A book on Kerala’s legend by a veteran journalist

Thiruvananthapuram : When two legends from two of the four pillars of democracy join hands, the end result cannot but turn out to be...

New education policy to be cooperative federalist: Smriti Irani

New Delhi : Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday said the new education policy which is under consideration will be cooperative...

Accepting Sahitya Akademi award with mixed feelings: K.R. Meera

By Preetha Nair New Delhi : Though it's an honour, it’s painful to accept a Sahitya Akademi award at a time when country is witnessing...

Moving beyond mere travellers’ tales

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,

Erotica, healing, Ruskin Bond on book cart

By IANS, New Delhi : The book case this weekend is packed with action and gripping titles.

Romancing Indian Railways, some memoirs

Nostalgic accounts of travellers who rode the earliest trains in India, personal journeys of men who who have written memoirs of their life and struggle in the US and East Africa and former union minister Salman Khurshid's account of Muslims in India. IANS bookshelf this weekend offers these delights. Take a look:

12 Osmania varsity students nabbed for holding ‘beef festival’

Hyderabad : Twelve students of Osmania University were arrested on Friday for allegedly holding a "beef festival" in violation of court orders, police said. Police...

No SC relief, for now, on admission quota in Sanskriti School

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday, for now, declined to pass any order on the central government's plea seeking continuation of 60...

Scholarly work of Dr. Abunnasr Khalidi published in Arabic

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter, New Delhi: Writers like Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi and Abul Ala Maudidi have been published in Arabic but scholarly work by Indian Muslims in Arabic to be published in Arab countries is rare. Dr. Abunnasr Muhammad Khalidi's 1949 doctoral dissertation on al-Mukhtar Abi Ubayd al-Thafaqi (622-87 CE), the leading figure of early Islamic era who avenged the death of Imam Husayn in Karbala was recently published in Egypt.

50 Indian authors to descend on London

By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS, London : More than 50 leading Indian writers are to gather in London for a two-week marketing blitz aimed at promoting Indian writing in Britain and British books in India. Organisers of the April 20-22 London Book Festival said the Indian men of letters will include writers, translators, critics and academics such as Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, Vikram Seth, Sunil Ganguly, U.R. Ananthamurthy, William Dalrymple, Pavan Verma, Ram Guha, Urvashi Butalia, Suketu Mehta, Shankar and Amit Chaudhuri.

Kashmir, Bengal, love and loss in the pile

By IANS, New Delhi : The book shelf this week is a blend of drama and realisations - facts mingled with fictions.

A candid post-mortem of the LTTE

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "The Prabhakaran Saga"; Author: S. Murali; Publisher: Sage Publishers;Pages: 362; Price: Rs.425

Google celebrates MF Husain’s birth centenary with doodle

New Delhi : Google is celebrating the birth centenary of renowned Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain who died in London on June 9, 2011...

लेखकों ने साहित्य अकादमी अवार्ड वापिस लेने शुरू किए

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter नई दिल्ली: लंबा वक़्त नहीं बीता जब विचारकों और लेखकों ने एमएम कलबुर्गी, नरेन्द्र दाभोलकर और गोविन्द पान्सारे की हत्याओं और...

Creativity at its best – made in prison

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "Captive Imagination"; Author: Varavara Rao; Publisher: Penguin/Viking: Pp 193; Price: Rs.350

A terrorist’s tale, some spirituality, some branding tips

By IANS, New Delhi : Here are five new books to sit back and enjoy this week: 1. "Traitor" - written by Shobasakti; published by Penguin-Viking: Set in the turbulent milieu of bullets and blood at the peak of the LTTE struggle in Sri Lanka, "Traitor" is a rhetoric of torture, pain and black humour that gives voice to the testimonies of millions of refugees of the torn land.

Gunfire, spirituality and call of wild on book cart

By IANS, New Delhi : Let your mind travel with the pile on your book shelf this weekend...

Revolution in the heart of India (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "Let's Call Him Vasu"; Author: Shubhranshu Choudhary; Publisher: Penguin Books; Pages: 270; Price: 350

African women writers take a new turn

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : Epic tales of jungle safaris and human rights repression in Africa are making way for a new kind of contemporary literature in a changing continent where women are becoming an increasingly vocal force in influencing literary trends. Literary pundits are describing the current phase in contemporary African fiction as the "time of boom".

Looking at the world through the eyes of diplomats and other stories

The thoughts and ideas of Indian diplomats who have collectively put in more than 1,150 years in the Indian Foreign Service, understanding the ins and out of wealth creation, a story of a Parsi man and an exciting tale about the battle between man and nature: this is what IANS has to offer to its readers this weekend. Take a look. 1. Book: India and the World: Through the Eyes of Indian Diplomats; Edited by Surendra Kumar; Publisher: Wisdom Tree; Pages: 460; Price: Rs.1,095.

