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Celebrating India
For India’s 75th birthday, we trace how our nation came about; what freedom, independence and democracy mean; and how we remain together building a stronger India day by day, through a collection of stories, activities, puzzles, facts, quotes that children can feel and relate to. 75 stories, puzzles, activities, facts and quotes on freedom, Constitution, heroes and festivities. This collector’s book is for every child who wants to understand India through feelings and emotions, one story at a time!
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INDRA-The Rise and Fall of a Hero
here was something unusual in the air. There was no sound, no breeze and time seemed to have stopped as the world waited with bated breath. The eerie silence was unnerving and unsettling. What was this anticipation for? What was the world waiting for? In the stillness of the infinite silence, a mother was waiting in anticipation to give the world its elements. Indra was about to be born. Indra, most popularly known for his power over the rains, has been considered to be a cosmic, dragon-killing hero and a warrior god. So, what makes this warrior hero fall from grace? What makes him insecure, powerless and given to lust and merriment in the post-Vedic era? Indra—the Rise and Fall of a Hero is an attempt to look closely at an erstwhile ‘human-hero’, much maligned in the later period due to the wheel of time, which doesn’t even spare the gods.
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MIS (S) ADVENTURES OF A SALESGIRL
An entertaining plot peppered with quirky characters.' —Tanushree Podder, Author and travel writer ‘Aashisha takes readers on a delightful, hilarious and hard-hitting journey of a saleswoman who manages to make her voice heard amongst the sales pros in the corporate domain.’ —Harshali Singh, author, consumer court judge, academician and painter Life is rosy at twenty-five, with love in the air and red-hot ambition flowing through the veins. Or is it? Ask twenty-five-year-old Enakshi Chatterji, who is uprooted from Delhi and sent to Chennai to work as an intern in the fiercely competitive and heavily male-dominated territory of sales with no place for a city-bred sophisticated girl. Add to that the fact that she doesn’t speak a word of Tamil, and you get a heady cocktail of events that promises to take you on a rollercoaster ride. When a twenty-five-year-old family secret comes back to haunt her, she starts on a course of selfdestruction with a weekend getaway with her stalker, a movie date with her boss and a quest to uncover an old family secret. Will Enakshi be able to battle all the sexual advances, language barriers, male chauvinism, hygiene complications and the scorching Chennai sun, and emerge victorious? Will she finally unearth the truth about her mother? Find out in this thrilling, fast-paced and tumultuous journey how Enakshi learns the hard truths about relationships, life and work while trying to prove herself.
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The Yellow Umbrella
‘What should he be like, this lost man? A romantic, a man with a dream, a man with brown skin and blue eyes, living in a hut on a snowy mountaintop… a man who owed allegiance to no one… who was his own master, who lived at one with nature knowing no fear. But that was not Major Roberts—that was the man I wanted to be.’ It is believed that the foundation of every good relationship—platonic or otherwise—is friendship. The familiarity and ease that grow in friendships is what get many of us through a hard day. But it is not just the long-lasting associations that help us through life; it is also the acquaintances that we collect along the way. People are a sum of parts—of ephemeral yet significant encounters, and enduring and monumental intimacies. What makes a person whole is all the parts of themselves— good, wonderful, bad, ugly. In The Yellow Umbrella, with the story titled the same that has never appeared in print before, Ruskin Bond takes us down memory lane with nuggets from his past. The parts that made him who he is: unattainable love, intriguing friends, sturdy companions and books that help us through a rainy day.
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Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan Volume-3
No Tamil book or novel has been as grandly celebrated and fondly remembered as Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in Tamil literature. This is a story of Prince Arulmolivarman, alias Ponniyin Selvan, who later on ascended the Chola throne. A story of romance, wit and wisdom, suspense, thrill, sacrifice, twists and turns and plots within plots, it has been the most widely read historical fiction. Dr M. Rajaram’s masterly English translation has made it possible for all non-Tamilian speakers to perceive and enjoy this perennial Tamil classic.
