Meet Jamsetji Tata, the icon whose big ideas helped build modern India. In Jamsetji Tata, R. Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat reveal how Tata’s vision turned into reality with projects like Tata Steel and the Indian Institute of Science. This compelling account explores how Tata’s relentless pursuit of excellence and self-reliance laid the foundation for India’s industrial prowess, reflecting his legacy continues to drive India’s growth even today.
Jamsetji Tata || Harish Bhat, R Gopalakrishnan
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Tata Steel was one of the first great industrial enterprises conceptualized by Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata group. Jamsetji believed that steel was essential for the development of a nation. Therefore he was of the view that India should not depend entirely on imports of steel, but should have its own integrated steel plant.
By 1912, Tata Steel had begun production at its plant in Sakchi in eastern India (the town was later renamed Jamshedpur, in honour of Jamsetji Tata). The steel was of excellent quality, thus proving the sceptics wrong. During the First World War, the company supplied over 1,500 miles of steel rails to the Allied war effort in Mesopotamia. Over 8,000 tons of steel shells were made in the openhearth furnaces at Jamshedpur. The plant began running to full capacity on a twenty-four-hour schedule and still could not keep up with the demand, despite producing 150,000 tons of steel annually.
At this point, the leadership of the company—including Dorabji Tata and his partner R.D. Tata—analysed the emerging demand situation and concluded that after the war, India itself could absorb many times this amount of steel. By then Tata Steel was already supplying rails to Indian Railways. In addition, Tata Steel was also earning nice profits on the small consignments that it exported. In December 1916, Dorabji Tata was full of confidence as he spoke to his shareholders about the company’s bumper earnings, production at the plant being 30 per cent over the original capacity and its order book being totally full.
Buoyed by this success, the company began considering a plan of expansion to meet the high current and future demand. Charles Page Perin, who was in charge of this planning, initially recommended to the directors of the company a gradual increase in steel capacity, from 150,000 tons to 225,000 tons a year. He considered this to be a safe and prudent plan.
However, Dorabji Tata had a far more dynamic and ambitious plan in mind. He spoke passionately to the directors about his father Jamsetji Tata’s vision of a selfreliant and strong nation, which was at the heart of his dream for Tata Steel. He recommended a vast expansion programme, which would eventually supply India’s entire requirements of steel. To begin with, this would entail an expansion of the steel-making capacity at Jamshedpur by five times. Dorabji also said he would raise all the required capital from Indian investors.
This ambitious expansion plan, called the ‘TISCO greater extensions programme’, began in right earnest by 1917. However, it ran into a number of difficulties. Tata Steel was compelled to purchase materials at high wartime prices. There were labour strikes in England and a shortage of skilled labour in India. In addition, the Indian rupee depreciated during this time. As a result, the capital cost of the expansion programme, which had been budgeted at Rs 6.8 crore, rose more than three times to Rs 19.6 crore. Additional funds had to be raised from the shareholders because the company’s profits could not support such huge sums of expenditure.
And then, suddenly, after the First World War ended, the company’s profits declined precipitously. This happened because of several factors. Belgium began dumping its steel at very low prices in the Indian market, which had no tariff protection at that time. In addition, Japan, which was Tata Steel’s largest customer of pig iron, was hit by a huge earthquake (the Great Kanto earthquake) in 1923. One of the worst natural disasters ever to strike Japan, the earthquake reduced the country’s financial capability to purchase steel.
By the end of 1923, demand for Tata Steel’s products had fallen significantly and the company’s profits had declined to nearly break-even levels. On the other hand, significant funds had been expended in expanding the plant. This led to a severe cash crunch, and some of the company’s directors even suggested that it go to the British government of India with a request to be taken over by it. R.D. Tata, Dorabji’s partner, rose in angry indignation when he heard this suggestion. He pounded his fists on the table and declared that such a day would never come as long as he lived.
While we do not know what thoughts went through R.D. Tata’s mind when he said this, it is quite likely that he recalled Jamsetji Tata’s objective in establishing Tata Steel—a swadeshi Indian steel company, dedicated to the nation. Instead, what Dorabji and he had in mind was an alternative plan to negotiate with the government to consider imposing reasonable tariffs that would protect Tata Steel from unfair competition from tariff-free European steel.
However, such a plan would take time to materialize, particularly because it involved government policy. In the meanwhile, Tata Steel continued to reel under its immediate miseries, with very little cash in hand to keep operations alive. Dorabji and R.D. Tata struggled to raise funds in the adverse post-war environment. Then, one day, in 1924, a telegram arrived from Jamshedpur at Dorabji Tata’s table, bearing bad news. It simply said that there was not enough
money left to pay wages to the employees of Tata Steel. Would the fledgling company survive, or would it be forced to shut down? Would Jamsetji Tata’s dreams and visions of creating India’s first integrated steel plant come tumbling down? In November 1924, it appeared that Tata Steel was on the verge of closing down.
But Dorabji Tata was a man inspired by the ideals and principles of his father. To him, paying the employees their wages took precedence over everything else because it was livelihoods at stake. He knew that he had to save the company so that it could survive these very difficult times. At that point he took a step that has gone down in the history of the company as the act that saved Tata Steel. His wife and he decided to pledge their entire personal wealth, which came to around Rs 1 crore, to raise funds for Tata Steel. This included all the jewellery owned by his wife, including the famed Jubilee Diamond. This fabulous diamond, weighing 245.35 carats, was twice as large as the legendary Kohinoor and had been gifted by Dorabji to his beloved wife Meherbai many years earlier.
Against Dorabji’s pledge of his personal wealth, the Imperial Bank of India provided the Tatas with a loan of Rs 1 crore. This money was used to pay the wages of the workers at Tata Steel and also to fund the company for the short term. Thanks to this, production of steel at Jamshedpur continued without any significant interruption. The company’s greatest crisis had been averted, and Tata Steel survived.
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Get your copy of Jamsetji Tata by Harish Bhat and R Gopalakrishnan on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
September has arrived, and with it comes a fantastic lineup of new books just waiting to be explored! Whether you’re in the mood for a page-turning thriller, a story that warms your heart, or a read that sparks deep thinking, there’s something here for every book lover. Check out our latest releases and discover the stories that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last!
The Book of Discoveries || Amit Majmudar
The Book of Discoveries is the eagerly awaited second instalment of the Mahabharata trilogy, which began explosively with The Book of Vows. Imagined afresh and composed in a style that captures the power, charm and ambiguity of Vyasa’s Mahabharata, this book dramatizes the stunning prelude to war—one that is full of thrilling adventures, fateful encounters and life-altering revelations.
1965: Courage Unleashed || Ian Cardozo
Did you know that the 1965 Indo–Pak War was initiated by Field Marshal Ayub Khan of Pakistan in an effort to wrest Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) from India? His failure to achieve his aim led eventually to his overthrow.
This account highlights the human dimension of war through the dramatic personal experiences of army and air force officers that astonish and overwhelm one’s imagination. It will convince the reader that real life is often stranger than fiction. The book also brings to light little-known facts that occurred across land, sea and air.