Muslims extend help to save Gita Press

Aligarh : Aligarh's Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has expressed grave concern over a dragging strike in Gita Press in Gorakhpur...

Artists seeking publicity claim faking of their works: Neville Tuli

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, Jaipur : Neville Tuli, chairman and founder of Osian's Connoisseurs of Arts - the country's biggest private art auction house, feels that the lack of authentication of art works in India leads to faking while many artists also claim that their works have been forged to gain publicity. "Works are not authenticated and art still comes without receipts. This allows room for art to be faked. Moreover, many artists like to claim that their works have been faked to seek easy publicity," Tuli told IANS in an interview.

Book Review: Human & Civil Rights Defenders’ Resource Manual

Book Review Human & Civil Rights Defenders’ Resource Manual Prepared by Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) 108, 3rd Floor, Pocket I, Near Living Style Mall, JASOLA, New Delhi-25, Phone: 011-64639388. E-mail : [email protected] Price: Rs. 100/-, Pages: 122 Reviewed by MAHTAB ALAM

Graphic novels, urban blues & art thefts on book shelf

By IANS, New Delhi : This weekend, the book cart rolls in light humour and racy stories. Browse with IANS. 1. "Stupid Guy Goes to India (Graphic movel)"; Written by Yukichi

A born rebel who died a lonely death (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Title: The First Naxal: An Authorised Biography of Kanu Sanyal; Author: Bappaditya Paul; Publisher: Sage Publications; Pages: 249; Price: Rs.550

Piecing together nuggets on beloved Bangalore

By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS, Book: "Multiple City: Writings on Bangalore"; Editor: Anita De; Publisher: Penguin India; Price: Rs.399 From Mahatma Gandhi to Winston Churchill, everyone was bowled over by its weather. Today it is called India's tech hub. But Bangalore is not just one city - it is a multiple city, say old timers, travellers, poets, cartoonists and IT professionals writing on why they love the place.

A serious look at communal intolerance in India

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "Decoding Intolerance"; Author: Prateep K. Lahiri; Publisher: Roli Books; Pages: 276, Price: Rs.395

Divorce, India, partition on bookshelf

By IANS, The book case this weekend is lighthearted and peppy - matching the mood as a new year begins.

Indian writer Pankaj Mishra wins $150,000 Yale literary prize

By Arun Kumar, Washington: Indian writer Pankaj Mishra is one of eight writers from seven countries winning a $150,000 Yale University prize each in...

India’s ancient values important amid intolerance: President

New Delhi : Underlining that pluralism and multi-culturalism were at the core of India's psyche, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the world was...

First Kovalam Literary Festival to be star-studded affair

By IANS, New Delhi : Book lovers in Kerala are in for a treat as the first Kovalam Literary Festival is set to get off to a star-studded start at the sprawling Taj Green Cove on the picturesque Kovalam beach next month. The festival, which begins Oct 6 and ends Oct 8, is an attempt to give readers in Kerala, one of the most literate states in the country, an opportunity to hear their favourite authors read extracts from their new books and interact with them, said a spokesperson for Noctilucent, the event management firm handling the event.

Now read Taslima Nasreen, other authors in Sanskrit

By IANS, Lucknow : Literary works of well-known Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen and several others will soon be available in Sanskrit, an official said here Saturday. "The move will help the revival of Sanskrit language and will also make it popular amongst masses," said C.K. Shastri, general secretary of Samskrita Bharati that has undertaken the project to translate nearly 10,000 books in various languages into Sanskrit. "We have entrusted Sanskrit scholars from all over India for the translation work," he added.

How Lee pushed India to embrace Singapore

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "Looking East to Look West, Lee Kuan Yew's Mission India"; Author: Sunanda K. Datta-Ray; Publisher: Penguin/Viking, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore; Price: Rs.499 This is a scholarly, meticulously researched and gripping story from journalist Sunanda K. Datta-Ray of how Singapore icon Lee Kuan Yew persisted despite great odds to court India, his successes and disappointments, and how his dream of embracing New Delhi has finally become a reality now.

Poland-based Urdu poet answers ‘Unmasked Questions’

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, Book: "Unmasked Questions"; Author: Surender Bhutani; Publisher: Wydawca Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Warsaw-based Urdu poet Surender Bhutani's new anthology of English poetry addresses posers on religion, love, freedom, the changing world order, conflicts, metaphysics, literature and even economy - spanning the cycle of human sensibilities and the forces that govern life in this epochal era.

Few humorous books come out of Africa: Nigerian author

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2010 for the best first book in the Africa region, says she has fulfilled her dream of "writing the kind of humorous book that she had always wanted to as a child". "As a child, I read British comedies by P.G. Wodehouse and other humorous writers and always dreamt of writing funny novels I loved reading," said the Nigeria-based writer who has made waves with her novel, "I Do Not Come to You By Chance".

