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Arabs Unseen(Arabic)
by Mohammed Mahfoodh AlardhiArabs 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 KanwarONGC: 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 PonvannanMeet 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 KumarMeet 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 KumarTHE 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 AlimchandKnown 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 SinghWhen 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.
Salman Khan: The Man, The Actor, The Legend
by Devapriya SanyalA name that's synonymous with packed theatres shouting his name and crowds of young men cheering for him, Salman Khan has been reigning in the popular imagination for three decades now. However, superstardom came with its share of troubles. Salman has found himself in the news once too often, almost as though he were controversy's favourite child. Endlessly discussed as well as criticised, he is an object of adulation, fantasy and reverence in the cultural space. Tabloid pieces, stories and gossip-all tend to collapse him into a formula, making him lose his exclusivity when he is one of a kind.Salman Khan: The Man, The Actor, The Legend offers new perspectives on cinema and the peculiar glow of this star's superstardom in a consumerist society. It cuts through the many layers of his personality, the gossip and the rumours to focus on the star's aesthetic formulation-on what exactly it is about film and television, the star system and the capitalistic society that make him such a huge icon. It looks into Salman Khan, the phenomenon, in-depth, considering there have been fewer enquiries dedicated to charting his stardom than some of his contemporaries. A fascinating account of one of Bollywood's towering figures, this is a candid portrait of Salman Khan-the man and the superstar-and what makes this legend thrive across generations.
The Real Modi: The Man Who Would be Prime Minister
by Arvind ChaturvediWho were the people who accompanied Narendra Modi in his baraat?Who introduced him to cricket, a sport he loved playing?What was his first responsibility after joining the RSS in Ahmedabad? Who imparted the first lessons in savings to Modi? What was the fate of the tape recorder that was gifted to him by his guru?Why did Modi never allow Shankersinh Vaghela to ride his scooter?What was the secret that stopped Modi from not being apprehended during the Indian Emergency?Peppered with anecdotes and personal interviews, The Real Modi narrates several aspects of Narendra Modi's life, which were hitherto unknown to the public at large. It reveals several stories related to the Indian Prime Minister's childhood days, the friends and mentors during his growing-up years, his initial struggles, his political education, the travails during Emergency, his entry into Indian politics and many more. A thrilling read, this is an account of Modi's life experiences before becoming the prime minister and the lessons and wisdom that he gathered on the way. Sales Points
Nabarun Bhattacharya: Aesthetics and Politics in a World after Ethics
by Sourit Bhattacharya Arka Chattopadhyay Samrat SenguptaThe book aims to introduce the Bengali writer (1948-2014) to a global audience through some of his short stories and poems in English translation and a series of critical essays on his works. A political commitment to literature frames Nabarun Bhattacharya's aesthetic project and the volume wishes to tease out the various perspectives on this complex meeting of politics and aesthetics. Be it the novel on dogs or those on petro-pollution and the machine, the political question in Nabarun echoes significant contemporary issues, such as animal rights, global warming and techno-capitalism. This opens up the possibility of questioning the traditional paradigm of humanist values in a world of catastrophic and violent encounters such as nuclear war or holocaust, which keeps returning in Nabarun's works.
Sweets and Bitters: Tales from a Chef's Life
by Satish Arora Chandrima PalRegarded in the culinary world as the man who put Indian food on the fine-dining map, Satish Arora is known for reimagining traditional dishes in a contemporary avatar. He has been feted by connoisseurs and food historians for his contribution to Indian cuisine that, until his arrival, was considered too pedestrian to be put on a five-star menu.In 1970, when twenty-six-year-old Arora was chosen to lead the Taj Palace kitchen in Mumbai, he became the youngest executive chef in the world. What followed was an exemplary career spanning fifty years, creating innovative dishes for the world's biggest celebrities and dignitaries. From Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Clinton and Amitabh Bachchan, Arora has served them all. Arora's extraordinary life is also a story of the evolution of five-star hospitality in India. Through his sense of humour, phenomenal memory and bagful of stories Sweets and Bitters offers delicious peeks into the most well-guarded food secrets of celebrities and heads of states, in the process memorialising culinary milestones in India.
