Browse Results

Showing 23,701 through 23,725 of 23,865 results

A Century Is Not Enough - Novel: My Roller Coaster Ride To Success

by Sourav Ganguly

In this part self-development manual, part memoir, Sourav Ganguly takes you through his life. From his difficult debut in Australia to the highs of the Lord’s century, from beating Pakistan on its home ground to the vindictiveness of Chappell – he looks at how to overcome life’s challenges and come out a winner. Time and time again. Honest, straightforward and deeply moving, a century is not enough is both a sporting classic and a manual for living.

Driven: The Virat Kohli Story

by Vijay Lokapally

What makes Virat Kohli the undisputed monarch of the cricket world today is not his iconic status in the sports hierarchy but that the highest praise comes from the opposition camp and past greats.However, his family didn't always have it good. No stranger to loss, Kohli's biggest support both on and off the field – his father, succumbed to a cerebral stroke when he was very young. In a fitting tribute that would've made his old man proud, Kohli returned to continue an innings just a few hours after his father passed away. 'He was the one who drove me to practice every day,' the captain of the Indian Test team recalls with characteristic humility and grace. Widely travelled sports journalist Vijay Lokapally goes on to recount happier times on the journey of Virat's rapid rise to international stardom, an account punctuated with little-known stories by his fellow players, coaches and intimates. At 27, he has already been the recipient of countless accolades including the Arjuna Award, the title of BCCI's 'international cricketer of the Year' as well as the ICC's 'ODI Player of the Year', but for Kohli it's not about the money or the fame, or the roar of the crowds or the flattering attention from women of all ages. Few know of his altruistic nature and his dedication to numerous charities for under-privileged children. What has not escaped the public eye though, is how this wizard of the willow wears his heavy mantle with such insouciant ease.

Life After MH370: Journeying Through a Void

by Ks Narendran

There are at least 239 stories waiting to be told at length – those of the families of 239passengers of MH370, how their lives took a turn on March 8th 2014 when MH370disappeared.This is the story of one person, Naren, who lost his wife, Chandrika on that flight.The probability of survivors diminished with each passing day. As the months went by,Naren remained pre-occupied, wrestling over what to believe. Some friends arguedinsistently against doomsday conclusions and spoke of their dreams as the basis tokeep up hope. Many others, including Naren's daughter, preferred silence overpredictions. The one argument against which there was no counter was: Where is theevidence? Where is the debris? Where are the passengers?Life After MH370 documents Naren's experience with loss, grief, trauma and sorrow.The struggle with 'ambiguous loss' morphs into a ceaseless search, for the scent of acover-up, for the truth, for that explanation that satisfies and helps one move on. A lossthat meant critically resizing shared dreams, reconfiguring relationships and attemptingto find a purpose that anchor him in the present.There is the hint of a promise in KS Narendran's story – of existential truths about livingand dying that might help anyone who comes upon this book.

Spitfire Singh: A True Life of Relentless Adventure

by Mike Edwards

Their willingness to pay any price to uphold the honour and integrity of their Air Force meant an uphill battle against bigotry, difficult conditions of work and outdated equipment. However, showing tremendous fortitude, Harjinder and his men took the fight to the enemy and rose splendidly to the occasion. Be it the formidable Japanese, the mighty Germans or the resolute tribal warriors none could break the spirit of these airborne Indians.It is a story of relentless adventure, journeying from the scrublands of the North Western Frontier, to the jungles of Burma, to the UK on the eve of D Day and to the corridors of power in an independent India. The resourcefulness of the Indians and their sheer skill and determination meant that they could overcome the myriad of challenges thrown at them, much to the surprise and dismay of some officers of the Raj. It is a story of mutual respect forged and strengthened across lines of religion, caste, creed and race, as the Indian's undeniable courage and resilience won even the hearts and minds of their British counterparts and one man was the center of it all.Harjinder's is a life of intense friendship, of great ingenuity and of hard-work and dedication, interspersed with the humor and merriment that is ever present in the military environment. It was a bottom to top career for the lowly Hawai Sepoy who went on to become one of the top officers of the IAF. He is credited with the endeavor to make the Indian Air force self-reliant and designed, built and test flew two different aircraft to prove his point. He was one of the driving forces behind making the Indian Air Force the 4th largest in the world, an astonishing feat given the twin challenges of nation building and partition.Thus the only 'disgrace' to emerge from this book is how Harjinder's story could remain untold for so long.