Reconnect to cynicism, mystery and miracles (IANS Books This Week)

By IANS, New Delhi : Here are five new books to add to your reading list this week: 1. "Serious Men": Written by Manu Joseph; Published by HarperCollins-India; Priced at Rs.499. Ayyan Mani is just another man in Mumbai, stranded in the "rot" of a good marriage, an unremarkable life and a deadend job as personal assistant to an insufferable astronomer called Arvind Acharya at the Institute of Theory and Research. To breathe some life into the drudgery that has set in, Ayyan weaves an outrageous fiction around his 10-year-old son.

Book Review: Rounded up – Muslims after 9/11

By Salman Sultan, Book: Rounded Up: Artificial Terrorists and Muslim Entrapment after 9/11 Author: Shamshad Ahmad, Ph.D.

Book review: Blinkers Off

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net

Unravelling corruption: Man who started it all

By Brij Khandelwal, IANS, Book: "Bhrastachar, Atankvad aur Hawala Karobar"; Author: Vineet Narain; Publisher: Kalchakra Samachar Trust; Pages: 340 pages; Price: Rs.200

Meditation and mantras unveiled (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Title: Meditation and Mantras; Author: Swami Vishnudevananda; Publisher: Penguin-Ananda; Price: Rs.250; Pages: 300 Spiritual well-being books are dime a dozen. This is...

Hope women find courage through my books: Author Madhuri Banerjee

By Somrita Ghosh New Delhi : Is it taboo for women to talk about sex, their hidden desires or having extra-marital affairs? No! It...

Nostalgia, homeopathy, advertising on book shelf

By IANS, New Delhi : Narratives, dramas and the good life -- the book cart this week is a delight for those with a dreamy side.

Decoding the Mahatma, World Cup trivia, geography

An original analysis of who was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's death, a reader-friendly guide spanning 40 years of the cricket World Cup and getting to know the incredible geography of India - the IANS book stack this weekend is a power house of information. Take a look. 1. Book: The Death and Afterlife of Mahatma Gandhi; Author: Makarand R. Paranjape; Publisher: Random House India; Pages: 331; Price: Rs.599

Flights of imagination: An aeronautical engineer as a famous novelist

By Vikas Datta, Immersed in aerodynamics, material science, structural analysis and the like, an aeronautical engineer would be the last person expected to be a successful and long-lasting novelist. But there was one who started writing for relaxation and eventually ended up with two dozen intricately-plotted but extremely engrossing works stretching from wartime romances to attempts for redemption to dire apocalyptic scenarios - with views on class, gender and race relations most unprecedented for his era.

Jhumpa Lahiri gets National Humanities Medal from Obama

By Arun Kumar Washington : President Barack Obama presented the 2014 National Medals of Arts and Humanities to Pulitzer Prize winning Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri...

Saudi woman receives award for promotion of Urdu

By Mohammed Shafeeq Hyderabad: Sameera Aziz, a media personality and writer, has become the first woman from Saudi Arabia to be recognised for her work...

Want to study in Australia? Get details at virtual education fair

New Delhi : To facilitate 'live' interaction of prospective Indian students with faculty members and representatives of top Australian universities, IDP Education, one of...

Convert Jinnah House into war memorial: BJP legislator

Mumbai : BJP legislator from South Mumbai M.P. Lodha on Tuesday urged the central goverment to convert Jinnah House, the house built by Pakistan...

Delhi government opposes officers’ quota in Sanskriti School

New Delhi : The Delhi government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it wanted to move a plea seeking to support the Delhi...

Muslim advocacy group to organize “National Social Leadership Summit” in March

By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter, New Delhi: MOEMIN, an advocacy group of Indian Muslims will be organising “National Social Leadership Summit” in...

A country without words

By Parayi for Twocircles.net Friends who had tongues Are dragged down the road To adorn the emperor’s brave new prison Guard dogs bark with blood red eyes Across roads,...

How to conduct free and fair polls – Rao’s book to tell all

By Richa Sharma, IANS, New Delhi : Concerned over the growing criminalisation of politics and the role of money in elections, K.J. Rao, who as a vigilant election commission observer made a mark in the Bihar elections of 2005, is writing a book on how to conduct clean elections. The book, slated for release before the next Lok Sabha elections, is based on Rao's experiences during the Bihar elections that was largely violence-free and rid of booth capturing that had characterised earlier elections.

Follow nature’s trail to solve universe’s mystery: Scientist-author

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : If the universe seems mysterious to you, try becoming a 'cosmic detective'! For, nature has left behind many clues to unravel its mystery, says US-based award-winning scientist Mani Bhaumik who has just penned a children's novel on the subject. "The study of the universe is a mystery - fortunately nature has left behind some telltale clues around us and like a detective we can pick up the clues and follow the trail to solve the mystery," Bhaumik told IANS in an informal chat in the capital.

