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Liberating Reads for this August

Posted on by Penguin India

August is here and along with the new month comes some fun liberating reads!  Our list of new books includes memoirs, biographies, research and case studies. Whether you prefer fiction, non-fiction you’re sure to find something to suit your taste here.
So take a look at our bookshelf for August, and tell us which book you’d like to pick up first!

  1. The Beauty of all My Days


Each chapter of this memoir is a remembrance of times past, an attempt to resurrect a person or a period or an episode, a reflection on the unpredictability of life. Some paths lead nowhere; others lead to a spring of pure water. Take any path and hope for the best. At least it will lead you out of the shadows.
 

  1. The RSS: A View to the Inside


The RSS is the most influential cultural organization in India today, with affiliates in fields as varied as politics, education and trade. Backed by deep research and case studies, this book explores the evolution of the Sangh into its present form, its relationship with the ruling party, the BJP, their overseas affiliates and so much more.
 

  1. Kama: The Riddle of Desire


Here, in his magnificent prose, Gurcharan Das examines how to cherish desire in order to live a rich, flourishing life, arguing that if dharma is a duty to another, kama is a duty to oneself. It sheds new light on love, marriage, family, adultery and jealousy as it wrestles with questions such as these: How to nurture desire without harming others or oneself? Are the erotic and the ascetic two aspects of our same human nature? What is the relationship between romantic love and bhakti, the love of god?
 

  1. The Kipling File


Narrated by Kay Robinson, The Kipling File is a moving story of doomed friendship and difficult love recounted against the powerful backdrop of Anglo-Indian life in a Punjab that has begun to stir with anti-colonial sentiment. Through his eyes unfold the turmoils that shaped the author of beloved classics like The Jungle Book and Kim.

  1. Polite Society


Keenly observed, sharply plotted and full of wit and brio, Polite Society reimagines Jane Austen’s Emma in contemporary Delhi to portray a society whose polished surface often reveals far more than is intended.
 

  1. Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition


Analysing Prime Minister Modi’s foreign and military policies in the context of India’s evolving socio-political and economic milieu, this book offers a critical perspective that helps explain why India has not progressed much towards becoming a consequential power.
 

  1. The Last Englishmen: Love, War, and the End of Empire


Dense with romance and intrigue, and of startling relevance to the cross-cultural debates and great power games of our own day, The Last Englishmen is an engrossing and masterful story that traces the end of empire and the stirring of a new world order.
 

  1. Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman


Featuring intimate interviews with the soft-spoken virtuoso, as well as insights and anecdotes from key people in his life, this balanced, uplifting and affectionate book is the definitive biography of A.R. Rahman–the man behind the music and the music that made the man.
 

  1. Not Quite Not White


At the age of twelve, Sharmila Sen emigrated from India to the US. The year was 1982, and everywhere she turned, she was asked to self-report her race. Part memoir, part manifesto, Not Quite Not White is a witty and poignant story of self-discovery.
 

  1. Imagining Lahore


An anecdotal travelogue about Lahore – which begins in the present and travels through time to the mythological origins of the city attributed to Ram’s son, Lav. Through the city’s present – its people, communities, monuments, parks and institutions – the author paints a vivid picture of the city’s past.
 

  1. Kartikeya and his Battle with the Soul-Stealer


Surapadma’s reign of terror flourishes and the fate of all creatures-mortal and immortal-hangs in the balance. Shiva’s son, Kartikeya, must destroy several formidable asuras before he can confront the Soul Stealer and salvage the dying, gasping universe…
 

  1. The Man Who Saved India


Sardar Vallabhai Patel saved India. The very shape of India that we recognize today was stitched together by Patel, the Iron Man of India. The Man Who Saved India unravels the personality of one of the greatest men in Indian contemporary history.
 

  1. Love, Take Two


When Vicky Behl and Kritika Vadukut meet on the sets of the period drama Ranjha Ranjha, everyone agrees they have serious chemistry–and not just on screen. But will the pressure and scrutiny of Bollywood allow them a happy ending or will there be a twist in the tale?
 

  1. Feminist Rani


Feminist Rani is a collection of interviews with path-breaking and fascinating opinion leaders. These compelling conversations provide a perspective on the evolving concept of feminism in an age when women are taking charge and leading the way.
 

  1. Glow


Build strength and immunity, brighten and clarify your skin and obtain peace of mind with these potent Indian remedies. These combinations, recipes, home-made face masks, oils and morning infusions will transform not just your skin but also your body and mind. After all, outer beauty is only a symptom of inner health.
 

  1. When Coal Turned Gold


In When Coal Turned Gold, former chairman and managing director of CIL, Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya, tells the story, warts and all, of how he dealt with the Dhanbad coal mafia, how he changed the way the industry was perceived, how he dealt with the trade unions and the government and, most importantly, how he was able to script one of the greatest success stories the country had ever seen.
 

