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Strangely Beloved:Writings on Calcutta
Calcuttas wealth is not in ancient monuments, medieval courtrooms or modern skyscrapers. It is in its stories. Perhaps no city in India has inspired the responses of love and disgust as sharply as Calcutta, now Kolkata, where the old and the new, the beautiful and the squalid coexist side by side. Once a global city second only to London, it has often been written off as a dying city. But despite - perhaps because of - all its problems, Calcuttans love the city with the illogical passion of true love. In his 1971 book on the city, Geoffrey Moor house wondered why Calcutta is so strangely beloved. This collection of writings brings out the essence of the attractions this city has to offer - its food, music, theatre, art, politics - by weaving together history and personal experience, social commentary and political critique. Sharing the experiences of renowned writers and poets, academics and historians, who have all loved the life of this city, Strangely Beloved provides a rare and heart-warming glimpse into the heart, mind and soul of one of the greatest cities in the world. Interesting Facts Thoughtfully compiled and divided into thematic sections for easy reference, Strangely Beloved is the first comprehensive collection of writings about Calcutta, bringing together writings by academics and historians as well as literary stalwarts like Sunil Gangopadhyay. Strangely Beloved touches upon a diverse range of subjects - from the convergence of tradition and modernity in the city to the passion Calcuttans share for music, theatre and food from the citys controversial economic policies to anecdotes about growing up in the city - providing an accurate appraisal of the unique spirit of the city. In Strangely Beloved, rare, archival photographs of Calcutta are combined with modern street photography to give readers an experience that is as much visual as it is literary. Beautifully designed for the contemporary reader, this book is a collectors edition that will delight all lovers of good writing, whether theyre from Calcutta or otherwise.
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An Undocumented Wonder:The Making of the Great Ind
An Undocumented Wonder is the story of how the world's largest democracy holds its elections by a former Chief Election Commissioner. Summary of the Book The Great Indian Election, The Dance of Democracy. These and other names given to the general elections in India prove that the world's largest democracy is something the entire planet should be interested in. The Election Commission of India faces problems which only it understands, and only it can solve. No where else on the planet do nearly 800,000 men and women assemble to cast their votes for a democratic government. In this book, S. Y. Quraishi tries to illuminate readers about the pitfalls and hurdles that the election commission faces, and how it has managed to pull through and pull off election after election in the greatest display of democracy that the world has ever seen. About S. Y. Quiraishi Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi is an Indian Administrative Services officer, a former Indian Chief Election Commissioner, and a former ecretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. A graduate of Stephen's College in Delhi, and a Ph.D. holder in Communications and Social marketing, he is the first Muslim to be the CEC of India. He currently teaches as Honorary Professor at Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi.
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Not Just An Accountant
Not just an accountant is an incisive, no-holds-barred account of Indias eleventh comptroller and auditor general and a symbol of the anti-corruption movement, Vinod Rai. Through a narrative, rich in anecdote and inside information, Rai sheds light on the major scams that shook the country. Among the case studies-chosen for the diversity of failures they highlight are - the procedural irregularities in the issuance of licenses for second generation spectrum allotment, the last minute quick-fixes in the conduct of the XIX commonwealth games, the loss of national resources while allocating coal blocks, the flouting of systems and the clear display of crony capitalism in the exploration of hydrocarbon and the tragic tale of civil aviation in India. Through these illustrations, Rai wishes to not only expose government malfeasance, but also probe the mandate of the CAG as a watchdog. Equally, he hopes to push for long-term solutions to corruption and bring home the urgent need for ethics-for the pursuit of excellence, accountability, probity and transparency within governments, the bureaucracy, corporate enterprises and public life. Interesting facts A blow-by-blow, explosive, yet thoughtful account that sheds new light on the scams that shook India - 2G, coalgate, civil aviation, the conduct of the XIX commonwealth games and hydrocarbon contracts. Explodes the myth of accountability in contemporary Indian governance. Written by the eleventh CAG of India and a symbol of the anti-corruption movement, Vinod Rai. Presents long-term solutions for the future, so as to contain procedural irregularities within the government and corporate enterprises. Provides a roadmap for good governance, important for the growth of the nation. Exhorts younger professionals / administrators to strive for excellence.
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Scandalous Housewives
Scandalous Housewives: Mumbai, by Madhuri Banerjee, is a brave and honest story of housewives in Mumbai, who long for love and break from monotony and are not afraid to follow what their heart longs for. Summary of the Book Meet women from Sapphire Towers, a residential high-rise Mumbai where life is lost to a clockwork routine. Although everything appears calm on the outside, there are those housewives who yearn for change and joys in their mundane life. One gets into a forbidden relationship following an irresistible lust, another gets addicted to kinky sex and ends up in misery, yet another woman falls in love with a young man, a friend of her own son and one more lady is holding within a secret that could probably put an end to her marriage. One ominous day, an anonymous email comes in to the inboxes of all Sapphire Towers residents and leads to unimaginable consequences! Discover what happens to the dilemmas of these women in this unputdownable novel. About Madhuri Banerjee Madhuri Banerjee is an Indian bestselling author and writer. She is blogger at CNN - IBN, a columnist with The Asian Age, an Ad film director, a screenplay writer for Bollywood films, and a mother. She owns a production house called Gray Matter Solution and is into making ad films and TV shows. Madhuri has won a National Award for her poignant and realistic documentary on the issues that women face, Between Dualities. Currently, she is associated with Revlon as their relationship expert. More than 12,000 people follow love her relationship advice on Twitter. Madhuri is keenly interested in traveling, reading, and photography.