A visual and inspirational treat that will showcase some of her best works

New Delhi, 14 September 2020: This pandemic-induced pause in our lives has made many of us desire a revitalization of the physical spaces around us. Bringing some much-needed inspiration to create new energies for our home life, Gauri Khan, Indian film producer and interior designer, is coming out with her first book about her journey as a designer and her design philosophy. Tentatively titled My Life In Design, it will be published by Penguin under the Ebury Press and is set to be released in 2021.

A creative artist par excellence, Gauri Khan has carved herself a niche in transforming personal and commercial spaces with a fine balance of elegance, luxury and functionality. Even before Gauri launched her interior design company, Gauri Khan Designs (GKD), she took up many passion projects that were testament to her innate talent, ingenuity and keen sense of style. From renovating her own home to now designing commercial spaces such as retail outlets, restaurants, spas, hotels, show apartments and various turnkey projects, her journey as a designer has been an original and exciting story.

Her foray into publishing, a coffee-table book, will give readers an insider’s view of her life and experiences as one of the most sought after and discerning interior designers in the country today. A treasure trove with never-before-seen photos of her work, family and residence, readers are in for an exhilarating ride. Gauri will also talk about her design philosophy, her quintessential ability to give clients a seamless lifestyle and space that juxtaposes the practical with the luxurious. This book will also prove to be a valuable guide for those aspiring to get into her field of work and people who want to learn about design in general.

Commenting on the upcoming book, Gauri Khan says, ‘I am extremely pleased to work with Penguin on this coffee-table book. There are several experiences in my journey as a designer that I would like to record for posterity. The book will be very visually appealing with exclusive pictures and information that I feel could guide aspiring designers or those who are just generally interested in the art of design. The lockdown has given me time to work on this coffee-table book and I will be extremely happy to see it published soon.’

Milee Ashwarya, publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘The pandemic has brought several learnings, and it has forced us to slow down, look around and ponder. As most of us are working from home there is renewed interest in creating our own happy space to keep us positive and motivated through these trying times. I am delighted that Gauri Khan has decided to share her design philosophy and open up her home for all the readers. I am excited to be working on the book, and I look forward to publishing it.’

About the author

Gauri Khan is known for her eclectic taste in transforming spaces and has been making waves with her designs. She is at the top of her game as the founder and chief executive officer of Gauri Khan Designs (GKD). She has established herself as a designer who can work across a wide range of projects with equal elan. Gauri Khan is also the go-to interior designer for some of the most notable names in the Indian film industry and various business personalities.

New Delhi, 10 September 2020: Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition of three new titles by award-winning author and historian Vikram Sampath. These new titles will be published under the Penguin Viking imprint from 2022 onwards.

Author Vikram Sampath, commenting on his experience of writing these new books, says, ‘Working with Penguin and its motivated team has been extremely refreshing and rewarding. I am delighted that I’m deepening this bond with Penguin through a series of three forthcoming books that I have signed up with them, in addition to the second volume on Savarkar that I’m trying to wrap up. Given the huge demand for non-fiction today, it’s perhaps never been a better time in India to be a historian and to tell these compelling stories of our past in a manner that interests, excites and inspires.’

The three titles will explore the stories of important and contested figures of our past who continue to define contemporary notions of nationhood and secularism. Like his earlier work on Savarkar, these books will also be meticulously researched and unbiased accounts that assess these legacies in an objective manner. They would be drawing from a wide range of rich sources from across India and abroad.

Among the books in the series is a biography of the 18^th Century ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan. He is a historian’s enigma and his stormy life has been the subject of much debate on all sides of the ideological spectrum. A reassessment of his life and legacy is hence an important addition to our historiography.

Vikram would also be revisiting the legacy of the famed Maratha ruler of the 17^th Century in his book titled Chhatrapati: The Life and Times of Shivaji Bhosale. In the midst of an oceanic amount of literature on the legend of Shivaji, here is a book that will survey all the different versions of his life and bring them together as a comprehensive and compelling story of this inspiring genius.

