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The twenty-three stories in The Greatest Gujarati Stories Ever Told represent some of the finest short fiction in Gujarati literature. Selected and edited by translator and writer Rita Kothari, this collection features established literary masters such as K. M. Munshi, Dhumketu, Himanshi Shelat, Dalpat Chauhan, Nazir Mansuri, and Mona Patrawalla, as well as accomplished new voices such as Panna Trivedi, Abhimanyu Acharya, Raam Mori, and others. In K. M. Munshi's epistolary 'A Letter', a childbride is worked to her death as she yearns for her husband's affection; in Neerav Patel's 'Creamy Layer', the politicized, urban, and upwardly mobile Mr and Mrs Vaghela must confront the deep chasm that has grown between them and their family in the village; in Panna Trivedi's 'Maajo', the story's eponymous young narrator longs for butter-soft skin and a Shah Rukh-like glance from a young man on the train; in 'Saubhagyavati: The Fortunate Wife', Dwiref explores the selfish and oppressive nature of marital sex; in 'A Drop of Blood' Jayant Khatri looks at how violent acts engender more violence; Mona Patrawalla explores the tribal region of the Dangs and paints a hair raising picture of the violent forms of power wielded by the Parsi landlords there in 'The Black Horse'; in Dashrath Parmar's 'Nandu', the narrator struggles to hide his caste in the face of insistent questions; in 'Jumo Bhishti' by Dhumketu, we see the wonderful bond between Jumo and his beloved buffalo, Venu; and in Abhimanyu Acharya's 'Chunni', a young woman, Shaili, navigates the world of dating in a city far away from home-these and other stories in the collection are passionate, profound, and timeless, showcasing a range of styles and offering a variegated and singular picture of Gujarat.

The Greatest Kashmiri Stories Ever Told spans almost a century of work by some of the finest writers of short fiction in the language. The storytellers included here range from the earliest practitioners of the craft of short story writing-Dinanath Nadim, Somnath Zutshi, Ali Mohammad Lone-to more contemporary writers like Dheeba Nazir. Some stories in this collection are realistic dramas that hold up a startlingly clear mirror to society, such as Sofi Ghulam Mohammad's 'Paper Tigers', or lay bare the pain of losing one's homeland, as Rattan Lal Shant does in 'Moss Floating on Water'. Then there are others like Ghulam Nabi Shakir's 'Unquenched Thirst' and Umesh Kaul's 'The Heart's Bondage', that look beyond the exterior and focus on the complex inner lives of the women of Kashmir. Selected and translated by Neerja Mattoo, the twenty-five stories in this volume, all born out of the Kashmiri experience, will resonate with readers everywhere.

When Dita Roy is appointed as an English lecturer in a college in the sleepy little village of Phulpukur, she puts aside all her doubts about the institution's dubious credentials and accepts the position. In Phulpukur College, she meets the mysterious Raja, a tall, handsome man with startling grey eyes, who serves her tea on her first day on the job. For Raja, Dita is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise claustrophobic environment. What the two do not know is that their chance encounter will soon gain them, and Phulpukur College, lifelong notoriety.... A comic, hilarious tale about romance tangled up in the complex politics of rural Bengal, The Shotgun Wedding is a sparkling debut showing us, once again, the power of love.

In India, kingdoms and dynasties have come and gone, religious sects have formed and dissolved, schools of philosophy have come together and subsequently been replaced by others, yet the Mahabharata has never ceased to excite the Indian imagination.

The Shadow on the Wall brings together Ruskin Bond's most chilling works of fright and terror. The twenty-one stories in this book include classics such as 'A Face in the Dark', 'The Chakrata Cat', and 'Susanna's Seven Husbands', along with a dose of eerie new tales that have never been published before. In 'The Shadow on the Wall', a young writer finds an unlikely first reader in a ghost; 'The Doppelgänger' is a creepy account of beings that occupy two places at once; 'Haunted Places' is a spooky look at the world around us. From horrifying stories of chance encounters with hill station spirits, hauntings in abandoned mansions, malignant and mischievous jinns and shape-shifters, to prets and Mussoorie's Bhoot-aunty, the twenty-one tales in The Shadow on the Wall showcase Ruskin Bond's talent as a master of horror fiction.

