Written originally in Sanskrit, Yoga-Vasistha is a long philosophical poem in the tradition of the Bhagavad Gita, full of stories on superhuman feats and supernatural events. Attributed to Valmiki, the verses are in the form of a series of conversations between the sixteen-year-old Rama and the celebrated guru of his family, Vasistha. Verses for the Brave is a selection of 218 verses from the Yoga-Vasistha, ones that reflect upon the world and life, emphasizing the need for balance between involvement in worldly affairs and the motivation to attain liberation. A gorgeous rendition of a significant companion to the Ramayana, it offers the heroes of now a philosophy of the past.
Catagory: Non Fiction
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#KindnessMatters
50 transformative acts of kindness.
For the self. For others. For nature.
Aimed at mobilizing the world’s youth to create a positive culture of kindness, the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) launched the #KindnessMatters global campaign to gather proof that kindness could drive scalable, positive and sustainable change. In the process, they were met with narratives so deeply moving, it confirmed what they knew all along-that kindness wasn’t defined by lofty tales; it had always existed all around us, what we needed was to celebrate it in every moment of life because #KindnessMatters every day. Inspiring and thought-provoking, #KindnessMatters documents stories and poems of kindness from across the world, featuring voices and journeys of people who have dedicated their lives to making the world a kinder place. This book proves that small actions often have the biggest impact.
The Art of War (PREMIUM PAPERBACK, PENGUIN INDIA)
Written over 2500 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War is one of the most influential and renowned treatises on military strategy. But its knowledge transcends warfare, finding practical uses in all areas of contemporary life.
Be it at work, with friends and family, or within ourselves-conflict is an inevitable part of one’s journey. But the tools you need to battle these conflicts rest within you. This book will teach you how you can overcome the roadblocks that are stopping you from living your best life and reaching your highest self. Master your emotions, anticipate life’s many challenges, adopt discipline, and become an adept leader.
Perceptive and powerful, The Art of War is a must-read for anyone who wants to take charge of their life and succeed in all their endeavours.
Brahma Purana Volume 1
Translated by Bibek Debroy
A GLORIOUS RENDITION OF ONE OF THE OLDEST PURANAS BY A MASTER TRANSLATOR
The Brahma Purana is the first of a series of eighteen texts known collectively as the Puranas. These are counted amongst the foundational texts of Hinduism. The holy trinity of Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the preserver and Shiva as the destroyer constitutes the central deities of this series and features in its narratives. Sometimes referred to as Adi Purana, Brahma Purana oscillates between being a work of geography with a focus on the holy sites of the River Godavari, and being an encyclopaedic work of cosmology, genealogy and mythology.
Reading almost like a travel guide, it celebrates temples and sites related to Vishnu, Shiva and Devi as it focuses on places like modern-day Odisha and Rajasthan. Brimming with insight and told with clarity, this luminous text is a celebration of a complex mythological universe populated with gods and mortals, providing readers with an opportunity to truly understand Indian philosophy.
Brahma Purana Volume 2
Translated by Bibek Debroy
A GLORIOUS RENDITION OF ONE OF THE OLDEST PURANAS BY A MASTER TRANSLATOR
The Brahma Purana is the first of a series of eighteen texts known collectively as the Puranas. These are counted amongst the foundational texts of Hinduism. The holy trinity of Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the preserver and Shiva as the destroyer constitutes the central deities of this series and features in its narratives. Sometimes referred to as Adi Purana, Brahma Purana oscillates between being a work of geography with a focus on the holy sites of the River Godavari, and being an encyclopaedic work of cosmology, genealogy and mythology.
Reading almost like a travel guide, it celebrates temples and sites related to Vishnu, Shiva and Devi as it focuses on places like modern-day Odisha and Rajasthan. Brimming with insight and told with clarity, this luminous text is a celebration of a complex mythological universe populated with gods and mortals, providing readers with an opportunity to truly understand Indian philosophy.
Scars of 1947
More than seven decades after the Partition of India in 1947, the burden of grief in the hearts and minds of those affected still bears heavy. With a mere stroke of ink on a map, a nation was divided into two, affecting families from one generation to the next, the resultant wounds of which run painfully deep even today.
People on either side of the dreaded Radcliffe line that divided India and Pakistan experienced unimaginable trauma. The horrific events which led to the displacement of millions of people is forever etched in the memories of those who survived this nightmare. Yet, despite the widespread devastation, there were also some uplifting stories of humanity, grit and determination, along with the memories of all that was lost and those who were lost. Through these real stories of Partition, Rajeev Shukla has captured inspiring tales of love, kindness and perseverance of the human spirit.
