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A Dozen And A Half Stories Things Lost and Found i
What really happened to the Indus Valley civilization? Where is the lost river of Saraswati? Did the ancient city of Dwarka actually disappear under water? How did the city of Muziris fall off the map only to miraculously reappear? Who stole the Kohi- Noor? What is the secret behind the last door of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple? Piece together puzzles from the past with the first book in this exciting new series that looks at some of the most intriguing, head-scratching, spine-tingling mysteries about things lost and found in Indian history. From strange disappearances to cryptic comebacks, from mystifying monuments to long-lost treasure, this book will serve you history with a whole lot of mystery and mayhem
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20 Greatest Revolutionaries
Who are the people who rise above the status quo to make History? Are they born with more than the usual share of courage and conviction? Or are they forged by their circumstances and influences till their inner conviction glows like fire and lights revolutions along the way? This book takes up 20 greatest revolutionaries from modern history and goes through their lives to understand how they rose to positions of power and how they inspired the masses to follow their goals, sometimes by personal charisma and at times with nothing more than an unwavering faith in an ideal. 20 Greatest Revolutionaries also looks at how they shaped not only the history of their country but at times, even that of the world. Finally, it also looks at the legacy they left behind, despite their popularity waxing and waning with the passage of time because of changing ideological perceptions. Read this book to know what goes into the making of a leader or a mass uprising, and how such movements impact the world we live in today.
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Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata:A Chronicle of His Life
The story of the life of one of the country's most influential industrialists and innovators. The chronicle of the life of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata is fascinating by reason of its impersonal approach, its old-world flavour and accent. It is for this reason that the publishers have not revised the text. The central protagonist of the chronicle can rank among the greatest pioneers of industrial enterprise of all time. In industrial matters he used 'a giant's strength like a giant'. His performance is unparalleled in India. Jamsetji Tata laid the foundations and largely consolidated the position of Indian industry and enterprise. In Indian industry the terms 'integrity' and 'Tata' are synonymous, with the result that the house of Tata and its far-flung organization have the stamp of stability, security and success. It was not an easy success and there is at no stage in its development any trace of the nouveau-rich make-up. Interesting Facts: A very well-researched biography. Set in the context of colonial India, it chronicles the story of a man who was unafraid to chart his own destiny for the fellow Indian citizen. Topics discussed in the book are relevant in the field of economics and commerce even today.
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Chandra Shekhar:The Last Icon of Ideological Polit
This is the story of an ordinary man who did not inherit a grand legacy from a well-established and renowned family; who did not rely on family wealth and eminence; who did not attend any of the prestigious educational institutions in the country or abroad; and who did not command a dedicated vote bank of any specific class, caste or community. Yet he took on the most powerful prime minister of his time and became a formidable opponent of her politics and policies. It is the story of a man who came from a lower middle-class family and who, despite stiff opposition from the most powerful Indian prime minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, won the nomination to the Congress Working Committee, not once but thrice. Chandra Shekhar: The Last Icon of Ideological Politics is an up-close and extraordinary life story of an ordinary person who rose to become one of the tallest figures in Indian politics.
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Tagore:A Novel
Tagore: A Novel is a fictionalized retelling of Rabindranath Tagore’s life and times. Sahitya Akademi awardee K.C. Ajayakumar unravels the mind of an incomparable visionary and genius in this book by exploring how the sensory impressions from Tagore’s early days shaped his creative ideation; how his boyhood experiences and beliefs reflected in his writings; how his complete and unapologetic immersion in everyday life played out against his lifelong obsession with death; and how his unbelievably multifaceted sensibility came alive through his literature, music, theatre and painting. This book not only examines the virtuosity of Tagore through his highly acclaimed works but also charts his rise to international fame and his friendship with William Rothenstein and William Butler Yeats. It presents an intimate account of his contentious relationships with Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sri Aurobindo, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, among others. Tagore’s ever-debated, ambivalent and enigmatic engagement with Mahatma Gandhi is also captured brilliantly in the book. His love for Shelaidaha, Patisar, Jorasanko Thakurbadi, Shantiniketan and the river Padma is portrayed beautifully. This is the story of a man like no other
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30 DAYS:Change your habits,Change your life
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get everything easily while others don't? Are you tired of waiting for your life to change? How long are you willing to wait till your circumstances change magically? 30 Days is a simple, fast-paced book where you will learn what it takes to create the life you want. In this book, international bestselling author Marc Reklau introduces the readers to some proven tips, tricks and exercises that can improve their life beyond imagination! All it takes is following them constantly and persistently. More good news: You can start by creating new habits and working towards your goals consistently, doing things that bring you closer to your goals every single day. This book shows you how to make it possible. You can do it! You deserve it! Thirty days does make a difference and you CAN really create a happier, healthier and wealthier life. All you have to do is stop waiting and start acting!