Another book tentatively titled Unsung Tales from Indian History will seek to expand the scope of our historical narrative to dynasties, heroes and heroines beyond the microscope of Delhi. It will open a window to contributions of leaders like Chand Bibi of Ahmednagar, who defeated Akbar’s armies in 1595; Lachit Borphukan, who led the armies of the Ahom Dynasty and defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat; the story of Tikendrajit Singh, the commander of the Manipuri army, who valiantly fought the Anglo-Manipur War, and many more stories, which have largely remained untold for a long time.

Premanka Goswami, Executive Editor at Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Vikram Sampath is a brilliant historian. Time and again, his works have fascinated us and expanded our viewpoints. We are thrilled to work with Vikram on these three new books that will open a window to understanding Chhatrapati Shivaji and Tipu Sultan, and showcase the many tales of valour from our rich past.’

Meru Gokhale, Publisher, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Vikram Sampath is a gifted author and it is wonderful to see how well readers have engaged with his books. We are extremely excited to have signed up Vikram for three new books that will offer important new insights into Indian history.’

About the author:

Dr Vikram Sampath is a Bangalore-based historian and the author of four acclaimed works of non-fiction, including the national bestseller Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past. Vikram’s work on Gauhar Jaan won him Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar for English literature in 2012 and the ARSC International Award for Excellence in Historical Research in New York in 2011. A research fellow with numerous organizations and a visiting faculty at several universities in India and abroad, Vikram is also a musician, archivist, festival curator and a regular columnist with several dailies and news portals.

Shwetambari Shetty is a fitness expert at Cure.Fit, India’s top holistic fitness brand

New Delhi, 27 August 2020: Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition of fitness expert Shwetambari Shetty’s debut book ‘Get Moving’—a self-help guide to weight loss and good health with easy and practical workouts and wholesome lifestyle ideas. Published under the Ebury imprint, this book is due to release in October 2020 and is currently available on pre-order on select ecommerce websites.

Erstwhile banker and now in-charge of designing the Dance Fitness workouts at Cult.Fit, Shetty shares her philosophy of ‘get moving’ in this book and shows how to incorporate beneficial movements and exercises into one’s day-to-day activities, without the added stress of taking time out for workouts. Encouraging people to become more self-sustained and in control of their health, Shetty will help readers design their own training programme according to their schedules and goals. Whether its weight loss, muscle gain or just better fitness, this book will be relevant for anyone who wants to see a change in his/her body and life. With workouts outlined for each day, simple illustrations to guide form and helpful tips about what to eat before and after a workout, this book will help people see results and become the best version of themselves.

Commenting on her upcoming book, the author ‘I’m ecstatic about sharing my journey and the very basics of health and fitness through this book. There’s so much to gain from moving through the day, being functionally fit and by simply being active. It definitely changed my life, and I hope this book helps readers too. Gratitude to Penguin Random House India for publishing it.’

Commissioning editor of the book, Roshini Dadlani, says, ‘Working on this book has been a lot of fun. The tips are so simple and practical that I’ve incorporated them into my routine too. I’m excited for readers to learn and benefit from the routines and core concepts that Shwetambari brings to the classes at Cult.Fit.’

This is Shetty’s debut book. She is a fitness trainer and an entrepreneur. In the past decade, she has been instrumental in revolutionizing the face of fitness in the country by making it more available, accessible and affordable through the largest health and fitness chain in India, Cure.fit. A B.Com graduate with multiple fitness certifications, she has taught dance-based workouts on television, been on radio prime-hour shows and reached out to millions through her videos and training on the Cure.fit app, which is available in India, US and Canada. She enjoys spreading her knowledge, and inspiring and motivating women to take up weight training on social media. Above all, her aim is to make fit and healthy living simple.

