Penguin Random House India is thrilled and proud to announce the acquisition of entrepreneur, life and finance content creator and chart-topping author Ankur Warikoo’s latest book, Make Epic Money. This groundbreaking book on money management, written to suit GenZ and Millennial readers, revolutionizes the way these generations think about, earn, spend, and invest money. From Penguin’s Business imprint, this book is scheduled to be available for pre-order at the end of November 2023 and will be released in January 2024.

In a world inundated with books about money, often too challenging for readers to understand, engage or even apply, Make Epic Money breaks the mould of conventional finance writing. Positioned to help one understand wealth better, and evolve the mindset into that of a millionaire, the book aims to enable individuals, and thereby, the economy to grow.

Tailored to capture the attention and comprehension of Gen Z and Millennials, Ankur Warikoo adopts a unique approach to financial literacy. Vertical writing resonates with the scrolling habits of today’s digital generation, noob-friendly language that avoids heavy technical jargon in favour of relatable terms, and no script required so that readers can start from any page and end anywhere, with each page offering valuable takeaways; these are just some of the brilliant attributes of this book.

Much like Warikoo’s last two best-selling and sensational books, Make Epic Money uses easy-to-grasp language and simplification of theories to make finance accessible, enjoyable, and ‘epic’ for a new generation.

Commenting on publishing his first book with Penguin, Ankur Warikoo says, ‘While writing Make Epic Money, the leading question in my head was “For a generation that consumes reels and shorts, what would a book on money look like?”. I am thrilled to have written this book and love how Penguin encouraged me to challenge the status quo when it comes to writing books.’

Radhika Marwah, Executive Editor, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Ankur Warikoo is a singular phenomenon — a force of nature– and it is an unbridled joy working with him and seeing his mind whirring. Make Epic Money is Ankur’s most ambitious book to date and one guaranteed to change the fortunes of India’s youth.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Ankur Warikoo has a special gift for making sense of everyday life and articulating the aspirations of millions of Indians. His new book Make Epic Money is a timely, accessible and useful book for readers who want to understand money and put it to good use. I welcome Ankur to Penguin Random House India, and I am proud to publish Make Epic Money.’

Make Epic Money is scheduled to be virtually launched on 26th November with an exclusively curated masterclass by Ankur Warikoo.

Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Saikat Majumdar’s new book The Remains of the Body, to be published under the Vintage imprint and released in June 2024. Focusing on friendship and intimacy between three Indian immigrants in North America, this is an intricate fiction from a writer known for his exploration of the unpredictable nature of human sexuality.

Two men in their mid-thirties, childhood friends, share a deep bond that is put to an unexpected test as one’s marriage to a woman starts to crumble under the conflicting arcs of immigrant ambition. As the marriage loses its last breath in an unexpected affair, the other friend, a single man, faces questions about his own desire that he cannot answer. Whose body does he long to touch? Can a man’s intimacy with a woman mask his inexpressible desire for someone who lies beyond his reach?

Delving deeper into questions of love, longing, and intimacy, The Remains of the Body challenges conventional notions of marriage and friendship and asks questions about the primitive ways in which human beings reach out to each other.

Commenting on his book, Saikat Majumdar says, ‘As a writer, I’m deeply drawn to the shapelessness of human sexuality, particularly when it changes form between family, society, and conjugal partnerships. This novel came to me sharply and intensely, as a small, carved object holding strange patterns within a marriage and a childhood friendship, stirred and broken by impossible desires for which we have no names.’

Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Associate Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘We are proud to be publishing Saikat Majumdar’s novel under the Vintage literary imprint. The Remains of the Body is an extraordinary novel that excavates, with great sensitivity, unnamed, unexplored, but deeply felt desires in a male friendship. It leaves a deep imprint upon the reader’s mind.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘The Remains of the Body by Saikat Majumdar, in my view, is his best work so far. A sensitive and compelling exploration of desire, marriage and friendship, it will make you revisit and question the established norms of love and intimacy.”