The Water Phoenix: A memoir of childhood abuse, healing and forgiveness
by Rituparna ChatterjeeWhen Rituparna suddenly loses her mother at the age of five, she is shipped off to a trusted relative so she can grow up in a loving family. Instead, she finds herself bullied, sexually abused and has the first of several near-death-experiences. She grows up unsure of where love ends and cruelty begins and struggling to process the world without the dark lens of abuse. The acute anxiety, panic attacks, and severe depression follow her from boarding school to her move to Silicon Valley After her sense of reality is shaken by series of unexplained events, she, an atheist, finds her way to healing in the most unexpected quarters – looking within and opening herself up to a series of surreal spiritual events. How does she cope with what has happened to her? And how does she heal and find her way into a truly fulfilling life? Haunting, evocative and brave, Rituparna Chatterjee's groundbreaking magic realism memoir The Water Phoenix gives voice to the countless victims of abuse who still find it difficult to speak of their trauma in today's India. Most of all, The Water Phoenix is the story of transcending trauma and coming home to oneself.
Jinnah: A Life
by Yasser Latif HamdaniWas Jinnah the sole driving force behind the Partition of India? Or was he a champion of Islam who stood for a new Islamic renaissance?Mahomed Ali Jinnah started his political career in the Congress as a staunch Indian nationalist. He believed in secular politics and was opposed to bringing religion into it. He was known as an ambassador of Hindu–Muslim unity. So why did he, towards the end of his career, initiate the creation of a separate Muslim-state?This new biography provides the answers while casting fresh light on Jinnah's character, his personal life, his political and legal careers, his relationship with Gandhi, Nehru as well as his disagreements with their ideas. Carefully examining the major events of his life – from early childhood to his first speech as President of the All India Muslim League – Yasser Latif Hamdani presents a complex and compelling portrait of Jinnah who is often narrowly regarded as a votary of a theocratic Islamic state.Based on extensive research and a wealth of archival material, Hamdani has revealed those traits of Jinnah’s personality that made him the most misunderstood leader of his times. He also comments on how religious zealots have turned Pakistan into an Islamic Republic contrary to Jinnah's vision.
J. Krishnamurti: A Life of Compassion beyond Boundaries
by Roshen DalalAmong the most famous visionaries of our times, J. Krishnamurti (1895–1986) continues to transform thought, lifestyles, and education across continents more than three decades after his death. In this new biography, tracing the nine long decades of his life, from his growing-up years, his relationships to his writings and talks, Roshen Dalal provides a much-needed corrective – an objective and balanced view of his legacy. Adopted by Theosophists at the age of fourteen, and proclaimed a world teacher and messiah, in 1929, Krishnamurti dissolved the Order of the Star created for him and went on to develop his own philosophy. What is it about his ideas that draws the following of generations of people? Delivered to a divided world then, what makes his message so relevant now? While his ideas on education are idealistic, why do they continue to be everlasting in their contribution and appeal? Krishnamurti’s vision is of a world without boundaries or wars, a world where compassion and goodness predominate, and his message is that such a world can be arrivedat only through individual transformation.B24 There is no direct path to transformation, yetthrough intense perception and understanding, it is possible to achieve this goal. Carefully reconstructing the events and extracting the essence of his talks, Dalal dispels several myths, explains his teachings, andreveals the underlying theosophical and occult influence in Krishnamurti’s life. Here is the most complete biography yet, of one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century.
