Category: Books

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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Referring to her latest book, she spoke about her visits to various refugee camps and how around 80 million girls have been displaced from their homes.

The concluding day of the 14th Jaipur Literature Festival witnessed Nobel Prize recipient, author, and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai talking about a range of subjects including education, human rights, and her hopes for India-Pakistan relationship.

Malala engaged in almost an hour-long conversation with journalist Pragya Tiwari, around her new book “We are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World”.

The session kicked off with the 23-year-old giving audiences a glimpse of her inspirations, journey and roots. She spoke of what inspired her to come forward and share her story in the first place. Stressing that it was important for her to not just tell her own story but also remind people that her tale is not unique, Malala spoke of how her story echoes that of millions of girls who do not have access to education, because of a myriad of reasons including early child marriages, poverty, cultural norms, wars and conflicts.

Speaking about Indo-Pak relationship, the 23-year-old said, “You are Indian and I am Pakistani, and we are completely fine, then why is this hatred created between us? The philosophy of borders, divisions, divide and conquer just does not work anymore…as humans we all want to live in peace.”

The peace activist said that it was her dream to see the two countries (India and Pakistan) on friendly terms and that people from either side are able to visit each other. “You can continue to watch Pakistani dramas movies, and we — Bollywood movies.”

Stressing on the need to protect minorities in both countries, she also talked about the Internet shutdown in some parts of India and arrests of activists.

Malala also spoke about being displaced in her own country Pakistan , owing to the conflict between the government forces and the Taliban insurgents, her life during this time in a refugee camp and the uncertainty she faced at not knowing when she will be home again.

Referring to her latest book, she spoke about her visits to various refugee camps and how around 80 million girls have been displaced from their homes.

She said that she decided to write the book ‘We Are Displaced’ to tell the stories of these young girls who lose their homes and who decide to become refugees only for the sake of a safe future as they usually do not have an option. “They are pushed by the situation they’re living in to lose their homes and to find safety elsewhere.”

When Pragya asked about her source of courage, Malala answered that it stemmed from a want for education and the desire to live a peaceful life.

The young Nobel laureate also spoke on minorities being at risk across the world, and how they needed protection in every country. “Be it Hindus and Christians in Pakistan or Muslims, Dalits and other minorities in India, Rohingyas or Palestinians — it is not religion, but exploitation of power, it is elites vs poor and minorities.”

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Some good picks for the business aspirants

The book is meant to be used not just as a textbook for a course, but also lends itself well to being an actual guide to students wishing to start their own ventures…writes Siddhi Jain.

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to refocus on personal and business growth. From a practical book on preventing your brain from aging to a guide to leadership and entrepreneurship, here are our picks from the literary world.

Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at any Age by Dr Sanjay Gupta

An exciting new science-driven guide to protecting your mind from decline. Throughout our lives, we are always looking for ways to keep our mind sharp and effortlessly productive. In this book, globetrotting neurosurgeon Dr Sanjay Gupta offers insights from top scientists all over the world, whose cutting edge research can help you heighten and protect brain function and maintain cognitive health at any age. ‘Keep Sharp’ debunks common myths about ageing and cognitive decline, it explores whether there’s a ‘best’ diet or exercise regimen for the brain, and explains whether it’s healthier to play video games that test memory and processing speed, or to engage in more social interaction.

Discover what we can learn from ‘super-brained’ people who are in their eighties and nineties but showing no signs of slowing down – and whether there are truly any benefits to drugs, supplements and vitamins. Dr Gupta also addresses brain disease, particularly Alzheimer’s, answers all your questions about signs and symptoms, and shows you both how to ward against it and how to care for a partner in cognitive decline. The book also provides readers with a personalised twelve-week programme featuring practical strategies to strengthen your brain every day.