  1. A Game Changer’s Memoir: Ex-SEBI chief recalls defining moments of his tenure


A masterful strategist, Bajpai, in this book, recounts his truly inspiring journey as he weaved through complex rules and frameworks in his efforts to turn SEBI into an effective financial regulator for the country.
 

  1. Ways of Being Desi


Ways of Being Desi is a brilliant, provocative and deeply honest exploration of the ingredients that make us who we are. It is not a simple listing of food, films or even the universal importance of ‘Aunties’ in South Asian culture; it is a meditation on the subcontinent’s recent past and all that happens when we decide to forget our shared histories.
 

  1. The Perfect Us


They’ve been together for ten years, surviving everything… Now Avantika wants to take the next step. But will Deb be able to catch up? Or will it rip them apart? No matter how hard he tries, Deb can’t convince Avantika that he’s the one for her. The Perfect Us is love’s struggle to find the happily ever after. . .
 

  1. Ninety-Seven Poems


This is a book of pictures—of a park bench and a prescription. And a toothbrush in a mug. It’s got half-lit cigarettes and broken geysers. And a cute apartment in Prague. There’s a fortune cookie, some pigeons in cages and stars tumbling from the sky. There’s the usual traffic, a digital wristwatch and a violin from Uncle James—we can go on, but you’d rather see for yourself.
For we think this book has pictures. But some say it’s full of poems.
 

  1. The Sage’s Secret


What if the legend of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu, is an elaborate hoax created by Lord Krishna? In the year 2025, twenty-year-old Anirudh starts dreaming of Krishna. But these visions that keep flashing through his mind are far from an ordinary fantasy-they are vivid episodes from the god’s life. Through these scenes, as Krishna’s mystifying schemes are revealed, Anirudh slowly comes to terms with his real identity . . .
 

  1. Not Just Grades


Not Just Grades is about schools that have proved that it is possible to weave positive personal development together with academic excellence. Innovative and full of creative ideas, these schools have a made in difference in imparting education in the absence of extensive resources or capital.
 

8 Things Every Maggi-Lover Should Know About Maggi's Journey to India

Posted on by Penguin India

Maggi’s Journey to India: It Wasn’t so Easy!
The introduction of Maggi Noodles in India arose with the presentation of a simple argument: If Nestle Malaysia could sell tons of a product, what was holding back the Indians?
But to introduce such a product into Indian markets came with its own challenges. Maggi marked the beginning of snack foods in our country. It shifted the orbit. Noodles went from being alien to becoming an essential food to be stocked at home, taken on a trek, cooked by kids. They became almost a default option for satisfying the hunger pangs of both young and old.
Here are eight things you must know about your favorite Noodle’s journey to India:
 
1. The license raj was in operation, making India a relatively closed economy

 
2. Introducing Maggi in India meant creating a new food category that did not exist in India

 
3. One product; one country; multiple food habits and patterns

 
4. Where would Maggi fit in among the ‘serious’ and ‘traditional’ meals?

 
5. Target audience was children-but who would ‘buy’ the product? Children can’t cook!

 
6. The Answer? Maggi =a quick fix for a child’s hunger

 
7. Making the new concept appealing to children

 
8. Image on the packaging of the product: that showed vegetables in the Maggi

 

7 Things You Should Know About Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Posted on by Penguin India

Nassim Nicholas Taleb spent twenty-one years as a risk taker before becoming a researcher in philosophical, mathematical, and (mostly) practical problems with probability. His books, part of a multi-volume collection called Incerto, have been published in thirty-six languages. Taleb has authored more than fifty scholarly papers as backup to Incerto, ranging from international affairs and risk management to statistical physics. Having been described as “a rare mix of courage and erudition,” he is widely recognised as the foremost thinker on probability and uncertainty.
In his most provocative and practical book yet, Skin in the Game, Taleb redefines what it means to understand the world, succeed in a profession, contribute to a fair and just society, detect nonsense, and influence others.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Know the Emergency in 10 Points

Posted on by Penguin India

In 1977, two staff reporters – John Dayal and Ajoy Bose –  at the Patriot, occupied highly advantageous positions during the nineteen months of the Emergency to observe the turmoil wrought in the capital city of Delhi. In their book, For Reasons of State, they have supplied first-hand evidence of the ruthlessness with which people’s homes were torn down and the impossible resettlement schemes introduced.
From For Reasons of State come ten of some the starkest scenes of the Emergency:
The ‘Young Prince’

An aphorism for injustice

The ruins of a civilization

Dog Days are Over

Family Planning

La Femme Fatale

The creation of an ‘Indian Scarlet Pimpernel

  Rallying Rebellion

Trouble at Court

Is history repeating itself?