The Buddha, Ashoka, Gandhi-the three greatest Indians who ever lived-were emblematic of non-violence. Yet, paradoxically, their country of origin is one of the most violent places on earth. Do 'we, the people of India' have violence in our bones? This work explores different aspects of our society to answer the question. Despite a blood-soaked Partition coupled with many other challenges that all emerging democracies have had to negotiate, India's record in upholding the democratic va

Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2012. Musharraf Ali Farooqi's new novel, set in an unnamed Pakistani city shortly after Partition, unravels the lives of Ustad Ramzi, one of the greatest wrestlers of the land, who is now old and warmed only by the memories of his past and the equally renowned Gohar Jan, a courtesan whose kotha once welcomed lords of the land butis now in danger of being shut down. Through the course of this book we witness Ustad Ramzi's almost fanatical devotion to his craft and his akhara and the attempts of his younger brother Tamami also a wrestler to rise from the towering shadow of Ustad Ramzi. We witness, also,the unusual, unspoken bond that grows between the celibate wrestler and the elegant courtesan, both past their prime. Spare, haunting and exquisitely written, between Clay and Dust is a remarkably original offering from a novelist working at the height of his powers. Key Features By the bestselling author of The Story of a Widow (shortlisted for the DSC Prize, 2010). Musharraf Ali Farooqi is widely regarded as one of Pakistan's biggest writers, together with Mohsin Hamid, Mohammed Hanif and Daniyal Mueenuddin This is perhaps the first major novel in English set in the world of pehelwans and tawaifs, both immensely popular characters in South Asian culture

Feral Dreams: Mowgli and His Mothers is a heartbreaking story of identity, love, and belonging, as it is an exquisite ode to the fast vanishing, beautiful, and sometimes menacing jungles of India.

Fouzia Azeem, also known as the Pakistani model, actress, and singer Qandeel Baloch, first auditioned for Pakistan Idol in 2013. A video clip of her audition immediately went viral via the Internet. She became the first Pakistani woman to also gain social media celebrity status while posting selfie photographs and videos to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube that were considered both controversial and risquâe by the traditional and conservative Pakistani social standards. Her brother took her life in July 2016, claiming it was an honor killing--punishment for the 'shame' her online behavior brought to the entire family. A huge media frenzy followed, fast-tracking the Anti-Honor Killings Law bill in The Parliament of Pakistan yet further dividing her family concerning Qandeel's death.

Bengal is home to both Hindus and Muslims, and her people farm the fertile Gangetic delta for rice and vegetables as well as fishing the region?s myriad rivers. As recipes for fish in yoghurt sauce, chicken with poppy seeds, aubergine with tamarind, duck with coconut milk and the many other delights in Bengali Cooking testify, Bengal has given the world some of its most delicious dishes. This highly original book takes the reader into kitchens in both West Bengal and Bangladesh by way of the seasons and religious and other festivals that shape the region?s cooking. Bengali Cooking is much more than a cookbook: it is also a vivid and deeply-felt introduction to Bengal?s diverse cultures and landscapes.

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge in Hinduism, as well as in Buddhism and Jainism. Her name is derived from the fluidity (saras) of the imagination. Human imagination enables us to invent and innovate, visualize, plan and de-risk. Yet imagination is a bad word in the world of business and management. It strips us of certainty. We want to control the imagination of those who work for us, prevent their minds from wandering from work. Yet every human being lives in an imagined reality. Recognizing this enables us to work with talent, build strong relationships and nurture people to face any situation with faith and patience. Failure to recognize imagination is why family-owned businesses are unable to manage professionals and how professionally- run companies end up creating ineffective, mechanistic talent management systems. Training, learning and development, are not just about skills and knowledge and competencies, they are about appreciating the human-animal, recognizing that neither we nor those around us are programmable machines that we can plug and play. Managing people, hence relationships, is key to the survival of an organization. Derived from Devdutt Pattanaik's influential bestseller Business Sutra, this book explores concepts like creativity in the workplace, nurturing talent and the importance of teamwork. It will help employers and managers become more inclusive leaders who are able to carry their team along with them.

It is not only the past that lies in ruins in Patna, it is also the present. But that is not the only truth about the city that the author explores in this vivid, entertaining account of his hometown. We accompany him on journeys and memories through many Patnas, the myriad cities within the city the shabby reality of the present-day capital of Bihar, Pataliputra, the storied city of emperors, the dreamlike embodiment of the city in the minds and hearts of those who have escaped its confines. Full of fascinating observations and perspective, A Matter of Rats reveals a challenging and entertaining city which exerts a lasting pull on all those who drift into its orbit.