An Indian Woman in Islamabad || Ruchi Ghanashyam
As the first Indian woman diplomat stationed in Islamabad, Ruchi Ghanashyam unveils the intricacies of cross-border relationships and the relentless drumbeat of history as witnessed through the prism of political upheavals. From 1997 to 2000, Ghanashyam and her husband traversed the labyrinthine corridors of Islamabad, bearing witness to seismic events that shook the region to its core. From the thunderous echoes of the India-Pakistan nuclear tests to the harrowing shadows of the Kargil conflict, their tale unfolds against the backdrop of geopolitical upheaval. In a riveting twist, A.R. Ghanashyam, the author’s husband, unveils his first-hand account of the tense moments preceding the Indian Airlines flight IC 814 hijacking, offering a gripping glimpse into the heart of crisis management.
Jyotirlingam || Amit Kapoor, Bibek Debroy
In the Hindu Trinity, Lord Shiva is a multifaceted deity. Fierce and benevolent, Lord shiva is the symbol of duality of life. Central to Shaivism is the worship of Shivalingam and the twelve sacred Jyotirlingams that have from time immemorial being holy shrines of pilgrimage. Through a series of personal narratives and scholarly research, Amit Kapoor, Bibek Debroy, Vibhav Kapoor and Conor Martin captures Jyotirlingams through a literal and metaphorical journey. Viewed from diverse perspectives, this book is a unique amalgamation of the western, spiritual, artistic and the mythological.
Our City That Year || Geetanjali Shree, Daisy Rockwell
A city teeters on the edge of chaos. A society lies fractured along fault lines of faith and ideology. A playground becomes a battleground. A looming silence grips the public.
First published in Hindi in 1998, Our City That Year is a novel that defies easy categorization—it’s a time capsule, a warning siren and a desperate plea. Geetanjali Shree’s shimmering prose, in Daisy Rockwell’s nuanced and consummate translation, takes us into a fever dream of fragmented thoughts and half-finished sentences, mirroring the disjointed reality of a city under siege. Readers will find themselves haunted long after the final page, grappling with questions that echo far beyond India’s borders.
Phantoms of August || Mashrur Arefin, Arunava Sinha
An unnamed narrator takes it upon himself to discover the truth behind the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman—who led Bangladesh’s independence movement from Pakistan, which was achieved in 1971—and his entire family. With literary greats for company, the narrator negotiates his complicated personal life and his philosophical and literary musings even as he locates a gun to shoot the assassins who are still alive. Hallucinatory, flitting between reality and dreams, and traversing the length and breadth of Dhaka, this is a fever dream of a novel—an individual’s quest while navigating the scarred and traumatized mind of a nation.
Swipe Right to Kill || Anirban Bhattacharya
From a perfect match to a perfect murder!
In May 2018, an abandoned suitcase was discovered on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. Inside was the dismembered body of Dushyant Sharma, a 28-year-old businessman. from Delhi. Within 48 hours of the discovery, the Rajasthan Police managed to solve the case. But the revelations were both chilling and unnerving. It introduced the world to the evil machinations of Priya Seth—a woman who self-confessed to conning a thousand men and her two accomplices, Dikshant Kamra and Lakshya Walia.
With detailed inputs from the cop who solved the case, SHO Gur Bhoopendra Singh, bestselling author, the creator-producer of Savdhaan India and the producer of Crime Patrol, Anirban Bhattacharyya, puts together a sensational and blood-curdling account of people whose greed, ambition and lust led them to commit one of the most heinous crimes in recent history, a case that has now earned the moniker of the infamous Jaipur Tinder Murder Case.
The Battle of Haji Pir || Kulpreet Yadav
In August 1965, 30,000 Pakistani infiltrators crossed the Cease Fire Line (CFL) in Kashmir and began attacking civilians and army personnel. Codenamed ‘Operation Gibraltar’, this assault involved a mix of trained militia, mercenaries and Pakistani army personnel. Amidst the devastation, Indian forces retaliated and captured the strategic Haji Pir Pass.
The triumph however was short-lived as the pass was returned under the Tashkent Agreement, a bitter pill for the soldiers who had fought tirelessly for it. This book chronicles their courage and sacrifice, offering a poignant glimpse into the lives of those who won the Haji Pir Pass, a symbol of both victory and loss for India.
The Book of Exodus || V.J. James, Ministhy S.
Considered one of the finest works in Malayalam literature, The Book of Exodus is a poignant and, at times, harrowing portrait of a rural community living in the backwaters of Kochi, Kerala. The protagonist, Kunjootty, is struggling to write a book of the same title, aiming to capture the stories of the natives of his village, Potta Thuruthu, the Isle of Reeds, untouched by the forces of modernization.
As the mystery and tragedy of Kunjootty’s own life become clearer, the narrative attains the proportions and complexity of an epic, where myths and legends are intertwined with reality, and where the past and present become indistinguishable from each other. Soon, all the intersecting stories of Kunjootty’s friends and acquaintances start converging into the inexorable flow of time, characterized by the nameless river that runs alongside Potta Thuruthu.
The Company of Violent Men || Siddharthya Roy
In The Company of Violent Men, investigative journalist Siddharthya Roy takes us on an unflinching and deeply personal journey into reporting violent political conflicts in South Asia. From the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, where drugs and human trafficking run rampant, to the forests of Chhattisgarh, where Maoist rebels and the Indian State have waged a war for half a century, on to the enduring conflict zone of Kashmir, caught between India, Pakistan, Roy narrates the cycles of brutality, exploitation, and injustice in which everyday people are caught.
The Inner Journey || Vraja Bihari Das
The Inner Journey shares strategies to quieten the mind’s incessant chatter and live in a space beyond the mind—the Heart Space. Through simple, yet potent techniques such as conscious breathing, journalling and affirmations, this book offers hope for peace in an age of chaos and love amidst distrust.
Steer away from the chaotic outside world and dive into the calm corner of your heart space where you truly belong and feel loved.
Who Is Equal || Saurabh Kirpal
In 1950, we, the people of India, gave ourselves a constitution that promised justice, liberty and equality to all its citizens. Decades later, as a nation, we still struggle with inequality in various forms—religion, sex, caste, gender. As we forge ahead, it is imperative to ask, ‘who is equal?’, and ‘is the idea of equality elusive to achieve?’
In his new book, Saurabh Kirpal, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, seeks to untangle the philosophical and practical tangents of inequality prevalent in our country. He presents to the readers the explanation and understanding of the existing laws and discusses theories that allow a close inspection of concerns over a spectrum. Well-researched, insightful and drawn from experience, Who is Equal?, positions India at the intersection of equality and inequality, and delivers a perspective that is retrospective and contemporary.
Looking for the perfect read for the little ones? This month’s collection of new children’s books is packed with magical adventures, heartwarming tales, and cool projects about birds that will delight young readers. Dive into these fresh releases and discover stories that will spark their imagination and keep them entertained.
Find a new favorite for your child’s bookshelf today!
Amil and the After || Veera Hiranandani
A hopeful and heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, Amil and the After is a companion to the Newbery Award-winning novel The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.
At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family have started over in Bombay and are once again trying to rebuild their lives in independent India.
Both Muslim and Hindu, twelve-year-old Amil is not sure what home means anymore. The memory of the long and difficult journey from his family’s hometown in what is now Pakistan lives with him. And despite having an apartment in Bombay to live in and a school to attend, life still feels lonely and uncertain.