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Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan Volume-2
No Tamil book or novel has been as grandly celebrated and fondly remembered as Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in Tamil literature. This is a story of Prince Arulmolivarman, alias Ponniyin Selvan, who later on ascended the Chola throne. A story of romance, wit and wisdom, suspense, thrill, sacrifice, twists and turns and plots within plots, it has been the most widely read historical fiction. Dr M. Rajaram’s masterly English translation has made it possible for all non-Tamilian speakers to perceive and enjoy this perennial Tamil classic.
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Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan Volume-1
No Tamil book or novel has been as grandly celebrated and fondly remembered as Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan in Tamil literature. This is a story of Prince Arulmolivarman, alias Ponniyin Selvan, who later on ascended the Chola throne. A story of romance, wit and wisdom, suspense, thrill, sacrifice, twists and turns and plots within plots, it has been the most widely read historical fiction. Dr M. Rajaram’s masterly English translation has made it possible for all non-Tamilian speakers to perceive and enjoy this perennial Tamil classic.
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Dr Sushil Shah-Dare to Make a Change
In 1981, a young Sushil Shah fostered a vision far bigger than anyone could ever imagine. Having returned from the US after completing his fellowship at Cornell University, he set out to fulfil his dream of creating one of the biggest diagnostic labs in India. Today, Metropolis Healthcare Limited boasts a widespread network of outlets spread across 20 states in India and also in seven countries across the world. Under his inspiring leadership, Metropolis has gained a strong foothold in both national and international markets. Dare to Make a Change is the biography of Dr Sushil Shah, the founder and chairman of Metropolis Healthcare Limited. His vision and zeal to be the best and to serve relentlessly in the healthcare industry led him to undertake a mammoth challenge. He has overcome several obstacles to become a market leader in the pathology sector. With his younger daughter, MD and CEO Ameera Shah currently ensconced at the helm, Metropolis has reached greater heights. Author Maya Bathija takes us on Dr Shah’s journey, giving us a sneak peek into his life and the vision and foresight that made Metropolis possible. Dare to Make a Change offers an in-depth account of the man behind Metropolis, and his struggle to reach the top while maintaining honesty and integrity.
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Neeraj Chopra-From Panipat to The Podium
‘What Neeraj Chopra has achieved [] will be remembered forever.’ —Prime Minister Narendra Modi The long-cherished dream of a billion Indians was fulfilled on the night of 7 August 2021 when Neeraj Chopra won a gold in javelin at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The wait, though, had been very long. In fact, since the inception of the modern Olympic Games, this is India’s first individual gold medal in athletics. When he did it in his characteristic style and smile, the entire country showered him with love. The media went into a frenzy and the youth found a new inspiration. People thronged to get pictures clicked with him and brands found a new wonder-ambassador. Neeraj Chopra: From Panipat to the Podium begins in a small village in Panipat and recounts his formative years that were characterized by limited means and facilities. It takes readers through his journey to Panchkula and then to the national camp in his quest to conquer the world.
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Mayabharata The Untold Story Behind the Death of L
The Great War at Kurukshetra is over. Eighteen lakh men have died. But the winners are not happy. Yudhishthira and his brothers are gripped with sorrow over what they have done. Who will bear the child to continue the Kuru clan? Uttara? Will Asvatthama also destroy the child that she is carrying? Hastinapur is barren of men of any age. It is the King’s dharma to help every virgin in the kingdom, cross into womanhood. But Yudhishthira fails. There is now a dharmic crisis. The young woman, who will bear the child, must be found another king for the task before sunrise. Else, the kingdom will suffer even more. Who can solve the problem? Krishna, who else! Or rather he knows such a king who can. It is Maya. But Maya declines to follow the king’s dharma. His refusal plunges the Kuru kingdom, and even Krishna himself, into another crisis. Who is Maya? Can Krishna eventually win him over? Mayabharata is a fascinating narration of the post-Mahabharata story, aided by the deployment of the author’s imaginative and creative powers.
