One of the world’s oldest forms of faith, Hinduism has an unbroken trajectory of beliefs and rituals that have continued for many millennia through the footsteps of pilgrims and the pedagogies of theologists; through myth, science and politics. But what does all that mean to the modern Hindu today? Why do Hindus call themselves so? Is it merely because their parents were Hindus? In what way does the faith speak to those who profess to follow it? What does Hinduism mean to the everyday-practising or sometimes-accessing ordinary Hindu? Away from the raucous debate around religion, this is the journey of a common Hindu, an attempt to understand why, for so many Hindus, their faith is one of the most powerful arguments for plurality, for unity in diversity, and even more than the omnipresent power of God, the sublime courage and conviction of man.
Being Hindu is an exploration of Hinduism in a way you have never seen before, almost through your own eyes. This is the first book on Hinduism to have won the Wilbur Award given by the Religion Communicators Council of America for excellence in writing about religion.
Catagory: Non Fiction
non fiction main category
Bim and the Town of Falling Fruit
In Poondy, fruits are always falling on people’s heads-from the jackfruit, coconut and toddy trees-causing many injuries. So all the Poondizens wear fruit-helmets invented by the legendary Falwala. Bim loves Poondy, with its falling fruits, its Wise Man and its barber-detective.
Then one day, Miss Chitty, Bim’s mother, who drives a coffee-coloured taxi, decides to move away from Poondy. Bim’s last two weeks in his home town are full of strange and exciting adventures-from a bat attack to a bike theft-that can only happen here!
Arjun Talwar’s debut novel is a mad and hilarious romp through a town filled with eccentric people. It is brought to vivid life by Shilpa Ranade’s beautiful illustrations.
The Economics of Small Things
Why are all the good mangoes exported from India? Why should we pay our house help more? Why do we hesitate to reach out for that last piece of cake in a gathering? Are more choices really better? Why do many of us offer a prayer but are reluctant to wear a seatbelt while driving? Are Indians hardwired to get grumpy at a peer’s success? What’s common between a box of cereal and your résumé?
Can economics answer all these questions and more? According to Dr Sudipta Sarangi, the answer is yes.
In The Economics of Small Things, Sarangi using a range of everyday objects and common experiences like bringing about lasting societal change through Facebook to historically momentous episodes like the shutting down of telegram services in India offers crisp, easy-to-understand lessons in economics. The book studies the development of familiar cultural practices from India and around the world and links the regular to the esoteric and explains everything from Game Theory to the Cobra Effect without depending on graphs or equations-a modern-day miracle!
Through disarmingly simple prose, the book demystifies economic theories, offers delightful insights, and provides nuance without jargon. Each chapter of this book will give you the tools to meaningfully engage with a subject that has long been considered alienating but is unavoidable in its relevance.
Jugalbandi
Narendra Modi has been a hundred years in the making. Vinay Sitapati’s Jugalbandi provides this backstory to his current dominance in Indian politics. It begins with the creation of Hindu nationalism as a response to British-induced elections in the 1920s, moves on to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, and ends with its first national government, from 1998 to 2004. And it follows this journey through the entangled lives of its founding jugalbandi: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani.
Over their six-decade-long relationship, Vajpayee and Advani worked as a team despite differences in personality and beliefs. What kept them together was fraternal love and professional synergy, of course, but also, above all, an ideology that stressed on unity. Their partnership explains what the BJP before Modi was, and why it won.
In supporting roles are a cast of characters-from the warden’s wife who made room for Vajpayee in her family to the billionaire grandson of Pakistan’s founder who happened to be a major early funder of the BJP. Based on private papers, party documents, newspapers and over two hundred interviews, this is a must-read for those interested in the ideology that now rules India & Indian politics & government
The Homecoming and Other Stories
What happens when a lifelong disciple finds out a dark secret about his guru? Can a thief ever reform his ways? How do you solve a murder with no witnesses?
Padma Bhushan awardee and bestselling author Sri M sees the world in a different light. He sees the good, the bad and sometimes the supernatural. From horror stories to tales that will shock you out of your wits and pull at your heartstrings, there is something for everyone in this eclectic collection. In his quintessential no-holds barred style, Sri M’s The Homecoming and Other Stories urges you to delve deep into the human spirit and get a glimpse of why people do the things they do.