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing, Penguin Random House India says. ‘The pandemic has forced us to prioritise our health and fitness like never before, and we all are seeking to work on our body and mind. Get Moving!by Shwetambari Shetty could not have come out in a better time. I am delighted to publish the book, and I hope it will help transform the lives of readers across India and the world.’

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MEDIA CONTACT-

Pallavi Narayan

pnarayan@penguinrandomhouse.in

The new book cover revealed on her 70^th birthday

New Delhi, 19 August 2020; Penguin Random House India marks the 70^th birthday of India most beloved writer Sudha Murty with the announcement of her new book. The publishing house is coming out with her latest collection of short stories, titled ‘Grandparents’ Bag of Stories’, which is scheduled to be released in November 2020.

Grandparents’ Bag of Stories is a sequel to bestselling Grandma’s Bag of Stories (approx. three lakh copies sold) and will feature 20 stories by Sudha Murty, in her inimitable style. Mrs Murty was inspired to pen these stories with the aim to entertain children as many of them find themselves homebound during these days, without school and holiday plans. Narrated in the voice of grandparents, who epitomise storytelling in our childhood, these tales of kings and jungle, fun and adventure in the time of coronavirus are all wrapped in wonderful and important lessons of life.

Commenting on the inspiration of writing during the lockdown, Mrs Sudha Murty says, ‘The lockdown due to the pandemic got me wondering what I would have done as a 10-12 year old kid. I would have really got bored. I would have gone to my grandparents’ house, sat with them, heard stories, and learnt how to help people in difficult times. So, I thought – why can’t I once again become a ten year old, think of all my childhood stories and write a book. That’s how I wrote these set of stories.’

Ahead of the release of the book, the publishing house is launching an exciting campaign and revealing the first look of the cover of her upcoming book to celebrate Mrs Murty’s birthday. Young readers are in for a treat on social media, with a special message from the iconic author and much more content that is engaging on Penguinsters, Penguin’s dedicated page for our young and blossoming readers.

Sohini Mitra, Publisher, Children’s Division, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Mrs Murty’s written work has truly enriched children’s reading repertoire. Her stories, in addition to being enjoyable, always have a valuable life lesson for her readers. We are privileged to publish her books and for the opportunity to share it with this growing generation of readers. She wrote this new book during the lockdown and even in these strange and trying times, it is admirable that she has come up with, yet again, a wonderful range of stories that can fill our hearts, make us smile and fire up our imaginations. After all, what better way to seek comfort and joy other than the magic of stories? I am excited to see the readers’ reaction to Grandparents’ Bag of Stories.’

New Delhi, 11 August 2020: Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition and publication of a new book by Rishi Nityapragya, a devout disciple of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Titled Celebrating Life: Six Steps to the Complete Blossoming of Your Consciousness, this is Rishi Nityapragya’s first book. The book will be published under Penguin Ananda, Penguin’s cutting-edge literary imprint in the mind-body-spirit category, in October 2020 and is currently available for pre-order on e-commerce websites.

In these times of uncertainty and chaos, Celebrating Life will present the opportunity for readers to become the master of their circumstances through honest introspection and transformative changes. This book will give readers an in-depth understanding of, and practical techniques for, exploring the human consciousness and the key to altering negative energy to neutral, and neutral to positive. It will help readers identify negative emotions and show them how they can free themselves from these. It will bring readers closer to experiencing and relishing the beautiful flavours of life, like enthusiasm, love, compassion and truth, whenever and wherever they want.

Commenting on the book, Rishi Nityapragya says, ‘Throughout this spiritual endeavour of almost two and a half decades, one marvellous revelation became more and more clear to me, that every individual soul is a treasure chest of extraordinary powers. Once you recognise your infinite siddhis, you will realize that the nature has already ingrained all the necessary abilities in an individual’s consciousness to help you in creating the life that you want and becoming the master of your circumstances. My purpose of writing the book is to help readers to explore their infinite potential within and celebrate life’.