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Gypsy Escapades
Can a rag tag quartet of new found friends outwit terrorists during a crisis in India? In our precarious world of old grudges and ruthless high tech terrorism, smart young American graduate student, Jill Rothchild and her three Indian friends, Venkie (a RAW agent), Sing and Kinnari (two Narikuravas), zigzag north across India's landscapes, dodging lethal attacks, going all out to avert a catastrophe. Racing through India's varied atmospheres and running into its many quirky personalities, in a multitude of disguises and vehicles, these four friends are always skating on the verge of disaster. They improvise, discover inner resources and ditch murderous thugs in hoodies and Bluetooth earphones, again and again. Each time they narrowly escape with their lives. Learning as they go, the four friends make their precarious way through mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan, to reach Kebab the extremist leader orchestrating not only their demise but also a cataclysmic strike against India. Can they stop his plan, an unprecedented assault on the electronic infrastructure that would wreak havoc all over the subcontinent? Gypsy Escapades tells that exciting story, asking: is it possible to fight terrorism without becoming like the terrorists?
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My Cricket Hero
Keki Daruwalla on Polly Umrigar Fredun De Vitre on Chandu Borde Gulu Ezekiel on Eknath Solkar Hemant Kenkre on Sunil Gavaskar Amrit Mathur on Salim Durani Kersi Meher-Homji on Vijay Hazare Suresh Menon on G.R. Viswanath Dr Narottam Puri on Kapil Dev Rajdeep Sardesai on Dilip Sardesai Ramesh Sharma on Tiger Pataudi P.R. Man Singh on M.L. Jaisimha Karthik Venkatesh on Mohinder Amarnath
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The Champak Story Box-Volume 3
Dive into this treasure box of original stories! Open the pages of this book to meet: Bunty, not a detective, but surely has a keen eye for hidden conspiracies and disguised babas. Jenny & Kathy the tortoises, sisters who make everyone believe that nothing is impossible; sky is the limit, literally! Buzo the monkey, who is as proud as a peacock wearing his new watch but soon pride meets confusion! Aabha, whose blind beliefs are busted with logic and not magic. The Champak Story Box is packed with stories on mystery, adventure, kindness, self-confidence, science and humour. These stories will: • Help young readers actively find answers to questions that bother them in real life • Enhance vocabulary and concentration levels • Develop linguistic and critical thinking skills • Build emotional and intelligence quotient in a fun way In the chaotic world of today, these original and unique tales help children learn new ways of expression and action.
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The Champak Story Box-Volume 2
Dive into this treasure box of original stories! Open the pages of this book to meet: Shersingh: mighty and strong, admits when he’s wrong, the King of Champakvan, he treats all as one. Cheeku the rabbit: call him cool, call him kind, he’s quicker than you can imagine, he has a sharp mind. Baddy the fox: lurking around, looking for trouble, conspiring against everyone, his actions double. Meeku the mouse: mischievous and witty, he fills the room with laughter, with a snack at hand, he thinks of what he’ll eat after. The Champak Story Box is packed with stories on mystery, adventure, kindness, self-confidence, science and humour. These stories will: • Help young readers actively find answers to questions that bother them in real life • Enhance vocabulary and concentration levels • Develop linguistic and critical thinking skills • Build emotional and intelligence quotient in a fun way In the chaotic world of today, these original and unique tales help children learn new ways of expression and action.
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The Champak Story Box-Volume 1
Dive into this treasure box of original stories! Open the pages of this book to meet: Reo, the centipede who forgets which one of his 100 legs is hurting. Lalcheshwar, the greedy priest of Kurikapalli who learns his lesson. Pluto, the new dwarf planet who has all the other planets worried. Neel’s special pen which makes him ace his exams. The Champak Story Box is packed with stories on mystery, adventure, kindness, self-confidence, science and humour. These stories will: • Help young readers actively find answers to questions that bother them in real life • Enhance vocabulary and concentration levels • Develop linguistic and critical thinking skills • Build emotional and intelligence quotient in a fun way
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Vultures of Paradise
A story of greed, love and sacrifice narrated in the backdrop of a crippling human tragedy. Acclaimed author Atulya Misra tells a gripping and powerful story that traverses numerous cultures and geographies. The story follows the life of Neha, who, at first, is driven by blind ambition. The heights she achieves in business dissipate once she starts spiralling in the opposite direction. Just when she appears to be an abysmal failure in the eyes of everyone, Neha creates a corporation to counter the biggest threat to the planet—the human propensity to consume endlessly and create more and more waste. Her enterprise becomes so large and successful that it becomes a danger to the very people who created it. Humanity has been a parasite for long enough on this planet. It’s time we become vultures and clean up our habitat.