Unbound
From a small Indian village to the forefront of global medical innovation, this book tells the inspiring story of Dr Virender S. Sangwan, a pioneer in regenerative medicine and stem cell research, whose work has revolutionized eye care around the world. Driven by a relentless passion for accessible healthcare, Dr Sangwan’s groundbreaking innovations—such as the simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) technique—have transformed the lives of millions. It is a powerful narrative of resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of medical innovation.
This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about science, social impact, and the transformative potential of accessible healthcare. It offers an insightful and deeply emotional account of a man whose work continues to change the world, one patient at a time.
Hindu Names For Girls
Choosing a name for your child has never been easier. The Penguin Book of Hindu Names has sold over 50,000 copies since it was published almost a decade ago. The product of several years of research, it is an exhaustive and user-friendly compilation, with information on sources and usage. Including modern names and those which are popular, The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Girls serves as a practical guide for choosing the perfect name for your son. It is also a precise and invaluable sourcebook for scholars and lay readers alike who would like to know what familiar (and not so familiar) Hindu names actually mean
Between Eternities
It is through man’s involvement that the universe becomes conscious of itself. The universe created life and, in an astounding feat of circularity, it is life, principally the human being, that then brought the universe into existence and a creator into possibility. Alternatively, is the universe only an illusion, an aberration of nothingness? Science, philosophy, religion and mysticism all offer different propositions. Ashvin Desai interweaves the different streams of reasoning to produce a meticulously researched, closely argued and thought-provoking work, tracing the history of the universe.
The Essential Marathi Cookbook
The Essential Marathi Cookbook, a modern, easy-to-use introduction to several Marathi sub-cuisines, travels across the regions and religions of Maharashtra to bring out the most authentic and appetizing recipes from the state. Journalist and chef Kaumudi Marathé presents a varied and nuanced selection ranging from the delectable entrées long associated with Maharashtra, to appetizing and unusual side dishes, and a plethora of desserts, as well as, lesser-known but equally tantalizing family and regional specialties which have never before appeared in an English-language cookbook.
The comprehensive introduction describes Marathi cooking basics, ingredients and techniques and also explains the special spices used in Marathi kitchens along with the methods for their best use in seasonings. Packed with personal anecdotes and food memories from the author and other contributors to the book, The Essential Marathi Cookbook is the definitive guide to Marathi food and customs.
Recipes include:
Pithla-Bhat (zesty gram flour sauce with hot rice), Shiryachi Poli (sweet semolina-stuffed bread), Ambyacha Loncha (green mango-mustard pickle), Spicy Kolhapuri mutton, Suranachi Koshimbir (elephant’s foot yam salad), Kelphulachi Bhaji (banana blossom stir-fry), Pach Dalinchi Amti (five lentil stew), Mugache Kadhan (Konkan lentil-coconut pudding), Bol Marie (East PBI – Indian coconut pie), Pathare-Prabhu baked karanjis (coconut crescents), Kharvas (first-milk custard), Khudi (sautéed East PBI – Indian-style chicken), Ukad Shengule (sorghum pasta), Kaumudi’s grandmother’s Lettuce Salad
Flavours Of Delhi (R/E)
Just as each ruler left his architectural mark on Delhi, so each bequeathed to it a culinary legacy. Flavors of Delhi: A Food Lover’s Guide tells the story of Delhi through its food. It explores the city’s culinary history beginning with Indraprastha, taking us through the Sultanate period, Mughal rule and the British raj, and bringing us right up to the present. Professional chef and food writer Charmaine O’Brien’s love for Delhi and its culinary delights is evident. She tells us not only what to eat, but also where to eat it. From paranthas in the galis of Chandni Chowk to kakori kababs at the fancy Dum Pukht, from chaat at a roadside stall to appams at Keraleeyam, from fresh fruit and vegetables at INA Market to fish at Chittaranjan Park, O’Brien takes us on a guided tour through the capital, encouraging us to sample and savour as we see. History comes alive as the recipes in this book allow us to recreate the varied flavors of the city in our kitchens. The result of extensive travel and research, and lavishly illustrated with photographs taken by Kirsten Grant, Flavors of Delhi is a fascinating read that whets the reader’s interest and appetite.