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Night of the Millennium
Nowadays, we are often assured by the cool touch of technology when confronted with fear. Help is just a call away. But the creatures of the dark await in the shadows, laughing at our foolishness, for their powers transcend those of man’s modern gadgets. Could Pasand, a man of the millennium, ever think that his cell phone would be of no help as he is caught in the clutches of the family in the graveyard? Could Harley Warren, a researcher of forbidden subjects, ever imagine that the telephone he was using to keep in touch with his friend as he explored the dark depths of a sepulchre would be useless in the face of danger? These and other elements of the night find place in this book compiled by India’s favourite author, Ruskin Bond. Comprising stories by Rudyard Kipling, H.H. Munro, Bram Stoker and others, Night of the Millennium will chill you to the bone!
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Amazing Secrets of Hinduism:Hindu Culture and Incr
After two international bestsellers, Am I a Hindu? and Amazing Secrets of the Bhagavad Gita, Ed Viswanathan’s third book is an equally thought-provoking and educational book on Hindu culture and the history of India. The whole idea behind this book is to educate people about India and Hinduism from a cultural and historical perspective, in simple language. The narrative is presented in the form of topics that focus on explaining key concepts such as Karma, Maya, Heaven and Hell; and questions such as ‘Who is a Hindu?’, ‘Why should I be a Hindu?’ and ‘What makes Hinduism great?’. This book is a must-read, especially for cynics, as the author invites readers to investigate and question everything in the book, since a true seeker will only search for truth.
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100 Greatest Leaders
It is often said, ‘Be the change you want to see’. When Malala Yousafzai risked her life to promote education for girls, she stunned the world with her sheer grit! Such is the undaunted spirit of men and women who inspire awe and fearlessness in the masses. This book not only provides short biographical sketches of 100 greatest leaders from across the world, but also showcases inspirational stories from their lives. Leaders such as Barack Obama, Abdul Kalam, Indira Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln have not only transformed the lives of others, but have brought about change in such a way that it continues to affect modern lives. More importantly, be it politicians, activists or statesmen, their accomplishments have as much to teach us as their failures!
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Agents of Change:Unleashing The Innovation of Real
Both at work and at home, our lives are growing more and more hectic and it can be hard to survive, much less thrive, at the pace of progress. Technology has brought new and better ways to create, to communicate and to collaborate but has also filled our time with clutter, craziness and chaos. There is more potential than ever to fill our careers and our lives with magical experience, but we seldom make enough time or space to realize that potential. Agents of Change is a collection of stories, examples and fables that provide ideas and insights for creating a superpowered innovation program, organizational culture and purposeful life. While our life is, and bound to be, full of distractions, this book will help you to unleash your inner superhero and to become an Agent of Change.
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Dhyan: Superpower of Man
What happens if one fine morning you awake to the reality that you have not achieved anything that has the power to provide you absolute peace and ananda, or joy? With all the material wealth and benefits that you have acquired in life, your life still looks meaningless to you? And you are faced with the question: What went wrong and where? This question sets you on the path of the search for Truth. And Dhyan: Superpower of Man does exactly that. This book connects you with your soul and helps you find meaning, without which a void is left in your life. Dhyan, awareness, or soul, in turn leads one on the sure path to inner peace and joy. Dhyan is the light itself. Let us use it in removing the darkness we are surrounded with.
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The Phantom Coach
‘As a matter of fact,’ he went on to say, ‘I believe in vampires myself.’ ‘You do?’ I felt the hair on the back of my neck commence to irritate. It is one thing to write about a horror, but quite another to begin to see it assume definite shape. ‘Yes,’ said Father R—. ‘I am forced to believe in vampires for the very good but terrible reason that I have met one!’ Tales of vampires, ghouls, werewolves and spirits rub shoulders with shikar stories and thrillers from all over the world in this eclectic collection. Selected by Ruskin Bond, these are stories by Bram Stoker, Sydney Horler, Alice Perrin, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Saki and Amelia Edwards and many others. Read about a precarious journey in a haunted coach; a seemingly supernatural man-eater; Sherlock Holmes investigating a locked room mystery; and an Englishman who spends a night of horror in a long-deserted village before traveling on to Transylvania as the guest of Count Dracula.