About the author

Saikat Majumdar is the author of four novels: Silverfish, The Firebird/Play House, The Scent of God— acclaimed as one of the major queer novels to come out of India following the decriminalisation of homosexuality—and most recently, The Middle Finger, a contemporary college campus novel that seeks to retell ancient myths.

He has also published nonfiction and criticism, including the book Prose of the World, and College: Pathways of Possibility – a widely read book on liberal education in India. He is a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Ashoka University and was a Fellow at the Wellesley College Humanities Center and the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study in South Africa.

Penguin Random House India is excited to announce the acquisition of the latest book by renowned Indian economist and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan. Titled Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future, this marks the first-time collaboration between Dr Rajan and economist Rohit Lamba. These two distinguished voices from the field of economics and public policy have put together a gripping book about the future of India’s economic development. There is a truly Indian path to prosperity, they argue, that builds on the strengths of our people and our political and societal frameworks. They examine fundamental policy choices that concern every Indian. Set to release under the Penguin Business imprint in December 2023, it is currently available to preorder on all major e-commerce websites.

Where is India going today? Is it surging forward, having just overtaken the United Kingdom to become the fifth-largest economy in the world? Or is it floundering, unable to provide jobs for the millions joining the labour force? What should India do to secure a better future? Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future tackles these critical questions that revolve around India’s growth and progress in the 21^st century.

The authors explain how we can accelerate economic development by investing in our people’s human capital; expanding opportunities in high-skilled services and manufacturing centred on innovative new products; and making India a ferment of ideas and creativity to accelerate growth. They explain how India’s democratic traditions will support this path, helped further by governance reforms, including strengthening democratic institutions and greater decentralization.

Writing with unusual candour, Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba offer praise for where the Indian establishment has been successful but are also unsparing in pointing out its weaknesses. They highlight the critical challenges that India faces in today’s global economy when compared to other major economies and urge India to break free from the shackles of the past and look to the possibilities of the future. Making their case with exceptional clarity, vivid examples, and persuasive arguments, this is a book for anyone who has a stake in India’s future.

Commenting on the upcoming book, Raghuram Rajan says, ‘India is at a critical juncture. The decisions we make now will determine its economic future, either for the good or the bad. Our book outlines India’s options—it can either blindly follow outdated paths that other countries took or it can chart a uniquely Indian way.  We believe that India has a clear trajectory which builds on its historical strengths, and it is not the one it is currently embarked on.  We are enthusiastic about making the case to all our audiences, sharing what we have learnt on the journey together.’

Rohit Lamba, co-author, added, ‘India’s remarkable tryst with modernity is at a crucial juncture today. A proud and profound ancient civilization that has jostled broadly successfully with the foundational questions of nationhood must now break the mould of old bromides to answer the emergent question of our times: how to bring prosperity to the hundreds of millions of our fellow citizens who are painfully just about getting by. I’ve known Raghu for a decade now, and this question would engross us every time we spoke. We are excited to bring our knowledge of economics, politics, and society to ask and attempt to answer this question in what we hope is a new vision for the economic future of India.’

Radhika Marwah, Executive Editor, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘It is a rare honour to publish this extremely important book– an objective and well-researched evaluation of India’s current trajectory and the path it must follow to realise its unique potential. It has been an edifying and illuminating experience working with Dr Rajan and Rohit, and I hope everyone who has India’s best interests at heart reads and follows this book closely.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Breaking the Mould by Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba is an important book on the way forward for India and the Indian economy. A timely, well researched and relevant book, it attempts to offer a vision for India’s future and its people. We are proud to publish it in December, and I recommend it to all our readers’.

About the authors

RAGHURAM G. RAJAN is a world-renowned Indian economist who is currently a distinguished service professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His past policy positions include governor of the Reserve Bank of India and chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. His bestselling books include Fault Lines (winner of the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award), I Do What I Do, The Third Pillar and Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists (with Luigi Zingales). His widely cited research focuses on the underpinnings of economic growth. His numerous awards include the Fischer Black Prize and the Deutsche Bank Prize for financial economics, Euromoney’s Central Banker of the Year award and the Banker’s Global Central Banker Award.