Now, 53 historians protest against ‘highly vitiated’ atmosphere in India

New Delhi : After writers and artistes, 53 historians on Thursday protested against the 'rising intolerance' and "highly vitiated atmosphere in the country,...

E-books close to market breakthrough

By DPA, Berlin : After years of false start, e-books - thin, highly simplified displays - seem to be getting cheap enough for mass use. Thanks to a new technology known as e-ink, they can now function for weeks without a battery recharge. Early next year, Sony is to launch its PRS-505, a reader device with a six-inch black-and-white screen, in Germany, Europe's biggest market, after introducing it to booksellers in October at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Its launches this year in Britain and France have achieved good sales, as did earlier models in Japan and the United States.

Bangalore journalist’s article on Ramadan selected for international award

By TwoCircles.net News Desk, New Delhi: Bangalore-based journalist Biju Abdul Qadir’s article on Ramadan has been selected for the top three international awards for the best writings on Ramadan this year by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qardawi's IslamOnline website. Qadir’s article has originally been published in the October 2009 issue of the Young Muslim Digest -- an Islamic monthly published from Bangalore since the past 30 years. Qadir is Executive Editor of the periodical. Biju Abdul Qadir is also Managing Editor of IQRA Publications, Bangalore.

For adventure, lifestyle, gay love, head for the bookshelf

By IANS, (IANS Books This Week) New Delhi : From lifestyle to business, summit catastrophes to gay love, the book case this weekend is a study in contrasts. 1. Book: "Broom Groom"; Written by Kiran Bedi and Pavan Choudary; Published Wisdom Village (WVPD); Priced at Rs.195

Larousse: Persian Gulf is correct

By IRNA, Paris: Prestigious French publication Larousse reaffirmed on Friday the proper use of the historic term Persian Gulf after conducting research on the issue.

A transformational India needs to overhaul its education system

By Amit Dasgupta The emergence of a knowledge-driven society demonstrated that everything can and must change and that the process is a continuous search for...

Urdu signboards now at Delhi Railway Station

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has asked Delhi Railway Station officers to prepare all official signboards at the station in Urdu language also. He made an unannounced visit to the station yesterday.

He met passengers of Samjhauta Express standing at the platform and checked the facilities provided to them. On the request of the passengers of that train, he ordered officials to put name plates in Urdu also. He also wished them for their happy journey.

Now, a ‘House of Poetry’ to promote Arabic works

By IANS, Dubai : A new 'House of Poetry' will come up in this Middle East metropolis that will promote, research and document classical and contemporary Arabic poetry and strengthen its presence and profile within the Arab world and beyond. Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has directed that a House of Poetry be established. The initiative will be set up by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

Market meltdown gives fillip to Marxists’ economic ideology

By IANS, New Delhi : Karl Marx is again much-sought after in bookstores, courtesy the global economic meltdown, and the Indian Marxists are eagerly circulating handbooks with their economic ideology, including one titled 'The Politics of Privatisation and Its Impact'. Enthused by reports of a hike in the sale of books by Karl Marx following the economic recession in the West, the Indian Marxist leaders said they are chalking out strategies to propagate their ideology, based on economics.

Toxic debt brought to book

By DPA, Sydney : Toxic debt has beaten bromance and textaholic to become Australia's Word of the Year, contest organiser Macquarie Dictionary announced Wednesday. Defined as lending that "proves subsequently to be financially worthless", the term won the title because of its notoriety as the root cause of the financial crisis still shaking economies around the world. Macquarie publisher Sue Butler said that "as a lexical creation (it has) a visceral impact".

Correct grammar way to first job

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, Book: "You're Hired: How you get that job and keep it too"; Author: Nasha Fitter; Publisher: Penguin India-Books; Price: Rs.199 Applying for jobs, but don't seem to hear back from prospective employers? Maybe you're making a mistake somewhere in your application. Does your application read anything like this?

Of delayed justice and legal tangles

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : Senior advocate Arun Mohan has a mission in life: ensuring speedy justice. The senior Supreme Court lawyer, who has been associated with courts for 39 years, had taken time off from his work to write four volumes on the Indian judicial system and the problems that confront "everyday justice" as a public service project. The first two volumes of "Justice, Courts and Delays" were released in July at a function where the chief justice of India, the law minister and the attorney general were present.

Acclaimed American author sinks teeth into vampire trilogy

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : American writer of suspense Chuck Hogan says he is "drawn to stories of man at his extremes". He is now busy spooking readers with "The Strain", a book on vampires that he has co-authored with Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro. For Hogan "crime and horror are both genres of existentialism". "I am drawn to stories of man at his extremes, of people who find themselves tested, haunted and threatened," Hogan, who penned "Standoff", told IANS over e-mail from Boston.

New designs, better prices – Tagore books never say die

By Aparajita Gupta, IANS, Kolkata : Not for nothing is he the evergreen bard of Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore's literary gems are a huge draw among youngsters and older generations even now, with cheaply priced editions and attractive covers spurring sales, say publishers. As the nation gears up to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the versatile Nobel laureate May 9, publishers say Tagore's poems, short stories and songs are still a rage.