‘Change: How To Make Big Things Happen’ by Damon Centola

From the spread of Covid-19 to the rise of political polarization, from implicit bias to genetically modified food, from NASA to Netflix – it’s time to think differently about how change works. Professor Damon Centola is the world expert in the new science of networks. His ground-breaking research across areas as disparate as voting, health, technology and finance has highlighted powerful and highly effective new ways to ensure lasting change. In this book, Centola distils over a decade of deep experience into a fascinating new theory that challenges previous assumptions that new ideas are either contagious or not.

Change shows that beliefs and behaviours are not transmitted from person to person in the simple way that a virus is. The real story of social change is more complex and much more interesting. When we are exposed to a new idea, our social networks guide our responses in striking and surprising ways. Drawing on deep-yet-accessible research and fascinating examples, ‘Change’ presents a paradigm-shifting new science for understanding what drives change, recognising our blind spots and how we can change the world around us.

Entrepreneurship by Rajeev Roy

The third edition of ‘Entrepreneurship’ by Rajeev Roy is designed to meet the needs of management students and entrepreneurs. The book explains concepts based on original research and the author’s own experience in setting up and running entrepreneurial ventures. It aims to combine theoretical elements with a practical outlook. The book is meant to be used not just as a textbook for a course, but also lends itself well to being an actual guide to students wishing to start their own ventures.

The book starts with the concept of understanding entrepreneurship and throws light on contemporary approaches to it.. It discusses the various issues related to doing business in India and support given to SMEs and entrepreneurs; elaborates on the steps involved in composing a pitch deck; describes day-to-day operations of an entrepreneurial enterprise, such as human resources, networking, etc; and discusses growth and exit strategies. The book has case studies exhibiting recent business dynamics.

Hot Seat: Hard-won Lessons in Challenging Times by Jeff Immelt

‘Hot Seat’ offers a rigorous and candid self-interrogation of Jeff Immelt’s tenure, detailing for the first time, his proudest moments, missteps, and the lessons he learned battling one crisis after another as he led GE in the 21st century. In ‘Hot Seat’, Immelt, the former CEO of General Electric shares the hard-won lessons he learned during his sixteen years at the helm of one of America’s most iconic companies.

Marked by straight talk and humility, it is not a typical business book. As Immelt writes in the prologue: “In October 2017, as I stepped down after thirty-five years at General Electric, I wasn’t sure I could write this book. My sixteen years as CEO had given me a front-row seat to history, and I’d learned some tough lessons I believed others could benefit from. But my tenure ended badly. Many business books begin with a tacit promise: ‘Let me tell you how to be like me: an unmitigated success!’ Clearly, I couldn’t say that. My legacy was, at best, controversial. GE won in the marketplace but not in the stock market. I made thousands of decisions impacting millions of people, often in the midst of blinding uncertainty and second-guessed by countless critics. I was proud of my team and what we’d accomplished, but as CEO, I’d been about as brilliant as I was lucky, by which I mean: too often I was neither.”

As the business world continues to be rocked by stunning economic upheaval and a global pandemic, the likes of which have not been seen in 100 years, ‘Hot Seat’ is an urgently needed, and unusually candid, guide for decisive leadership.

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I have had a career shift and have shifted from the snow clad mountains to the blue oceans. I have been busy with the setting up of a shipping company since 2017… Kochery C Shibu intercts with Siddhi Jain.

Kochery C Shibu, a former navy veteran and now a bestselling author of ‘Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar’, says that there was a story teller in him since school days. The 1981 National Defence Academy graduate adds that a vast amount of travelling and seeing places and people first hand goes a long way in adding authenticity to the writing.

‘Faith and the Beloved’ is his second book. Many of the characters in the novel are inspired from those whom the Bengaluru-based author has encountered during his extensive travel. A chat with author Kochery C Shibu:

Could you tell us about your work in the Navy and the hydel projects you undertook?