"A heartfelt love letter to Delhi that is part history, part family memoir and part indignant call to arms: Why do we tolerate the neglect of India's greatest city, asks Mala Singh. More importantly, she brilliantly shows why we should care and how we need to learn to value the nation's extraordinary capital city." - William Dalrymple Capital to successive empires and the independent Indian republic, Delhi is finally coming into its own as the nation's first city in the twenty-first century. In so doing, it has left behind once and future contenders for the title - Bombay, Madras, Calcutta. How did this small settlement, founded in the lee of an ancient range of hills in eighth century by a Tomar Rajput chief called Suraj Pal, become one of the world's great cities, home to nearly twenty million people, witness to the rise and fall of empires and dynasts and eccentrics as magnificent and notable as the Tomar Chauhans, the Mamluks, the Khiljis, the Tughlaks, the Sayyids, the Lodis, the Mughals, the Nehrus, the Gandhis and dozens of others too numerous to count. Drawing upon her unparalleled knowledge of the city she has spent most of her life in, Malvika Singh gives us a book that reveals the pith and essence of Delhi through the memorable people who lived (and live) in it, its great buildings, its extraordinary food, its unforgettable music and the centuries of blood and history that have seeped into every square inch of its soil.

The first translation into English of a beloved medieval Indo-Persian epic, The Adventures of Amir Hamza is the gripping account of the exploits of Amir Hamza, the greatest warrior of his time, defender of the True Faith, lover of blindingly beautiful women and scourge of infidels, demons, trolls, devs and assorted evil-doers. In Musharraf Ali Farooqis extraordinary translation, which took nearly a decade to finish, Hamzas magical world comes thrillingly alive.

3 May 1857. India stands on the brink of war. Everywhere in its cities,towns, and villages, rebels and revolutionaries are massing to overthrowthe ruthless and corrupt British East India Company which has taken overthe country and laid it to waste. In Delhi, the capital, even as the plot toget rid of the hated foreigners gathers intensity, the busy social life of thecity hums along. Nautch girls entertain clients, nawabs host mushairasor poetry soirees in which the finest poets of the realm congregate torecite their latest verse and intrigue, the wealthy roister in magnificenthavelis, and the drinking dens of the city continue to pack in customers.

It is the book launch of Best in Show: The Peacock Book of Indo-Anglian Fiction and John Nair, managing editor, Peacock India, is throwing the grandest party of his life. The whole of literary India is in attendance. All the literary stars are here: the Seths, the Roys, the Chaudharis, among many, many others. And into this haloed gathering walks Nair's old friend, Ritwik Ray, the slightly off-kilter bard of Patna, with a new novel in hand: Godse Chowk. Mayhem ensues. Set in the goldfish bowl of the New Delhi publishing world, The Time of the Peacock provides an accurate yet compassionate reading of the Indian literary scene-both bhasha and metropolitan.

From Jammu and Kashmir in the north to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the south, from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and all the other states and union territories of India in between, here are 108 fabulous folk tales, legends, and stories from more than fifty-seven languages and dialects. You will delight in wondrous tales of heroes and heroines, of ordinary men and women, of wicked mothers-in-law and foolish sons-in-law, of love lost and won, of a tree who loved a girl, of seers and wise men, of chudails, werewolves, and wizards, of a potter girl and the divine cow, of demoiselle cranes and humans transforming into elephants, of how the woodpecker got its crest, and much, much more. Startlingly original, brilliant, wise, and often funny, these stories will delight readers of all ages.

With two cows and four mouths to feed, Nareshan can barely make ends meet selling milk to the inhabitants of Karuthupuzha. That is, until his daughter, Sarasu, is possessed by the demon-god, Chaathan. Now, the faithful from all over Karuthupuzha and beyond visit Nareshan with money and gifts to receive Chaathan's blessings. The sceptics of the town, meanwhile, believe that Nareshan is fooling everyone to make money. However, when one of the leading sceptics in town, Dasappan, member of the Communist Party, rationalist and atheist, loses his mind after loudly proclaiming that Chaathan is a farce, the people's belief in a divine power residing in Sarasu is reinforced.With the number of faithful only growing as each day passes, Nareshan realizes that his daughter's possession might be the best thing to have happened to him. When the rich widow Ponnamma comes to his house to seek help from Chaathan for her son, Nanu, the fate of Nareshan and his family is set to change forever.