At Nisha’s suggestion, Amil begins to tell his story via drawings meant for their mother, who died when he was just a baby. Through Amil, readers witness the unwavering and resilient spirit of a young boy trying to make sense of a chaotic world and to find hope for himself, his family and a newly reborn nation.
My Values Collection Box Set 3 || Sonia Mehta
Nicky and Noni are just like you. They’re funny, they’re crazy—and like you, they love to have fun. But sometimes, just sometimes, they can be very naughty indeed. That’s when they get into trouble. Along the way, they learn something important—that having good values helps them become good people. And that being good isn’t boring . . . it’s lots of fun!
Why You Should Buy This Boxset:
1. Exciting new titles on inculcating values and good behaviour in children
2. A perfect introduction to key life skills that will help shape young minds in an engaging way
3. Fun stories which dispel the belief that being good is boring!
4. Large fonts and eye-catching illustrations to assist emerging readers enter the world of reading
5. An ideal gift for young readers
Threads That Bind || Nalini Ramachandran
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva easily handle small and big problems that occur in the three worlds. But their biggest problem is resolving the constant squabbles between their sons, Ganesha and Karthikeya. When their quarrels go out of hand, Parvati comes up with an ingenious plan—to deal with her sons’ complaints, one story at a time!
As the goddess takes them through the sweet and sour, bitter yet beautiful world of divine siblings like Jyeshtha and Lakshmi, Krishna and Katyayani, Kubera and Ravana, Nara and Narayana, and many others, Ganesha and Karthikeya sit back and listen attentively.
10 Indian Scientists Whose Extraordinary Work You May Not Know || Vaishali Shroff
This book explores the lives and achievements of ten Indian scientists who made remarkable contributions in various fields of science—from measuring the brightness of stars and discovering a treatment for cholera to inventing fibre optics and increasing food sustainability. Though their names and work may not be widely known, they have transformed the quality of our lives. They are . . .
Vaishali Shroff traces the journey of these scientists, detailing the challenges they faced—financial scarcity, gender bias, inadequate facilities and infrastructure—as she takes us through the evolution of science in India over three centuries.
Birds on the Brain || Uma Krishnaswami
Reeni is wild about birds! So when she and her best friend, Yasmin, have to do a survey for a school project, asking their neighbours what they know about birds is an obvious choice. They are shocked to learn that no one—not one single person!—has heard about Bird Count India, when thousands of birdwatchers will be out counting birds as part of a global movement.
Why do people not seem to care about the threats to city birds? And is the mayor really trying to stop their city’s bird count event?
Reeni and Yasmin enlist help from their families and diverse friends—Anil, Book Uncle, the istri lady and even their school bus driver. They must get people interested in the bird count! After all, what’s good for the birds is good for all of us!
In a world full of conflict, The Book of Compassion by Nobel Peace Prize winners His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kailash Satyarthi offers a message of hope. It shows why compassion is essential, not just as a virtue, but as a key to survival and change in our connected world.
Read this excerpt to find your way towards a kinder, more compassionate way of living.
The Book of Compassion || His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, Pooja Pande
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Children, Choice and Compassion
His guest, of course, is nothing if not a man of action. ‘These ideas have to be put into practice on the ground’, he says, speaking of how they came to evolve for him, ‘I gave up my career in 1980 and I started finding solutions to the problem of misery and exploitation of children. I realized that the people who are exploiting children are not my enemies. They are sick somewhere, and I have to solve their problem as well. If I am compassionate towards that child, I am equally compassionate towards the exploiter. He just has a different problem. And we have to solve the problem through compassion.’
The Dalai Lama agrees, ‘All these troublemakers come from society only. And society only talks about material values, never (about) inner values.’ He says in an appeal steeped in science, ‘All the destructive emotions are very much based on appearances, and quantum physics also says that nothing exists as it appears. Quantum physics says that physical objects do not have their own absolute nature. Things do not exist as they appear to our perception.
He pauses and adds, ‘. . . effort to reduce negative emotion is very scientific’.
Kailash Satyarthi continues the train of thought: ‘We are all born with compassion. There is a seed, a spark of compassion and that is human instinct, human nature; it is biological. But then the new identities begin. Knowledge is imposed in the name of competition, fear and insecurity and it all gets very magnified.’
His Holiness adds, ‘The (education) system is useful but not complete.’ He speaks more about the missing elements: ‘We human beings have five sensorial consciousnesses, but the dominant force of this sensorial consciousness is mental consciousness. Modern education mainly deals with the sensorial level. It is kindness that brings peace, happiness and calm at the mental level. Mental consciousness is the sixth mind. The “chit” besides the five senses or organs’.
He makes an allusion to the practice of the Buddhist meditation tradition Vipassana and Kailash Satyarthi interjects the mood with some light-heartedness, ‘Please always look at her as she is the Vipassana person’, he says, gesturing at his wife of many years, Sumedha ji, ‘She used to do it and I never did!’
His Holiness seems to continue in a sombre mood: ‘We are facing a lot of problems in the world. Manmade problems’. With the familiar sense of mischief, not one to let the humour in a room fizzle out, he adds, ‘and in some cases, a “lady-made problem”.’ Bellows of laughter echo in response.
Kailash Satyarthi brings up the story of the infant Dalai Lama perched on his mother’s shoulders, directing her movements in tandem with his childhood whimsies, which has His Holiness nodding and smiling, ‘My mother, very kind.’
Talk of childhood nudges Kailash Satyarthi to share a favourite story from the epics: ‘When Sudama knocked at his door, Krishna didn’t tell his guard to attend to it. Krishna himself came down all the way and ran and greeted him. That was respect and love. Similarly, you cannot be a friend of a child until and unless you are ready to come down, as Krishna came down all the way from his throne to the field to hug Sudama. You have to give up your egos and break those barriers. So people like us—me, not us—who have some ego, who have some knowledge and all kinds of ideas and so many complications because of the conditioning of our brain through education . . . we have to try to give that up. If we are friendly to children, then we are friendly to the future. We have to learn to be with the child, respect the child and nurture a tendency to learn from the child—learning purity, learning simplicity.’
His Holiness vehemently agrees, ‘Yes, young children don’t care who is from another religion or other nationality—they play together. If you ask five-year-old children, ‘Do you prefer smiling face or angry face?’, they will say, ‘smiling face!’ So this is just nature. And that is, as the scientists say, that basic human nature
is more compassionate.’
The Dalai Lama too makes the argument against conditioning: ‘Once they join education . . . there is a lack of the oneness of humanity and the value of education only talks of material values. So the basic human nature becomes thinner and thinner. He circles back to the discussions of Day One: ‘A revolutionary education system should be there, and we should not expect (it to come) from some other country, particularly not the United States, too complicated!’
Kailash Satyarthi adds the gory facts: ‘In a number of countries, the number of soldiers is greater than the number of teachers. The number of weapons is greater than the number of books and toys. The number of military camps is greater than the number of schools. So this is the world we have created, Your Holiness, where only four-and-a-half days of global military expenditure ($22 billion) can take care of the education of all children in the world.’ He pauses and repeats, shaking his head, ‘Just four-and-a-half days . . .’
His Holiness offers comfort and hope in return: ‘I think let us concentrate here, in this country.’ He paints a picture of the future that he can already see: ‘After ten years, fifteen years, the world will see—“Oh! India has a unique education system.” And then more and more people will come.’