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Blaze A Son's Trial By Fire
Can a disease, more importantly, cancer, be a potent tool of self-evolution for both, the person who suffers from it, and his/her caregivers, especially parents? The value of good health is realized when it no more remains with us. The journey to salvage the lost friend can still offer myriad opportunities of redemption and self-discovery. It is up to us how we decide to tread this formidable path leading to self-actualization. Time has made us realize that it is not fair to stereotype a person suffering from cancer from the point of view of cure or recovery. Many a time, such stereotyping comes from our own society, and sometimes, ironically, from the medical fraternity, for its inability to go beyond a point, after which you feel you are condemned and vegetative. All these negativities passively entrap the patients and their parents in the viciousness of the disease where they die many times before the actual death. This is the worst form of cancer which has plagued our mindset. In the case of Divyansh Atman, the authors’ son, it was not so. Divyansh was the embodiment of courage and self-determination in the face of adversities. His life journey shows us how the path of opportunities can still be paved in the middle of adversities. He lived a big and a meaningful life that made a huge impact on the lives of people around him.
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Mapping Love
Here I am, living my life looking at the rear-view mirror, driving to the end of the beginning of where I started. My body still hurts. It has been some time since Oorja Chaturvedi has come home; but the wounds she suffered, at the hands of the very people who so aptly named her, cut deep. Her relationship with her father was barely strung together with a few words. But when her mother dies, the woman whose nagging love was both her comfort and her secret hiding place from the world, new grief melds with old bitterness. Reeling from the loss, Oorja decides to come back to India, only to find her estranged father missing. Her search leads her to her grandfather, a man who had lived all his life among books and forest, withering away in his house. As she tries to grapple with her grief for a dying grandfather, she unexpectedly finds love and solace in the arms of a man who inherits her grandfather’s estate. But before she can decide what Anang and her own future together hold, Oorja must first untangle the secrets of their shared past. A quiet gut-punch of a debut, acclaimed filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s novel, Mapping Love is heartbreakingly brave and equally delicate. It is a story that digs its claws into you and doesn't let go, long after you've finished it.
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The Stranger In The Mirror
The Stranger in the Mirror is the memoir of the legendary producer-director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Co-written by noted marketer-author, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, this book chronicles the richly experiential, multi-faceted life of one of India’s most celebrated and feted directors who has made critically acclaimed films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Though it may seem natural for an autobiography to have a primary narrator, what makes this book truly unique is its many narrators. It is this multi-dimensional, multi-character narration that will enable readers to delve deep and truly understand what it means to be as unselfish as Mehra, a man who gleefully steps back and lets the experts do their job. Peppered with anecdotes from Mehra’s life—from the chai-biscuit college days to the popping of the proverbial champagne—it implores readers to pay attention to understand who is narrating, because the plot may have just shifted a little bit, just like his movies. At the end, what really stands out is how effortless the journey has actually been. And herein lies the greatest paradox because there is no lack of perseverance in this journey. The miraculous manner in which things fall into place naturally, like pieces of a pre-ordained puzzle with the universe acting as the ‘sutradhar’, is the fulcrum around which the joy of this remarkable journey is built.
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Marriage
Marriage, by mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, brings together stories from Vedic, Puranic, Tamil, and Sanskrit literature, from regional, classical, folk and tribal lore, from oral and textual traditions, across 3000 years of history and 3 million Square kilometres of geography, to reveal the diversity and fluidity of Indian customs and beliefs around marriage.