One Who Serves Becomes the Master'' collects together timeless lessons from Hazrat Nizamuddin on living a life dedicated to love and service to humanity. - This book will appeal to anyone who wants easy to understand spiritual lessons that will enrich their lives. - This is the next book in Aleph Book Company''s ''Life Lessons'' series which features words of wisdom from India''s greatest spiritual leaders.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi has been an administrator, diplomat, author, and public intellectual of distinction for over four decades. His writings have spanned diverse genres, showcasing both his deep scholarship as well as a profound engagement with issues of politics, history, literature, and culture. He is respected not only for his statesmanship, but also admired as an exemplar of a fading ideal of our republic, one that placed ethics and the pursuit of the common good at the core of our public life. The Fourth Lion, a festschrift in honour of Gopalkrishna Gandhi, consists of twenty-six essays contributed by individuals drawn from various walks of life and from across the globe. Organized into thematic sections-Literature and Culture, History, Environment, Politics and Public Affairs, and Memoirs-the essays speak to concerns, interests and sensibilities that animate our lives.The Fourth Lion is a festschrift for Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a respected diplomat, author and an exemplary public intellectual.Features twenty-six essays on diverse themes like culture, history, environment, and politics that are pertinent to contemporary times.The title draws on the expertise of contributors from different walks of life from across the globe.

Over the centuries, Indo-Islamic and European ideas merged with Hindu traditions to make Lucknow a powerhouse of creativity and the centre of what was known as Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, the evocative Awadhi phrase for Hindu-Muslim syncretism. A city known for its art and artisans, the courts of the nineteenth-century rulers of Lucknow swarmed with people from all over the subcontinent as well as European painters and photographers. In the third quarter of the eighteenth century, poets from Delhi''s Mughal court migrated to Lucknow in the hope of better emoluments. Lucknow''s legendary status as a city of culture waxed with every new influx of creative geniuses.A Shadow of the Past celebrates the people responsible for the city''s fame-its nawabs, painters, writers, revolutionaries, and freedom fighters. At a time when Uttar Pradesh has been reduced to one of the most backward states of the country, Mehru Jaffer shows us how Lucknow''s glorious cultural heritage ensures that it remains a city of substance.A Shadow of the Past showcases the glorious cultural heritage of the city of Lucknow.It celebrates the nawabs, the painters, the writers, the revolutionaries, and the freedom fighters that made Lucknow the centre of arts and culture.Mehru Jaffer traces the evolution of Lucknow across centuries, highlighting the diverse historical influences that form the cultural fabric of the city even today.The next book in Aleph''s city series, which includes the bestselling A Matter of Rats: A Short Biography of Patna and City Adrift: A Short Biography of Bombay.

In a grey and frightened world driven to despair by the pandemic, Ruskin Bond''s luminous new book, It''s a Wonderful Life, cuts through the gloom like a blade of bright steel. His unerring eye seeks out the joys and positive truths to be found in the smallest of incidents that occur in our lives, the good news and sources of happiness that we often miss out on as a result of the anxiety and bad news that has pervaded our daily existence over the past year.Perceptive, uplifting, and deeply moving, It''s a Wonderful Life is another triumph from one of our most beloved writers.This title is particularly relevant in the current pandemic when daily anxieties can far outweigh the joys of life.The positive and uplifting tone of this work casts light on the little bundles of happiness that go unnoticed in our busy lives.Ruskin Bond is a bestselling author whose writing appeals to readers of all ages.

Six and a third Acres was the first modern Odia novel, and has remained at the heart of Odin literary excellence ever since. It was published as Chha Mana atha guntha in the literary monthly Utkal Sahitya between 1897-99. Over a century after it was first published, this sombre tale continues to attract readers because of fakir Mohan senapati's innovative technique, indelible characters, wit, imagination, and tremendous insights into the rural milieu. The novel is about village politics, caste oppression, malpractices, and land-grabbing under the zamindari system in colonial Odisha. Ramchandra mangaraj, a sly zamindar of the village of govindpur, is notorious for taking over the lands of poor peasants and farmers. This time, his avaricious gaze falls on a small patch of land-six and a third acres-belonging to a humble, god-fearing weaver couple. Unable to fight the zamindari devious schemes, the couple succumbs to the harsher realities of caste-ridden village life.

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