By IANS,
New Delhi : The book pile this week is serious, sombre and reminiscent of the good times that the country had – at a time when the country fends off fresh wave of terror.
1. “Does He Know a Mother’s Heart: How Suffering Refutes Religion”; Written by Arun Shourie, Published by Harper Collins India; Priced at Rs.599.
How do the scriptures of our religions explain the existence of suffering? In a devastating dissection of the scriptures, laced with accounts of the suffering and pain that he has seen at first-hand bringing up his son crippled with cerebral palsy and coping with a wife who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, the writer tells us why he has eventually gravitated to the teachings of the Buddha. And what lessons these teachings hold for our daily lives.
2. “The Service of the State: IAS Reconsidered”; Written by Bhaskar Ghose; Published by Penguin-Viking; Priced at Rs.499.
The book tries to seek answers to the critical question – if the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) is still the most appropriate institution to govern 21st century India? Should a cadre of generalists head organisations as complex and diverse as industrial units, museums and rural development boards? If it had to be replaced, what is the best alternative?
Drawing on his experience of 36 years as an IAS officer, the author in his book addresses these and other major questions regarding the role, relevance and effectiveness of India’s long-established but often controversial system of state administration.
3. “The Caliphate’s Soldiers: Lashkar-e-Tayyeba’s Long War”; Written by Wilson John; Published by Amaryllis; Priced at Rs.250.
The book highlights Lashkar’s greater aspirations and establishes its roots through a close study of the outfit’s copious literature, speeches by its leaders and records available in public spaces.
The book introduces the terrorist outfit in detail and tries to analyse why it grew into a powerful organisation and spread its network at such a rapid pace in the last two decades.
4. “Doosra: A Tale of Cricket, Crime and Controversy”; Written by Rajiv Rajendra; Published by Rupa & Co; Priced at Rs.656
Almost at the summit of world cricket, the only thing Tarun Krishnan lacks is a World Cup win. He is the ideal husband, doting father, cricket superstar, role model and Mr Clean. Until now. The 2011 Word Cup is on. Hot favourites India are playing their penultimate group match.
Amidst this, Tarun’s world comes crumbling down with allegations of assault, numerous affairs and match fixing. He becomes a villain in the eyes of his billion and counting fans. Only three people can help him – star journalist Aditi, whiz-kid Sunny and ex-bookie Godse.
Tarun needs redemption, a platform to prove his innocence and regain the faith of a nation. The only way to do this is to gain strength from his remaining supporters and play the game he loves.
5. “Champions! How the World Cup was Won”; Written by Suresh Menon; Published by Harper-Collins India; Priced at Rs.599.
On April 2, 2011, after 28 years, the World Cup returned to India when Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s boys beat Sri Lanka in a nail-biting finish that ended in a shower of champagne and confetti.
They had started the tournament as favourites, but in the early stages, the Indian team had appeared shaky, barely holding their own against even the less fancied teams. Then came the turning point – Pakistan beat Australia, ending their decade-long supremacy in one-day cricket, and India knew they could do it too.
Led by their captain cool, they first took on Pakistan in Mohali and then Sri Lanka in Mumbai with nerves of steel and a palpable belief in their own ability to fight to the finish. Menon takes readers through the highlights, the disappointments and doubts as well as the triumphs.