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Have a brand new beginning with these books

‘Brand New Start’ teaches you that a lot of success at the start of your career hinges on how well you understand, articulate and present the most important brand you can work on you…writes Siddhi Jain.

Of course, this is a break time for people to think and move forward with brighter steps. From navigating career misadventures in the corporate world to building a personal brand or navigating one’s own thoughts and feelings on the prolonged ‘new normal, here is a list of titles to choose from, while you stay at home.

‘Brand New Start’ by Mainak Dhar

Studying in college or business school and wondering what it takes to land your dream job? Early in your career and wondering how to set yourself up for success? Feeling off-track after just a couple of years of working and wondering how to find an opportunity that fits you better? If you find yourself nodding to any of these questions, then this is the book for you. ‘Brand New Start’ teaches you that a lot of success at the start of your career hinges on how well you understand, articulate and present the most important brand you can work on. You.

Combining the wisdom and experience of a CEO gained over two and a half decades in the corporate world with the accessible and engaging storytelling of a bestselling novelist, the book is unique. It will make you reflect, smile, rethink some things you’ve taken for granted, and ultimately equip you with practical advice on how to build a more authentic, more compelling and more differentiated personal brand as a cornerstone of success in your career.

‘The Hopeless Romantic’ by Arnab Chandra

It is a collection of poems and short stories where each piece gives you a glance into the author’s world of imagination. Each poem describes a feeling which is not often talked about or sometimes too much. A book without a sense of direction just to justify the statement, ‘Art is chaos and chaos is art’, it narrates a journey of a soul who is hopeless enough to question life and its dark necessities. Life can be tricky sometimes and it can beat you down, but then, never forget to mourn, to suffer, to cry before you get back up and ‘smile’.

‘Career Misadventures And How To Avoid Them’ by Anjali Ahuja

Many aspire to have a successful corporate career, but in the grueling journey to the top, most of them get stuck at a point and never grow thereafter. Why? Do they lack the ability? Not always. There are invisible black holes along the way that gobble up dreams and careers. Anjali Ahuja is here to shed light on them. Anjali joined the corporate world in 1992 and has since worked for a number of Fortune 500 companies for over two decades. As an HR professional, she had an opportunity to witness the journey of people at various stages of their career. The lessons she shares are backed with intriguing stories of successes and failures, some that of her own, and some that she has witnessed over her journey to the top. If you have recently started a corporate career, or reached a stage ahead but clueless how to navigate your career further, this book has some valuable guidance for you.

‘Little Me in Everyone’ by Eddyee Singh

Every human is born with a “genius”, a guardian spirit allocated at birth. Our whole life is inside our mind, which is a prism refracting the light of everything around and within us. Caged in this mind is the ‘Little Me’ helping us, talking to us, questioning us, and nurturing us all along the way. Every time we indulge in self-doubt and self-pity, the ‘Little Me’ loses a little bit of its brilliance but eventually it thrives on the knowledge we acquire in life and assists us to transform it into wisdom. In pursuit of maintaining our outer self we get so engrossed that this little me gets abandoned in the wilderness of darkness created by us. In this book one will find the reflections of everyone’s ‘Inner Self’ and ‘Little Me’, thus guiding us to learn and rejoice every moment of being alive despite the perplexities of life.

‘To, the Bravest Person I Know’ by Ayesha Chenoy

From growing up with dysfunctional families to coming of age, from dealing with heartbreak, pain and grief to learning to accept and forgive, ‘To, the Bravest Person I Know’ is your guide through every difficult situation. It is modern therapy delivered to you through a series of poems and a letter in verse that runs as a footnote from the beginning to the end of the book. The poems explore the whole construct of ‘normal’, of that which was created to make people feel less normal if they don’t fit in, to make them feel ‘abnormal’. The book tells us that depression is normal, as is fear; feeling insecure is normal, as is hurting people. And bravery is about facing all of this–it’s about facing everything life throws at you every day. ‘To, the Bravest Person I Know’ cuts through rainbows and self-righteous dross to provide a vaccine of truth, liberating and reminding us that we are all in a tunnel, and that it’s normal to feel like we may never get out. But there is light at the end of it.

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Spend ‘second wave’ for reading

The year 2020 brought about a paradigm shift in everyone’s lives — people began thinking, eating, living and reading differently…writes Siddhi Jain.