‘You see,’ he says, smiling back at Kailash Satyarthi and everyone in the room, ‘we are not talking about Nirvana or next life or God . . . but simply (about) how to build a happy family, a happy community and finally, a happy world.
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Get your copy of The Book of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Satyarthi, and Pooja Pande on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
What would you do if fate kept bringing you back to the one who got away? In The Right Guy, author Tarun Vikash spins a heartfelt tale of missed opportunities, unexpected reunions, and the courage to finally say what’s in your heart.
Read this exclusive excerpt where Dhruv and Avni face the harsh realities of love, family, and the courage it takes to hold on to the one who matters most.
The Right Guy || Tarun Vikash
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A Week Later
I reached Chennai.
Avni’s mom had asked me to meet her urgently. I was really nervous. Avni had not told me anything. She just said that something had happened at Bala’s wedding because of which her mom and dad were really upset. I’m already scared of Avni’s dad. I reached Avni’s home and Uncle opened the door. He looked at me angrily and went inside to his room. Aunty immediately came to the door and welcomed me in.
‘Dhruv, I think you are aware of what happened at Bala’s wedding,’ Avni’s mom said.
‘I don’t understand, Aunty. What happened?’
‘Look, we know Avni likes you and even you like her. But it will be good if you stopped meeting her from today onwards.’
‘Amma, please don’t talk to him like that,’ Avni interrupted.
Avni, let me talk, please.’
‘Aunty, did I make any mistake? I am sorry if I have hurt anyone,’ I said.
‘It’s not about you, Dhruv. It’s about your family.’
‘What happened, Aunty? Did anyone call and say something to you or Uncle?’
‘What was the point of getting Avni’s kundli matched with yours at Bala’s wedding, when I haven’t given any approval of your marriage with her?’
‘Huh? When did this happen?’
‘Ask your sister. She did all this,’ Aunty said. I looked at Avni. She nodded.
‘Your sister shamed my daughter in front of all the guests there.’
‘But what happened? Avni, at least you tell me,’ I asked.
‘Avni is manglik. And, till date, only we knew that. But now, due to your sister, everybody knows. In fact, your sister and Bala’s wife even laughed at Avni.’
‘Do you see my daughter? She’s still defending your sister. But what did your sister do? She made a joke about my daughter in front of so many people. Do you know that the pandit said, in front of everyone, that my daughter is not a good match for you? How do you expect me to feel, Dhruv?’ said Aunty.
‘Aunty, I had no idea about all this. I am so sorry, I’ll speak to—’
‘Now, all my relatives know about this. This is a gross invasion of our privacy, Dhruv. I didn’t expect this of your family. Does your mom know about this? Do you know how much we are being mocked right now? In our family, everyone has got to know that Avni is a manglik. Now, who will marry her?’ said Aunty.
I wanted to say that I would marry her but it was not the right thing to say right now. I was really scared. Why would Didi do something so stupid? Damn.
‘Does your mom know about this kundli match?’ Aunty asked me.
‘Aunty, I myself got to know about this today. How would Maa know?’
‘Check with your sister. She must have already informed your mom as she did to the rest of the world.’
‘I am really sorry, Aunty. Didi would not do anything to hurt Avni. This was all a mistake.’
‘I am not saying anything to you, Dhruv. Just don’t meet Avni from now on.’ Avni held her mom’s hand tightly.
‘We can’t get our daughter married to you. Not today, not ever,’ Aunty said.
‘Aunty, I apologize again on behalf of Didi. Everything will be all right. My mom doesn’t care about all this. She already loves Avni so much.’
‘That is why your sister made a joke of my daughter. Is it?’
‘Aunty, to be frank, everyone in our friends circle knows that Avni and I want to marry each other. Maybe that is why Didi might have asked the pandit to match our kundli.’
‘And what about the mockery we are getting from everyone? Do you know what people are saying about my daughter now? We can’t even go to their houses now.’
I did not know what to say. I shouldn’t have come alone. I shouldn’t have even come here. Why did you do this, Didi?
‘I am sorry, Aunty,’ I said, folding my hands.
‘He is still here?’ Uncle entered and spoke to Aunty while looking at me.
‘Appa, please,’ Avni said.
‘Hi Uncle,’ I said, as I stood up. Uncle did not say a word.
‘Tell him not to meet my daughter from now onwards,’ Uncle said.
***
Get your copy of The Right Guy by Tarun Vikash on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life? From Chaos to Calm by Gauranga Darshan Das is here to help. In this excerpt, find out tips to calm your restless mind by treating it like a curious child—guiding it with gentle care. Dive in and discover practical tips inspired by the Bhagavad Gita to find peace and focus in your daily life.
From Chaos to Calm || Gauranga Darshan Das
*** Finding Peace Amidst Distractions
Once, I saw a little boy, hardly a year old, sitting on his mother’s lap, as she busied herself in a conversation with her friend. The boy was joyful and smiling. Every now and then, he tried to get out of his mother’s lap, or extend his hands and touch the objects around him.
When he touched a fruit, the mom smiled and allowed him to play with it. In a few moments, he threw the fruit, and it rolled on the ground. He crawled behind it for a few baby steps, but eventually gave up the chase. Then, he found a knife nearby and picked it up. His mother immediately came over, took it away and put him back on her lap. He was disappointed and flapped his hands and legs for freedom. So his mother offered a toy to pacify him, and he played with it for a while. Then, he left the toy, took his mother’s handbag and tried to put its belt into his mouth. His mother gently pulled it away as she continued to converse. She also put the toy back in her son’s hands. And this continued to happen . . .
Whenever the child touched something soft and harmless, the mother would allow him to do so, but when he reached out for something harmful, his mother immediately took it away and brought him back to her lap. Even when the baby cried, the mom comforted him and kept him on her lap. And this is how we need to control our curious, restless, fickle and unsteady minds. Interesting, isn’t it?
Getting distracted is natural, but remaining distracted is harmful.
The Kid Called Mind
The mind is like an innocent kid, lively and curious. To keep the mind calm and composed amidst the chaotic distractions of this world is a great challenge. The mind is also a storehouse of all kinds of thoughts, desires, emotions and feelings. Some of them positive, while others are negative. The mind collects all these impressions through the senses and interactions with people around us. The mind is always eager to explore everything, but it doesn’t know what’s right or wrong, good or bad. That’s where our intelligence comes in, just like a mom guiding her child. Intelligence keeps a watchful eye on the mind’s activities, just like a vigilant mother, and practises bringing the mind’s focus back to the task at hand. But our intelligence will function in this way only when it has been trained and sharpened. Now, the question is: Are we prepared to do so?
Two Keys to Tame the Mind
Lord Krishna responded to Arjuna’s concern by presenting two effective tips to regulate the mind’s distractions. He said:
asamśayam mahā-bāho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyat
‘O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly very difficult to regulate the restless mind, but it is possible by (1) Practice (abhyāsa) and (2) Detachment (vairagya).’
Lord Krishna also describes the hierarchy of the body’s elements, and says, ‘The senses are inferior to the mind, and the intelligence is superior to the mind.’
Because the mind is positioned between intelligence and the senses, we can regulate the mind from both sides by (1) Sense Control, and (2) Sharp Intelligence.