 
 

Quotes to Live By if you’re on your way to Success

Posted on by Penguin India

How do you establish your brand to become one of the most beloved and enduring in the country?
 In her book, The Two-Minute Revolution, Sangeeta Talwar tells you just that. She was the first woman executive in the FMCG industry, which established one of our favorite brands: Maggi Noodles!
From her book, we extracted some quotes that you must take a look at, especially if you’re on your way to building an extraordinary brand!












Get a Glimpse into the World of 5 Judges from Supreme Whispers

Posted on by Penguin India

Abhinav Chandrachud’s latest book, Supreme Whispers, sheds light on a decade of politics, decision-making and legal culture in the Supreme Court of India. This book yields a fascinating glimpse into the secluded world of the judges of the Supreme Court in the 1980s and earlier.
Get to know some of them here:





A Murder Mystery Writer’s Favorite Murder Mystery Books

Posted on by Penguin India

Bulbul Sharma is an artist and author. She has written a number of books, including Book of Devi, Shaya Tales, Ramayana and My Sainted Aunts.
 Her most recent book, titled, Murder at the Happy Home for the Aged is set in the lush landscapes of Goa. The tranquility of the Happy Home for Aged is shattered when a body is found hanging in the garden. The inhabitants come together to solve the mystery, patiently and with flashes of inspiration.
Bulbul Sharma shares with us, a list of her favorite murder mystery books, and tells us why she loves them.
‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie

One Good Turn’ by Kate Atkinson

‘Death comes to Pemberley’ by P.D James

‘London Calling’ by Sara Sheridan
 
‘In the Company of Cheerful Ladies’ by Alexander McCall Smith

Acid – An Excerpt

Posted on by Penguin India

 
Sangeetha Sreenivasan’s remarkable debut Acid is a gripping tale that attempts to subvert the conventions of society. The narrative is fuelled by the intense romance between Kamala and Shaly who stay in the same house as Kamala’s sons, Shiva and Aadi. Shiva and Aadi stay downstairs and take care of each other in their own way.
When Kamala’s mother dies, she returns to Kerala—to an ancestral house lying next to the cremation grounds in Cochin’s outlying reaches. Although an uneasy place for her, the place, nevertheless, is home. However, nothing can prepare her for the devastation that ensues in this lyrical, hallucinatory trip of a story.
Here is an excerpt from the novel:
—————————————————————————————————————————
In the kitchen Aadi set some milk to boil, his heart pounding all the while and his lips trembling. He did not remember much about his grandmother, though. He was worried about his mother, now an orphan bereft of someone to guide her.
By the time Shaly came back, she had regained her composure and she cautioned Aadi in a carefree manner to watch the coffee, which was boiling over. She shut the flame off and accidentally knocked the lighter down, but let it remain there. The bright red polish still shone on her nails, especially on her toes. After Aadi had gone to Shiva’s room with the tray of coffee and biscuits, she picked up the lighter and lit the stove again and prepared some tea.
She had to push the door open with her leg as she was holding a tray laden with a teapot, cups, biscuits, toast and marmalade. Kamala stood beside the table, unmindful of her shouts or reluctant to open the door. She took no notice of the tray Shaly placed on the table. Instead, she stood there listening to some lone voices from within. Shaly should have been bitter about this, but her poise betrayed only signs of suppressed anger, shrouded in grace. When Shaly noticed Kamala’s eyes closed in rapture she pulled her up by the hair and hit her hard across the face, anyway. ‘What the hell!’ said Shaly.
Kamala stepped back and carelessly knocked the teapot over with her hand, spilling the hot tea onto the floor.
‘I’m going to kill you, you bitch!’ Shaly tried to thrust her fingers into Kamala’s mouth, with a force sufficient to scoop out the insides—the tongue, uvula, teeth and everything—but anticipating the worst, Kamala pursed her lips disgustedly and forced them out, so that Shaly had to give up.
In consequence, acid took the reins. It designed the maps of convulsed ecstasy under Kamala’s tongue. Soon it would travel, numbing whatever it touched on the way until Kamala was numb to the world outside her eyes. Red kangaroos wearing lucky horseshoes would race up to her brain, making her forget her present, past and future in the haze of dust their hooves would raise. Neurons would mount on camels obscured by clouds to take her for a short pleasure ride.
‘Bastard! What do you think of yourself? You stupid slut!’ Shaly shook her hard; slapped her harder still. Kamala didn’t seem to be in pain. Yet she covered her face in her hands and squatted on the floor. ‘Everything happens because of you, Kamala! How many times have I warned you against taking those dumb godforsaken pills? But you don’t listen. You are on medication. Do you hear me?’ Tea pooled in the wooden depression on the floor.
Shaly went out to fetch a mop, saw Aadi on the stairs and yelled, ‘What the hell do you want? Get out of here.’
It was not easy for Shaly to compose herself this time. After a while, she tried to fake a sympathetic look and walked to the children’s room, pretending everything was under control. Before she knocked on the door she said to herself, ‘Kams is a horrible woman. Everything here is garbage,’ and smiled.
Still smiling, she asked the boys, ‘Shall I get you breakfast?’ The boys looked at each other and then at her. ‘What about grandma? Are we not going to see her?’ Shiva asked solemnly.
Shaly was about to say something but suddenly the sound of the saxophone shook her up and her face turned pale and bare. Music came floating down the stairway.
On the upper floor, Kamala closed the windows, drew the curtains shut and sat on the floor in the corner of her room. She thought she was safe, no harm could ever find her. She stared at the innards of her stereo and laughed thoughtfully.
‘I will bring you toast, please wait,’ Shaly called out from the kitchen, as if the boys were impatient and enthusiastically waiting for something to munch on.
The first two pieces of toast got burned on the frying pan. Shaly wondered from where Kamala had got hold of the hallucinogen again. She had taken it on an empty stomach, in addition to the sleeping pills she had had the night before. Shaly recollected the faces of each and every peddler on the road. Bastards.
Two tiny pieces of eggshell flopped on to the yolks in the pan. White pyramids on yellow balls. She removed the pieces with the edge of a spatula. ‘I should not have left her,’ she said to herself.
No one knew how long a bad trip would last. Kamala’s mother, frozen, white and pale, waited for her daughter in uncertainty while Kamala shut herself up in a room too far away from her mother and mused on something that would never be useful in life. She moved the gears on an unbridled, hysterical ride, on a magic journey some people mistook as life.
On top of her worries, Kamala had a pet dog called Depru. Monsieur Depression. An impalpable ghost of her esteemed hypotheses. It accompanied her wherever she went. A huge bulk, a mass of comfort. A cushioned bundle of sadness. It showed no interest in playing with a ball or a toy, no interest in going out for a walk. Instead, it would mount her shoulders, its weight crushing her. They say dogs make eye contact. It looked straight into Kamala’s eyes like other dogs. But in the mauve shadow of its eyes, a child drowned every second. And Kamala wept, looking at the dying child.
 