Getting some free time will be a great relief for some people at least to enjoy themselves with favourite hobbies. Over the last year, the pandemic has led people to spend most of their time indoors as they maintain social distance. As India now reels under an alarming second wave, many parts of the country have tightened stay-at-home protocols — making consumers opt for activities that reduce their need to step out — a key pastime being ‘reading’.

According to homegrown e-commerce platform Flipkart, the Books category has witnessed a growth of 1.5 times in the number of units sold in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period last year.

“With people finding comfort in books, it’s curious to see how reading habits and genre preferences can change during unprecedented times. We pride ourselves in being close to consumers, while deeply understanding their needs and expectations across the country and work continuously towards providing them with the best selection, through our sellers.

In the case of books, overall, two-third of the demand for books on the platform came from tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the past quarter, where we witnessed increasing searches from cities such as Jamshedpur, Azamgarh, Faizabad, Deoria, Guwahati, Gorakhpur and Bhubaneswar,” Nishant Gupta, Head — Beauty, General Merchandise, Home and Furniture, Flipkart told.

With competitive exams around the corner coupled with time in hand, people are upskilling, leading to a growing demand for academic books, reference books, general knowledge books and English books such as Word Power Made Easy and Oxford Student Atlas. Owing to children spending their time at home, activity books, picture and colouring books have also seen a clear spike.

The year 2020 brought about a paradigm shift in everyone’s lives — people began thinking, eating, living and reading differently.

Books that deal with weight loss, diets and other ‘how to’ books saw great demand. Self-help and soul-searching books boomed more than usual, as people turned to books as a way of understanding their old and new lives, making books such as ‘Ikigai’, ‘Think Like a Monk’, ‘Death’, ‘Power of Subconscious Mind’, ‘Attitude is Everything’, ‘Life’s Amazing Secret feature in the Top 100 books sold on Flipkart. Additionally, books by celebrity writers such as Sonu Sood, Tahira Kashyap and Priyanka Chopra made it to the bestseller list on the platform, learnt.

In order to encourage book readers further, Flipkart has also launched its digital property for its books category — Flipkart #NowReading on Instagram, which hosts digital launches of new books, discussions with bestselling authors, reviews and suggestions. It has hosted Amish Tripathi, Rujuta Diwekar, Sonu Sood, Durjoy Dutta, Tahira Kashyap and Chetan Bhagat, among others.

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‘Lost and Found at 35’: A real self-discovery tale

The 4 Ps — ‘Passion, Pursue, Process and Purpose’ makes for the book’s fundamentals. “A life if built on these 4 Ps guarantees the resilience to fight stress, traumas and tragedies,” says Jhamb…Ankit speaks with Siddhi Jain.

Writing on humans and their inner self is quite tough and difficult to explore. Interweaving light pick-me-ups throughout the story, author Ankit Jhamb in his new novel ‘Lost and Found at 35’, makes a strong case for positive psychology application in real life — via the tale of a 35-year-old man who turns his life around after a failed suicide attempt and self-discovery through interactions with six strangers, including a 100-year-old man, a little girl aged four, a war widow and a monk.

“A very large part of our ability to deal with depression, stress, anxiety depends upon being able to create a passionate lifestyle with purpose and discipline,” Jhamb tells.

He adds: “Hence, the book is dedicated to the cause of spreading the word on positive psychology. It talks about how if people find their passion, pursue it with discipline they insure their life from mental illness and various afflictions. I wanted to share the lessons, practice insights and tips to create your own daily routine and life in a way that increases the happiness index and the quality of one’s life.”

The 4 Ps — ‘Passion, Pursue, Process and Purpose’ makes for the book’s fundamentals. “A life if built on these 4 Ps guarantees the resilience to fight stress, traumas and tragedies,” says Jhamb.

‘Lost and Found at 35’ touches upon self-discovery through meaningful interactions and gradual turning around one’s life. Often, immersion in someone else’s story can reveal pearls of wisdom that one can apply in their own life.

What positive psychology lessons or pick-me-ups can readers hope to find in the book?