Combining the above two pairs of keys, we can tame our mind with the following two actionable practices, the first external and the second, internal:
1. Practise Sense Control
2. Cultivate Detachment with Intelligence
1. Practise Sense Control: The senses act as the entry points through which the mind receives various impressions. Therefore, by regulating the senses from overindulging in the sense objects, we eventually bring the mind under control. By doing so, we restrict unnecessary inputs to the mind, and thus regulate the mind’s distractions. This is the external way to tame the mind. As mentioned before: ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’
2. Cultivate Detachment through Intelligence: Although keeping distractions physically out of sight is a good way to control the mind, our inner thoughts can distract us too. With sharp intelligence, we should dismiss such thoughts, and cultivate detachment from things that are unfavourable for our well-being. Knowing the transient nature of the pleasures of this world helps us be detached from them. We can sharpen our intelligence by doing two things: (1) reading wisdom texts like the Gita and (2) learning from experienced people.
The mind can be brought from distraction to concentration, by using scriptural intelligence to analyse its thoughts and align them with values. Thus, by restricting the senses externally and sharpening the intelligence internally, we can tame our unsteady mind and make it our greatest friend.
When a lamp in a windy place wavers, we protect its flame by enclosing it with our hands. Similarly, we need to protect the flame of our minds from the wind of distractions with the hands of our intelligence.
***
Get your copy of From Chaos to Calm by Gauranaga Darshan Das on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
The iconic Sudha Murty is celebrated for her engaging storytelling and heartfelt wisdom, crafting tales that resonate with listeners of all ages. Now, you have the perfect opportunity to experience her magic with these 13 must-hear audiobooks. Each one offers a journey into enchanting stories filled with warmth and charm, making them an ideal way to immerse yourself in her world. Whether you’re winding down for the evening or seeking a little inspiration, these special audiobooks bring a touch of wonder to every moment.
How the Bamboo Got Its Bounty || Sudha Murty
‘From human birth to death, our Bamboo finds one way or another to be useful to a common person. It is truly the unsung and the forgotten.’
In a lush, green forest, a shy, unassuming tree is presented with a reward by the forest queen. This makes all the forest inhabitants curious . . .India’s favourite storyteller brings to us the story of the humble bamboo that endures and selflessly gives.
A charming ode to our bountiful forests and trees, their resilience and the abundant gifts they bestow upon us, this gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction to the world of Sudha Murty.
The Magic of the Lost Story || Sudha Murty
After staying in the lockdown for over a year, Nooni is now visiting her Ajja-Ajji in Somanahalli. Memories of excavating the famous stepwell and experiencing village life for the first time in The Magic of the Lost Temple are still afresh in Nooni’s mind. Excited to finally step out of the confines of her home, little does Nooni know she will make yet another discovery, only this time it’s a missing puzzle in her family’s history.
Written in India’s favorite storyteller’s inimitable style, The Magic of the Lost Story captures the value of asking questions and keeping the answers alive. Packed with delightful artworks and wondrous terrains, this story takes you on an unforgettable journey as it follows the magnificent Tungabhadra River.
Here, There and Everywhere || Sudha Murty
Wearer of many hats—philanthropist, entrepreneur, computer scientist, engineer, teacher—Sudha Murty has above all always been a storyteller extraordinaire. Winner of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature, the Padma Shri, the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature, and the Raymond Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award, her repertoire includes adult non-fiction, adult fiction, children’s books, travelogues and technical books. Here, There and Everywhere is a celebration of her literary journey and is her 200th title across genres and languages. Bringing together her best-loved stories from various collections alongside some new ones and a thoughtful introduction, here is a book that is, in every sense, as multifaceted as its author.
Wise & Otherwise || Sudha Murty
Understanding humans and human nature is one of the toughest jobs. Many time what seems right and good or vice versa can be completely different if explored to proper depth. In many instances, we all form an opinion about the people we meet without actually knowing anything about them. But hearing and learning about such instances helps us to redefine our thought process and become wiser. Sudha Murty’s book Wise and Otherwise will take you to a journey across the length and breadth of India through narrations of 51 stories inspired by the extensive travels of the author herself.
Wise and otherwise has generated interest not just as an inspirational book of people’s struggles and how they overcame it, but also for its settings. It presents a realistic picture of India with its values, traditions and imperfections and lays before the listeners a certain set of moral values whose validity they have to judge for themselves. It unravels human nature and shows all that is good and bad in it and how it is often shaped by intention and circumstances. From the story of a son who leaves his father in an old age home pretending he is a stranger to the story of earthquake aid being exploited and not reaching victims, each story is a moving one and will generate myriads of emotions within the listeners, ranging from anger to kindness to pity to the realisation of reality of the world.
Common Yet Uncommon || Sudha Murty
Meet these people: Bundle Bindu, so named because he likes his truth with a little embellishment, Jayant the shopkeeper who doesn’t make any profit, and Lunchbox Nalini, Sudha Murty herself, who brings her empty lunchbox—to be filled with food—wherever she goes!
Written in Sudha Murty’s inimitable style, Common Yet Uncommon is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the foibles and quirks of ordinary people. In the fourteen tales that make up the collection, Sudha Murty delves into memories of childhood, life in her hometown and the people she’s crossed paths with. These and the other characters who populate this book do not possess wealth or fame. They are unpolished and outspoken, transparent and magnanimous.
Their stories are tales of unvarnished humans, with faults and big hearts.
Testament to the unique parlance of a small town, Common Yet Uncommon speaks a universal language of what it means to be human.
The Magic of the Lost Temple || Sudha Murty
Discover the magic of the lost temple
Are you a curious person, ready to explore the depths of the magic hidden in the lost temple of Karnataka? Are you ready to join Nooni as she travels around to discover the answers to her questions? If yes, then this book, ‘The Magic of the Lost Temple’ is a must have.
Nooni is a city girl who is very surprised at the unexpected pace of life in her grandparents’ village in the state of Karnataka. Not being fazed with the turn of events, she engages herself in many of the odd jobs that are available in the village. She resorts to doing work like Papad making, organising enjoyable picnics, learning to ride a cycle and a long list of activities with her new found friends.
Join Nooni as things get complex and she discovers something really exciting
Things get far from exciting when Nooni comes across a very ancient stepwell that is located right in the middle of a forest. As she tries to discover the mystery behind this well, the story takes a drastic turn when she unravels things she didn’t envisage before. Join Nooni as she unfolds the secrets linked to this stepwell along with her friends as they bask in the experience of a lifetime.
Unfold the secrets hidden in the forest
Join the very curious character of Nooni as she unfolds the mystery behind the stepwell. Her incessant urge to abstracting information is what leads her on this adventure. This much awaited book by Sudha Murty is indeed a heart-warming listen.
The Magic Drum || Sudha Murty
A princess who thinks she was a bird, a coconut that cost a thousand rupees and a shepherd with a bag of words, kings and misers, princes and paupers, wise men and foolish boys, the funniest and oddest men and women come alive in this sparkling new collection of stories. The clever princess will only marry the man who can ask her a question she cannot answer the orphan boy outwits his greedy uncles with a bag of ash and an old couple in distress is saved by a magic drum. Sudha Murty’s grandparents told her some of these stories when she was a child others she heard from her friends from around the world. These delightful and timeless folk tales have been her favourites for years and she has recounted them many times over to the young people in her life. With this collection, they will be enjoyed by many more people, of all ages.