ROHIT LAMBA is an assistant professor of economics at Pennsylvania State University and a visiting assistant professor of economics at New York University Abu Dhabi. He received a PhD in economics from Princeton University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge. He publishes regularly in leading academic journals and newspapers. He has also worked as an economist at the office of the chief economic adviser to the Government of India.

Internationally renowned writer, free speech advocate and Booker Prize-winner Salman Rushdie’s new memoir, KNIFE: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, a gripping account of surviving an attempt on his life 30 years after the fatwa was ordered against him, will be published by Penguin Random House in more than 15 territories on 16 April 2024.

Speaking out for the first time and in unforgettable detail about the traumatic events of 12 August 2022, KNIFE is a powerful, deeply personal and ultimately uplifting meditation on life, loss, love, the power of art, finding the strength to keep going—and to stand up again.

‘This was a necessary book for me to write: a way to take charge of what happened, and to answer violence with art,’ Salman Rushdie says. 

‘KNIFE is a searing book, and a reminder of the power of words to make sense of the unthinkable. We are honoured to publish it, and amazed at Salman’s determination to tell his story, and to return to the work he loves,’ says Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House. 

Penguin will publish in hardback, e-book and audio on 16 April 2024. All rights were acquired from Andrew Wylie at The Wylie Agency. For further rights information, contact Jennifer Bernstein at The Wylie Agency.

Salman Rushdie is one of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning contemporary authors. Translated into over forty languages, his sixteen works of fiction include Midnight’s Children—for which he won the Booker Prize in 1981, the Booker of Bookers on the 25^th anniversary of the prize and Best of the Booker on the 40^th anniversary—Shame, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, The Satanic Verses, Haroun and the Sea of Stories and Quichotte (shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2019). In June 2007 he received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and he joined the prestigious Companions of Honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in her Platinum Jubilee year. His new novel, Victory City—a tale for our times, styled as an ancient epic and a testament to the power of storytelling—was published globally in February this year to major critical acclaim.

ELEVATING NON-FICTION PUBLISHING IN THE SUBCONTINENT

Penguin Random House India (PRHI), India’s leading publishing house, announces a strategic partnership with Wyzr, a dynamic non-fiction publishing house based in India. Under this partnership, PRHI will have exclusive rights to sales and distribution for Wyzr’s compelling range of books across all sales channels within the Indian subcontinent. This strategic partnership between PRHI and Wyzr promises to reshape the non-fiction literary landscape in the subcontinent, empowering readers with enriching, context-aware content.

Wyzr represents a new era of publishing, zealously committed to producing contextually relevant non-fiction literature tailored for the discerning subcontinent audience. The publishing house boasts an impressive roster of authors, spanning visionary founders and accomplished CXOs of renowned corporations, alongside influential educators with a vast social media following. Their published books include investment banker Sarthak Ahuja’s Daily Coffee & Startup Fundraising and Founder’s Office, influencer Sharan Hegde’s Zero to Viral, Kushal Lodha’s Acing CA, and environmentalist Anand Malligavad’s A Life with Lakes.

Nandan Jha, EVP, Sales & Product and Business Development, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘We are delighted to partner with Wyzr, an innovative name in non-fiction publishing, to bring enriching and exciting new non-fiction works to our readers. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality content and expanding the horizons of non-fiction literature in India. Together, we look forward to inspiring, informing, and empowering readers across the subcontinent with a wealth of knowledge and insights.’

Commenting on the partnership, Yashraj Sharma, founder & CEO of Wyzr, says, ‘I’ve grown up reading books published by Penguin. It dominates the library I have at home. I couldn’t be more delighted to have them as our sales & distribution partner for the Indian subcontinent. All our books are written with a quintessentially Indian context. Our goal is to help our readers with high-quality content that helps them practically in their field of interest. And as far as books are concerned, Penguin has the best pulse of the market. With this partnership, we have no doubt that our books will reach a much wider audience and more readers will benefit from the content we produce.’