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In Grandfathers Garden
Months later, the book appeared, printed privately of course. And there was my photograph, and a photograph of the dead leopard after it had been hunted down. But the local printer had got the captions mixed up. The dead animal’s picture earned the line: ‘Well-known author Ruskin Bond.’ My picture carried the legend: ‘Dreaded man-eater, shot after it had killed its 26th victim.’ Playful snakes, monkeys, crocodiles and old favourites like the Grandfather, Aunt Mabel, Uncle Ken, Ms Bun, Ranji, Foster and Ruskin Bond himself, come together in this delightful and irresistible collection. From a belt that gets hooked on to another person’s luggage, and snakes admiring themselves before a dressing table, to a priest reading out the service for burial at sea during a funeral inside a church—Bond is at his effortless best in this anthology. Peppered with his signature wry humour and generous dose of wit, In Grandfather’s Garden will make you see the funny side of things in life, bringing laughter to even those who seldom smile.
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Chanakya In The Classroom
Good Morning, Chanakya Sir! How we wish that this was true—that we could get the sharpest of minds to teach us how to deal with the myriad challenges life throws us! What are some of the principles and suggestions given by the most revered teacher and observer of human nature that work best for students? Best-selling author of the Chanakya Series, Radhakrishnan Pillai, culls out some of these nuggets from the master and presents them in a lucid, easy to understand manner, making Chanakya’s teachings accessible to everyone. Systematically addressing the most common issues faced by students, this book will help in: Concentration Purpose Learning Discipline Awareness Devotion Duty Responsibilities.
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The House Of Strange Stories
‘The morgue had no electricity, just a kerosene lamp. I had not been sitting there for long when the lamp went out and something moved very softly and quietly past me. Something cold and icy touched one of my hands and felt its way up towards my neck and throat. It was behind me, then it was before me. Then it was over me. I was in the arms of the corpse!’ With the House of Strange Stories, celebrated writer Ruskin Bond brings forth a collection of some of the most blood-curdling tales ever written. Featuring Stacy Marie Belloc Lowndes’ ‘The Lodger’, Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Red-Headed League’, Wilkie Collins’ ‘The Duel’, Bram Stoker’s ‘The Sqaw’, Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ and several of Bond’s own, these tales of macabre, suspense, vampires and haunted houses will leave even horror fans terrified.
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Fuck Knows Dead or Alive
After the phenomenal success of his first book F?@K Knows, the entertainment maverick turned social entrepreneur is still not turning to the phrase ‘God Knows’. Instead he is back with some more ‘Fs’ in his life with F?@K Knows: Dead or Alive. With the same honesty and humour, he sets out to share his latest trials and good fortunes and weighs in on some of the more universal maladies of our times by gazing back in his life and answering the questions: • What does he see when he looks in to the mirror now? • What is it like to be the prostitute, the pimp and run the whorehouse at the same time? • What’s it like to live with the mother of all mothers? • Is social media really that social? Is there any hope for the ‘wired up’ generation? • Does God have the best PR company?
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Murder at Lords
The gentleman’s game will no longer be the same. In Murder at Lord’s, different characters from the world of cricket Indian boy wonder, Vinoo Ramji; English team’s manager, Alan Moorcombe; young and ambitious English reporter, Dick Anthony. Pakistani match-fixer and former hitman, Mohammed Musa; the English team’s captain and compulsive gambler, Michael Cookson and its physiotherapist, Tony Abbott cross paths in the shadowy world of match-fixing, a world ruled by syndicates whose sole purpose is luring players and coaches into their dangerous web of fear, deceit and greed. No one and nothing is off limits whether it is the mysterious disappearance of a cricketer’s girlfriend or a murder at Lord’s. A deadly cat-and-mouse game begins when a Scotland Yard detective sets out on this elusive crime trail. The quest to unmask the perpetrators takes the reader from the plush suburbs of London to the dark alleys of Mumbai. As secrets lurk in the shrouds of violence, will justice prevail or will it be too late?
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Speaking Truth To Power
n a parliamentary democracy, citizens always wish to hear the articulate voice of the Opposition that can offer reasoned criticism of the government and alternative policy solutions to the challenges faced by the country. In 2017, P. Chidambaram braved misinterpretation, criticism and abuse to emerge as that voice. From the reckless adventure of demonetization to the flawed GST to the Central government’s economic report card that had to be marked ‘Failed’, Speaking Truth to Power is a collection of the incisive essays published in 2017 as a weekly column in The Indian Express. The essays highlight why there is a pervasive sense of disappointment after forty-three months of the Narendra Modi government. They are on a range of subjects that capture the reality of India more than the country’s GDP—hunger, children, privacy, intolerance, etc. In a year when Indian politics remained divisive and ugly, Chidambaram forcefully articulates his views on the Budget, the deceptive calm in Jammu and Kashmir, the implosion in the AIADMK, the intriguing verdict in the election to the Gujarat legislature and many other contemporary issues. Following principles of fidelity to truth and unbiased criticism based on sound logic, Chidambaram is at his characteristic best here.