Citizen Delhi: My Times, My Life

by Sheila Dikshit

The girl who loved cycling along the tree-lined avenues of a brand new Lutyens' Delhi could never have dreamt that five decades later she would govern, and transform, Delhi as its chief minister – not once, but thrice consecutively.When a politician like Sheila Dikshit, with a career spanning over three decades, chooses to let the reader get a glimpse of her life's journey, the opportunity brings along an element of surprise. In a fascinating account of her life, contoured along the life of the nation and her political party at critical junctures, she creates a richly patterned universe with deft touches, seamlessly moving between the home and the world, the past and the present.Be it encounters with politics, which she terms 'life at its barest' or the ups and downs of a household, what shines through is the portrait of a modern woman determined to face any eventuality with fortitude, and a deep sense of duty.Interestingly, she never wanted to be in politics, but destiny willed otherwise – a destiny shaped by her liberal upbringing in a Punjabi household. Brought up to be independent, she chose her life partner from another part of India. And that started it all.As the wife of an IAS officer and daughter-in-law of well-known freedom fighter and politician, Uma Shankar Dikshit, with his long association with the Nehru–Gandhi family, she saw governance from both ends. When she began assisting her father-in-law from 1969, her up-close view of politics eventually became a springboard for her own entry into the arena in December 1984, inaugurating a 30-year-long career in politics. The narrative foregrounds a question that the author considers crucial for democracy – how does one deal with the constant tussle between the dictates of governance and the here-and-now preoccupations of party politics?

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: Feared Even in Captivity

by Santanu Banerjee

The book tells the reader how after Second World War, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the tallest Indian freedom fighter, slowly petered out in captivity in former Soviet Union, while Kremlin, taking full military advantage of Bose's presence in their land created fear in American and British political and military strategists and among the post-Independence Indian politicians. The research has also been an outcome of British and Indian Government documents and long interviews with senior Indian political leaders. The book is extremely sensitive as the stakeholders are not only big global powers, but the unresolved issue involves the Indian Government which puts a lid on the mystery by sticking to the fake air crash story in 1945 in Taiwan. It is bound to stir up a lot of heat with scholars – especially among, the British, Indian and American, besides exposing the role of the Russians, Indian Communists and the Nehru family that still heads the Congress now.What began as a journey into the unknown, has culminated into this book, an attempt which has taken 32 long years for the author. The research also reveals Bose's socio-political ideology about which he spoke during his Tokyo University speech on the Indian Civilization and how India would have `socialism with a human face.' It also happens to be an issue so far neglected by scholars and historians.

Relentless: An Autobiography

by Yashwant Sinha

From bureaucrat to politician, and from one century to the next, Yashwant Sinha's incredible journey from modest beginnings to the highest corridors of power is a tribute to a family's determination and sacrifices, a young man's indomitable grit and an enduring ode to a nation in the throes of constant churn and change. Having worked with three prime ministers and two chief ministers, former administrator and union minister Sinha has been a part of the country's transformation from a fledging postcolonial democracy to one of the world's most exciting economies to watch out for-a transformation in which he has played an active role as a parliamentarian, minister for external affairs and two-time finance minister in two vastly different governments. It is also a compelling read for Sinha's commentary on things as diverse as politics, religion, democracy and its institutions, as well as family, personal struggle and a relentless pursuit of bigger dreams. From when bureaucrats often bicycled to work and the back lanes of Bihar to the autobahn of Bonn; from the benches of the Indian Parliament to the podium of the UN General Assembly; from behind the bars of various jails to centre stage as a dissenting voice in a majority government-Relentless tells the story of one of India's most well-known public faces, in his very own unique voice, and some of its most iconic leaders and political parties, with neither fear nor favour. From JP and Chandra Shekhar to VP Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, the book gives an insight into the rise and fall of leaders and ideologies that have charted a unique course for our democracy amid fierce personal and political strife.

Palace of Clouds: A Memoir

by Rajyashree Kumari Bikaner

This book evokes the romance of the rugged desert kingdom of Bikaner and its Rajput royal family. It is a richly woven tapestry encompassing five generations of an aristocratic family's past and present. Tales of valour, battles and coronations, the splendour of the royal courts, the culture and traditions that made this Rathore state preeminent in the world, all set against the backdrop of imposing palaces, rugged forts and hunting lodges, the magnificence of the gilded age of the Maharajas.The author describes her formative years during the sixties when seismic changes in the world were taking place and which were to take her on an adventurous journey from her home in Bikaner to life in London. The author brings to life a treasure trove of anecdotes and introduces us to a world of elegance, sportsmanship and cosmopolitan culture.