“Just having passion is not sufficient — you have to pursue it with discipline and then learn the art and craft of whatever your passion is. The ability to forgive shall lead to a lighter life and a more creative life. Enhance your life and your personality by building up a routine which is based on your strengths rather than weakness. A large part of our physiological and pathological issues are actually emotional problems manifesting through our bodies,” are some of the nuggets shared by Jhamb.

Finally, who should pick up the book? “Anyone!” exclaims the author.

“If you have some burning questions in life regarding your purpose, regarding your passion, happiness, fulfilment or just living a more peaceful, graceful life, go read the book. However people who continuously feel they are in the wrong job, struggle to answer the question “What are my passions” or find it tough to derive a sense of happiness from their work — they should definitely read the book,” he concludes.

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Walking every day to deliver books at doorstep

She keeps a regular register of the books being delivered and manages according to the guidelines of the Library Council of Kerala…reports Asian Lite News

K.P. Radhamani, a 64-year-old woman, works as a librarian at Mothakkara in Kerala’s Wayanad district. What makes her unique is that she walks 4 km every day for home delivery of books.

The “Walking Librarian” as she is fondly called lives in Mothakkara, Vellamunda in Wayanad which is dotted with lush green forests and hilly terrain. She delivers books on fiction, history, politics, travel, movies, in a shopping bag.

She works as the librarian at Prathiba Public Library in Mothakkara which boasts of around 11,000 books but after the flow of people to the library decreased owing to their commitments in farm, domestic work and other livelihoods, Radhamani decided that she would take the books to them.

She keeps a regular register of the books being delivered and manages according to the guidelines of the Library Council of Kerala.

In a shopping bag, the frail woman with the passion to deliver books, carries 25-50 books and gives two books to a family and takes them back after eight days.

The registration fee to join the library is Rs 25 and the monthly fee is Rs 5. Radhamani feels that by delivering books to people with various reading tastes, she herself is getting hooked to these books.

She recalled, “I used to narrate stories to my father when I was a child and used to read anything which I could get my hands on including the paper which was used to cover clothes or provisions and there is no life for me without letters. After getting this job with the library, I became an avid and voracious reader taking books from all sections and increasing my knowledge.”

Wayanad being a backward district with a huge population of tribals, Radhamani has delivered books at the doorsteps of many tribal homes and kindled the passion for reading among their children and women.

She recollected how the tribal children used to call her after finishing reading the books she had delivered within a few days and waited for her next visit.

In the shadow of Covid, the number of books being delivered in a month has come down to around 350 from 500.

She has also doubled up as a tourist guide as several tourists flock to the hilly terrain. For being a guide, she has devoured books related to travel, history and society of Wayanad so that she can properly guide the tourists.

Radhamani, who studied only upto the 10th standard, said that some books suggested by her readers have remained imprinted in her mind for life.

An example is one of the bestsellers in Malayalam literature, “Aadujeevitham” by noted writer Benyamin. As she said, “The character Najeeb in that book will always be inside me and will always give one determination and high spirits as how he scripted his own return from an alien land from a remote desert in Saudi Arabia.”

The books being delivered by Radhamani are of use to several aspirants for civil service examinations. Sajini Damodaran, a housewife in Wayanad who has benefitted from the books being delivered by the “Walking Librarian” said, “I took books which are for competitive examinations and thanks to her, I have written a few public service examinations of the Government of Kerala and am confident of making it.”

The Walking Librarian who started in this profession in 2012 is now earning Rs 3800 a month, which is a paltry sum given the living indices.

She said, “I get Rs 3800 a month now but its not the money but the passion for this job that drives me ahead. It’s a very interesting job and I can see light in the eyes of several women while getting new books from our library.”

Radhamani is now also working with the Green army of the state government, “Haritha Karma Sena” which collects and recycles plastic bottles and lives with her husband Padmanabhan Nambiar and son Rijilesh who is an auto-rickshaw driver. Her daughter is married and living in Tamil Nadu with her two children.

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Spend lockdown summer for reading

Filled with anecdotes and life-changing missives, these stories will remind you that it does not matter the circumstances into which one is born what matters most is having the josh to overcome all odds and chase your dreams…writes Siddhi Jain.

Whether it is a lockdown or vacation, those who love reading don’t want any other entertainment. As the year heralds the season of warmth, one may be tempted to spend sunny afternoons inside, in the company of good storytelling. A list of reads you can curl up with this summer.

