanda Purana recounts the stories and lores associated with Brahma, the creator and one of the trinities of the supreme divinity along with Vishnu and Shiva. A relatively early Purana, its composition can be traced back to approximately 400 to 600 BCE, predating many other Hindu texts. Volume 1 of the two-volume set tells stories on creation, cosmology, and geography, with lineages of rishis and shraddha rites, ending with Parashurama’s story. Translated and annotated from the original Sanskrit by Bibek Debroy, this edition of the Brahmanda Purana is a precious and rare volume for the lovers of Hindu mythology and religion.
This is the sixth volume in the Purana series; the others include the Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, the Brahma Purana, Vishnu Purana, and the Shiva Purana.’
This poem recounts the life and deeds of the god-hero Rama. Legend has it that it was first inscribed on rocks by his devotee Lord Hanuman but was then thrown away into the sea on the advice of the sage Valmiki. Discovered centuries later in King Bhoja’s time, its verses were carefully transcribed and fashioned into what became Hanumannataka, composed by Bhoja’s court poet Damodara Mishra. This beautiful work has now been translated into English by A.N.D. Haksar and will appeal to lovers of mythology, poetry and philosophy.