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About Penguin Random House India

Penguin Random House India publishes over 250 new titles every year and has an active backlist of over 3000 titles. With a strong fiction and non-fiction list, it publishes across every segment including biography, travel, business, politics, history, religion and philosophy, lifestyle, cookery, health and fitness, sports and leisure, visual books, and children’s books. The children’s titles are published under the Puffin imprint.

Penguin Random House India’s illustrious list includes Booker Prize-winning novels and winners of virtually every major literary prize, including the Nobel Prize, the Magsaysay Award, the Jnanpith Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Several of PRHI’s authors are also recipients of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s highest civilian honours.

Penguin Random House India is also the exclusive distribution partner for several leading local and international publishing houses in India and the sub-continent.

About Wyzr

Wyzr is a new-age publishing house, established in 2022, focused on non-fiction books in a primarily Indian context. They follow an author-friendly, efficient model of publishing and have an illustrious list of authors working with them. They work with established experts and educators across domains and create books that add real, practical value to anyone who wants to grow and become wiser.

Penguin announces an exclusive box set with new editions of her books to mark the occasion. 

Critically acclaimed and bestselling author Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th Prix Européen de l’Essai for Lifetime Achievement. The European Essay Prize is the first literary award dedicated solely to the genre of the essay. This is the first time an Indian author has been honoured with this distinction. Commenting on Roy’s body of work, the Charles Veillon Foundation, which is the instituting body that confers this prestigious award, said in a statement, ‘Arundhati Roy uses the essay as a form of combat.’ The award recognizes Arundhati Roy’s remarkable contributions to literature and intellectual thought, and her enduring commitment to raising essential questions about current societies, their practices and ideologies.  

Penguin is celebrating this wonderful occasion with the launch of a special edition box set of selected nonfiction by the author. This box set is now available for preorder on all major bookselling websites in the country.  

Arundhati Roy is renowned for her thought-provoking essays and her all-time bestselling novel The God of Small Things, which won the Booker Prize in 1997, and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2017. Her writing continues to inspire generations of readers to engage with complex social issues, making her an iconic figure in the Indian literary landscape.  

Penguin’s special edition box set comprises some of her finest nonfiction over the years, including The Shape of the Beast, The Doctor and the Saint, Broken Republic, An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire, The Algebra of Infinite Justice and Listening to Grasshoppers. Readers can now prepare to take a deep dive into Roy’s books in these new collector’s editions. These new covers pay tribute to her profound impact on global literature and her dedication to creating meaningful change through her words.  

Arundhati Roy says, ‘It would be presumptuous, arrogant, and even a little stupid of a writer to believe that she could change the world with her writing. But it would be pitiful if she didn’t even try.’ 

Manasi Subramaniam, Editor-in-Chief, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘In her powerful essays, Arundhati Roy invites us to contemplate the very essence of freedom. Her writing is indispensable to anyone trying to make sense of an incomprehensible world. We at Penguin Press consider it a privilege to publish her, and we congratulate her heartily on this immense honour.’ 

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Adult Publishing Group, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Penguin Random House India has been the proud publisher of Arundhati Roy’s works for decades, and I am delighted that she has been awarded the Prix Européen de l’Essai for Lifetime Achievement. Her sharp and incisive writing has addressed the themes of justice, inequality, freedom, and rights of people in the present times, and continues to be moving and compelling’. 

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Penguin Random House India is excited to announce the acquisition and publication of beloved author and Padma Bhushan awardee, Sudha Murty’s upcoming book for adults titled, Common Yet Uncommon. This comes as a timely announcement as she also celebrates her 73^rd birthday today. Under the Penguin imprint, this book is scheduled to come out in October this year and is currently available for pre-order on all major e-commerce websites.