‘Happy Moments’ by Meik Wiking

Happy memories do not have to be reserved for big life events. Drawing on global surveys, behavioral science experiments, and data gathered by The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik shows how we can turn ordinary experiences into something extraordinary. Whether it’s eating dinner at the table rather than in front of the TV, exploring a new part of your neighborhood, or planning how you’re going to celebrate your small wins, this book will help you find the magic in every day, and create memories you will cherish forever.

‘Marriage in the Time of Corona’ by Arbind Bhatia

The book follows the travails of an affianced couple over a fortnight as they struggle to tie the knot in early 2020 — a watershed time in global history, when the horrific effects of the Coronavirus pandemic are just making their presence felt worldwide, and nations follow one another into lockdown mode, much like dominoes falling in tandem. The groom is a westernized Sikh of Indian descent, who has returned to his birthplace for his nuptials with his Buddhist Thai bride in tow. After two failed previous attempts at getting hitched, this is now their third attempt to wed. However, even this is in jeopardy as the bride’s family is prevented from attending as travel restrictions begin to shut down the world, and other crises create more hurdles in their path. Flashbacks interspersed throughout the book highlight the relationship history of the couple. Events during the chaotic fortnight showcase familial relationships and interactions in the backdrop of inter-religious marriages, and their marked lack of acceptance in India, even in these contemporary times.

‘All You Need is Josh: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Conviction in 21st Century India’ by Supriya Paul

In a world filled with cynicism, few stand tall, carving their own path to success with courage, determination, and grit. All You Need Is Josh brings to you stories of such unique individuals across India e of the aspiring astrophysicist who wanted to walk on the moon; the first person with a disability to top the civil services examinations; the domestic help who is now a published author; the army officer who amputated his own leg; the transgender woman who was expelled from her house; the Dalit child bride who now runs a business worth Rs1,000 crores, and many more. Filled with anecdotes and life-changing missives, these stories will remind you that it does not matter the circumstances into which one is born what matters most is having the josh to overcome all odds and chase your dreams.

‘The Tonic’ by Mayur Sudhakar Sarfare

Set in the year 1992, The Tonic is an emotionally wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between Masher and Raem, two young outcasts with psychological deficiencies. We see through their eyes what the riots do to them and the people of Bombay, which mysteriously connects decades later to the life of a media tycoon cum atheist, who has genocidal plans for the religious! Mumbai, 2017: Reymerg D’Souza, a media tycoon and powerful militant Atheist, harbors an ominous plan to cleanse the country from religion. Avantika Das, an investigative journalist, partners with a suspended cop to embark on a perilous journey to expose Reymerg’s darker agendas. Back in 1992, two young misfits are drawn together by the ravages of an approaching Hindu-Muslim riot. Masher, a diffident teenager with a speech disorder is forced into participating in an annual elocution contest held in his school. During this period, he befriends Raem, a twenty-one-year-old recluse of foreign descent, who gifts him a packet of mysterious chocolate pills. The pills magically begin to embolden their lives. They begin to win moments and people. A Tonic that turns them from being misfits to Stupefiers.

‘Billions Under Lockdown: The Inside Story of India’s Fight Against Covid-19’ by Abantika Ghosh

When WHO first declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, there was a great deal of apprehension about how India – the country with the highest TB cases and diabetes, inadequate health infrastructure, and a population of 1.3 billion – would fare. Between the Janata Curfew and the first vaccinations, massive machinery has been working as seamlessly as possible to make sure that, despite some missteps and missed infections, India conquers what has been the greatest challenge the world has encountered in decades.

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Gender inequalities on art of writing

“Most of the famous writers and outstanding literature in the world is created by women. Most famous best sellers are women. Women are vocal, expressive and creative.”…writes Siddhi Jain.

As more and more women take to writing as a career, do they still feel reminded that they are female writers? Five authors reveal the kind of comments they have received over their years of writing, relating to gender or not, and how they dealt with them.

Kavya Sharma, All Seasons Alike

“People judge you not only for your art and the kind of profession you’ve gotten into, they also assume as a woman you have it easy and this presumption is what creates discord. Some people also assume that as a woman your experiences are limited which further limits your writing arena. There are these huge writing groups who favour a few over others and those same set of people keep getting seen at various events and launches.”

