Showing Books By Publisher : Rupa Publications

The Blue Umbrella

?The Umbrella was like a flower, a great blue flower that had sprung up on the dry brown hillside.' In exchange for her lucky leopard's claw pendant, Binya acquires a beautiful blue umbrella that makes her the envy of everyone in her village, especially Ram Bharosa, the shop-keeper. Ruskin Bond's short and humorous novella, set in the picturesque hills of Garhwal, perfectly captures life in a village, where both heroism and redemption can be found.

Veer Savarkar

If India looks forward to its 75th year of Independence, it is also looking at 75 years of the country’s partition. Perhaps the biggest human tragedy of the twentieth century, it was marked by unparalleled violence that was suppressed by interested parties for their own political and ideological reasons. In the analysis of the real factors that led to Partition lies the lesson to protect India’s unity and integrity, as exemplified by the relentless but unsuccessful attempt by Veer Savarkar to prevent the birth of Pakistan. Arguably the greatest symbol of India’s national integration, Savarkar’s warnings on the threats to India’s security have come true in the past seven decades. Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition uncovers Savarkar, the thinker and the father of India’s national security who has shown the best possible pathway towards one nation that rises above religious, caste and regional feelings. It also proves the falsity of charges levelled against Savarkar from time to time and exposes the motives behind them. It reveals, for the first time, the manner in which the Narendra Modi-led government has implemented Savarkar’s national security and diplomatic vision.

Boys Will Be Boys

But Miss Gamla did not like small boys. Or big boys, for that matter. She placed us high on her list of pests, along with monkeys (who raided her kitchen), sparrows (who shattered her sweetpeas) and goats (who ate her geraniums). We did none of these things, being strictly fun-loving creatures; but we did make a lot of noise, spoiling her afternoon siesta.’ We often look back at our time as children and think about them as the good old days—days full of mischief, wonder, curiosity and adventure. These are the days when we form lifelong bonds and make memories that become our balm on the hard days that life throws at us. These are the carefree days of galivanting, letting your imagination run wild and formulating grand plans. In Boys Will Be Boys, Ruskin Bond puts together a collection of stories and personal essays that capture the magical days of childhood. From adventures with wild animals and running amuck in ponds to finding ways of surviving algebra, a world of adventure awaits!

The Very Best Of R.K. Narayan: Timeless Malgudi

Over a career spanning seven decades, R.K. Narayan, easily one of the most influential and important writers of India, populated the fictional town of Malgudi with a host of unforgettable characters: Swami and his gang of friends, the Talkative Man, Raju the guide and Sampath the printer, among many others. These characters have carved out a place for themselves in popular imagination and live on, still fresh and endlessly entertaining, many decades after they first appeared.Timeless Malgudi brings together a selection of the best and the most enduring of R.K. Narayan's fiction and nonfiction. The Guide examines, with wit and irony, how a man becomes a godman. The story 'A Horse and Two Goats' describes an attempt at crosscultural communication which goes haywire, with hilarious consequences. The excerpt from My Days, Narayan's autobiography, paints a poignant picture of the author's childhood while the 'Misguided Guide' is a cynical, sharply written chronicle of the making of the film.

Indias Parliamentary Democracy On Trial

India is the world s most vibrant and stable democracy. This is largely because of Nehru s vision and firm commitment to parliamentary democracy and his carefully nurturing of it in the formative years. But there is a widespread disenchantment in the country today about parliamentary democracy. Nehru had described the parliament as the highest temple of democracy and the grand inquest of the nation. However, over the years it has been marginalized, devalued and made dysfunctional beyond recognition. The downhill journey began during the Indira Gandhi regime and has continued since then. India s Parliamentary Democracy on Trial analyses these disturbing developments. It takes a close look at the experiences of Western democracies on issues relevant to India. The book provides comprehensive analysis of critical issues and concerns, and suggests well-considered and sound reforms with a view to improving the functioning and time management of parliament and its public image, credibility and relevance. The author argues that this will not be possible unless a stake is created for all political parties in orderly functioning of Parliament. This perceptive, analytical and penetrating book is a must read for parliamentarians, politicians, academics, researchers, media persons, opinion-makers, bureaucrats and civil society

Tiger in the Tunnel

For decades now, Ruskin Bond has been charming us with his captivating stories about life in the hills. For this collection, India’s favourite storyteller has rummaged through his archives and fished out a compilation of some of the pithiest short stories written on the Indian wildlife. From tigers, elephants, mongooses and leopards to jackals, panthers, snakes and cats—Bond covers them all, humble and mighty, in this collection. Bringing together the finest writing by authors such as Rudyard Kipling, C.A. Kincaid, John Eyton, Hugh Allen, among others, this collection will enchant the Bond aficionado and initiate alike.

Words of Glory Inspiring Speeches from the Greates

Didda The Warrior Queen Of Kashmir

Ashish Kaul is a trailblazer and a maverick business leader across media and entertainment spectrum. He is also the representative of a brave new breed of multilingual writers. Ashish’s Hindi novel on Kashmir titled Refugee Camp has been extremely well-received.

Straight to Normal

A communications consultant and former journalist, Sharif D. Rangnekar uses every possible platform—talks, writing and music—to advocate change and garner support for the LGBTQ community. He is the frontman of Friends of Linger, a band that is credited with India’s first dedication to the gay community—‘Head Held High’. He curates the platform ‘Embrace: Music Justice Arts’, which blends art with social justice. He held senior positions at The Economic Times and The Pioneer, before leading Integral PR as its CEO and later as its chairman. He was named PR Professional of The Year 2013 by IPRCCA. Sharif provides counsel in the area of diversity and inclusion in workplace, specific to the LGBTQ community. He is also associated with Open For Business, a global forum that promotes such policies.

Sanath Jayasurya

Very rarely in history does one man shape the sporting fortunes of a nation. Sanath Jayasuriya quite clearly achieved that with just his forearms, but after a prolonged delay. He used his forearms to just whip the ball at will and then turned his arm over with the ball to leave behind a legacy that will be hard to emulate. For a nation yearning to break into the big league, it required just the unorthodoxy of Sanath to break away from the past. When lights shone brightly over Sri Lanka at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, it was all down to the brilliance of this young man from Matara. While he made a name for himself as a rebel with a cause, he did change tracks later to take on roles quite alien to his nature as captain, chairman of selectors, politician and minister. But while success proved easier as a foot soldier, the rise in the ranks was not always that profitable. This is the story of that man.

Mann Ki Baat A Social Revolution on Radio

Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popular and ubiquitous monthly radio address has developed into a tour de force in itself. The programme that began on Vijaya Dashami in 2014 (3rd October) has gone on for more than fifty episodes and counting! Given its stupendous success, there has been considerable curiosity about the origins of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the idea behind it and the mind of the man behind the inspiring voice that has been reaching millions every month. In times when visual content dominates communication, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has become one of the most popular programmes in the history of radio, not just in India but also worldwide. How did this happen? What are the behind-the-scenes stories that made this happen? This book answers these questions and more. This book displays the common thread of positivity and optimism that Prime Minister Modi has woven through his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and how this thread has been picked up by common Indians and turned into a mass movement. This is a rare and exclusive opportunity for readers to discover the unknown facets of the Prime Minister’s thinking and beliefs related to ‘Mann Ki Baat’, revealed by him to the authors of the book. The insights that emerge from the transcripts of the radio address are the most important contribution of this book. The interesting anecdotes shared by the members of the Prime Minister’s core team and people from All India Radio and MyGov quench people’s curiosity about the minute but interesting details of how the idea of a radio programme came up, how the name and frequency were decided and how the format was chalked out, among other things.

Ramayana Versus Mahabharata

t is a popular belief that the Ramayana is idealistic, while the Mahabharata is realistic. Yet these two epics have identical building blocks, identical themes, and identical history. In this ground-breaking book, Devdutt Pattanaik, India’s most popular mythologist, explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the two epics in a ‘playful analysis’ accompanied by his signature illustrations. Whether it is the family structure, forest exile, or war, the comparison between the two epics proves a startling point—the Mahabharata is in fact a reaction to the events in the Ramayana. Ideas in this book are distributed over 56 chapters. In temple ritual, Vishnu is offered 8 different meals daily, different on all seven days of the week—56 dishes in all. May each chapter serve as a mouth-watering offering to the Vishnu within you.

DareDreamers A Start-up of Superheroes

India’s first start-up of superheroes with a mission of saving lives is here to kick ass. Rasiq is riding the highs of life thanks to his successes as an investment banker. But his arrogance soon gets the better of him and he ends up losing everything he holds dear. Managing to salvage only his grit from the wreckage, Rasiq reboots his life and teams up with five uniquely talented superheroes to start a rescue venture—DareDreamers. These superheroes—Nick: a crazy inventor; Halka: an inhumanly strong man; Arjun: a champion shooter; Natasha: a Bollywood stunt-double; Dr Vyom, a medical Sherlock Holmes; and, of course, Rasiq: the mastermind—combine their unique talents to deliver spectacular rescue operations. Their skyrocketing success, however, comes at a price—an enemy hell bent on tearing down their fame and reputation. Will DareDreamers defeat its wily adversary? Or will it become yet another failed start-up? Treachery, action and adventure come alive to make DareDreamers a page-turner.

Newsman:Tracking India in the Modi Era

The rise of Narendra Modi has heralded one of the most exciting and contentious periods in Indian politics. From the day he was sworn in as prime minister in May 2014, Mr. Modi has dominated the news cycle, attracting admirers and critics in equal measure. Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition too have slowly begun to find their voice even as the country is conflicted between a billion aspirations and rising mutinies. Who will win the big battle for 2019 as the Indian Political League enters the final stretch? What defines the Modi persona? How will the deep divisions in society be bridged? What are the challenges ahead of a ‘new’ India? And what of the lingering credibility crisis confronting the Indian media? As one of the country’s leading journalists with a ringside view to Indian politics, Rajdeep Sardesai’s incisive analysis of contemporary events decodes the key questions of our times.

Rasia The Dance Of Desire

Two women wait for him at two different ends of the crossroads. He knows which path is his, but he can’t walk that path till he has attended to the other. One perfect couple. An obsessed seductress. A Bharatanatyam show in Manhattan, New York. One hell of a love story. Raj Shekhar Subramanian and Manasi, both Bharatanatyam dancers, are made for each other. Till an obsessed fan, Vatsala Pandit, enters their lives, testing the man’s character and his wife’s patience. But then why does Manasi invite Vatsala to her Bharatanatyam show, for a dance of passion with her husband—the very man vatsala wants to take from her? Why did Shekhar agree to take in Vatsala as his student in the first place? This singular love story deftly explores the many facets of love—mutual trust, obsessiveness, the arrogance of passion, the need for self-fulfilment, the yearning for the beloved and the complexity of modern relationships.

The Chakrata Cat

As the light came on, I saw the cat standing at the foot of the bed, tail erect and hair on end. It was very angry. And then…its appearance changed and its head was that of a human—a woman, black-browed with flaring nostrils and large crooked ears, her lips full and drenched with blood—my blood!This is a collection of some of Ruskin Bond’s most pithy short stories ranging from eerie suspense to touching empathy. There’s a bloodthirsty cat in a colonial rest house; an uncle who carries a vial of deadly arsenic with him; a mysterious woman whose seven husbands have disappeared one after another; and the touching tales of animals in the wilderness and their lonely struggle for survival against humans.Captivating and addictive, The Chakrata Cat will keep you enthralled till the end.

Hit for a Six

Thirteen-year-old Laila is mad about cricket, but ever since her favourite player admitted to match-fixing, she wonders if she could love the game again. All this is complicated further when she discovers that her school is going to be home to the town’s first ever girls’ cricket club. Can her hero’s betrayal and her love for the game coexist? Meanwhile, working on a school project about their town’s historical spots, Laila and her friends stumble upon a series of apparently unrelated questions that point to a mystery just begging to be solved. What is the secret behind the new owners of Laila's erstwhile secret hideout, old mister Marshall's house? Who are the anonymous benefactors who have sponsored the renovation of Laila's school? What is the secret behind the new girl jasmine’s grumpiness and why is she so good at cricket? Laced with a niggling mystery, some nail-biting cricket and a few precarious friendships, this book is sure to leave you asking for more.

The Evolution of Ghalib

One of the most oft-quoted poets of the nineteenth century, Ghalib was an intellectual colossus, whose poetry is imbued with timelessness and universality. Born and brought up in North India, he wrote both in his mother tongue, Urdu and in Persian, the established and privileged language of literature and officialdom. He wrote exquisite prose, but is better known for his poetry, particularly his Urdu ghazals. In The Evolution of Ghalib, the author, Hasan Abdullah, provides a detailed introduction that describes Ghalib’s life history and brings out his persona and situates his work in time and space. He briefly discusses the Urdu language and ghazal as a literary form and familiarizes the reader with the words, symbols and concepts crucial for understanding Ghalib’s poetry. Based on a chronological reading of Ghalib’s Urdu ghazals, the author identifies the different stages and phases of the poet’s development and from each of these phases, selects and interprets verses, including those that differ from the dominant trend, in order to reveal Ghalib’s intellectual evolution. The book aims to make reading and understanding of Ghalib’s Urdu ghazals a pleasurable and enlightening experience.

CHALLENGE YOUR MIND

Derek O’Brien has been synonymous with quizzing for three decades now. Starting as a quizmaster who worked on weekends conducting quizzes, he went from strength to strength and started his own quiz and knowledge company—Derek O’Brien & Associates. Over the years, Derek and his colleagues have conducted tens of thousands of quiz shows. In this book, he has chosen some of the best, most challenging and most informative questions that were asked in his path-breaking and entertaining Bournvita Quiz Contest series, as well as other quizzes conducted in schools. With this book, get ready to learn interesting facts across a range of subjects and to challenge your mind with the incomparable Derek O’Brien.

The School Quiz Book

UP YOUR SALES IN A DOWN MARKET

All you need to know to increase your sales! Can you sell more even when the market is down? The answer from Ron Volper is a big "Yes." As a successful entrepreneur and sales executive with three decades in business, Ron has written an easy-to-follow, hands-on guide that will help sales rookies, struggling reps, and even top-performing salespeople boost their company’s revenues faster than they think is possible. Based on extensive field research with the best-of-the-best sales pros, Up Your Sales in a Down Market offers 20 clearly defined selling strategies, plus hundreds of examples and sample dialogues that teach salespeople and sales managers exactly how to: • Win over cautious customers even in a down market • Overcome customer fears and objections so they are ready to buy • Avoid and bounce back from a sales slump • Prepare and present business presentations that close more and bigger sales • Lead and train sales teams based on the winning habits of top-performing salespeople

Best Stories from Around the World

Best Stories from Around the World is a collection of timeless pieces from the world’s greatest storytellers—Oscar Wilde, O’ Henry, Saki, H.G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and many more. Hailing from different countries such as America, Ireland, the United Kingdom and India, this book is an entertaining consolidation of diverse stories which cover a broad range of topics

JOURNEY DOWN THE YEARS

s a novelist and storyteller, I have always drawn upon my memories of places that I have known and lived in over the years. More than most writers, perhaps, I find myself drawing inspiration from the past—my childhood, adolescence, youth, early manhood... The stories and the poems float in through my window, float in from the magic mountains, and the words appear on the page

RELATIVITY The Special and the General Theory

Along with quantum mechanics in the 1920s, Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (1905) and General Theory of Relativity (1916) stand as the supreme achievements of twentieth-century physics. In simplest terms, the theory of Relativity is an approach to the measurement and study of space and time. The theory assumes that findings are based upon the relation of the frame of