Shibu: I served in the Indian Navy for more than two decades in the executive branch. I specialised in Antisubmarine warfare and commanded two warships during my tenure before taking VRS in 2005. From 2005 to 2017 I was closely associated with Hydroelectric projects. I have executed Hydroelectric projects in the Cauvery river basin in Karnataka, the Beas river Basin in Himachal and Teesta River basin in Sikkim. I wrote my first book Men and Dreams in the Dhauladhar whilst working at a remote project site in Himachal.

I have had a career shift and have shifted from the snow clad mountains to the blue oceans. I have been busy with the setting up of a shipping company since 2017. This job entailed extensive travel to various places. These experiences have been inspirational in the second book ‘Faith and the Beloved’.

How did the storyteller’s hat come about for you, after decades of serving the country in the Navy?

The story teller has been there in me since the school days. As a career soldier, the writing was mostly related to strategy, tactics, and technical evaluation of weapon and equipment and of course war games and war gaming. As a career soldier, it was not possible to dedicate time beyond professional writing to fiction writing. During the naval career, I was in the think tank of the Navy in Delhi for four years, during which period, I have done extensive writing. Most of the writing was about simplifying military concepts and weapons and Equipment technology to the Bureaucrats in the MOD and the Finance ministry teams. In many ways, it was telling the story of a concept of warfare. This was instrumental in honing the skill set further for writing. It was only after leaving the navy that I was able to dedicate four years’ time in research and writing of the first book. Followed by another year of editing.

Both of your novels have elements of thrill, mystery and human relationships. What’s your process of writing? How do you try to bring outr your experience in your words?

My process of writing starts with character sketching. This is an ongoing process to observe and write about places and people you meet, and read about and to sketch a character which could be used in storytelling. Once I start writing he novel, the characters are picked from the panorama of characters and then they are further adapted as the plot develops. I believe that the characters should come alive as the reader reads. There is always substantial amount of research which goes into the environment and time and space co-relation and events and technology co-relation. Experience and vast reading forms the bed rock on which all the elements are developed. The development of thrill is always a challenge and requires meticulous planning of time, space events and people.

This has been at times like a puzzle solving execise of the mind, to think through events and people at various places and different times and events which ultimately tie up together as the events unfold. Mystery and mystique is also built in with the development of thrill as a combined exercise. The human relationships are developed as part of character sketching and is often challenging as the character needs to follow a behavioural pattern with out the author being judgemental. The vast amount of travelling and seeing places and people first hand goes a long way in adding authenticity to the writing. In many cases, it would be deep research and talking to people and inferring to develop the experiences in words

Can you give us some insights as to how you are as a reader?

By choice I have stopped reading fiction since 2009 when I started writing the first novel and have continued that. This is to develop a style of writing that is unique and un influenced, even unknowingly by any fiction novel that one has read during the period that the writing was done . Otherwise I have read across the spectrum from all kinds of fiction, non-fiction and technical books. There was a period when I used to read a book a day. I believe that vast reading forms the base of any good writing and I still follow that in terms of the research.

How are you responding to reader reviews so far? What’s next for you?

The reader is the king and the queen. I take the reader reviews in a stride. Till now the majority of the readers have liked the books that I have written. I have written a literary fiction in the first novel which was a combination of technical fiction, classical writing and thriller combined into one. In the second book, it has been a crime thriller interspersed with classical /literary writing. The third book would be different, though not yet crystalised. The next book would be out in 2022.

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A taste for local cuisine in the Northeastern hills of India combined with an early interest in cooking, nurtured by her mother and uncle, led to various experiments in the kitchen…writes Siddhi Jain.

“Spiced, Smoked, Pickled, Preserved: Recipes and Reminiscences from Indias Eastern Hills”, a new book by Indranee Ghosh, is a delectable collection of stories with over 75 recipes from India’s eastern hills including North Bengal, Gangtok and Shillong for food enthusiasts to savour.

Published by Hachette India, the 248-page book brings together charming vignettes from her youth in the densely forested Khasi Hills and then in Bengal’s plains with a delectable selection of family recipes passed down over three generations to weave an utterly engaging narrative.