India's Glocal Leader: Chandrababu Naidu

by Tejaswini Pagadala

A stereotype image of Nara Chandrababu Naidu has been formed in the last 40 years. His story is remarkable at every level. But often questions, which is the important story? The one where he evolves into one of the extraordinary leaders in Indian politics over four decades? Or that of an ordinary man from a farming family who worked his way to the top by keeping his family and political party together? That which reflects his political acumen, intellect, and hardwork? Or the one that unveils the person who introduced Andhra Pradesh to India? This book attempts to show how Naidu has been a quintessential survivor in Indian politics.This book analyses how Naidu's ability to combine politics and governance has touched every aspect of Indian domestic and foreign policy, from the struggle for social, technological, economic and administrative reforms to creating world-class institutions. It establishes the fact that Naidu, today, is a symbol and an embodiment of many Indias - modern, progressive, rural and cultural.

Guru: A Long Walk to Success:An Autobiography

by Kailash Mota Narendra Raval

The journey of a boy that began from a little-known village of Mathak in Gujarat, India, culminated in the creation of East Africa's biggest business groups to straddle the industrial world of steel, cement, infrastructure and aviation. This is the inspiring story of Narendra Raval, endearingly known as 'Guru', who began from the most humble beginnings to reach the zenith of his career through tireless hard work, an inherent business acumen and sheer tenacity.His autobiography, in collaboration with his dear friend and colleague, Kailash Mota, traces four decades in thelife of Guru Bhai Narendra Raval. It is hard to believe that the astute businessman, who successfully built aUS$ 650 million industrial empire, began his work life as a young, teenage priest in Nairobi, Kenya. Today,Guru Bhai runs his business empire with more than 4,500 employees spread across East Africa. He wasalso featured among the top 50 richest men in the Forbes Africa 2015 list.A fascinating, awe-inspiring autobiography, A Long Walk to Success is a legacy of wisdom and guidance for young entrepreneurs inspiring to walk in Guru Bhai's footsteps.

Ashoka, the Visionary: Life, Legend and Legacy

by Ashok Khanna

Ungainly in appearance, disliked by his father, the king, but nurtured by his mother, Ashoka worked to elicit his elders' approval. At the age of 18, his father sent him to quell a rebellion that his brother, the crown prince, had failed to do. His success propelled him to be appointed as viceroy of a province. There he met Devi, a beautiful, devout Buddhist. With the death of his father, supported by the chief minister, Ashoka was crowned the new king. Ashoka ruled the Indian subcontinent from 269 bce to 232 bce. After the Kalinga War, a turning point for Ashoka, his devotion to Buddha's teachings became unconditional, and he based his governance on its precepts of non-violence, tolerance and compassion. His support for Buddhism helped it grow from a small sect to a world religion. When it spread to Asia, his model of Dharmaraj was emulated as exemplary kingship by many Asian rulers through history. Prime Minister Nehru, in The Discovery of India, described Ashoka as 'a man who was greater than any king or emperor'. He worked to incorporate Ashoka's secular approach and considerate administration in India's Constitution. As a young democracy, India must adopt both Ashoka's and Nehru's vision of compassionate governance to mature as a nation.

My Allahabad Story

by Himendra Nath Varma

My Allahabad Story recollects the author's privileged childhood in a prominent family of the city he is obsessed with. He traces his growing years in the large middle class Kayastha family bringing out in amusing detail, some quaint social customs and traditions that existed half a century ago.The author wonderfully describes the changed complexion of the city with a tinge of despair. Life and times and what happened to Allahabad has been graphically described with nostalgia. An interesting account of an Irish resident brings out the social life that prevailed in Allahabad hundred years ago, interlaced beautifully between the English, Anglo-Indians and Indians.

India Inspires: Redefining the Politics of Deliverance

by Tuhin Sinha

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation, is among the most efficient ministers of the present government. From an average highways road construction pace of 3 km/day in May 2014 when he took over, under his tenure this figure now stands at 27 km/day. The National Highways, earlier a stretch of 96,000 km, is now in the process of being expanded to double the length. An unprecedented number of new expressways have been launched, whereas important highways whose construction had been stalled for years have now seen the light of the day.In the shipping sector, under the ambitious Sagarmala Project, the government is developing port infrastructure along the country's 7,500 km coastline. The project includes modernization of the ports and islands and the creation of coastal special economic zones. In his new ministries-Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation-Gadkari has infused new energy with path-breaking initiatives around the interlinking of rivers and expediting the cleaning of Ganga. If one takes into account the sheer magnitude of cumulative infrastructure development work undertaken by Gadkari's ministries over the last four years, it is nothing short of an infrastructure revolution.In this book Tuhin provides a rare insight into the working style of the maverick minister, besides telling us how these ministries are silently and crucially fuelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of New India.