An Incomplete Life: The Autobiography
by Vijaypat Singhania‘I’m trying to accept that my life has changed.’ In February 2015, an unforeseen setback cost Vijaypat Singhania, the erstwhile Chairman Emeritus of Raymond Group, the work of his life and his cherished family home. One of India’s most legendary industrialists, today he is fighting a battle to recover all that he has lost. In his first and only autobiography, he traces his extraordinary life from an anguished childhood to the many dynamic decades he spent at Raymond and the tumultuous years after. Born into the famed Singhania family, Vijaypat was always expected to take up the storied family business. But not one to be deterred from pursuing his own passions, he also nurtured his love for adventure in the skies and broke two world records as an aviator, served a brief stint as a professor and even became the sheriff of Mumbai for a time. All the while, under his stewardship, the Raymond Group diversified into new segments, with Raymond soon being recognized as one of India’s most trusted apparel brands. And then a singular misstep set in motion a grave misfortune … Intimate, candid and deeply moving, An Incomplete Life is in fact a rare glimpse into a life lived to the fullest but marked by the painful sting of regret and heartbreaks.
A Taste of My Life: A Memoir in Essays and Recipes
by Chitrita BanerjiChitrita Banerji is an absolute master of the difficult art of writing autobiographically about food' Amitav Ghosh ‘A book of complex flavours: by turns sad and joyous’ Arvind Krishna Mehrotra'A delightful anthology by a gifted writer' Pushpesh PantFrom a two-time winner of a Sophie Coe Award in Food HistoryOne of the most celebrated culinary historians of our time, Chitrita Banerji grew up in a Calcutta home devoted to food. From there she went to Harvard as a graduate student, then to Dhaka soon after the 1971 India–Pakistan war, and later returned to the US, the passage of these years inspiring a fecund writing career.In this memoir, styled like a three-course meal with an ironic twist, she offers an absorbing portrait of a life that has intermingled with food in moving and unexpected ways. Through vividly evoked repasts with family, and other meaningful gastronomic encounters in settings both personal and political, Banerji reveals how food has played a defining role in her experiences of love, adventure, conflict, loss and reconciliation. In the process, she introduces us to those dishes and drinks most special to her – Kadam Bhai’s duck bhuna, her father’s favourite tea, winter treats such as narkel naru, a chicken sandwich from memoryland – and charms us throughout with her sublime and enchanting prose.
Getting there
by Manjula PadmanabhanLate 1970s, Bombay. Manjula is in her twenties, struggling to earn a living as an author- illustrator. Then, a deceptively routine visit to a diet clinic and an encounter with two tall Dutch men turn her life inside out. Without much ado she speeds off on a Westward-bound spiritual quest, which involves cheating on her boyfriend, lying to everyone she loves and cutting off all ties with her safe, respectable, bourgeois Indian upbringing. In this picaresque travel memoir, novelist, cartoonist and award-winning playwright Manjula Padmanabhan looks back on her youthful misadventures in Europe. By turns funny and fierce, Getting There will touch anyone who has ever wanted to strip off their skin to waltz, however briefly, on the wild side.
India’s Greatest Minds: Spiritual Masters, Philosophers, Reformers
by Mukunda RaoIndian spirituality, from solemn sages to irreverent rebels.A plethora of religions, cultures, languages and peoples have over the ages nurtured a plurality of ideas, beliefs, influences and practices thriving in India. In India's Greatest Minds, Mukunda Rao takes readers on an exhilarating, exhaustive journey through the lives and teachings of India's most illustrious spiritual masters, thinker-activists and philosophers, making their wisdom accessible to all.Beginning from 700 BCE to the present day, moving across the length and breadth of the subcontinent, and covering every significant school of thought, Rao provides a comprehensive view of the trajectory of Indian thought as it developed over centuries, enriching minds and shaping modern discourse. Whether tackling profound questions on the meaning of life or plunging into the restless urgency of social reform, this book showcases an intellectual and cultural heritage that is uniquely Indian.From Kapila, Patanjali, Buddha and Mahavira to Andal, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Bulleh Shah and Chaitanya, and from Shishunala Sharifa, Ramakrishna and Vemana to Birsa Munda, Tagore, Gandhi and Ambedkar - the profiles of luminaries in this invaluable compendium will inspire and elevate its readers. Rich in both essence and detail, this treasury celebrates the individuals who rebelled against existing conventions and transcended every divide in their quest for enlightenment, transforming themselves and the world along the way.