“Some people said ‘ahh, the privileged sex, you can of course afford to become a writer.’ Some people have said ‘People will only buy your book for how you look, you can get away with bad writing’. Honestly, it did initially bother me a lot as it would anyone who works hard on their art. I answered back and fought with a lot of people for such things; but as I matured I realised that none of these people matter and I cannot waste my energy trying to make them understand. The best way to fight them was to continue working on my art.”

Anuradha Prasad, Two Winters and 365 Days

“Most of the famous writers and outstanding literature in the world is created by women. Most famous best sellers are women. Women are vocal, expressive and creative.”

“I must say women have to work ten times harder than men to create a niche for themselves in a given profession. It’s more challenging, as they are not only working outside, they are working inside the homes too. Women are tugged emotionally on all levels. They are torn between their families and work places. I experienced the same struggle. I handled criticism in stride. Took it easy and improvised on the pointers levelled at me from time to time. Sometimes identified criticism as baseless work of art and moved on!”

Raina Singhwi Jain, The Golden Bird 2.0

“As a working professional, one has to deal with criticism. It is however upto us to pay attention only to constructive criticism that can help us improve our skills. My father was the inspiration behind this book. A lot of the ideas mentioned in the book were a result of active debates with my father. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by highly supportive family and friends who enabled me to focus on the book.”

“Don’t be overwhelmed by your ambitions and goals, just take the first step and new opportunities will automatically start coming your way.”

Janhavi Bhat, Ashes of Desires

“Struggles are a part and parcel of life. Without hardships it is impossible to reach anywhere. The biggest hindrance in my journey was my failure to realise my self-worth. Often times when one chooses a different path and sees a future that’s inconceivable by the majority, a sense of negativity looms over. I always keep an anchor thought as my inspiration.” My anchor thought is my reason to choose writing – express with utmost authenticity and honesty.

“Authenticity is a deep value in itself. Be fearless and honest. It might be difficult to find people who will support you. Nonetheless, go after your dreams and the right people are sure to accompany you.”

Arushi Vats, Oasis in the Desert and Other Stories

“When I was following the path of my dreams, there were many people who made every attempt to belittle my dreams or discourage in some way or other. They would give their unsolicited opinion of how being an author wouldn’t do me good. Nonetheless, I cared less and turned a deaf ear to them. I was confident in my ability to go after my dream of becoming a published author and I am proud that I never bothered to hear those harsh words and demotivate myself.”

“When I decided to publish my first book, there was no one to give me prior guidance of how to find a publisher or pitch your story. There’s always room to improve. But, the thrill of doing things on your own with all the struggles and experiences gave me some confidence that I can be a writer. I realised that with time writing skills get sharpened and you only get better. Never underestimate yourself, you have the potential and the calibre to do it, so go ahead and do things with unwavering strength.”

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Somini’s one shot intro to vaccines

The informative text is accompanied by colourful and quirky illustrations that we hope will take the pain out of the prick even as it highlights the importance of vaccination for children.”…writes Siddhi Jain.

Kids of current generation is To help children understand the world of vaccines deeper, a new children’s book ‘V for Vaccine: A One-shot Introduction to Vaccines’ by author-journalist Somini Sengupta will attempt to answer some key questions: “What is a vaccine? How is it made? Does it hurt to get a vaccine?”

children walking in street during covid 19 surge in us

Through three fun characters, Veni, Vidi and Vici, who love talking about things that start with the letter V, like vaccines, the book answers who invented the first vaccine, whether animals can get vaccines too, and other ways to build immunity and stay healthy. Readers can even create their own vaccine card.

People line up to enter a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago, the United States,

The book is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.

According to Tina Narang, Publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books,”for children it’s been a year filled with many new words, starting with corona, coronavirus and Covid, and now more recently, Vaccine — the word that is on everyone’s lips if not on their arms”.

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“So we are happy to announce ‘V for Vaccine: A One-Shot Introduction to Vaccines’, a book that will introduce children to the how’s and why’s of vaccines and vaccination through an easy-to-understand question and answer format. The informative text is accompanied by colourful and quirky illustrations that we hope will take the pain out of the prick even as it highlights the importance of vaccination for children.”