Swami Vivekananda: The Journey of a Spiritual Entrepreneur

by Rakesh Tripathi

Swami Vivekananda: The Journey of a Spiritual Entrepreneur details the events of Vivekananda's life, encompassing his transformation from a nameless wanderer to the most renowned representative of Hinduism of all times. In this book, we come across the Vivekananda who not only created history by delivering the Chicago Lecture in 1893 but also established the Ramakrishna Order through an unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit which brought to the fore his qualities as a decisive leader and an excellent communicator who reached out globally to convey the message of the Vedanta. These attributes of Vivekananda's personality have remained largely unexplored in most of the books written on him. This book also maps Hinduism and its present-day challenges vis-à-vis its attributes in light of Swami Vivekananda's philosophy and brings forth its contemporary relevance in a practical manner for the reader at a time when the fire of fundamentalism among different faiths has turned religions of the world essentially into separating factors within humanity. Further, it also contains detailed descriptions of practical approaches to translation that will help scholars build a comprehensive framework for translation of complex texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads. It finally concludes with the Indian media's articulate advocacy of Vivekananda's approach on a number of platforms in recent times, to unite humanity despite all its diversity as it is ever more relevant today.

Amit Shah and the March of BJP

by Anirban Ganguly Shiwanand Dwivedi

The story of Amit Shah's political life, struggles, rise and triumph is little known. For a leader who is often referred to as the Chanakya of Indian politics, who has dominated India's fast-paced and complex political stage since 2014, has altered its electoral map by leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to successive historic victories post the May 2014 general elections, there is very little that is recorded or narrated. So, it's no surprise that the curiosity he evokes is ever on the rise.Most of what is written about Amit Shah is based on conjectures, hearsay, assumptions and biases. The real Amit Shah-the once booth-worker and now national president of the largest political party in the world, the master strategist who has pushed the BJP to an organisational pinnacle and yet talks of scaling peaks, a man who is unhesitant in his stand on nationalism and on anything which concerns India's national interest-has remained in the shadows, self-effaced, away from the limelight. The story of how he expanded the BJP into a pan-India party and the convergence of organisational science and ideology that has made the BJP a unique and formidable political entity is a story that needs to be told. The book narrates the personal and political journey of Amit Shah, captures the ideological world that shaped him and gives an account of the party that he is leading and shaping today. It is for the first time that his story is being told-an authentic, no-holds-barred portrayal of one of the most influential leaders of our times. To the political worker, the observer and to anyone even remotely interested in Indian politics, irrespective of their profession or political leaning, especially since the unfolding of Indian politics in the summer of 2014, this is a captivating exploration of the political life and journey of one of its central characters.

Daddykins: A Memoir of My Father and I

by Kalpana Mohan

When journalist Kalpana Mohan's elderly father falls ill in Chennai, she is on the next flight over from California and the home she has shared with her husband for three decades. Caring for her sometimes cranky, sometimes playful, and always adored father at his home in Chennai, Mohan sets out to piece together an account of her father's life, from his poverty-stricken childhood in a village in south India, to his arranged marriage, to his first job in the city, all the while coming to terms with his inevitable passing. Mohan's tender, moving, and sometimes hilarious memoir is an account of a changing India captured in her father's life, from the sheer feat of surviving poverty in I920s India of his birth, to witnessing key moments in the nation's history and changing alongside them. Above all, Daddykins is an intimate and deeply relatable account of our relationships with our parents whatever our age, and the shared experiences of love and grief that unite us all.

Arabs Unseen(Arabic)

by Mohammed Mahfoodh Alardhi

Arabs Unseen explores the enlightening journeys of 10 exemplary figures from the modern Arab world. It embraces the theme of drawing inspiration from these individuals who overcame various challenges to build a body of work in their respective fields. Their experiences are significant for all generations within the Arab world and beyond.