With over 250 titles across multiple languages for both adults and children to her name, Common Yet Uncommon marks Murty’s return to adult fiction after seven years. Her last adult non-fiction, Three Thousand Stitches, was published by Penguin in 2017. Inspired by her hometown and fuelled by a passion for unveiling the extraordinary within the ordinary, Common Yet Uncommon is written in her signature style – easy to read and deeply moving. In this book, through a collection of 14 heartwarming stories, Murty offers a charming glimpse into everyday life and takes her readers on a captivating journey through the intricacies of human nature, traversing childhood memories, hometown connections, and celebrating the inherent imperfections and the boundless compassion of human beings. Readers can expect to meet characters who are devoid of wealth and fame, but stand out for their authenticity, transparency, and unguarded generosity. Common Yet Uncommon is set to be a treasured addition to readers’ bookshelves, transcending boundaries and resonating with audiences worldwide.

Sudha Murty, author, says, ‘I grew up in a small town with a different culture. I met many characters while growing up and, in this book, there are fourteen unique yet relatable characters. I hope you enjoy reading Common Yet Uncommon, and I am sure you can recollect, recognize, reward and applaud such simple people.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India and also the editor of the book, says, ‘Our beloved author Sudha Murty is back with her new book Common yet Uncommon for adults after a gap of six years. The everyday stories based on real-life characters will entertain, engage and stay on with you for a long time. I am delighted and proud to publish the book and hope it finds many more readers from across the world.’

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About the author:

Sudha Murty, an accomplished Indian writer, was born in 1950 in Shiggaon, north Karnataka. As the Founder – Infosys Foundation and Chairperson of the Murty Trust, she has been a trailblazer in combining her literary endeavors with philanthropic contributions. Her diverse bibliography spans Kannada and English languages and encompasses short stories, travelogues, technical books, non-fiction narratives, novels, and children’s books. With a readership that spans across languages, cultures, and continents, Sudha Murty’s work has touched the lives of countless individuals. Her remarkable achievements have been recognized through accolades such as the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature, Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar and the Attimabbe Award for her exceptional contributions to Kannada literature.

Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the highly innovative book, Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas: The Stories of the Mahabharat written by a trio of esteemed academicians, Dr Aruna Narlikar, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, and Prof. Amrita Narlikar. The book is scheduled to come out in November this year under the Vintage imprint.

Asking the crucial question, is it possible to win and still keep one’s soul, the book, Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas: The Stories of the Mahabharat shares with readers how they can do so. Drawing on the timeless stories of India’s ancient epic, this book applies their practical wisdom to questions of international relations, public policy, and our everyday lives. Written for a broader audience of scholars, practitioners and other avid readers, Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas will be useful for all those seeking to put the world to rights and provide some tasty food for thought for those who enjoy paradoxes and squared circles.

The Mahabharat, which flourishes in the hearts and minds of many even today, deals with profound normative questions of (and advice on) morality, duty, virtue, law, justice, and war. The text also does not shy away from pragmatic and strategic issues of negotiation, alliances, training and education, leadership, and more. Its unflinching look at bleak realities makes the Mahabharat a text uniquely applicable to our current times. Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas draws on familiar and also lesser-known stories of the Mahabharat to explore winning strategies that are suited to the modern day and still work together with ethical choices.

Co-author Dr Aruna Narlikar says, ‘The Mahabharat is a text that I grew up with and yet its novelty never fades. It has been a privilege to work on this book with my co-authors and gain a fresh perspective on its stories as well as their applicability to modern-day challenges. We hope that our readers will enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed writing it!’

Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, co-author, added, ‘The Mahabharat is an epic full of eternal wisdom and of deep contemporary relevance.  We are grateful to Penguin and greatly looking forward to the upcoming global launch in the fall of 2023.’

Also commenting on the book, co-author Prof. Amrita Narlikar says, ‘The living traditions of the Mahabharat offer unique insights into questions of both Realpolitik and ethics. We are proud to work with Penguin and share the epic’s practical wisdom with our readers.’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says ‘Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas brings together the age-old wisdom of the Mahabharata by seeking answers to contemporary dilemmas. Fresh and timely, this book promises to provide food for thought to readers faced with different life situations.’