Rumi, myth and cricket on book shelf

By IANS, New Delhi : The book shelf this weekend is mostly meditative and spiritual. 1. "Rumi: A New Translation"; Written by Farrukh Dhondy; Published by Harper Perennial; Priced at Rs.299

New book reveals India’s ‘hidden hand’ in Sri Lanka war

By IANS, New Delhi : India played a critical, albeit covert, role in the success of Sri Lanka's war against the Tamil Tigers, with the Indian Navy providing vital intelligence in locating and destroying at least a dozen LTTE rogue vessels laden with arms, says the first such detailed account of the operation.

Not into books? Jaipur lit fest still a blast

By Ajay Khullar, IANS, Jaipur : Here are four good reasons to show up at the Jaipur Literature Festival: literati, glitterati, prettyrati and fourth...hmmm...that's a tough one oh yes, books of course! The moment you enter the gates of Diggi Palace, the venue of the festival from Jan 21-25, walk over to the registration desk and officially let the party begin. But first you will be slotted.

For non-Bengali India, here’s Buddhadeva Bose’s controversial work

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, Book: "It Rained All Night" by Buddhadeva Bose; Translator: Clinton B. Seely; Publisher: Penguin Books-India; Price: Rs 150 Buddhadeva Bose, one of the most versatile Bengali writers of the 20th century, was convicted on Dec 19, 1970, for alleged obscenity in his book by the additional chief presidency magistrate of Kolkata just four years before his death.

Anita Desai’s new characters search for wholeness

(IANS Book Review) By Sourabh Gupta, IANS, Book: "The Artist of Disappearance"; Author: Anita Desai; Publisher: Random House India; Price: Rs 350; Pages: 176

Cult religion, parenting & art on book shelf

By IANS, New Delhi : The book cart is light and moving this weekend - bringing out the diverse essence of the region. Browse with IANS....

A walk through the history of modern Indian art (Book Review)

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, Book: "Manifestations IX: 20th Century Indian Art"; Publisher: Delhi Art Gallery; Editors: Kishore Singh & Shruti Parthasarathy; Pages: 219; Price: Rs.4,750

‘Parents’ of Nordic crime – Sjowall, Wahloo and the Martin Beck series

By Vikas Datta, IANS, Browse through the crime fiction section of any bookshop or online store and, apart from American and British writers, the largest...

Bengal to release Netaji files on Friday

Kolkata : The West Bengal government will release 64 files related to freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Friday. West Bengal Chief...

How do we fight the stagnation among Muslims?

By Farheen Sultana for Twocircles.net Muslims get excited whenever they hear words such as 'Subhan Allah' and 'Masha Allah' from politicians and actors. 'Oh...

US releases four translated books in Kolkata

By IANS, Kolkata : In its effort to cater to the growing interest of Bengalis in the US, its consulate general here Thursday released a set of four books about its economy, politics, government and literature, translated into Bengali, an official said here.

‘Princess Diaries’, ‘Tehelka As Metaphor’ top Delhi bestseller lists

By IANS, New Delhi : Meg Cabot's latest and the last in the series - "The Princess Diaries: Ten out of Ten" - captures the reader's attention as it debuts at the top position in the fiction list while veteran journalist Madhu Trehan's "Tehelka As Metaphor" rules the non-fiction chart this week. Non-Fiction 1. "Tehelka As Metaphor" Author: Madhu Trehan Publisher: Lotus Roli Price: Rs.595.00 2."Imagining India: Ideas for the new century" Author: Nandan Nilekani Publisher: Penguin Allen Lane Price: Rs.699.00 3. "The Man From Pakistan"

Pavan Varma, Orhan Pamuk bestselling authors of the week

By IANS, New Delhi : "Becoming Indian" by Pavan K. Varma continued to retain the number one position in the non-fiction section of the bestseller list this week while Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk's "The Museum Of Innocence" again dominated the fiction group. The top 10 in each category are: Non-fiction 1. "Becoming Indian" Author: Pavan K. Varma Publisher: Penguin/Allen Lane Price: Rs.499.00 2. "Victoria and Abdul" Author: Shrabani Basu Publisher: Rupa & Co Price: Rs.395.00

Melange of vampires, infanticide, love and Vivekananda

By IANS, New Delhi : From the world of vampires to poetry from Vivekananda, here are five new books to sit back and enjoy this week: 1. "Beyond Twilight: Explore the World of Vampires" - written by Manuela Dunn Mascetti; published by Shree Book Centre & Pentagon Press; price Rs.395: The latest non-fiction tome from the archives of Count Dracula's mysterious domain tries to probe the range of historical, social, literary and even cinematographic allusions that have brought to life the myths and shadowy figure of the Vampire which skulks in the shadows of sunset.