 

Love, Hope and Utmost Happiness – Quotes from Arundhati Roy

Posted on by Penguin India

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy is an incredible follow-up to her The God of Small Things. We meet a host of characters­—Anjum, who runs a guest house in an Old Delhi graveyard, Tilo, an architect, who, although she is loved by three men, lives in a ‘country of her own skin’. But when Tilo claims an abandoned baby as her own, her destiny and that of Anjum becomes entangled as a tale that sweeps across the years and a teeming continent takes flight. . .

Here are a few quotes about love, hope and happiness from the book:

 

Exploring 3 Cases solved by one of Mumbai’s Finest Policeman

Posted on by Penguin India

Me against the Mumbai Underworld is the story of Isaque Bagwan, three-time recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and a small-town boy who pursued his big-city dreams and ambitions as an upright police officer. As per Mumbai Police records, he is the first officer from the force to have killed a criminal in an encounter.
His life, which has captured the imagination of many writers and filmmakers, is presented here with all its gut-wrenching details.
Here are 3 cases that validate the fact that Isaque Bagwan is one of Mumbai’s finest policeman till date.
Bahraini Footballer’s Murder Case
 It was December 1977. Somebody has been stabbed in front of the Air India building and was lying on the road in a critical condition. When Isaque Bagwan reached the Air India building, a body of a fair-skinned youth was lying on the footpath in a pool of blood. His body had multiple stab wounds.

The One Officer who arrested four criminals alone
 One night, a woman on Walton road was shouting, “Chor!”. On reaching the building, Bagwan spotted three to four people descending the staircase. One of them seemed to have a parcel in his hand. When Isaque got closer, one of them lunged at him with a kitchen knife but Isaque managed to deflect the blow. This frightened the gang.

Those five critical minutes
 It was around 10:00 AM when Isaque Bagwan heard a message crackling n the police wireless system. A man had attacked a person with a chopper at the INS quarters in Colaba. Bagwan reached the INS quarters in under 5 minutes and saw a man running down the stairs.
‘Open the bag!’ shouted Bagwan. The man knew it was over. The bag contained blood-soaked clothes and a bloodstained chopper. Thirty-four-year old Devi Singh Thakur was a cook, who had quarreled with Priti Singh. In a fit of rage, Devi Singh attacked him with a chopper and killed him.

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