How the Earth Got Its Beauty || Sudha Murty
Have you ever stopped to marvel at the earth’s beauty: at snow-capped mountains and oceans so deep; at colorful flowers and extraordinary animals? The tale of how such beauty came into existence is a curious one indeed.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Mango Got Its Magic || Sudha Murty
We all love the sweetness of mango and how it quenches our thirst on a hot summer day, but have you ever wondered how the mango got its magical sweetness? The tale of how such sweetness came into existence is a fascinating one indeed. India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this delightful tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous chapter book is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Grandparents’ Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
It’s 2020, and children are stuck indoors as the novel coronavirus finds its way into India. A nationwide lockdown is announced, and amidst the growing crisis, Ajja and Ajji welcome their grandchildren and Kamlu Ajji into their house in Shiggaon.
From stitching masks, sharing household chores, preparing food for workers to losing themselves in timeless tales, the lockdown turns into a memorable time for the children as they enter the enchanting world of goddesses, kings, princesses, serpents, magical beanstalks, thieves, kingdoms, and palaces, among others. The myriad stories told by their grandparents become the biggest source of joy, making the children compassionate, worldly-wise and more resilient than ever.
Following the trail of the best-selling Grandma’s Bag of Stories, India’s favorite author Sudha Murty brings to you this collection of immortal tales that she fondly created during the lockdown period for listeners to seek comfort and find the magic in sharing and caring for others. Wonderfully woven in her inimitable style, this book is unputdownable and perfect for every child’s bookshelf!
Grandma’s Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
Memories of a grandparent spinning tales around animals and mysterious characters have kept many of us rapt till date. Sudha Murty’s Grandma’s Bag of Stories is simply delightful. The story starts with Anand, Krishna, Raghu and Meena arriving at their grandparents’ house in Shiggaon. Overjoyed Ajji and Ajja (Grandmother and Grandfather in Kannada) get the house ready, while Ajji prepares delicious snacks for children. Finally, times comes when everyone gathers around Ajji, as she opens her big bag of stories. She tells stories of kings and cheats, princesses and onions, monkeys and mice and scorpions and hidden treasures.
Though unlikely in combination, stories makes perfect sense when Grandma is the one narrating them. This book is ideal for young children and those who are 5+ in age. Stories are accompanied morals. Lucid and simple language of the book make it thoroughly enjoyable.
How the Sea Became Salty || Sudha Murthy
A long, long time ago, seawater was sweet and drinkable. How it became salty is a remarkable story.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
How the Onion Got Its Layers || Sudha Murty
Have you noticed how the onion has so many layers? And have you seen your mother’s eyes water when she cuts an onion? Here is a remarkable story to tell you why.
India’s favorite storyteller brings alive this timeless tale with her inimitable wit and simplicity. This gorgeous audiobook is the ideal introduction for beginners to the world of Sudha Murty.
Here’s your chance to discover the incredible stories and facts about our Indian Armed Forces with Naam Namak Nishan 2: The Ultimate Indian Armed Forces Quiz Book. This quiz will take you through the bravery and legacy of our nation’s heroes, offering you a chance to learn and be inspired by their remarkable contributions.
Dive in, test your knowledge, and celebrate the spirit of our defenders!
This Independence Day, let’s celebrate the India of today—a land shaped by its people, ideas, and dreams. From exploring the pillars of our democracy to discovering the hidden stories of our nation, these books invite you to take pride in being Indian and to understand the forces shaping our modern identity.
Whether you want to be inspired, informed, or simply proud, these reads are your perfect companions.
We, The Citizens || Khyati Pathak, Anupam Manur, Pranay Kotasthane
We, The Citizens, by Khyati Pathak, Anupam Manur and Pranay Kotasthane, decodes public policy in the Indian context in a graphical narrative format relatable to readers of all ages. If you want to be an engaged citizen, aspire to be a positive change-maker, or wish to understand our sociopolitical environment, this book is for you.
The Idea of Democracy || Sam Pitroda
Today global democracy is at a crossroads because of the rise in polarized politics, authoritarian regimes and the use of social media to manipulate and amplify lies, hate and misinformation.
While electoral democracy continues to be the most prevalent form of government, a series of indicators measuring political and civic freedom reveal that the institution of democracy is in deep distress. With the liberal foundations of democracy shakier than ever before, confidence in institutions has plummeted. This book looks at this paradox of so-called democratic success coupled with its liberal decline. It provides a detailed analysis of the essence of democracy, its workings, the kind of values it needs to encapsulate, forces and safeguards which work in liberal democracy’s favour and how they can be preserved.
The Idea of Democracy is meant to stimulate conversation, particularly among the youth on what the idea of democracy means to them and the role that they can play in helping democracy survive—and thrive—in the coming era.
The Republic Relearnt || Radha Kumar
Despite the clear danger of the rise of totalitarianism in India today, The Republic Relearnt aim is to look forward to the moment when democracy will be renewed in the country and ask what lessons can be learnt from past experience to anchor it more firmly when the opportunity arises. It is generally assumed that Indian democracy has had an unbroken run since Independence, with the brief disruption of the 1975–77 Emergency. While those two years saw a stark assault on democratic institutions, Indian democracy had been repeatedly punctured prior to the Emergency, and it has been threatened many times since. The country underwent almost four decades of democracy decay after the founding years of the republic, as compared to the three relatively short-lived waves of democracy renewal. That fact makes an examination of these three waves rather significant.
India’s Forgotten Country || Bela Bhatia
India’s Forgotten Country captures Bela’s early years as an activist in rural Gujarat, her research on the Naxalite movement, her investigations of violations of democratic rights in different regions, and her recent years dealing with the ongoing conflict between the state and Maoists in Bastar. The essays build on first-hand investigations conducted in states ranging from Bihar and Telangana to Rajasthan and Nagaland, besides Kashmir. People such as Deepa Musahar, Kaliben, Muchaki Sukadi, Zarifa Begum, Tareptsuba and others have ample space in this book to speak for themselves.
The Last Heroes || P Sainath
In The Last Heroes, these footsoldiers of Indian freedom tell us their stories. The men, women and children featured in this book are Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, Brahmins, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. They hail from different regions, speak different languages and include atheists and believers, Leftists, Gandhians and Ambedkarites.
The people featured pose the intriguing question: What is freedom? They saw that as going beyond Independence. And almost all of them continued their fight for freedoms long after 1947.
The post-1947 generations need their stories.
To learn what they understood. That freedom and independence are not the same thing. And to learn to make those come together.
Breaking the Mould || Raghuram Rajan, Rohit Lamba
India is at a crossroads today. Its growth rate, while respectable relative to other large countries, is too low for the jobs our youth need. Intense competition in low-skilled manufacturing, increasing protectionism globally and growing automation make the situation still more difficult. Divisive majoritarianism does not help. India broke away from the standard development path—from agriculture to low-skilled manufacturing, then high-skilled manufacturing and, finally, services—a long time back by leapfrogging the intermediate steps. Rather than attempting to revert to development paths that may not be feasible any more, we must embark on a truly Indian path.
The Elephant Moves || Amitabh Kant, Amit Kapoor
Charting out a roadmap for India depends on a sound understanding of how India is unique and why it is shaped the way it is.