Preamble turns storybook, thanks to grandma Leila Seth

By Paloma Ganguly, IANS, Book: "We, The Children Of India"; Author: Leila Seth; Publisher: Puffin; Price INR.150 What's the most important book of India? It's the Constitution, silly, and its goals are contained in the first long sentence, the Preamble. Any child who has gone through super grandmom and former chief justice Leila Seth's latest offering can tell you that.

A book that chronicles Shimla’s glorious past (IANS Books)

By Vishal Gulati, IANS, Shimla : Shimla was a nondescript hamlet with shepherd hutments that became a flourishing town with palatial bungalows and hotels. Capturing this journey is a coffee table book, with rare photographs of imperial buildings and stories of eminent personalities and events in the last 188 years. "In 1822, the first house was built in Shimla, then a village, and it took another almost 44 years when this number grew to 290," says the book, "Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai" - literally meaning 'every house tells a story'.

Translations, young India & health on book shelf

By IANS, New Delhi : This weekend, the bookcart wheels a medley of thoughtful titles on a diverse range of subjects. Browse with IANS.

Chill out with shelf of peppy titles this weekend

By IANS, Wanton and creative... The IANS bookshelf this weekend captures the nip in the air with a cartload of light reads.

Short stories, self-help and seduction

Overcoming emotional obstacles can be achieved only when one liberates the soul or learns new lessons of life from Mahatma Gandhi's principles. On the other hand, there are women who who will go to any length to fulfill their desires. All this and more is at the IANS book stack this week. Take a look. 1. Book: Leadership: The Gandhi Way; Author: Virender Kapoor; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 122; Price: Rs. 195

Will return award if Sahitya Akademi fails to protect writers’ rights: Vikram Seth

By Preetha Nair New Delhi: Famed author Vikram Seth says that he would return his award, if the Sahitya Akademi fails to protect the lives...

Modi assures full support to AMU

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thurday assured full financial support to the Aligarh Muslim University, a statement said. The prime minister made...

यह ‘एक्शन’ मुज़फ्फ़रनगर में होता, तो मुरथल न होता!

Dr. Nadeem Zafar Jilani for TwoCircles.net मुरथल चीखें तो नरोदा-पाटिया, मुज़फ्फरनगर से भी आई थीं, मगर तुम्हें सुनाई नहीं दीं शायद, कि वहाँ सरे आम लुटने वाली, बेबस, मजबूर...

South Indians were the ancient money bags in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh city

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, New Delhi : Vietnam - the bloody stage for a 30-year-war with France and then the US - was once home to a bustling Hindu settlement devoted to Shiva and Vishnu. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, was the business hub of the South Indian Chettiyar community that set up money-lending businesses. "The relation between India and Ho Chi Minh city dates back to more than two centuries when the Chettiyars, the trading community from south India, first came to the city to establish their money lending business.

An anthology on today’s India (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Title: Kaw Caw Silly point: A Wonky look at Contemporary India; Author: M.K. Kaw; Publisher: Konark Publishers: Pages: 270; Price: Rs.250.

Divided Sri Lanka haunts a man at the wheels (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Title: Noon Tide Toll; Author: Romesh Gunesekera; Publisher: Penguin Books: Pages: 237; Price: Rs.299 How does Sri Lanka fare after the end of a quarter century of ethnic conflict? Vasantha ferries visitors all around the island in a van bought with savings after retiring early. The road journeys are as much an eye opener to the Sri Lankan driver as much to the men and women he transports - mainly foreigners and Sri Lankans now settled abroad. The still bruised north, the Sinhalese south and the now carefree Colombo come alive as Romesh Gunesekera, a gifted writer, uses Vasantha to take readers from one spot to another, from one saga to another.

Anshu Gupta, Sanjiv Chaturvedi win Magsaysay awards

New Delhi: Social worker Anshu Gupta and former AIIMS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi on Wednesday won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay awards for "enterprising leadership" and...

‘Fault Lines’ is bestseller again (IANS Books)

By IANS, New Delhi : "Fault Lines" by Raghuram Rajan continued to top the non-fiction section of the bestseller list this week while Stieg Larsson's "The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" bounced back to the number one fiction spot. The top 10 in each category are: Non-fiction 1. "Fault Lines" Author: Raghuram Rajan Publisher: Harper Collins Price: Rs.499.00 2. "Witness to Life and Freedom" Author: Pramod Kapoor Publisher: Roli Books Price: Rs.595.00 3. "Keeping the Faith: Memoirs of a Parliamentarian" Author: Somnath Chatterjee

For cancer survivor, sun shines in heart

By Vishal Gulati, IANS, Book: "Sunshine: My Encounter With Cancer", Author: Minakshi Chaudhry: Publisher: Rupa; Price: Rs.195; Pages: 200

Two humble servants of Jesus (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "The Mother and The Sister"; Author: Cyriac Thomas; Publisher: Konark; Pages: 195; Price: Rs.595

How a book sparked of a Cold War battle

By Vikas Datta Title: The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book; Authors: Peter Finn and Petra Couvee;...