“Understanding how vaccines work is the first step to building confidence in science and all of its potential. This engaging and appealing book leads us through questions and answers that show how we can use vaccines to protect us,” says Indian virologist Gagandeep Kang, who is a Professor of Microbiology at Christian Medical College.

With easy-to-understand information and colourful, quirky illustrations, this book is an engaging and informative look at the importance of vaccination.

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‘Appreciation is good for creator’

Winning cover design is a basic piece of the achievement of a book and artists assume a key part in helping a book wind up plainly significant and make review…writes Siddhi Jain.

Reading is a passion for at least some of the people in the society. A book cover is a reader’s very first interaction with the book, and can make or break the deal, says well-known graphic designer Ahlawat Gunjan who was recently awarded the sixth Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize.

“Along with it being visually appealing to draw your attention, I believe it also needs to be contextually appropriate and should be able to communicate clearly and effectively,” Ahlawat told IANSlife in an email.

The 2021 prize was awarded at Jaipur BookMark of Jaipur Literature Festival to Ahlawat for the cover of ‘Gun Island’ by Amitav Ghosh, which is published by Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The award is given out for brilliance in book design, in an attempt to recognise and encourage the extraordinary work of illustrators, designers and publishers throughout India.

“We commend the dramatic graphics and meticulous attention to detail in the cover image. The genius of the textual narrative finds resonance in the sensuous movement of the snake, slithering as it does across the spine to the back cover. The deep integration of the title and the author’s name into the illustration is thoughtfully rendered. The selected visual appropriately and aesthetically represents the core and movement of the story. The typography aligns seamlessly with the coiled serpent offering a unique and emblematic visual identity to the book,” said the Jury consisting Indian politician, writer and Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, Author, Indian columnist and novelist, Shobhaa De, well known author, Kunal Basu, Author, Publisher and Festival Director, Namita Gokhale, Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and the creative force behind the Oxford Bookstore chain, Priti Paul.

Winning cover design is a basic piece of the achievement of a book and artists assume a key part in helping a book wind up plainly significant and make review.

“I got the cover brief from my editor and we discussed the ideas in detail. I then went on to read the MS and discussed the ideas in further detail with the editor and the author. As I mentioned, the challenge here was my own phobia for reptiles, so a photographic approach was completely out and I decided to go with an illustrative one. I chose to work with Nirupa Roa for the cover art and she wonderfully translated the illustration brief into a spectacular visual. With the illustration, I designed the fill cover and presented it Sales and Marketing team and finally to the author. Everyone really enjoyed the approach and the final outcome. It was later adopted by several international publishers,” said Ahlawat about the process of designing the cover for the bestselling book.

“I feel any appreciation in any form is good for the creator of that work. And in that light, these awards are a great source of recognition for the individuals behind the scenes,” He says about the importance of awards.

The jury also made a special mention of Pinaki De’s evocative cover design for ‘Moom’ by Bani Basu, translated by Arunava Sinha and published by BEE Books.

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MODI: The Yogi of Populism

Mihir Bose Book

Former BBC editor, Mihir Bose, releases new book – ‘Narendra Modi – The Yogi of Populism’ through publishers Bite-Sized Books …. Reports Asian Lite News

Mihir Bose, prolific author and equality advocate, has released his new book that explores the idea that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provided the model for Boris Johnson and Trump to seize power.

The notion of Modi providing the template for Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to seize power may sound absurd. What can the Prime Minister of a developing country, who leads a hard right Hindu party, have to teach two leaders of sophisticated rich countries which pride themselves on being long-established democracies?

Mihir Bose’s new book addresses that question and answers it decisively.

India is the world’s largest democracy and Modi’s playbook for winning elections has provided a model for both Trump and Johnson. The Modi template says to win power you must convince enough people that they have lost their country. That they need to do something very radical if they are to regain their country.

This is such an emotive call that it can galvanise people even when there is no merit whatsoever in the argument. Modi’s success came in the Indian general elections of 2014 which, contrary to the predictions of all the pollsters, and the views of India’s chattering classes, saw his Bharatiya Janata Party sweep to victory with a thumping majority.

This book is an important and challenging analysis that will inform the global political debate and provide real insights into how Trump and Johnson gained power.

David Smith, Economics Editor, Sunday Times quotes, “This is a fascinating and original take on one of the most interesting political leaders of our age”.