About the Authors

Dr Aruna Narlikar is an author, poet, and artist. Her publications include the co-authored Bargaining with a Rising India: Lessons from the Mahabharata (2014), and recent articles for The Speaking Tree column of The Times of India and The Economic Times. In addition to a doctorate in Literature, she has earned a senior diploma in Yogic Science. She has wide-ranging experience in television and print media. She writes in three languages (Hindi, Marathi, and English), and has had her work published in some of the top Indian newspapers and magazines.

Prof. Amitabh Mattoo (D.Phil., Oxon.) is professor of international relations at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and honorary professor at the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne. His scholarship and contribution have won him numerous honours of high distinction, including the Padma Shri. He is regarded as one of the top strategic thinkers from India; his policy advice has been sought by the governments of India and Australia. He has been a member of India’s National Security Council’s Advisory Board and the National Knowledge Commission; he had earlier served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Jammu, chair of Miranda House and the founding director and CEO of the Australia India Institute.

Prof. Amrita Narlikar (D.Phil., Oxon.) has served as president of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) for almost a decade. She is professor of international relations at Hamburg University, and an honorary fellow of Darwin College at the University of Cambridge. She serves as  senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and at Research in Information Systems for Developing Countries (RIS). Before being appointed to the GIGA presidency, she was “reader” (“professor” under the university’s internationally aligned system) in international political economy at the University of Cambridge. Her recent publications include the co-edited centenary special issue of International Affairs, ‘The How Not To Guide for International Relations’ and (single-authored) Poverty Narratives and Power Paradoxes in International Trade Negotiations and Beyond.

Penguin Random House and Kalimat Group, a prominent publisher of Arabic books, have announced a new strategic publishing partnership to increase the range of titles available in international markets and bring more Arabic literature to readers everywhere.

This partnership brings these publishing houses together with a shared passion for discovering voices and promoting diversity in literature. The partnership will initially focus on publishing fiction from their extensive rosters of authors, bringing readers a diverse range of books and promoting the discoverability and reach of these books and authors.

Under the agreement, Penguin Random House through its division in India will translate a range of Arabic literary works by Kalimat Group into English and bring them to worldwide markets. Additionally, Kalimat Group will translate a selection of titles from the Penguin Random House catalogues in South Asia and South East Asia into Arabic, making them available to Arabic readers everywhere.

In an ever-evolving publishing ecosystem, this partnership will leverage the strengths of these companies through resources and functions such as editorial, distribution networks, and marketing. It represents a significant development for the publishing industry, as these publishing houses share a commitment to strengthening the publishing ecosystem, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and providing readers with wider book choices.

Kalimat Group Founder and CEO, and Immediate Past President of the International Publishers Association (IPA), Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said, ‘We’re thrilled to enter a partnership with one of the biggest names in the world of publishing at a time of increasing appetite for Arabic works and translations. Working together we can find new audiences, increase the reach of our authors and enrich the international publishing landscape, which is to the benefit of readers in many markets.’

Commenting on the new partnership, Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO, Penguin Random House India and SEA, said, ‘Kalimat Group has achieved unprecedented success under the formidable vision, guidance, and leadership of Sheikha Bodour. We are delighted to partner with them as we have long admired the publishing programme they have created, one we will continue to build on together. With this collaboration, we are excited to bring new experiences to our readers and widen the scope of translated literature. Literature cannot survive in solitude, and its growth depends on transcending borders set by geography and languages.’

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About Penguin Random House India & Penguin Random House SEA 

Penguin Random House India & Penguin Random House SEA publish across a range of genres and are home to some of the most revered names in storytelling from the regions. With over 3,400 books in their catalogues, the companies publish across adult fiction and nonfiction and children’s in segments that include business, politics, history, religion and philosophy, literary fiction, autobiography, biography, lifestyle, health and fitness, sports and leisure, self-help, children’s books and more. Together, they boast an illustrious list including Booker Prize-winning authors and winners of many major literary prizes, including the Nobel Prize, the Magsaysay Award, the Jnanpith Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, the Singapore Book Awards name a few. Several authors are also nominees and recipients of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s highest civilian honours and the Singapore Literature Prize, one of the most significant awards for Singaporean authors.