Students in literate states lead spike in protests

By Prabhpreet Singh Sood & Prince Singhal States with higher literacy levels report more protests, and nearly half of these protests were led...

New publishing venture Gyaana Books launches first titles

By IANS, New Delhi : Gyaana Books, a new publishing venture based in the Indian capital, has unveiled its first books in association with Writer's Side and bookmeabook.com Founded by Divya Dubey, a former publishing editor, Gyaana was formally launched by noted poet and writer Keki Daruwalla at the India International Centre.

Poignant tales from an innocent past

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,

A journey from cyberspace to social change

From the gutsy tale of Malala Yousafzai who stood up to the Taliban, to the role played by cyberspace in today's lives -- IANS bookshelf this week has all this and more on offer. Take a look. 1. Book: Picture Abhi Baaki Hai, Author: Rachel Dwyer, Publisher: Hachette India, Pages: 258, Price: Rs.499

Sonia achieved double win in 2004, says ‘biography’ author

New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi achieved a "double win" in 2004 by choosing Manmohan Singh to be prime minister as she silenced...

Writers as refuseniks – BJP’s blind spot

By Amulya Ganguli After being flummoxed for a few days by the decision of several Sahitya Akademi award winners to return their medals, the...

Dalrymple’s book stays atop bestseller chart

By IANS, New Delhi : William Dalrymple's "Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India" continued at the number one position in the non-fiction section of the bestseller list this week while "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel bounced back to dominate the fiction category. The top 10 in each section are: Non-fiction 1. "Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India" Author: William Dalrymple Publisher: Bloomsbury Price: Rs.499.00 2. The Hindus: An Alternative History Author: Wendy Doniger Publisher: Penguin Viking Price: Rs.999.00

Spotlight on Chinese PLA (Book Review)

Title: China's Military Power: A Net Assessment; Author: Maj Gen G.D. Bakshi (Retd); Publisher: Knowledge World, New Delhi; Pages: 380; Price: Rs.900 China is increasingly...

NBT to boost tribal literature in northeast

Agartala : The National Book Trust (NBT) has taken an ambitious plan to boost tribal literature in northeast India, trust chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma...

Extremism is taught in school textbooks: AAP lawmaker

New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Palam Bhavna Gaur on Wednesday said that extremism is taught in school textbooks and the Delhi...

Philosophy seeped in spirituality basis of Karan Singh’s new book

By IANS, New Delhi : Karan Singh, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), says the essence of his life is a multi-dimensional quest for the divine and this forms the basis of his new book "I Believe - A Philosophy for the Global Society". "I Believe" is a compilation of Singh's reflections on a variety of subjects like politics, human relationships, economy, science and religion in context of the socio-cultural evolution of India as a spiritually mature nation, placed in a global environment.

Bestsellers of the week – ‘Fault Lines’, ‘Tiger Hills’ (IANS Books)

By IANS, New Delhi : "Fault Lines" by Raghuram Rajan tops the non-fiction section of the bestseller list this week while Sarita Mandanna's "Tiger Hills" dominates the fiction category. The top 10 in each section are: Non-Fiction 1. "Fault Lines" Author: Raghuram Rajan Publisher: Harper Collins Price: Rs.499.00 2. "Celebrating Delhi" Author: Mala Dayal Publisher: Penguin Viking Price: Rs.350.00 3. "Before Memory Fades" Author: Fali S. Nariman Publisher: Hay House Price: Rs.599.00

Terror, suffering, cricket on bookshelf

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.

Fractured Malaysian mosaic captured in fiction

By Rajat Chaudhuri, IANS, Book: "Thunder Demons"; Author: Dipika Mukherjee: Publisher: Gyaana Books; Price: Rs.280; Pages: 272

Dubai, cricket and drama on bookshelf

By IANS, New Delhi : Sift through a book case of an exciting variety this weekend. 1. "Dubai, The Making of a Megapolis", Written by Pranay Gupte; Published by Penguin India; Priced at Rs.699

Nepal, cinema, Bihar, motivation on bookshelf

By IANS, New Delhi : Look for a book to burrow in with from a colourful cart this weekend.

Some poems and stories of seduction

Conversational and narrative poems of life, nature and exile, investigation of sexual and social anomalies in India and a mythological classic about Lord Shiva's seduction by the enchanting Mohini; the IANS book stack this weekend is invigoratingly appealing. Take a look.

No muzzling of freedom of expression: Minister

New Delhi: There will be no restrictions on the freedom of expression on writers and intellectuals, said Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra while inaugurating...