Ben Fenton, former Daily Telegraph and Financial Times, said: “ Brimming with Bose’s intimate knowledge of his homeland, this brief description of the Indian prime minister’s rise from tea-seller to premier tells new readers all they need to know about what we might call the Modi Operandus.

“Bose explains in flowing prose how Narendra Modi exploited dormant anti-secularism among India’s Hindu majority and reversed its multicultural trends. Modi’s brand of populism predates Trump or Brexit or Bolsanaro”.

Mihir Bose, who was born in India but has lived in the UK for half a century, is an award-winning journalist and author. He writes and broadcasts on social and historical issues as well as sport for a range of outlets including the BBC, the Financial Times, Evening Standard and Irish Times.

Mihir Bose

He has written more than 30 books and his most recent publication is Lion and Lamb, a Portrait of British Moral Duality. His books range from a look at how India has evolved since Independence, the only narrative history of Bollywood, biographies of Michael Grade, the Indian nationalist Subhas Bose, and a study of the Aga Khans.

Mihir was the BBC’s first Sports Editor, and the first non-white to be a BBC editor. He covered all BBC outlets including the flagship Ten O’clock News, the Today programme, Five Live and the website. He moved to the BBC after 12 years at the Daily Telegraph where he was the chief sports news correspondent but also wrote on other issues including race, immigration, and social and cultural issues. Before that he worked for the Sunday Times for 20 years. He has contributed to nearly all the major UK newspapers and presented programmes for radio and television and has edited several business publications.

Mihir was awarded an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University for his outstanding contribution to journalism and the promotion of equality. He has won several awards: business columnist of the year, sports news reporter of the year, sports story of the year and Silver Jubilee Literary award for his History of Indian Cricket.

Mihir is a former chairman of the Reform Club and has recently been appointed to the Blue Plaques selection committee of English Heritage.

Amazon books: https://tinyurl.com/k8rfh6vj

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Women stories beyond ‘Laxman Rekha’

Unapologetic and real, they embrace the entire range of the human experience, from the sweetest of loves and sacrifices to the most horrific of crimes…writes Siddhi Jain.

International women’s day is very special day for all women in the world. Of course every day should be celebrated as women’s day by respecting and loving her. But its a fact that most men and even women discuss the space and importance of women in a society exclusively on this particular day.

Ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, two collections of short stories of flawed, rebellious and most importantly real women, are set to be published by Penguin.

Women Who Misbehave

The new titles — “Women Who Misbehave” and “Impetuous Women” — are stories of women who step across the Laxman Rekha, who are unapologetic, strong and unconventional but always flawed.

“Women Who Misbehave” is written by Sayantani Dasgupta, an assistant professor of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and much like the women within its pages, contains multitudes and contradictions. At a party to celebrate her friend’s wedding anniversary, a young woman spills a dangerous secret. A group of girls mourns the loss of their strange, mysterious neighbour. A dutiful daughter seeks to impress her father even as she escapes his reach. A wife weighs the odds of staying in her marriage when both her reality and the alternative are equally frightening. An aunt comes to terms with an impulsive mistake committed decades ago.

In this wildly original and hauntingly subversive collection of short stories, Sayantani Dasgupta brings to life unforgettable women and their quest for agency. They are violent and nurturing, sacred and profane. They are friends, lovers, wives, sisters and mothers. Unapologetic and real, they embrace the entire range of the human experience, from the sweetest of loves and sacrifices to the most horrific of crimes.

Impetuous Women

“Impetuous Women” by Shikhandin (the nom de plume of an Indian writer who writes for adults and children) is about women who step across the Lakshman Rekha, whose transgressions fly in the face of the establishment, the patriarchy, often their own families and loved ones.

From two housewives who play a potentially lethal game of keeping up to an expert baker who serves revenge with chocolate sprinkles on top; from a stern hostel warden who examines her relationship with the teenagers she must surveil to a grouchy widow shuts out the world; From a couple madly in love and desperate for a bit of privacy to a tender bond between a husband and wife, these stories create an unforgettable portrait of modern-day India and the experiential realities of being impetuous, of being women.

This darkly comic, thrillingly tragic collection of stories is sensuous, bittersweet and whimsical by turns, and always wildly, subversively original.

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