For twenty-seven years, Rishi Nityapragya has been a dedicated disciple of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and currently holds the position of director of programmes at the world’s largest volunteer-based NGO, the Art of Living Foundation. A qualified chemical engineer, motorbike racer and professional singer, Rishi Nityapragya is also an acclaimed speaker and conducts community programmes and spiritual meets. He has travelled to more than sixty countries and has addressed such international forums as the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town (in 1999), the Global Dharma Conference in New Jersey (2003) and the World Health Organization (2009).

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing says, ‘Celebrating Life by Rishi Nityapragya is a practical and valuable guide to realize your full potential by focusing on your inner strengths and discarding the negative tendencies. I feel blessed to have worked closely with Rishi Nityapragya on the book, and in the process learn from his wisdom, kindness, and devotion for selfless service. I feel readers will greatly benefit from reading the book, and I am delighted to publish it.’

New Delhi, 5 August 2020: Penguin Random House India (PRHI) signs a new distribution partnership agreement with Independent Publishers Group (IPG), the original independent book sales and distribution company in the United States. This new partnership will enable PRHI to exclusively sell and distribute titles published by over 100 international independent publishers, who are a part of IPG, in the Indian subcontinent, effective immediately.

Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes the distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing and traditional publishing. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books. Some of the independent presses that are a part of IPG are Cornell Publishing, nbm Graphic Novels, Project Management Institute, and university presses like Auckland, Canterbury and Victoria. Commenting on the new distribution partnership with PRHI, Joe Matthews, CEO of IPG, says, ‘This partnership with Penguin Random House India is very exciting for our company and aligns with our continued expansion and global reach.’

Added Scott Hatfill, IPG’s director of international sales, ‘The team at PRHI will enable us to provide our publishers access to all channels within India utilizing their market intelligence and knowledge,’ added Scott Hatfill, director of international sales for IPG. ‘We are extremely pleased to be working with PRHI and to announce such a key partnership during these unprecedented times.’

Additionally, PRHI also enters into a new agreement, effective 1 October 2020 onwards, with IPG’s Trafalgar Square Publishing. Under this contract, Trafalgar Square Publishing will manage the sale and distribution of all the titles of PRH India and Penguin SEA that enjoy world rights in the US and its territories, Canada, the UK and the European Union. Trafalgar Square Publishing was founded in 1973 and in the fall of 2006, Chicago Review Press, Inc. bought Trafalgar Square Publishing, Inc., making it the leading US distributor of UK and Australian publishers. Trafalgar Square Publishing distributes for clients such as Penguin Random House UK, Penguin Random House Australia, Pan Macmillan UK, Collins UK, and Head of Zeus. It is the distributor of more than 100 publishers from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China and Germany, representing more than 20,000 titles. Brooke O’Donnell, managing director of Trafalgar Square Publishing, says ‘TSP is thrilled to be working with Penguin Random House India and South East Asia to make their books available to readers in North America, the UK, and Europe. We feel privileged to be adding these two new divisions to our prestigious portfolio of Penguin Random House publishers we already represent, including Penguin Random House UK, Australia, New Zealand, and China.’

Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO, Penguin Random House India and SEA, says, ‘Partnering with one of the largest book distributors in the world will open up the Indian subcontinent market to a wide array of books and writings. Our partnership with IPG ties in well with our aim to ensure our readers have a great range and quality of written work to choose from. Simultaneously, our arrangement with Trafalgar Square Publishing will widen the readership of our titles originating from the India and SEA markets. We have published remarkable books and they will be a valuable addition to any book lovers’ reading lists. These partnerships present the opportunity for books to transcend borders, and for us to explore new sales channels, understand new markets and gain valuable insights about consumers.’