Poem: Political Iftar

By Dr. Mustafa Kamal Sherwani Count all the known 'BEARDS' with utmost care, Seduce them all into our Party's voting share. Give them the title of 'ULEMA' of high esteem, As they come, like an army of locust, it must seem. Manage to make them sit in separate rows, To send a strong message to our foes. For us, all of them are a great asset, Their every motion must be recorded in cassette. The 'LONGER BEARDS' must occupy central places, From all sides,the media must cover their faces. On this gullible community is resting our hope,

Sobhraj readies to sue Dhondy over ‘Bikini Murders’

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Within 48 hours of launching his new book "The Bikini Murders" in New Delhi, author and screenplay writer Farrukh Dhondy is all set to get the kind of controversy needed to make the book a bestseller. His "old friend" Charles Sobhraj, who according to media reports is the prototype of the Saigon-born hero in Dhondy's book, is readying to sue the author. "My French and British lawyers are reading the book," Sobhraj told IANS Sunday in Kathmandu's Central Jail, where he is serving a life sentence for the murder of an American tourist in 1975.

Kamini Mathai’s book isn’t my authorised biography: Rahman

By Subhash K. Jha, IANS, Mumbai: The much-hyped 'authorised biography' of A.R. Rahman by author Kamini Mathai has kicked up a storm even before its release because the music maestro says there is "nothing authorised" about it. "It's a non-authorised biography. The news that it's an authorised biography is wrong," Rahman told IANS. The book, titled "A R Rahman: The Musical Storm", has been widely hyped and marketed as the "first authorized biography" on him.

A crack policeman’s snapshots of national newsmakers

By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS, "The British, The Bandits And The Bordermen (From the diaries and articles of K.F. Rustamji)" edited by P.V. Rajgopal; Publisher: Wisdom Tree; Price: Rs 495 Gabbar Singh, the dacoit who became a cult figure after the release of "Sholay" by Bollywood filmmaker Ramesh Sippy in the 1970s, had a strange connection with India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Amitav Ghosh tops fiction charts – again

By IANS, New Delhi : Amitav Ghosh continues to rule the fiction category with his sequel "River of Smoke" while Henry Kissinger's "On China" is the bestseller in the non-fiction list this week.

Books still boom in age of digital reality frills

(April 23 is World Books and Copyrights Day) By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,

Past and Present of Violence in Mumbai

Book: Riots and after in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation Author: Meena Menon Pages: XCII+267, Hard Bound, First Edition: 2012, Price: 595

Modinomics: Deciphering the Gujarat development model (Book Review)

By Gyanendra Kumar Keshri, IANS, Title: ModiNomics - Inclusive Economics, Inclusive governance; Author: Sameer Kochhar; Publisher: Skoch Media; Pages: 241; Price: Rs.1,095 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra...

What Mahatma Gandhi means to us today? (Book Review)

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, Title: Leadership The Gandhi Way; Author: Virender Kapoor; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 122; Price: Rs.195. Title: The Living Gandhi: Lessons for Our Times; Author: Tara Sethi and Anjana Narayan (Ed); Publisher: Penguin Books; Pages: 334; Price: Rs.399

Odd-even formula: Delhi may shut schools

New Delhi : The Delhi government may declare holidays for schools from the January 1 when the 15-day traffic regulation to curb rising air...

Like it or not, Hinglish is here to stay

By Rafat Nayeem Quadri, IANS, Mumbai : It's called Hinglish, and linguists have declared after a two-day meet that the home-grown interspersing of Hindi and English is here to stay. Already Hinglish has become hugely popular in advertisers' taglines, literature, movies, short message service (SMS), songs, graffiti and even everyday conversations. And while Hinglish has its critics, most participants at a seminar here this weekend felt its popularity would only grow and grow.

50 Indian authors to descend on London

By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS, London : More than 50 leading Indian writers led by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen are to gather in London for a two-day marketing blitz aimed at promoting Indian books in Britain. Alongside, British publishers will work with their Indian counterparts to push British book sales in India, organisers of the April 20-22 London Book Fair told reporters in London Friday.

Book Review: Tanazuraat: Perspective of a dissenter

Book: Tanazuraat (Perspectives) Author: Abid Anwar Pages: 160 Price: Rs 100 Publisher: All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Haq Q-25, Batla House, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi Available at: D-64, Flat No. 10, Abul Fazl Encl. Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 25, Mob. 09810372335 Reviewed by Manzar Imam Qasmi Views can be as different as the number of viewers. And, as veteran journalist M.J. Akbar says, “You can’t trust a point of view.” Sure, you can’t trust any individual viewpoint. For, every one is led by his own ideas that are formed on one’s individual experiences.

An Indian who longs for India

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS, Book: "The Reverse Journey"; Author: Vivek Kumar Singh; Publisher: Frog Books, Mumbai; Pages: 122; Price: Rs.95

Book on rise of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: A book for the first time has analysed the rise of the AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal and the highs and...
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