Thomas Chandy: A Life Well Lived, A Man Much Loved
by Dr Monica Thomas ChandyThis book is a tribute to a man, who was born and raised in an unassuming Kerala town; rose up the corporate ladder, only to leave it all behind to help found Save The Children India, working towards better living and rights for the most vulnerable children of India. The book brings together many memories and anecdotes, shared by family, friends, colleagues, industry doyens, corporate heads, intellectuals and theologians, who knew him, loved him, or who held his work ethics and life principles in high regard.
The Power of Hope: The Autobiography of a Cancer Centre
by Dr Digpal DharkarIn 1987, Dr Digpal Dharkar, freshly trained at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, dreamt of setting up a world-class institution for head and neck oncology that offered the latest cancer treatment, particularly to the indigent in India, where cancer is the second-and fourth-highest killer of adults across urban and rural areas. With a majority of people in rural areas facing economic difficulties only a few were able to afford cancer treatment and often diagnosis was left until it was too late, leading to unnecessary fatalities. With grave hurdles to overcome and the odds stacked against him, Dr Dharkar summoned his deep resolve - and the commitment of like-minded medical professionals - to establish a charitable trust, the Indore Cancer Foundation (ICF), which would help make a difference in head and neck cancer care in India. Inspiring and deeply moving, The Power of Hope is the compelling tale of Dr Dharkar's journey into the depths of human empathy and a testimony to just how much we can achieve if only we hold on to hope.
R.N Kao: Gentleman Spymaster
by Nitin A GokhaleSomewhere deep in the archives of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) in the heart of New Delhi lies a set of papers that researchers and historians interested in recording the history of Indian intelligence, would love to get their hands on. Alas, those documents-transcripts of tape-recorded conversations with RN Kao, the legendary spy chief-are not going to be available until 2025, according to instructions left by him, months before he passed away in 2002. So until those tapes and papers are made public, any biography of Rameshwar Nath Kao or 'Ramji' to friends, colleagues and family would have to depend on personal memories of a vast array of individuals who knew him in different capacities and their interpretation of his personality and contribution.
Beyond Charity: 10 Years of Oxfam India
by Savvy Soumya MisraOxfam has been in India for nearly seventy years-provided aid in cash and kind for those who needed it the most, supported grassroots movements and activists, and fought for the rights of the Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims and women.Over the years, its focus has shifted to building strong communities, empowering women to smash patriarchal social norms, rehabilitate survivors of natural and man-made disasters, and make communities sustainable.In 2008, Oxfam India became an Indian NGO, and this book takes stock of the first ten years of Oxfam India. It is the story of Oxfam India's work through stories of people – people who worked at Oxfam, people who worked with Oxfam, and people who Oxfam made a difference to.It is a story of change told through people, rather than through economic and social theories.
The Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story
by Vijay Lokapally G. KrishnanFrom his cricket debuts in 2007 and 2013 respectively, Rohit Gurunath Sharma has grown to be one of the vital pillars of the Indian cricket team. A modern-day entertainer who refused to compromise his approach to batting, his contribution to India's domination in one-day cricket and victories in the Premier League is indisputable. This is the story of his journey, of the years of hard work and the confidence that has allowed him to keep his place in the team--and his amazing capacity to come up with big scores. His combination of aggression and caution, his lazy elegance and his deadly shots have brought a whiff of fresh air to the cricket field.The Hitman is the riveting account of a batsman, who has always chosen to play on his own terms, from two of India's best-known cricket writers, Vijay Lokapally and G. Krishnan.