The biryani is India’s most beloved dish-one that has spread to all the four corners
of the country and assumed many forms.
It originated in the Mughal courts, flowering in the jagirs of Awadh, and it is in Lucknow, Delhi and
the small Muslim principalities of north India that one finds the classic versions, subtle, refined and
delicately flavoured. Pratibha Karan gives us not just the definitive recipes from these regions but
unearths rare and old dishes such as a biryani made with oranges, Rose Biryani and Kebab Biryani.
In the south, the biryani has an equally distinguished lineage, if not more so. There are the blue-blooded
biryanis of Hyderabad which include gems such as the Doodh ki Biryani, Keeme ki biryani
and Bater ki biryani. Away from the royal courts, the biryani has adapted itself into a spicy local
delicacy in Tamil Nadu, with many towns like Salem, Aambur, Dindigul boasting of their own
signature version of the dish. Kerala too is home to many-a prawn biryani spiced with curry leaves
and aniseed, a mutton one laced with star anise.
There are as many stunning variations in the east and west-Goan biryanis using vinegar and
olives; unusual dishes from the Parsi and Sindhi communities; Bengali adaptations using fish and
mustard seeds, even a dish from Assam!
Immaculately researched, full of extraordinary recipes, and beautifully designed and photographed,
Biryani is the ultimate book on this princely dish.
Catagory: Non Fiction
non fiction main category
Half-Lion
When P.V. Narasimha Rao became the unlikely prime minister of India in 1991, he inherited a nation adrift, violent insurgencies, and economic crisis. Despite being unloved by his people, mistrusted by his party, and ruling under the shadow of 10 Janpath, Rao transformed the economy and ushered India into the global arena.
With exclusive access to Rao’s never-before-seen personal papers and diaries, this definitive biography provides new revelations on the Indian economy, nuclear programme, foreign policy and the Babri Masjid. Tracing his early life from a small town in Telangana through his years in power, and finally, his humiliation in retirement, it never loses sight of the inner man, his difficult childhood, his corruption and love affairs, and his lingering loneliness. Meticulously researched and brutally honest, this landmark political biography is a must-read for anyone interested in knowing about the man responsible for transforming India.
India since 1947
This definitive guide to India takes us through the events, personalities and changes that have shaped the country in the seventy years since Independence. It traces the coming into being of the nation; the drawing and redrawing of its internal boundaries; and the functioning of its democracy-the transition from single-party dominance to the emergence of parties representing various ideologies and interest groups. The book records the metamorphosis of India’s economy, driven by self-sufficiency to one propelled by economic reforms, liberalization and globalization. It provides a view of a society that has enacted some far-reaching legislation ensuring equal rights for all citizens and safeguarding the rights of the vulnerable.
Arranged chronologically, India since 1947 covers a wide range of topics, from agriculture, archaeology and the arts to science and technology, sports and wars, and everything else in between. A separate outline of the main events leading up to Independence and interesting factoids on each page make for an engaging read.
Red Sun
A revealing journey into the heartland of India’s insurgency problem
Spread over fifteen of the country’s twenty-eight states, India’s Maoist movement is now one of the world’s biggest and most sophisticated extreme-left movements. Hardly a week passes without people dying in strikes and counter-strikes by the Maoists-interchangeably known as the Naxalites-and the police and paramilitary forces. In this brilliant and sobering examination of the ‘Other India’, Sudeep Chakravarti combines reportage, political analysis and individual case histories as he takes us to the heart of Maoist zones in the country-areas of extreme destitution, bad governance and perpetual war.
The Gene
Spanning the globe and several centuries, The Gene is the story of the quest to decipher the master-code that makes and defines humans, that governs our form and function.
The story of the gene begins in an obscure Augustinian abbey in Moravia in 1856, where a monk stumbles on the idea of a ‘unit of heredity’. It intersects with Darwin’s theory of evolution, and collides with the horrors of Nazi eugenics in the 1940s. The gene transforms post-war biology. It reorganizes our understanding of sexuality, temperament, choice and free will. Above all, this is a story driven by human ingenuity and obsessive minds-from Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel to Francis Crick, James Watson and Rosalind Franklin, and the thousands of scientists still working to understand the code of codes.
This is an epic, moving history of a scientific idea being brought to life, by the author of The Emperor of All Maladies. But woven through The Gene, like a red line, is also an intimate history-the story of Mukherjee’s own family and its recurring pattern of mental illness, reminding us that genetics is vitally relevant to everyday lives. These concerns reverberate even more urgently today as we learn to ‘read’ and ‘write’ the human genome-unleashing the potential to change the fates and identities of our children.
Majestic in its ambition, and unflinching in its honesty, The Gene gives us a definitive account of the fundamental unit of heredity-and a vision of both humanity’s past and future.
India’s Elephants
Gentle in disposition, fierce in battle and beloved in festivals, across time, India’s elephants have been synonymous with the ceremonial pomp of royalty as well as symbols of strength, production and majesty. Elephants have inspired idioms and games and have captured our fancy as evident in ancient temple architecture as well as Mughal miniatures. in India’s Elephants: A Cultural Legacy, Tripti Pandey explores our fascination with this impressive creature, looking at myths and legends, anecdotes, religious symbolism, festivals and artwork that have featured the elephant prominently, as well as the allure this animal has had with the royals over the centuries. In this way, the thrill and magic of this magnificent creature will live on for time immemorial!
The Book Of Limericks
A compilation of witty verses based on current events, The Book of Limericks by Bibek Debroy is a brilliantly illustrated guide for anyone trying to understand what exactly happened last year.
From economic issues to citizen concerns, these hilarious five-liners will take you on a roller coaster ride through the year 2017.
Vocabulary Enhancer: Pride and Prejudice
The right word, now at your fingertips!
Word power is an integral part of being able to express yourself-whether you’re in college, appearing for competitive exams or attending a job interview. It makes you an effective and confident communicator. This handy guide brings to you an abridged version of the timeless novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to familiarize you with a must-read and equip you with new words.
Accessible and engaging, each book in the Vocabulary Enhancer series simplifies a classic and helps you memorize a list of carefully curated, frequently used words through their definitions, antonyms, examples of usage as well as word exercises and puzzles to recap your learning. So what are you waiting for? Strengthen your understanding of the English language and enhance your vocabulary with this unique companion.
Vocabulary Enhancer: Macbeth
The right word, now at your fingertips!
Word power is an integral part of being able to express yourself-whether you’re in college, appearing for competitive exams or attending a job interview. It makes you an effective and confident communicator. This handy guide brings to you an abridged version of the timeless tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare to familiarize you with a must-read and equip you with new words.
Accessible and engaging, each book in the Vocabulary Enhancer series simplifies a classic and helps you memorize a list of carefully curated, frequently used words through their definitions, antonyms, examples of usage as well as word exercises and puzzles to recap your learning.
So what are you waiting for? Strengthen your understanding of the English language and enhance your vocabulary with this unique companion.
Brothers
The story of Tapti Gaina is intimately linked with the lives of two men, her husband and his brother. Exploring caste, student politics, the freedom struggle and the Emergency, Brothers traces the history of the Gaina family, beginning with their village origins across the emerging metropolis of Ajmer and ending at the height of political power in Jaipur. It is a masterful portrayal of ambition, desire, betrayal and anguish, enacted against the shifting terrain of family dynamics.