ONGC: The Untold Story

by Raj Kanwar

ONGC: The Untold Story is essentially a narrative of its early days, how, when and where it was born, what were its labour pains, what was it like in its infancy, and finally how did it overcome its teething troubles and growing pains. Who were those early stalwarts who built ONGC brick-by-brick and who were the young pioneers who later became the nucleus of what was to grow into the largest crude oil and natural gas company in the country. Who were those ordinary young gents who overnight became extraordinary men demonstrating astonishing skills and undaunted courage in traversing through sandy deserts, swamp and marsh lands and dense jungles in search for hydrocarbon deposits? Who was the patron saint and who was the founding father of India's only public sector company to feature in Fortune's 'Most Admired Energy Companies' list? How did they overcome the determined opposition mounted by the vested western oil cartels who did not want India to have a national petroleum industry? The typically obstructive Indian 'babu' too supported these western oil cartels. Raj Kanwar deftly reveals these stories and much more. If you're looking for answers to the oft-asked question, 'Why Dehra Dun was chosen as the headquarters of India's first exploration and production oil company in the public sector,' this is the book for you.

Unstoppable: 75 Stories of Trailblazing Indian Women

by Gayathri Ponvannan

Meet the wonder women of Indian history! They flew planes, swam across oceans, led armies, performed stunts, built cities and captured historic moments on camera, despite being constantly told to stay home, because that’s what ‘good girls’ did. These were women who dared to dream and worked hard to turn their dreams into reality, who shaped their own destinies and refused to let anyone tell them what to do. Featuring the amazing adventures of Janaki Ammal, Rani Abbakka, Nadia Wadia, Sarla Sharma Thakral, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and many others, Unstoppable is a collection of 75 power-packed stories of the extraordinary Indian women who broke the rules to change the world around them for the better.

Wonderkids: 100 Children Who grew Up to Be Champions of Change

by Anu Kumar

Meet a hundred famous people who started small but made a big difference in the world It’s easy to forget that all the great people who shaped the world we live in – inventors, leaders, writers, actors, musicians, environmentalists, reformers, athletes and artists – were once children, just like you! That there was something – a spark, a talent, a curiosity or just a dream – which was shaped by them as they grew, and led them to become amazing achievers who inspired others to look at things in a different way. From Anne Frank to Malala Yousafzai, Marco Polo to Muhammad Yunus, Jesse Owens to Thandiwe Chama, Jagadish Chandra Bose to Albert Einstein, and Charles Darwin to Coco Chanel, Wonder Kids gives you a peek into the childhoods of icons from different walks of life. Tracing how their thoughts and actions as children had an impact on their communities or the whole world later, the compact life stories in this book have a common, shining message – that you are never too young to start to break the mould!

VIRAT: The Making of a Champion

by Neeraj Jha Vidhanshu Kumar

THE GRIPPING AND ACTION-PACKED STORY OF THE BOY WHO NEVER GAVE UP! He is that exceptional teenager who returned to play an innings the day his dad passed away. He is the chubby rookie who now sets fitness goals. He is the fiery batsman and nimble fielder who always wants to win. Virat Kohli’s determination to overcome his drawbacks and shine his skills has him well on his way to becoming an all-time great in cricket. From gully cricket and junior teams to the Ranji and national squads, Virat has had more than his share of hurdles. But pressure is his middle name – and he has made performing under the toughest conditions an art with his fine strokes, his electric feet and his ginormous hunger for runs. That’s why the dashing King Kohli – captain of Team India across all formats of the game – holds many records and prestigious awards. Virat looks unstoppable in the lead-up to the top, and his tremendously inspiring story is told vividly in this book. Peppered with anecdotes and stories from his coaches, teammates and other insiders from the cricketing world, this is one life story that is a must-read for everyone who, like Virat, prizes both guts and glory.

Jubilee Kumar: The Life and Times of a Superstar

by Seema Sonik Alimchand

Known to generations of cinema-lovers as the evergreen hero of blockbuster hits like Dil Ek Mandir, Ayee Milan ki Bela, Arzoo and Sangam, Rajendra Kumar Tuli was truly the ‘Jubilee Star’ of Hindi cinema in the 1960s. Jubilee Kumar is the so-far-untold story of the man behind the superstar – one who went from riches to rags early in life, but whose determination, prudence and humility saw him surmount countless hurdles, and win the affection and admiration of colleagues and fans alike. A dispossessed refugee following Partition, Kumar’s struggles intensified as he travelled from Sialkot to Bombay to try his luck in films, suffering homelessness and hunger before he got a break as an assistant director. Overcoming both prejudice in the industry and his own insecurities, he eventually rose to unimaginable fame and popularity as a leading man in films and a respected producer. Touching candidly upon his life both on-screen and off it, this intimate account reveals Kumar – often through his own reminiscences and the recollections of others – as a hard-headed businessman, a generous and empathetic senior colleague, a gallant co-star to his female leads, a good-natured rival to peers and, above all, an upright and principled family man who rose above the many temptations of life in the Indian film industry. A riveting tale of struggle and stardom, fame and disillusionment, love, heartbreak and loss, Jubilee Kumar unwraps the many layers of an icon whose achievements and charisma few of his rivals or successors have been able to match.

