Books

Description

Derek O’Brien has been synonymous with quizzing for three decades now. Starting as a quiz master who worked on weekends conducting quizzes, he went from strength to strength and started his own quiz and knowledge company—Derek O’Brien & Associates. Over the years, Derek and his colleagues have conducted tens of thousands of quiz shows.

In this book, he has chosen some of the best, most challenging and most informative questions that were asked in his path-breaking and entertaining Bournvita Quiz Contest series, as well as other quizzes conducted in schools. With this book, get ready to learn interesting facts across a range of subjects and to challenge your mind with the incomparable Derek O’Brien.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Derek O’Brien was born in Kolkata. He began his career as a journalist for Sportsworld magazine but soon shifted to advertising. After working for a number of very successful years as Creative Head of Ogilvy, Derek decided to focus all his energy and talent in his passion—quizzing.

Today, Derek is Asia’s best-known quiz master and the CEO of Derek O’Brien & Associates. He has been the host of the longest-running game show on Indian television, the Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest, for which he was voted the Best Anchor of a Game Show at the Indian Television Academy Awards for three years in a row. Always innovating, Derek is also credited with having conducted the first quiz on Twitter in 2010.

Derek has written over fifty bestselling reference, quiz and textbooks. In 2011, he was voted to the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP) and is the Leader of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha and the chief national spokesperson.

Keep in touch with Derek on Twitter, where his handle is @quizderek, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MPDerekOBrien/

Specification

• Product Code : BK8680
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : June 1, 2017
• Pages : 184
• Weight : 150 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Derek O’Brien
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129147572
  ISBN-13: 978-8129147578
  

Description

Buddha s Orphans is a novel permeated with the sense of how we are irreparably connected to the mothers who birthed us and of the way events of the past, even those we are ignorant of, inevitably haunt the present. But most of all it is an engrossing, unconventional love story and a seductive, transporting read.

About the Author

Samrat Upadhyay was born and raised in Kathmandu, moving to the United States of America at the age of twenty-one. His work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories and The Best of the Fiction Workshops. He is also the author of Arresting God in Kathmandu, a Whiting Award winner, The Royal Ghosts and The Guru of Love. The first Nepalese writer writing in English to be published in the west, he currently lives in Cleveland with his wife and daughter and is a professor at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8679
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : May 1, 2010
• Pages : 460
• Weight : 450 gm.
• Size : 5.5 x 8.5 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Samrat Upadhyay
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129116170
  ISBN-13: 978-8129116178

 

Description

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto held the reins of the country from 1971 to 1977. He was overthrown in 1977 by his Chief of Army Staff, General Zia-ul-Haq, and executed in 1979. Zia-ul-Haq ruled over Pakistan for eleven years with an iron fist, curbing all dissent until he got blown up in an air crash in 1988. In almost three decades since, Pakistan’s leadership has changed hands fifteen times. An extremely controversial and confrontational politics is associated with the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is therefore not surprising that, considering his towering stature, not enough has been researched and written about the tumultuous years of his accession to power culminating in what today is best described as regicide. Syeda Hameed delves deep into the politics of Pakistan, meeting Bhutto’s contemporaries, mining information from archives and letters to bring to the fore a rich yet disturbing life and times of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Syeda Saiyidain Hameed is an Indian social and women’s rights activist, educationist, writer and a former member of the Planning Commission of India. She was awarded the fourth highest civilian honour—the Padma Shri—in 2007, for her contributions to the Indian society.She lives in New Delhi.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8678
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : November 15, 2017
• Pages : 270
• Weight : 440 gm.
• Size : 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Syeda Hameed
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129149672
  ISBN-13: 978-8129149671

Description

On first reading, this is the story of how Bharatavarsha came into being. But more than that it is the story of Bharata—in the configuration of the continents, the world’s peoples and their location in the brahmanda. It is thus a fascinating account of how a vast geographical expanse is integrated by cosmic awareness. Rivers and mountains crisscross the landscape of this dramatic story, livened up by great colourful races and individuals.