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Stories From Saratchandra
Some time ago, a sudden rumour spread across our region that unless three children were sacrificed, the railway bridge over Roopnarayan just could not be constructed. Two small boys had already been buried alive under one of the pillions and only one more needed to be caught...’ This book is a collection of twelve widely acclaimed short stories of Saratchandra Chattopadhyay, one of the doyens of Bengali literature. Divided into two sections, the first bunch of stories portray childhood in all its unburdened innocence while the latter section leads on to deeper sensibilities—the everyday experience of casteism, the lived reality of social hierarchy and the bonds of almost filial affection forged between man and animal that sustain both. Stories from Saratchandra shows Saratchandra’s keen eye as a social commentator, presenting a vivid picture of life in rural Bengal during the early twentieth century.
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Why I Killed the Mahatma
It is common knowledge that Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead in 1948 by a Hindu militant, shortly after India had both gained her independence and lost nearly a quarter of her territory to the new state of Pakistan. Lesser known is assassin Nathuram Godse’s motive. Until now, no publication has dealt with this question, except for the naked text of Godse’s own defence speech during his trial. It didn’t save him from the hangman, but still contains substantive arguments against the facile glorification of the Mahatma. Dr Koenraad Elst compares Godse’s case against Gandhi with criticisms voiced in wider circles and with historical data known at the time or brought to light since. While the Mahatma was extolled by the Hindu masses, political leaders of divergent persuasions who had had dealings with him were less enthusiastic. Their sobering views would have become the received wisdom about the Mahatma if he hadn’t been martyred. Yet, the author also presents some new considerations in Gandhi’s defence from unexpected quarters.
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Ambedkar An Overview
Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.’—B.R. Ambedkar Born in 1891 into an Untouchable family, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is the man behind the Indian Constitution and the champion of the Dalit cause. Much ahead of his times, he raised pertinent issues pertaining to the broader cause of nation-building process for India. This is a collection of extracts from some of his finest works that capture him as a modernist thinker with an outstanding intellectual sweep over the major aspects of a then newly independent nation. These writings cover a wide range of issues such as the caste system, Untouchability, Hinduism, status of women, the multiple religions in India, creation of Pakistan, the constitution and much more. Ambedkar: An Overview is both a handy reference guide and a preamble for those who wish to familiarize themselves with the pioneering works of Babasaheb.
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Cross Connection
When the animals of the ‘The Great Indian Circus’ found their lives all topsy-turvy, they realized that turning the world around takes a lot more than just circus acts.Chunky the Funky monkey and Bhole Ram the Brave are among the performing animals of The Great Indian Circus. While Chunky spends most of his time playing pranks on others, Bhole Ram is a shy and gentle elephant who ends up bearing the brunt of Chunky’s mischief. Things take a turn when their bodies get switched in a freak accident and they are forced to live each other’s lives. A cosmic cross connection that leads to complete confusion all around! Trapped in each other’s bodies, Bhole Ram and Chunky learn to put aside their differences in order to make things smooth in the Circus again—both for themselves and for everyone else—learning some important lessons in life along the way. A delightful read that will leave you smiling long after the last page has been turned.
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khwaabon ka safar
Relive the golden era of Hindi cinema with Mahesh Bhatt as he recounts the Khwaabon Ka Safar (the journey of dreams) of iconic film studios in India. Did you know that German filmmaker Franz Osten partnered with an Indian studio on some of India’s earliest blockbuster films in the 1930s? Do you know which production house invented the Hindi ‘formula filmmaking’ style in the 1950s that still drives big budget Bollywood films? Khwaabon Ka Safar with Mahesh Bhatt takes us through the incredible journey of Bollywood’s landmark film studios which gave us iconic stars and cinematic masterpieces. This book provides the captivating stories behind Bollywood’s top thirteen studios from Prabhat Film Company (1929) to Filmayala (1958) with which the studio era ended. The book weaves in various interesting anecdotes about our erstwhile studio system, the great entrepreneurial skills of the forefathers of Hindi cinema, their iconic films and the superstars they created. A must-read for all film aficionados.