The Elephant Moves unfolds a captivating saga, tracing India’s economic journey through the lens of competitiveness. From unraveling economic history (‘origins unveiled”) to navigating global dynamics (“sailing the tides”), the book explores the forces shaping nations. It delves into the facets of many Indias, unveiling opportunities in heterogeneity.
Roadwalker || Dilip D’Souza
The length of India, though. Think of that. The magnitude of it takes my breath away, even months later. When next will I get such an opportunity? As the Yatra got going, through its early days in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, that question began to haunt me. Through those early days, the challenge of finding an answer came to mean something to me. Something deep, profound, elemental. The challenge of the walk, yes. But what it helped me articulate for myself, too. The way it dredged up long-ago experiences, reminded me of what they had meant, wrung new meaning from them now, said things about my country, my family, myself. All in all, it helped me decide — if I wasn’t doing the whole trip, there was a next best thing I could do.’
Dilip D’Souza joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra four times. This is the story of that experience. But even more, this is the story of how he found energy, empathy and enthusiasm in the Yatra. How it spoke to him of renewal. How it filled him, and many others, with hope. ‘This was my chance to make my own slice of personal history,’ he writes. ‘That was enough for me.’
Middle of Diamond India || Shashank Mani
Middle of Diamond India proposes a revolutionary idea – that India has long ignored its largest and most talented segment, citizens in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 districts, its Middle. Replete with characters, anecdotes, insights, research and accounts of an annual pilgrimage on a special train-Jagriti Yatra, and an enterprise ecosystem established in Deoria district, the book outlines a new vision of India focussed on its rising Middle. It proposes a Banyan Revolution over the coming twenty-five years of Amrit Kaal, using the tool of enterprise or Udyamita that can ignite a national renaissance.
Lilliput Land || Rama Bijapurkar
India is already the world’s fifth-largest economy. Unlike most markets of its size, India is, and for a long time will be, driven by lots and lots of small consumers earning and spending just a little bit each, which adds up to an enormous amount. On the supply side, these consumers are served by numerous small, agile suppliers who challenge large companies by innovating to satisfy their price-performance demands. India’s vibrant digital revolution now offers the keys to cracking open this infamously tricky market. Digital business models will be the future of competition as they harness the power of the small and create large-scale businesses in the years to come. Lilliput Land provides a ‘people lens’ to understand the paradoxes and challenges that dot India’s market opportunity, and discusses the drivers and shapers of its future. A comprehensive three-part framework of structure-behaviour-supply discusses the present and future of India’s mega consumption story, the most exciting in the world, with over half of its GDP accounted for by domestic consumption.
India’s journey to Independence is a story of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve, led by extraordinary individuals who shaped the nation’s destiny. As we reflect on their contributions, these 17 books delve deep into the lives of the brave souls who fought for our country, uncovering the true cost of our hard-earned freedom.
Find inspiration in their patriotism, vision, and enduring legacy, which continues to guide and uplift us as a nation even today!
Tilak||Vaibhav Purandare
Before Mahatma Gandhi, there was Bal Gangadhar Tilak – the revolutionary who ignited the spark of Indian nationalism. The Times, London, called him ‘the father of Indian unrest,’ and the one-time Secretary of State for India Edward Montagu felt he had ‘the greatest influence of any person’ on the Indian people. Above all, for the British Raj, Tilak was sedition-monger-in-chief, and it prosecuted him thrice for sedition.
Rediscover an icon of Indian history whose ideas and actions continue to resonate today. Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s story is not just a tale of resistance but a testament to perseverance and conviction.
Being Hindu, Being Indian || Vanya Vaidehi Bhargav
Meticulously researched and eloquently written, Being Hindu, Being Indian offers the first comprehensive examination of Lajpat Rai’s nationalist thought. By revealing the complexities of Rai’s thinking, it provokes us to think more deeply about broader questions relevant to present-day politics: Are all expressions of ‘Hindu nationalism’ the same as Hindutva? What are the similarities and differences between ‘Hindu’ and ‘Indian’ nationalism? Can communalism and secularism be expressed together? How should we understand fluidity in politics? This book invites readers to treat Lajpat Rai’s ideas as a gateway to think more deeply about history, politics, religious identity and nationhood.
Bose || Chandrachur Ghose
There are not many Indian heroes whose lives have been as dramatic and adventurous as that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. That, however, is an assessment of his life based on what is widely known about him. These often revolve around his resignation from the Indian Civil Service, joining the freedom movement, to be exiled twice for over seven years, throwing a challenge to the Gandhian leadership in the Congress, taking up an extremist position against the British Raj, evading the famed intelligence network to travel to Europe and then to Southeast Asia, forming two Governments and raising two armies and then disappearing into the unknown. All this in a span of just two decades.
Pacey, thought-provoking and absolutely unputdownable, Bose: The Untold Story of an Inconvenient Nationalist will open a window to many hitherto untold and unknown stories of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The Foresighted Ambedkar || Anurag Bhaskar
In The Foresighted Ambedkar, Anurag Bhaskar argues that India’s Constitution was drafted not just between 1946 and 1950 but over the course of four decades. Dr Ambedkar was the only person to have been involved at all the stages related to the drafting of the Indian constitutional document since 1919. These stages bear the imprint of his contribution and role.
This Land We Call Home || Nusrat F. Jafri
In 1871, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in India, branding numerous tribes and caste groups as criminals. In This Land We Call Home, Nusrat F. Jafri traces the roots of her nomadic forebears, who belonged to one such ‘criminal’ tribe, the Bhantus from Rajasthan.
This affecting memoir explores religious and multicultural identities and delves into the profound concepts of nation-building and belonging. Nusrat’s family found acceptance in the church, alongside a sense of community, theology, songs and carnivals, and quality education for the children in missionary schools.
M.K. Nambyar || K.K. Venugopal
It is rare to see a lawyer from a district court occupy centre stage in the Supreme Court but M.K. Nambyar achieved this remarkable feat. Starting his practice in a district court in Mangalore, M.K. Nambyar rose to become an eminent constitutional lawyer. Written by his son K.K. Venugopal, a legal luminary himself, this biography provides a fascinating account of Nambyar’s life. It not only describes the man but also recapitulates India’s legal history from the pre-Independence era. The book includes some landmark cases argued by Nambyar that have significantly contributed to the development of constitutional law in India such as A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras and I.C. Golak Nath v. State of Punjab, where he sowed the seeds of the ‘basic structure’ doctrine. These cases continue to guide and inspire lawyers and judges today.
Fighting Retreat || Walter Reid
Winston Churchill was closely connected with India from 1896, when he landed in Bombay with his regiment, until 1947, when Independence was finally achieved. No other British statesman had such a long association with the subcontinent—or interfered in its politics so consistently and harmfully.
Churchill strove to sabotage any moves towards Independence, crippling the Government of India Act over five years of dogged opposition to its passage in the 1930s. As prime minister during the Second World War, Churchill frustrated the freedom struggle from behind the scenes, delaying Independence by a decade. To this day for Indians, he is the imperialist villain, held personally responsible for the Bengal Famine of 1943.
This book reveals Churchill at his worst: cruel, obstructive and selfish. However, the same man was outstandingly liberal at the Colonial Office, risking his career with his generosity to the Boers, the Irish and the Middle East. Why was he so strangely hostile towards India?