Equally challenging is the underlying search for answers to ancient, profound questions. Which of the known Bharatas is the Bharata in Bharatavarsha? How far did this Bharatavarsha extend? What was the Suryasadan or solar observatory? How many siddhis and vidyas were there to be learned, which we seem to have lost now?
What are the cosmic entities? How many worlds are there? What are the key forces of nature? How do these forces exist externally as well as within living beings? What is jnana? What is vijnana? What is the connotation and denotation of the word ‘veda’?

Throughout the book run such investigations of profound questions and the answers are sought in ancient texts—the search illuminated along the way by sparks of surprising insights.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8677
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : 20 October 2017
• Pages : 650
• Weight : 910 gm.
• Size : 9.4 x 6.4 x 2.2 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Pandit Madhusudan Ojha
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129149133
  ISBN-13: 978-8129149138

 

Description

Even after he has composed the awesome Mahabharata, the Maharishi Vyasa finds no peace. Narada Muni says to him, Ordinary men will be delighted by your work, but what about the Sages of heaven and earth? You have described the human life, its strife and its ends, but you have not yet described the Lord himself. You must turn your great gift to that task; only then will you find peace. Veda Vyasa composes the Bhagavata Purana, in eighteen thousand slokas and twelve kandas. He teaches it to his illumined son Suka, who narrates the Secret Purana to Yudhishtira s heir, King Parikshit, on the banks of the Ganga. The Bhagavata Purana is a living embodiment of the Lord Narayana and claims to bestow moksha merely by being heard. Just before Krishna, the Avatara, leaves the world, Uddhava says to him, leave us a tangible form, Lord, in which we can find you, touch you, and be near you. Krishna enters the Bhagavata Purana with all of his being. This book is a full literary rendering of the Bhagavata Purana, bringing all the wonder, wisdom and grace of the Book of God to the modern reader.

Specification

Description

Set in the once-fabled land of Kashmir, Behold, I Shine moves beyond male voices and focuses, instead, on what the struggle means for the Valley’s women and children—those whose husbands remain untraceable; whose mothers are half-widows; those who have confronted the wrath of ‘Ikhwanis’, or the scrutiny of men in uniform, and what it means to stand up to it all.

This book also brings to focus the resilience of the Valley’s women and children—of activists like Parveena Ahangar and Anjum Zamrud Habib, who, after debilitating losses, start human rights organizations; of ordinary homemakers like Munawara who have taken on the judiciary; and of a young generation of thinkers like Uzma Falak and Essar Batool who foreground the interaction of gender, politics and religion, and won’t let Kashmir forget.

Stitching together their narratives, Behold, I Shine not only memorializes women’s voices—thus far forgotten, unwritten, suppressed or sidelined—but also celebrates the mighty spirit of the Valley.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Freny Manecksha is an independent journalist, published in Himal Southasian and The Times of India: Crest Edition, among other publications, who has reported extensively from Kashmir, covering human rights and development issues. She has also worked with The Times of India and The Indian Express. Freny lives in Mumbai.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8675
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : May 1, 2017
• Pages : 182
• Weight : 150 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Freny Manecksha
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129145715
  ISBN-13: 978-8129145710

 

Description 

Lucknow, the cultural capital of erstwhile Awadh region, has charmed generations into writing about the city. But there is no book that captures all the aspects of Awadhi culture, history and traditions of the region.

Awadh Symphony: Notes on a Cultural Interlude is an extensively detailed volume which takes you on a journey to a bygone era and gives a glimpse of everyday life in this North Indian kingdom. Revisiting Awadh, it offers almost all aspects of human activity—from culture, cuisine, craft and religious ritual to games, fairs and bazaars; from life of ordinary Muslim women to courtesans, who were a part of the famous Sham-i-Awadh; from the tradition of dastangoi to the recitation of marsiya; and much more.