Ghosh was born in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya and the erstwhile capital of Assam. A taste for local cuisine in the Northeastern hills of India combined with an early interest in cooking, nurtured by her mother and uncle, led to various experiments in the kitchen. The recipes in the book contain some instances of this, says the publisher.

Tales of eccentric kith and kin, family folklore from the time of the Second World War and memories of Partition jostle with stories of kitchen adventures, reminiscences of cherished gatherings where food always took centre stage and fascinating nuggets on hard-learnt culinary techniques.

Featuring over 75 recipes that represent a mix of Bengali, Khasi and Nepali cuisine, this collection will introduce readers to host of exciting fare from essential spice mixes to forgotten dishes reinvented over time; from fermented delicacies like shidol in pumpkin leaves to the sizzling flavour of a pan-roasted telapiya; from hearty fish stew to mouth-watering pork in plum sauce; and from the sweet-and-sour magic of fish roe ambal to a delicious tangerine payesh.

Whether one is an intrepid food-lover willing to take their kitchen adventure just that bit further, or a comfort-food enthusiast looking for a bowl of goodness, or simply want to tickle their tastebuds with a fresh flavour this treasure trove of treats is a must-have culinary guide.

The author’s translations of selected poems by the Bengali poet Joy Goswami have been published by Worldview Books in India, and Whale and Star in the US. She has also translated the memoirs of Kanan Devi, one of the earliest Bengali film actresses, published as My Homage to All.

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Not many know that when renowned Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan recipient late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan was just a child and had has difficulties in speech, his father would put him on his chest, face downwards and sing, so he would imitate and try to sing along. The nugget from his inspiring life, and many others, find place in the book ‘A Dream I Lived Alone’…writes Siddhi Jain.

Guru to renowned artists such as Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, Geeta Dutt Roy, A.R. Rahman, Hariharan, Waheeda Rahman, Shaan, and Sonu Nigam, among others, the music legend passed away on January 17 at the age of 89 in Bandra.

Performing since he was eight years old, his career spans over a period of seventy-five years.

The book, co-written by the late Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and his daughter-in-law Namrata Gupta narrates his life’s story-from practicing music in a graveyard as a young boy to teaching stalwarts of the music industry.

Calling his journey is as lyrical as his songs, the book has an interesting anecdote — one that Namrata counts among her favourite — from when he ‘disturbed the dead’ for his riyaaz (practice) sessions.

“So I would run off to the local graveyard, which was desolate and quiet, a perfect place for me to do my riyaz. I did not have to worry about anybody listening to me, noting the mistakes I made, the false starts, the difficult parts that I would repeat, or even sometimes ignore. I could sing without any inhibition. Today I look back at this period in my life and I see a child sitting inside a dilapidated tomb for hours, pleased with the shade and the relief from the harsh sun, playing a makeshift tanpura quickly put together by a local carpenter simply employing a metal wire and a piece of bamboo,” recalled the award-winning music doyen in the book.

“As I had many events with my father-in-law, a legendary classical vocalist and a guru. I had an opportunity to discuss with him his life story of which I got inspired. So, I thought his story needed to be penned down in a book. I started noticing his everyday things he did differently in a different way. Then I started noting down all what he shared and discussed with me.

“When I became a part of this culturally rich family as a daughter in law, I found myself in the unique position of being a member of this family as well as someone who could give a fresh look with words in the book ‘A Dream I Lived Alone’,” Namrata told IANSlife.

She adds that the book captures the candid side of his life. “I have written about the man behind the music, the struggle of his life, experiences, and travels which had made him the man which he is today. I have penned the insightful stories of his musical journey, his marriage and his family.

“The thought behind writing this book was to inspire, motivate generations to come, the research and endless attempts for him to open up to me without any inhibitions was challenging and equally rewarding for me,” says Namrata, the wife of Rabbani Mustafa, one of the four sons of the music legend.

‘A Dream I Lived Alone’ is a heart-warming story of love, riyaz, dedication and the maestro of music, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.

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