MEDIA CONTACT:

Pallavi Narayan

pnarayan@penguinrandomhouse.in

+91 97118 64445

PRHI to distribute for the international publishing houses in India and the subcontinent markets

New Delhi, 15 July 2020: Penguin Random House India has brought on board two international independent publishing houses—UK-based Fitzcarraldo Editions and US-based Sourcebooks—for exclusive distribution and sales rights in India and the subcontinent markets. PRHI will be responsible for sales and distribution of the publishing houses’ entire list across all sales channels within the region.

Sourcebooks is one of the twenty-largest publishers in the United States that publishes books, ebooks and digital products. Home to a dozen New York Times bestsellers, it was also awarded for bringing innovation in publishing in 2013. Commenting on the association with PRHI, Shawn Abraham, sales director, Sourcebook International, says, ‘Sourcebooks is excited to partner with Penguin Random House India, ensuring best-in-class sales and distribution. We are looking forward to bringing our entrepreneurial and innovative books to the market in new ways, accelerated by the incredible team at Penguin Random House. At Sourcebooks, we believe that Books. Change. Lives.—and more so now than ever before. We look forward to being a part of a positive change with our new partners at Penguin Random House India.’

Fitzcarraldo Editions is based in London and specializes in contemporary fiction and long-form essays. Considered one of the UK’s most radical indie publishers, the publishing house is known for prize-winning works such as Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich’s Second-Hand Time and Olga Tokarczuk’s Man Booker International Prize-winning Flights. Jacques Testard, publisher, Fitzcarraldo Editions, says, ‘It’s been a thrill to work with Penguin Random House India on producing local editions of Olga Tokarczuk’s books and I am delighted that they will now be carrying the whole Fitzcarraldo Editions list in the Indian subcontinent. It’s a very exciting prospect and—I hope—the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration to reach as many readers as possible in India and beyond.’

Nandan Jha, SVP, product & sales, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘We always aim to bring world-class writing to the Indian and subcontinent markets, and it is a privilege to work with some of the renowned publishers across the globe in the pursuit of our goal. With a close watch on the pulse of our readers, we know that the books by Sourcebooks and Fitzcarraldo Editions are going to be a delightful addition to their collections. We look forward to working with both publishing houses and are committed to growing their sales and presence in this region.’

MEDIA CONTACT-

Pallavi Narayan

pnarayan@penguinrandomhouse.in

+919711864445

A new page on Facebook and Instagram, called Penguinsters

Penguin Random House India has launched an exclusive social media page on Facebook and Instagram, called Penguinsters, meant especially for our young readers, teenagers, their proud parents, teachers and everyone else who loves books. This platform will give our readers an opportunity to explore some of the greatest books and writers, and access to resources that will shape their minds. It will also host exciting and fun content about the books published by the three imprints of PRHI’s children’s division: Puffin, Penguin and Duckbill Books.

Penguinsters—derived from ‘Penguin books for youngsters’—will become a dedicated space on Facebook and Instagram for younger readers to engage with their favourite writers and books and learn about new titles. From parents and teenagers to youngsters, everyone will find helpful information, updates, read-aloud sessions, storytelling videos, author interviews, thought-provoking articles, share-worthy listicles, many interactive posts and much more on these pages.

Last year, Duckbill Books became a part of Penguin Random House India, expanding our publishing portfolio and audience base. To accommodate this growing readership, the publishing house adopted Duckbill Books’ social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and is relaunching them as Penguinsters. This new handle is an addition to Penguin’s existing social media presence. While the Penguin India handles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will continue to focus on adult readers, Penguinsters will now cater to younger readers.

Niti Kumar, SVP, marketing, digital and communications, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Penguin has a strong presence on social media and we aim to replicate our success with the Penguin India handle with Penguinsters too. There will be a creative assortment of inspiring, educating and entertaining content for our budding bibliophiles, and we hope to also see parents and educators who are keen to be a part of their children’s reading experiences, avid readers who follow YA and people who would like to relive their youthful reading escapades join this exciting new platform.