Nehru and the Spirit of India || Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee
Jawaharlal Nehru was Plato’s philosopher king, who ‘discovered’ an India that remains an undiscovered possibility. Nehru and the Spirit of India is a critical and nuanced perusal of his intellectual and political legacy.
From the ‘politics of friendship’ between Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah, Nehru’s defense of secularism in the Constituent Assembly Debates, to what propelled Nehru to curb free speech in the First Amendment, Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee draws from political history to illuminate fierce debates in India today: Kashmir, the CAA, and hate speech. Be it contemporary events like the miracle of Ganesha drinking milk and the use of Vedic astrology in Chandrayaan-2, or the agonising suicide of a doctor, the author examines the fractured nature of Indian modernity, which Nehru had suggestively called a ‘garb’. Bhattacharjee bolsters Nehru’s view that India is enriched by the encounter of cultures and that we must not discard the past, but engage with it.
The Discovery of India || Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the book ‘The Discovery of India’, during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar fort for participating in the Quit India Movement (1942 – 1946). The book was written during Nehru’s four years of confinement to solitude in prison and is his way of paying an homage to his beloved country and its rich culture.
The book started from ancient history, Nehru wrote at length of Vedas, Upanishads and textbooks on ancient time and ends during the British raj. The book is a broad view of Indian history, culture and philosophy, the same can also be seen in the television series. The book is considered as one of the finest writing om Indian History. The television series Bharat Ek Khoj which was released in 1988 was based on this book.
Bravehearts of Bharat || Vikram Sampath
History has always been the handmaiden of the victor. ‘Until the lions have their own storytellers,’ said Chinua Achebe, ‘the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter!’ Exploring the lives, times and works of the fifteen long-forgotten and mostly neglected unsung heroes and heroines of our past, this book brings to light the contribution of the warriors who not only donned armour and burst forth into the battlefield but also kept the flame of hope alive under adverse circumstances.
Pacy and unputdownable, Bravehearts of Bharat chronicles the stories of courage, determination and victory, which largely remained untold and therefore unknown for a long time.
Gandhi’s Assassin || Dhirendra K. Jha
Gandhi’s Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India lays bare Godse’s relationship with the organizations that influenced his world view and gave him a sense of purpose. The book draws out the gradual hardening of Godse’s resolve, and the fateful decisions and intrigue that eventually led to, in the chaotic aftermath of India’s independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. On a wintry Delhi evening on 30 January 1948, Godse shot Gandhi at point-blank range, forever silencing the great man. Godse’s journey to this moment of international notoriety from small towns in western India is, by turns, both riveting and wrenching.
Drawing from previously unpublished archival material, Jha challenges the sanitization of Gandhi’s assassination, and offers a stunning view on the making of independent India.
Anarchy Or Chaos || Ole Birk Laursen
Driven by the urge for complete freedom from colonialism, authoritarianism, fascism and militarism, which are rooted in the idea and politics of the nation-state, Acharya fought for an international vision of socialism and freedom. During the tumultuous opening decades of the 1900s—marked by the globalization of radical inter-revolutionary struggles, world wars, the rise of communism and fascism, and the growth of colonial independence movements—Acharya allied himself with pacifists, anarchists, radical socialists and anti-colonial fighters in exile, championing a future free from any form of oppression, whether by colonial rulers or native masters. Drawing on a wealth of archival material, private correspondence and other primary sources, Laursen demonstrates that, among his contemporaries, Acharya’s turn to anarchism was unique and pioneering in the struggle for Indian independence.
Anarchy or Chaos is the first comprehensive study of M. P. T. Acharya. It offers a new understanding of the global and entangled history of anarchism and anti-colonialism in the first half of the twentieth century.
Bhagat Singh || Satvinder S. Juss
The continual tussles over Bhagat Singh’s identity, even more amplified of late, are a testament to the heroic status the man continues to hold in the annals of the Indian freedom struggle. Despite him having addressed his views on religion, politics and activism, there are many willing to forge completely new narratives of his life, and many more willing to believe them.
A timely antidote, this meticulously researched biography is an expansive foray into the life of Bhagat Singh. The volume deliberates upon his family from before when he was born, examining along the way the role that various episodes, policies and people played in shaping the identity of a legendary revolutionary, while also delving into his opinions on important questions of the time. It shines a bright light on the oft-ignored personal influences that made Singh who he was, along with the issue of his contested identity in today’s politics. This is the definitive Bhagat Singh biography of our times.
Anecdotal, candid and evocative, Kitne Ghazi Aaye, Kitne Ghazi Gaye brings to light the true stories from this Army veteran’s life. It focuses on the personal, professional and, most importantly, family life of a soldier in the Army, and will not only provide an insight into the trials and tribulations he faced but will also inspire a wide spectrum of readers, especially young defence aspirants.
Bipin || Rachna Bisht Rawat
Bipin: The Man behind the Uniform is the story of the NDA cadet who was relegated in the third term for not being able to do a mandatory jump into the swimming pool; of the young Second Lieutenant who was tricked into losing his ID card at the Amritsar railway station by a 5/11 Gorkha Rifles officer posing as his sahayak; of the Major with a leg in plaster who was carried up to his company post on the Pakistan border because he insisted on joining his men for Dusshera celebrations under direct enemy observation; of the Army Chief who decided India would retaliate immediately and openly to every act of cross-border terrorism; of the Chief of Defence Staff who was happiest dancing the jhamre with his Gorkha troops.
The Man Who Avenged Bhagat Singh || Abhijeet Bhalerao
In 1929, Bhagat Singh surrenders after a daring bomb attack in the heart of Delhi’s assembly. Behind bars, he prepares for an ideological battle against the empire. However, a shocking betrayal shatters his world.
Phanindra Nath Ghosh, a trusted comrade, becomes a British approver, revealing every secret of the HSRA. His damning testimony leads to multiple arrests, and then the British hang Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdeo. Popularly known as the ‘king’s witness’, he had singlehandedly brought on an armed revolution.
But with their leaders gone and British oppression at its peak, surviving HSRA members rally around one burning desire: revenge. Their target is the man who dismantled their life’s work. But with limited resources, their hopes rest on a lone figure.
From the shadows emerges Baikunth Sukul, an unassuming teacher and devoted admirer of Bhagat Singh. He swears to exact revenge on behalf of the martyrs and the HSRA.
Will he succeed in this nearly impossible mission? What happens when he locks horns with the formidable British Raj? And to what lengths will he go to avenge Bhagat Singh’s death?
India’s journey to Independence was filled with deeds of forgotten heroes. This is one such story of sacrifice and revenge—of a patriot against a traitor, a common man against the empire.
Savarkar || Vikram Sampath
Decades after his death, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar continues to uniquely influence India’s political scenario. An optimistic advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity in his treatise on the 1857 War of Independence, what was it that transformed him into a proponent of ‘Hindutva’? A former president of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar was a severe critic of the Congress’s appeasement politics. After Gandhi’s murder, Savarkar was charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination. While he was acquitted by the court, Savarkar is still alleged to have played a role in Gandhi’s assassination, a topic that is often discussed and debated.
In this concluding volume of the Savarkar series, exploring a vast range of original archival documents from across India and outside it, in English and several Indian languages, historian Vikram Sampath brings to light the life and works of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of the most contentious political thinkers and leaders of the twentieth century.
