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Cities and Canopies

Winner of Publishing Next’s Printed Book of the Year Award and featuring on the Green Literature Festival Honour List.

Native and imported, sacred and ordinary, culinary and floral, favourites of various kings and commoners over the centuries, trees are the most visible signs of nature in cities, fundamentally shaping their identities. Trees are storehouses of the complex origins and histories of city growth, coming as they do from different parts of the world, brought in by various local and colonial rulers. From the tree planted by Sarojini Naidu at Dehradun’s clock tower to those planted by Sher Shah Suri and Jahangir on Grand Trunk Road, trees in India have served, above all, as memory keepers. They are our roots: their trunks our pillars, their bark our texture, and their branches our shade. Trees are nature’s own museums.
Drawing on extensive research, Cities and Canopies is a book about both the specific and the general aspects of these gentle life-giving creatures.

Phoolproof

After being forced to take a sabbatical from work because of her chronic breathing troubles, Jhelum Biswas Bose turned to flowers for solace and healing. Her blossoming connection with flowers deepened her understanding of herself and the world around her. Over the years, she has learnt to recognize and respect the soft energies of blooms with the help of healing therapies such as Bach flower remedies and aromatherapy.
Phoolproof is a complimentary bouquet to flowers, especially Indian flowers, and brings to our plain sight their subtle power and meaning. From the book’s various whorls, Jhelum teaches us how to gainfully use flowers in living spaces, foods, and beauty and healing treatments.

The Suriani Kitchen

Since ancient times, the lure of spices has drawn seafarers and traders to Kerala. Saint Thomas also travelled this spice route, converting several Brahmin families who later intermarried with Syrians settled here. Thus was born the vibrant Syrian Christian community of Kerala. Today, Ayurveda massage resorts and backwater cruises make this scenic land a top tourist destination, and spices still draw both travellers and gourmands to this rich culinary heritage. It is this legacy that The Suriani Kitchen brings us, through 150 delectable recipes and the unforgettable stories that accompany them. Featured here are savoury delights such as Meen Vevichathu (fish curry cooked in a clay pot), Parippu (lentils with coconut milk) and Thiyal (shallots with tamarind and roasted coconut). Equally mouth-watering are a variety of rice preparations such as Puttu (steamed rice cake) and Paalappam (lace-rimmed pancakes), and tempting desserts like Karikku Pudding (tender coconut pudding). Authentic and easy to prepare, these recipes are accompanied by a guide to spices, herbs and equipment, as well as a glossary of food terms. Interwoven with these recipes, in the best tradition of a cookbook memoir, are tales of talking doves, toddy shops, travelling chefs and killer coconuts. Full of beautiful pictures, charming illustrations and lyrical memories of food and family, The Suriani Kitchen is a delicious, memorable read.

The Indian Pantry

WINNER OF THE GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARD 2019

The way we look at our food has changed a lot in the last few years. With a slow-growing awareness about what we eat and where our food is coming from, we all wish there was an expert who could tell us everything we need to know. Why is haldi suddenly so popular around the world? Do avocados live up to the craze? Which fruit and vegetables are indigenous to India?

From food columnist and star journalist Vir Sanghvi comes a collection of insightful, witty and myth-busting pieces about the ingredients in our kitchens.

In his distinctive, no-holds-barred style, Sanghvi introduces the reader to not only the Indian pantry but also the culture, history and unique experiences that make Indian food so popular the world over.

Dear Me

India’s biggest sports stars share their secrets for finding greatness

From Anju Bobby George’s unexpected gold medal at the World Athletics Final in Monaco to Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic gold in Beijing, India’s sportspersons have constantly proved that they stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best. However, as easy as they might make it look, their success is the result of years of struggle, focused training and relentless hard work to overcome several challenges.
Dear Me is a collection of letters from some of the most-celebrated names in sports-Milkha Singh, Vishwanathan Anand, Bhaichung Bhutia and many more-who write to their younger selves and remember the moments that changed their lives. An uplifting reminder that dreams do come true, this book allows you to be inspired by their extraordinary stories.

Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan

The rice beer bellies of a Christian village in Meghalaya; food fed to departed Zoroastrian souls; a Kolkata-based Jewish community in decline; Tibetan monks who first serve Preta, the hungry ghost; and fifty-six-course feasts of the Jagannath temple-these are the stories in Bhagwan Ke Pakwaan (or, food of the gods), a cookbook-cum-travelogue exploring the connection between food and faith through the communities of India. There are legends and lore, angsty perspectives, tangential anecdotes, a couple of life lessons and a whole lot of food.

Everyday Ayurveda

Everyday Ayurveda is the perfect lifestyle guide designed to maximize health, longevity, and happiness the natural way.

Do you sometimes feel tired, lethargic and spiritless? How can Ayurveda help in a simple, practisable manner?

Time is scarce and precious in today’s world, and we seek solutions that are quick. While allopathic medicine tends to focus on the management of disease, the ancient study of dinacharya provides us with holistic knowledge of preventing disease and eliminating its root cause.

Taking us through a day in the life of Ayurveda living, Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya illustrates the core principles of Ayurveda and shows us how to incorporate these in our routine. She explains the logic behind the changes she recommends and how they benefit us. Informative and accessible, Everyday Ayurveda is the perfect lifestyle guide designed to maximize health, longevity and happiness the natural way.