About Kalimat Group 

Kalimat Group is one of the leading publishing houses in the UAE. Since its launch in 2007, the publishing house is known for its excellent-quality books that range from children’s, and illustrative storytelling to Arabic literary works for adults. Kalimat’s adult literature portfolio includes novels, poetry, self-help, biographies, memoirs, and much more. It is known to cover untraditional topics that include tales from their culture and heritage. It is an award-winning publishing house and has published the works of some of the most acclaimed writers in the Arab world and internationally too.

Madhav Gadgil is a renowned award-winning ecologist and founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences

New Delhi, 5 June 2023: Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the acquisition and publication of a captivating memoir by eminent environmental scientist Madhav Gadgil. Aptly titled A Walk Up the Hill: Living with People and Nature, this memoir captures the remarkable experiences and expeditions that led to Gadgil becoming one of India’s most celebrated environmentalists and ecology experts. It is scheduled to release in August this year from Penguin’s Allen Lane imprint. The book is currently available for pre-ordering on all major e-commerce websites.

The memoir recounts his experiences living among the fisherfolk along the west coast, collaborating with horticulturists on the Western Ghats, and immersing himself in the vibrant tribal communities of Manipur and Maharashtra. Throughout his travels, Gadgil remains an integral part of a dynamic scientific community, sharing his profound insights and expertise.

Gadgil’s memoir offers a rare glimpse into his deep connection with nature and his unwavering commitment to environmental conservation. His memoir is not merely a personal account but a call to action, urging readers to recognize the significance of preserving India’s ecological heritage and fostering a harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural world. It promises to be a thought-provoking and enthralling read for nature enthusiasts, scientists, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of India’s natural heritage.

Born in Pune in 1942, coinciding with the release of Salim Ali’s iconic work Book of Indian Birds, Madhav Gadgil’s passion for nature and wildlife was kindled at an early age. Guided by his father’s birdwatching, he developed a unique ability to identify birds through their illustrations even before he could read. Gadgil’s interests extend beyond the natural world, encompassing the diverse landscapes, the vibrant tapestry of life they sustain, and the rich cultures and lifestyles deeply rooted in India’s soil. His intellectual pursuits span mathematics, natural and social sciences, history, and public policy.

Ecologist and now author, Madhav Gadgil, says, ‘I am thrilled to see that this account of my life will soon be widely available, not only in English but in 8 Indian languages. It was a gift from my parents that I not only came to enjoy the charms of nature around me but was so completely free of prejudices that I could become one with people of all castes, religions, languages and food habits from all parts of India. This helped me pioneer a series of programmes of networked decentralized monitoring of biodiversity that taught me so much and permitted me to prepare the controversial yet impactful Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report. I dedicate this book to my innumerable friends from every part and social stratum of India.’

Karthik Venkatesh, Executive Editor, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Madhav Gadgil’s career as one of India’s leading ecologists and environmental scientists has been an extremely illustrious one. This book provides an account of his life and work over the last many decades and is a unique document that demonstrates the power of research coupled with action. It is inspiring and instructive—a rare blend!’

Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Madhav Gadgil’s contribution to ecology, environment and biodiversity has been immense, and I am delighted that he has decided to share his story and rich experiences with our readers in A Walk Up The Hill. With the rapidly depleting ecology and the need for more efforts for the preservation of nature for future generations, the book will be a guiding light for laymen and experts alike. I am proud to publish the book and recommend it to all our readers.’

Author bio

Madhav Gadgil was born in 1942 amid the hills of Western Ghats and, fascinated by its rich natural and cultural heritage, decided, while still a high school student, to become a field ecologist-cum-anthropologist. He was educated in Pune, Mumbai and Harvard University, where he did a doctoral thesis in mathematical ecology and won the IBM Computer Center Fellowship.

For thirty-one years he was on the faculty of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, where he established the Centre for Ecological Sciences and engaged in basic as well as applied research in collaboration with tribals, farmers, herders and fisherfolk. He was involved in drafting India’s Biological Diversity Act and has chaired the Science and Technology Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility and the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel.