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Finding A Purpose In Life: 26 People Who Inspired The World
There is a pilgrim soul in all of us, an inner searching that continues throughout our lives For lack of a purpose, millions in despair seek refuge in unbridled consumerism, drugs, alcohol, crime or antisocial behaviour. From times immemorial, man has striven to know his place in this bewildering world, find a direction and pursue a purpose higher than his own advancement. In this book, R.M. Lala addresses these issues through the medium of great lives like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Schweitzer, Emperor Asoka, Vinoba Bhave, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Narayana and Sudha Murthy and others. He highlights the difference between ambition and purpose, career and purpose, and indicates how understanding this lies at the core of understanding oneself. This inspirational and motivational work shows how each of us can find a purpose satisfying to ourselves and meaningful to others.
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But You Don't Look Like A Muslim
What does it mean to be Muslim in India?What does it mean to look like one's religion?Does one's faith determine how one is perceived?Is there a secular ideal one is supposed to live up to?Can people of different faiths have a shared culture, a shared identity?India has, since time immemorial, been plural, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual, where various streams have fed into and strengthened each other, and where dissimilarities have always been a cause for rejoicing rather than strife. These writings, on and about being Muslim in India, by Rakhshanda Jalil - one of the country's foremost literary historians and cultural commentators - excavate memories, interrogate dilemmas, and rediscover and celebrate a nation and its syncretic culture. But You Don't Look Like a Muslim is a book that every thinking Indian must read.
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Shooting For A Century
The India-Pakistan rivalry has been labeled as intractable. In thirty-five years this armed standoff will be a century old and the chances of realizing that dubious anniversary seem quite good. The rivalry is one reason why South Asia remains the least integrated region in the world. Shooting for a Century is the first comprehensive survey of the deep historical, cultural and strategic differences that make it probable this conflict will endure, despite many efforts by the international community to resolve it. Stephen Cohen draws on his rich and varied experiences in South Asia and develops a comprehensive theory of why the dispute is intractable and suggests ways in which it may be ameliorated. In the past fifteen years the stakes have become higher for both countries: each has acquired nuclear weapons and had multiple crises and Pakistan has shown signs of failure. Ironically, India is booming, but the time for normalization may not have come yet and there are groups on both sides that would oppose it. Can the two states resolve the many territorial and identity issues that divide them? Are there possibilities for their cooperation on one level, even if antagonisms remain? Should normalization from the bottom up be encouraged or do they have to agree on resolving strategic conflicts first? Cohen provides an authoritative and instructive examination of these and similarly important topics.
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Dead Ends
A devious collection of short stories from the master of misdirection, featuring appearances from Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw. Amongst the dead ends … A murder at a crime writers' conference. The method is entirely literary, the motive seems obvious – but can the detective who was first on scene puzzle out what's between the lines? Amongst the misdirections … An intelligence analyst has the chance to get out from behind the desk and do some real spy work. But as he enters the field, he begins to realise just how out of his depth he is … Somewhere lies the truth. A brilliant sleuth, obsessed with Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries, turns his attention to a serial killer targeting women in New York's Central Park. But as his deductions bring him closer to his prey he starts to wonder who is doing the hunting …
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Duryodhana
Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, the arch enemies of the Pandavas Duryodhana, the warrior who stood up for Karna when he was insulted for the circumstance of his birth Duryodhana, the son of the king of Hastinapur and the prince who would have ascended the throne if not for his cousin Yudhisthira Duryodhana, the one who sought to undress Draupadi in the court of Hastinapura. Since the time the tale of the Mahabharata has been told, the world has unquestioningly seen Duryodhana as the man whose deviousness and greed for power brought on the battle of Kurukshetra. However, any war is fought with both the sides believing that they are justified in fighting it. So must have been the case with the Kauravas. In Duryodhana, V. Raghunathan explores the circumstances and motivations that prompted the Kaurava prince to take the path that he did and finds a man as sinned against as sinning.
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Making a Killing
*Contains an exclusive Adam Fawley short story* From the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Tiktok sensation MURDER IN THE FAMILY and the DI Adam Fawley series comes a brand new gripping crime thriller about a figure from the past
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Job Be Damned
Do you think you’re a hardworking professional who has a lot to offer? Are your ideas brighter than everyone else’s in your team? Did you deserve a standing ovation after your last performance appraisal? Even if the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, do you still find yourself trailing behind corporate losers – the devil boss who takes all the credit; the slimy politician who stole your promotion; the sweet-talking weasel whom everyone seems to love? Job Be Damned is the kick in the backside that you so desperately need. This book recognizes that you are an average employee and ensures that, by the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be the best average employee there can be. You will gain a unique perspective to help navigate every tricky workplace situation–and unmatched bullshit-doling and handling capabilities to wing it through your spectacularly unexciting job. After all, isn’t that what corporate success is all about?
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Wild Fictions Essays
'We owe a great debt to Ghosh's brilliant mind, avenging pen and huge soul' --- Naomi Klein 'Urgent, beautiful and far-reaching . . . it should be essential reading' --- The Times Literary Supplement on The Nutmeg's Curse 'Consistently stimulating' --- The Guardian on The Great Derangement 'He has surpassed many historians in his ability to synthesize a wealth of research with remarkable intellectual clarity' --- The Times on Smoke and Ashes
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Dear Stranger You Deserve To Be Loved
Dear Stranger, Everything we do in life is for love. Why? I don't know. Maybe love is what keeps us going. Maybe love is the means and ends to this life. Maybe the Universe runs on love. Whatever may be the reason, love is what we all demand, and love is what we all want. But very often, we find ourselves without love. Some of us have lost love, some of us have lost ourselves in love and some of us don't believe in love. And for so many of us, it's worse because we don't feel we deserve to be loved. Right? I know how it feels to feel unloved for many years. I know how difficult it is to find light, hope, and healing amidst the darkness, pain, and suffering. And that is why I'm writing you again. Thirty letters and poems of realizations and lessons about loving yourself, loving others, and loving the world. I am with you and I am rooting for you. Let's do this together? Shall we, my dear stranger? Love and light, A stranger who knows you.
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A Death in Cornwall
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLER A brutal murder, a missing masterpiece, a mystery only Gabriel Allon can solve… Acclaimed internationally bestselling author Daniel Silva returns with the year’s most anticipated new thriller. Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception at the Courtauld Gallery celebrating the return of a stolen self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary. The victim is Charlotte Blake, a celebrated professor of art history from Oxford who spends her weekends in the same seaside village where Gabriel once lived under an assumed identity. Her murder appears to be the work of a diabolical serial killer who has been terrorizing the Cornish countryside. But there are a number of telltale inconsistencies, including a missing mobile phone. And then there is the mysterious three-letter cypher she left behind on a notepad in her study. Gabriel soon discovers that Professor Blake was searching for a looted Picasso worth more than a $100 million, and he takes up the chase for the painting as only he can – with six Impressionist canvases forged by his own hand and an unlikely team of operatives that includes a world-famous violinist, a beautiful master thief, and a lethal contract killer turned British spy. The result is a stylish and wildly entertaining mystery that moves at lightning speed from the cliffs of Cornwall to the enchanted island of Corsica and, finally, to a breathtaking climax on the very doorstep of 10 Downing Street. Supremely elegant and suspenseful, A Death in Cornwall is Daniel Silva at his best – a dazzling tale of murder, power, and insatiable greed that will hold readers spellbound until they turn the final page.
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The Reappearance of Rachel Price
'The queen of YA crime Holly Jackson returns with a blisteringly good standalone thriller' – Observer 'An instantly gripping, corkscrew-twisty thriller’ – The Guardian 'Holly Jackson has smashed it again.’ – The Nerd Daily A stunning new thriller from the bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder! 18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness. Rachel is gone, presumed dead. The case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. But then Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again … Holly Jackson was 'BookTok Author of the Year' at the 2023 TikTok Book Awards. The Reappearance of Rachel Price was No 1 in the Sunday Times Children’s bestseller listings on Sunday 14/4/2024 and in the New York Times Young Adult Hardcover listings on Wednesday 10/4/2024 Holly Jackson's book 'The Reappearance of Rachel Price' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-04-01.
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Brahmaputra : The Ahom Son Rises - 1
AHOM - THE LAND OF GLORY, BRAVERY, SACRIFICE AND PATRIOTISM. Lachit Borphukan falls in love with Princess Padmini. But her father, Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha, the king of the Ahom kingdom, finds out and throws Lachit out of the capital, Jorhat. A few days later, the Ahom capital is attacked by Aurangzeb's forces. The king signs a truce treaty, thereby ceding part control of his kingdom to the Mughals. For Lachit and his best friend, Prince Chakradhwaj, the terms of the treaty are humiliating. Within days their troubles multiply as a prince from a kingdom loyal to the Ahoms misleads other minor kingdoms and attacks Jorhat. As Lachit and Prince Chakradhwaj defend the capital, this battle has the power to change the future of the Ahom kingdom forever. Can Lachit, Prince Chakradhwaj and Princess Padmini restore the honour of the Ahoms by defeating the rebels and breaking free from the Mughal stranglehold?
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Rani Laxmibai-Warrior-Queen of Jhansi
RANI LAXMIBAI was a capable ruler, an intelligent communicator, and defender of the faith. She was sagacious when it came to her people and astute in dealing with her enemies. The widowed Queen had to repeatedly face gruelling challenges but drew strength from adversity, relying on her sense of justice, her dignity, and her magnanimity. She never surrendered to destiny, choosing instead to shape her own life. The British annexed Rani Laxmibai's kingdom, took away her political rights, and humiliated her. But she valiantly fought the foreign power and died a hero. Written after extensive research, this book portrays the making of a remarkable queen. Rani Laxmibai, the brave warrior-queen, remains a source of inspiration to us all.
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Indian Controversies
Ayodhya / Babri Mosque / Islam and Iconoclasm / Rushdie / Freedom of Speech / The Versed Themselves / Jinnah / Sir Syed Ahmed Khan / Terrorism / Kashmir / Article 370 / Punjab / Incitement / Appeasement / Restoring Dialogue / Jamia Milia Islamia / 'Rushdie The Second' / Bible / Literal Interrancy / Papal Infallability / Milleniarism / Fundamentalism / Taking offence / True Secularism / Reason / Evidence / Abuse / Law / Consitution / Enforcement / Fundamental Duties / Rights / Shah Bano / Shariah / Quran / Jesus / Mohammed / Kafirs / People of the Book / Sole Spokesmen /
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100 Best Letters 1847-1947
A.O. Hume accept Allahabad Ambedkar Amritsar Annie Besant army arrested Ashram Attlee August B.R. Ambedkar became believe Bengal Bombay British Government brother Calcutta Churchill Committee Congress leaders Council Cripps Curzon Dear Delhi Dominion Duleep educated elected England English faith feel freedom give Government of India governor Hindus honour hope Ibid independence Jawaharlal Nehru Jhansie Jinnah joined Khan Khilafat Labour Lahore Lajpat Rai Legislative letter living London Lord Mountbatten Madras Maharaja Mahatma Gandhi Mahomedans matter Mountbatten movement Muslim League native non-cooperation officers organisation Pakistan Patel political present president Press prime minister prisoners province Punjab Rabindranath Tagore Ramakrishna References regard religion religious resigned resolution revolutionaries Round Table Conference rulers Savarkar Scheduled Castes Secretary Sikhs Simla Singh Subhas Chandra Bose Swami Swaraj Swaraj Party Syed Ahmad Tilak uprising Urdu Vivekananda Wahabee Wavell write wrote
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100 Best Pre-Independence Speeches,1870-1947
The hundred years spanning the latter part of the 19th century upto the first five decades of the 20th century was one of the most dramatic and historically important periods in India. The Mutiny of 1857, the freedom struggle, the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, leading to the fateful night of freedom in 1947. This volume embodies the 100 best speeches of the period, representing all shades of opinion and facets of Indian life, that is both a source of historical reference as well as of inspiration.
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Independence
THREE SISTERS. THEIR UNBREAKABLE BOND. AND A NATION ABOUT TO BE BORN. Here is a river... Here is a village... Here is a grand old mansion... Here is the country that contains them all... India. August, 1946. Everything is about to change. Priya, Jamini and Deepa, Dr Nabakumar Ganguly's daughters, live in Ranipur, Bengal, safe from the rising turbulence in the country. When their father is killed on Direct Action Day, their world turns upside-down. Priya, the youngest, intelligent and idealistic, is determined to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, no matter how difficult. She is fortunate to have the support of zamindar Somnath Chowdhury, her father's best friend. Jamini, devout, dutiful and talented, helps her mother stitch kanthas to make ends meet. Hungering for affection even as she is resentful of her sisters, she nurses a secret desire. Beautiful Deepa, the eldest, all set to marry well, falls in love with Raza, Youth Leader at the Muslim League, and must face the consequences. When India is partitioned, the sisters find themselves separated from one another, afraid of what will happen to not only themselves, but also each other. It is only then that they understand what it means to be independent, and the price one has to pay for it. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's powerful new novel is a moving story of loyalty and love, nationhood and sisterhood, set against India's independence movement, at once exhilarating and devastating. -- 'A spellbinding saga of the decolonization and partition of the Indian subcontinent, with a cast of vividly drawn, compelling characters.' AMITAV GHOSH 'A national movement unsettles a country. Only a powerful imagination can recreate how profoundly it changes three women's lives.' NAYANTARA SAHGAL
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The Last Queen
An unforgettable story about the fearless, much-feared queen whom history seems to have forgotten.' Shabana Azmi Daughter of the royal kennel keeper, the beautiful Jindan Kaur went on to become Maharaja Ranjit Singh's youngest and last queen, his favourite. She became regent when her son, Dalip, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne. Sharp-eyed, stubborn, passionate, and dedicated to protecting her son's heritage, Jindan fought hard to keep the British from annexing Punjab. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British imprisoned and exiled the rebel queen. But that did not crush her indomitable will. An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, and a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's unforgettable novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, an inspiration for our times.
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How to Get What You Want Out of Life
First published over 30 years ago, this text provides advice, fresh inspiration and new approaches to the most important problems in life, showing how to make the most effective use of your present and potential capabilities.
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Almond
This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. One of the monsters is me. Yunjae was born with a brain condition called alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother provide him with a safe and con- tent life. On Christmas Eve—Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday—everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school, and the two develop a surprising bond. As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life at risk, Yunjae will have the chance to step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become the hero of his own story.
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Mahagatha-100 Tales from the Puranas
The Puranas of Hinduism are a universe of wisdom, embodying a fundamental quest for answers that makes them forever relevant. Now, for the first time, 100 of the greatest mythological tales from these ancient texts have been handpicked and compiled into an epic illustrated edition. Besides popular legends of devas, asuras, sages and kings, Satyarth Nayak has dug up lesser-known stories, like the one where Vishnu is beheaded or where Saraswati curses Lakshmi or where Harishchandra tricks Varuna. Nayak also recounts these 100 tales in a unique chronological format, beginning with Creation in Satya Yuga and ending with the advent of Kali Yuga. Using Puranic markers, he constructs a narrative that travels through the four yugas, offering continuous and organic action. In such a reading, it is revealed that these stories are not isolated events but linked to each other in the grand scheme of things. That every occurrence has a past and a future. A cause and effect. An interconnected cycle of karma and karma-phal. Delving into the minds of gods, demons and humans alike, Mahagatha seeks a deeper understanding of their motivations. The timelessness of their impulses speaks across the aeons to readers of today. Written in lively prose with charming illustrations, these 100 tales will entertain and enlighten, and make you connect the dots of Hindu mythology like never before.
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Razor Sharp
A baffling crime. A rundown ex-cop. But he's their best bet. A city on edge A ruthless serial killer stalks the streets of Mumbai, leaving behind a gruesome trail of tortured victims. As the city reels in terror, the authorities grapple with a vital question: What links these seemingly random targets? A dogged investigator Enter Prakash Kadam, once a decorated cop but now an angry, bitter wreck of a man haunted by his past. Summoned to put an end to the madness, he finds himself neck-deep in an investigation mired in police sluggishness and antiquated forensics. A deadly game As old enmities resurface and perplexing twists in the case push him to the limit, can Kadam find the killer before it is too late? Or will he lose someone close to him---again? With Razor Sharp, the first book in an exciting new series, Ashwin Sanghi demonstrates yet again his undisputed mastery at weaving complex, gripping thrillers that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
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Idols : Unearthing the Power of Murti Puja
Why do people worship idols? Why does idol worship stubbornly persist despite many centuries of prejudice, bigotry and violence against it? Can such worship help us find our true purpose in life and ultimately attain peace and prosperity? In Idols, a companion volume to the bestselling Dharma, your favourite fictional characters are back, along with some new ones, to explore the essence and true meaning of murti puja. In this insightful and thought-provoking book, Amish and Bhavna tackle burning questions about idol worship through simple, varied and astute interpretations of myths and religious texts. They unearth the symbolic essence of Ishta Devata, dive into the benefits of bhakti and tackle the importance of religion for people and society. In the process, they reveal the expansive philosophy behind the practice and how it can lead us to experience—intellectually, ideologically and, most importantly, in our hearts—the Oneness of God, through transformation, acceptance and love.
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Traitors Gate
4 hours to stop the crime of the century The race against time is about to begin… THE TOWER OF LONDON… Impenetrable. Well protected. Secure. Home to the most valuable jewels on earth. But once a year, the Metropolitan Police must execute the most secret operation in their armoury when they transport the Crown Jewels across London. SCOTLAND YARD… For four years, Chief Superindendent William Warwick – together with his second-in-command Inspector Ross Hogan – has been in charge of the operation. And for four years it’s run like clockwork. THE HEIST… But this year, everything is about to change. Because master criminal Miles Faulkner has set his heart on pulling off the most outrageous theft in history – and with a man on the inside, the odds are in his favour.