Praise for Everyday Ayurveda

‘Dr Bhaswati has written a book that will help resurrect the knowledge I grew up on, using scientific logic for modern scientists, and slokas for ancient scientists and observers. Her writing will appeal to the intelligent seeker dedicated to achieving a good life using conscious self-care, attention to healthy habits and respect for the wisdom of the ancients.’ – Shashi Tharoor, member of parliament

‘Bhaswati combines her talents as a healer with passion for sharing truly healing medicine. She has written from the song in her heart that celebrates light, sound and connection with nature.’ – Pandits Rajan and Sajan Misra, Padma Bhushan recipients and classical Hindustani vocalists of the Banaras Gharana

‘Bhaswati is uniquely able to diagnose like good medical doctors of the past, watching the patient rather than the test result. With a person-centered approach, this book is a tribute to Ayurveda and explains why we should pay more attention to the signals our bodies give us.’ – Ashok H. Advani, founder publisher, The Business India Group

‘Bhaswati has preserved the Sanskrit from which dinacharya emanates. Through her unending curiosity and dedication as a well-trained physician, scientist and professor, she has brought basic concepts of Ayurveda to light. She has toiled and delved deeply with engaging clarity, a fine mind and an extraordinarily connected soul. She teaches Ayurveda authentically because it is in her heart.’ – Dr Vd. Chandrabhushan Jha, former dean, faculty of Ayurveda, Banaras Hindu University and professor emeritus of Rasa Shastra

‘Ancient Ayurvedic rishis developed dinacharya, a way of maintaining normal body rhythms and staying healthy. Assisted by logic and personal accounts, Dr Bhaswati brings dinacharya alive in this book and reinforces its importance and necessity, especially in busy lives.’ – Vd. Partap Chauhan, founder of Jiva Ayurveda

‘Dr Bhaswati unlocks the age-old tenets of Ayurveda contained in cryptic Sanskrit verses. Her strong roots in tradition and willingness to branch out to the modern world make this book precious, like any true vidya.’ – Dr. PR Krishnakumar, Padma Shree recipient and managing director, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore)

‘As a fellow Fulbright Scholar, I have witnessed Dr Bhaswati devote her life to researching and preserving Ayurveda, and bringing it back to the hands and hearts of people.’ – Gautam Gandhi, former head of new business development, Google India

The Best Quizzes Of Derek O’Brien

1500 top-drawer questions from Asia’s best-known quizmaster

Derek O’Brien is identified with top-class quizzing in India, for schoolchildren, professionals and quiz aficionados alike. From his vast range of questions that range from the informative and educational to curious facts and trivia, he has culled 1500 of his favorites, divided into seventy-five sets, for this very special book.

The questions range from subjects as diverse as the Boston Tea Party, the Chinese New Year, Cleopatra and C.V. Raman to the Grammy Awards, Gujarat, Vasco da Gama and the Wright brothers. There are whole sets of questions also on famous personalities like Arundhati Roy, Asha Bhonsle, Charles Lindbergh, George Harrison, Isaac Newton, Martin Luther King Jr., Pablo Picasso and Winnie the Pooh. Each set contains twenty questions that will test both the depth and breadth of the readers’ knowledge on the subject.

Among the questions readers will find answers to in this book are:
• By what name is Agra mentioned in the Mahabharata?
• Who is the author of a famous article titled ‘The Great Indian Rape Trick’?
•Which famous classical musician ran away from home after being denied a second serving of ghee?
• Who coined the term ‘information superhighway’?
•Which Indian prime minister accepted a spinning wheel as dowry?
• What did Phoolan Devi say she wanted to be reborn as?
• Which city did Jawaharlal Nehru describe as the ‘Oxford and Cambridge of India’?
•What was Queen Victoria’s first name?

Whether you are a school student, a college-goer, a teacher, a young professional, an ardent quizzer, a casual reader, or just someone who enjoys watching quiz programmes on television, this is a book that is sure to keep you engaged and entertained for days.

The Ultimate India Quiz Book

The perfect blend of entertainment and education . . . Commemorating sixty years of India’s independence and reflecting India’s many facets, this definitive volume packs in 3000 questions in sixty chapters, testing the answering skills of any quiz-lover. Each chapter contains fifty questions on a range of subjects from ancient, medieval and modern India to alternative medicine, and fairs and festivals, Indian cricket, Indian diaspora, Hindi and regional films to science, traditional sport and youth affairs, travel, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Put your knowledge of India to the ultimate test with this valuable volume for facts, figures, events, history, literature, politics, and much more.

An Extreme Love of Coffee

When they drink a cup of ‘magic’ coffee, Rahul and Neha are entrusted with a quest that promises to lead to great treasure. As they race from the plantations of Coorg to Japanese graveyards, they are trailed by the Yamamoto brothers-bearing grudges and carrying swords.
Accompanied by a friendly ghost and armed with an extreme love of coffee, Rahul and Neha discover their passion for warm frothy concoctions and each other.
But will they manage to evade their Japanese assailants and find the treasure they first set out for?

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