There are stories from people who went on to become prime ministers, presidents, industrialists, medical researchers and more. In the decades following Partition, these stories of how families rebuilt their lives from scratch are worth remembering.
From the stories of figures like Manmohan Singh and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to Gauri Khan’s grandmother and Avtar Narain Gujral, Scars of 1947 is a moving and nostalgic collection of a journey back in time, of an unforgettable period that left two nations scarred forever.
The Burning Chaffees
In 1971, India waged a momentous war against Pakistan. But before all-out war, an even more significant tank battle was fought on 21 November 1971 by the C Squadron 45 Cavalry, which demolished the Pakistani General A.A.K. Niazi’s plans of victory and set the stage for the utter routing of the Pakistani Army.
Equipped with the amphibious PT-76 tanks, the Indian Army’s C Squadron 45 Cavalry was unleashed to swim across the River Kabodak, near the Boyra salient (now in Bangladesh), to counter the threat from East Pakistan. On 21 November 1971, the two warring armies clashed in a tank versus tank battle at Garibpur. In one fell swoop, Pakistan’s 3 (Independent) Armoured Squadron, consisting of fourteen American M-24 Chaffee tanks, was completely destroyed and two of its infantry battalions were badly mauled. This was followed by the shooting down of three Sabre F-86 jets for the loss of two PT-76 tanks on the Indian side. And thus, the biggest attack planned by General A.A.K. Niazi to teach the Indians and the Mukti Bahini a lesson had gone up in smoke.
This battle was a victory and a decisive one at that. It was a trumpet call to the rest of the world of India’s intent to stand up for human liberty and dignity in this war of liberation.
On 3 December 1971, Pakistan declared war. The rest is history.
The Burning Chaffees is a thrilling account of the pivotal battle of 21 November by Brigadier B.S. Mehta.
Note: There is an error on Page 267. Brigadier Mehta was awarded Mention-in-Despatches for his gallant services, and not the MVC. The error is regretted and has been corrected in the new edition.
Yuktahaar
Have you ever wondered why diets just don’t seem to work? In Yuktahaar, celebrity nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal argues that the reason why none of the diets in the past have seemed to work is because they focused on the wrong cause-you, the reader. While we may continue to have a fling with low carb, vegan, low fat diets and everything in between but a long-lasting solution may never be found if we do not shift our focus from ‘you’ to ‘them’-the human-gut microbiome connection.
Nearly all chronic issues are rooted in an imbalanced microbiome. Disruption in the balance of your belly-based microscopic community not only causes weight gain and increases the risk of chronic diseases but also impacts our mood, behavior, happiness, and a general sense of well-being.
In this book, Munmun gives an actionable 10-week holistic program that encourages a gut balancing lifestyle, consisting of season-wise meal plans, recipes, exercise routines, sleep hygiene tips, and yoga practice. The book also charts actress Taapsee Pannu’s phenomenal physical transformation while working with Munmun. With a focus on combining traditional, regional Indian foods with evidence-backed tips, Yuktahaar will transform your relationship with food and rebalance your gut for a leaner and healthier you.
India’s Most Fearless 3
Includes exclusive first-hand account of the 2020 Galwan clash
An army medic who went beyond the call of duty amid a frenzy of treacherous bloodletting in Ladakh’s Galwan while his fellow soldiers fought the Chinese to death; the crew of an Indian Navy destroyer that put everything on the line to rescue hundreds from Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea; an Indian Air Force pilot who ejected from his doomed fighter less than two seconds before it hit the ground, only to find he was missing a leg.
This book presents their accounts, or of those who were with them in their final moments. India’s Most Fearless 3 features ten true stories of extraordinary courage and fearlessness, providing glimpses of the heroism Indian soldiers have displayed in unthinkably hostile conditions and under grave provocation.
Transform
Transform focuses on people management, which the author demonstrates is a very important pillar of success. That is because leadership and managing are the means, while the end impact is what they do to people.
The book is divided into four sections. The first introduces you to the core concepts of leading and managing, and present a series of exercises to open your mind and make you more self-aware as a leader and manager. The second section focuses on helping you become great at managing, with a direct focus on your teams. The third section focuses on becoming great at leading-leading by doing and leading by being. The final section will help you create action plans, and help you develop a practical and implementable plan towards becoming a great leader and manager.
Insightful and practical, Transform is a comprehensive book on leadership and management which covers all important concepts while giving practical implementation techniques for each.