The Lotus Years: Political Life in India in the Time of Rajiv Gandhi

by Ashwini Bhatnagar

‘He was their Next Big Hope, after the first one had been dashed to the ground…’ When Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister in 1984 it was for him a baptism of fire. The tumultuous years that followed witnessed the beginnings of economic reform and the stemming of regional insurgency on the one hand, and the drama of the Shah Bano case and the Bofors scandal on the other – events that sent tremors through the country and its political establishment. As a journalist covering politics from the time of Indira Gandhi’s reign, Ashwini Bhatnagar observed at close quarters the consequences of the transition from iron-handed rule to one of earnest naivety, the calculations of the country’s foremost political players, dramatic election campaigns and the unwieldy workings of dynastic politics. In The Lotus Years, Ashwini draws from his field notes to weave a remarkable chronicle that brings together the life of a reluctant prime minister, the inner dynamics of his powerful family and the story of a maturing democratic nation, laying bare the intricacies and dissonances of political life in India.

Parveen Babi: A Life

by Karishma Upadhyay

‘Raat baaki, baat baaki… Hona hai jo, ho jaane do…’ Sensuous, glamorous and bold, Parveen Babi set the Hindi cinema screen ablaze during the 1970s and ’80s, breaking the ‘pious, nice girl’ mould of the film heroine and redefining it after her own style. On screen, she sizzled in unforgettable roles in blockbusters like Deewaar, Shaan, Kaalia and Amar Akbar Anthony – while, off-screen, her bohemian and unabashed lifestyle lit up gossip columns, and her appearance on the cover of Time magazine, a first for an Indian, created a stir nationwide. Yet, for all the sensational rumours and films her life inspired, Parveen has remained something of an enigma to generations of fans. In Parveen Babi: A Life, Karishma Upadhyay traces the journey of a shy but ambitious girl from an aristocratic family in Junagadh, Gujarat, to a life of merciless scrutiny that comes with being in the Bollywood spotlight. Exploring with depth and sensitivity the myriad facets of the actress’s life, she lays bare little-known details about Parveen’s doomed romances, her obsession with the spiritual guide who advised her to quit films, the tumultuous years of battling mental illness and her tragic, untimely demise. Rich with insights from the star’s friends, former lovers and colleagues, this compelling narrative captures the nuances of an extraordinary life – the highs and lows of finding fame, love and solace, and then, in the end, losing it all.

The Final Whistle: Life and Times of K D Singh 'Babu'

by Kunwar Raghavendra Singh

When one talks about the game of hockey the name of K D Singh 'Babu' leaves all others behind. 'The Final Whistle' covers his life on and off the field right from his early days. He was a hockey player who had no parallel. This biography is all about what went through his life, a life full of dramatic events. No hockey player in the world caught the attention of sports critics as he did. He had magic in his stick and most often sports commentators were at a loss of words to describe his superlative game. His game was a commentator's delight. When unable to describe his wizardry a sports reporter could only express 'But the best brains of the FBI, if enlisted, would have been unable to put manacles on this all time great inside forward'. Former New Zealand Captain C V Walter was more candid when he wrote ' So Great was 'Babu' that not even the umpires could stop him, desperately hard though they tried at times'. The mere news of his participation in any match used to spread like wildfire and fans would rush and swarm the arena to see him play.Right from 1937 when he made his first public appearance he dominated the headlines for more than twenty years. He was the main architect of the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Gold's and in recognition of his wizardry he was awarded the coveted 'World Helms Trophy' for being the best athlete of Asia and best hockey player of world. He was the first Indian to be honoured so.He was a multi-talented sportsman and a big game hunter who knew the ways of a tiger as well as how to pierce through a packed defense. Likened to the great magician Harry Houdini for his great escapes through tightest rings of defenders 'The Final Whistle' is a graphic narration of his unbelievable game that dazzled world opponents.

Refine Search

Showing 23,701 through 23,725 of 23,865 results