A staunch bibliophile and an ardent admirer of Lucknow, author Aslam Mahmud had collected every possible book on Awadh throughout his life, consulting each of these to pen the work of a lifetime—a compendium on Lucknow with rare information and an exceptional guide to the life and times of Awadh.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Aslam Mahmud (1940–2016) was a well-known literary figure of Lucknow and a staunch bibliophile. During his lifetime, Mahmud had built a collection of more than 15,000 books in his personal library in Lucknow. The major part of his collection comprised English, Urdu and Persian literature, Islamic calligraphy and books on Awadh. He also had an extensive stock of old postal stamps; picture postcards; and rare photos, books and movie posters. A number of celebrated scholars of India and Pakistan used to visit his library to benefit from his collection.

Mahmud did his schooling from St Francis College and La Martinière College, Lucknow. Later, he graduated in science and law from the University of Lucknow. Aslam Mahmud joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service and held various important positions all over India, including Lucknow and Delhi. He retired as Additional Member, Railway Board, in 2000.

Specification 

• Product Code : BK8674
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : May 1, 2017
• Pages : 368
• Weight : 440 gm.
• Size : 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Aslam Mahmud
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129146509
  ISBN-13: 978-8129146502

Description :

George Orwell (1903-1950) was the pen name of Eric Blair. He was born to Richard Walmesley Blair and Ida Mabel Limonzin as their second child in Motihari, Bengal (India) in 1903 where his father worked as a civil servant

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

George Orwell (1903-1950) was the pen name of Eric Blair. He was born to Richard Walmesley Blair and Ida Mabel Limonzin as their second child in Motihari, Bengal (India) in 1903 where his father worked as a civil servant. He was taken to England at the age of one along with his mother and sister. After finishing his studies at Eton he joined The Indian Imperial Police at Burma (now Myanmer) as an assistant superintendent. Eventually his mounting dislike of imperial rule led him to resign from the post in 1928 and return to England. He was a confirmed anti-imperialist.

Specification :

• Product Code : BK8673
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : August 31, 2013
• Pages : 124
• Weight : 120 gm.
• Size : 7 x 4.6 x 0.3 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : George Orwell
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 812911612X
  ISBN-13: 978-8129116123
  

Description:

Weaving together the narratives of non-conformist women from real life with those imagined, An Unsuitable Woman introduces you to the everyday heroines in the Indian society confronting patriarchy. This book includes seventeen inspirational and touching contributions in the form of prose and poetry, from writers like Anand Neelakantan, Madhavi Mahadevan, Sukla Singha, Humra Quraishi and Mitra Phukan, among others. It offers fascinating glimpses of everyday rebellion against patriarchy by a handful of women-from Amrita Sher-Gil, the rebel artist to Leila Seth, the first female chief justice of a state High Court, and to Social Activist Chandraprabha's unassailable belief in her reforms; the legendary Nangeli who severed her breasts to assert her dissent against an unjust social order to Jahnavi Barua's nameless protagonist who renders all social stigmas. Plunge into the world of these 'unsuitable' women and partake of their undaunted spirit.

Specification :

• Product Code : BK8672
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : January 11, 2017
• Pages : 168
• Weight : 130 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Shinie Antony
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129149206
  ISBN-13: 978-8129149206

Description:

How can two people survive in a marriage when one of them sees it as an impediment to personal growth?

Well, you keep trying and eventually figure ways of making it work. An Unlikely Chemistry is the story of a couple—a scientist and a filmmaker—who battle personal issues and external challenges, and go on to build a life on their own terms.

The scientist, Mohana, stands up to a crippled system, determined to discover an Ayurvedic drug for cancer. On the threshold of global recognition, she is compelled to abandon her research due to the biases of a system plagued by caste-based reservations.

The filmmaker, Krishnaswamy, provoked by a distorted American documentary on India, vows to make an authentic film on Indian history, heritage and culture. A vow he fulfils with the release of his four-hour film, Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi, distributed by Warner Bros.
Krishnaswamy and Mohana then join hands to weave an illustrious tapestry of over two hundred non-fiction films and a dozen television serials. However, their path is littered with politics, controversies, legal battles and societal prejudices, but their belief in righteousness and spirituality helps them overcome these hurdles.

An Unlikely Chemistry is the remarkable autobiography of a couple—their love and their journey of nearly five decades. Within these pages, there’s also the veritable magic and nostalgia of a bygone era.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Dr S. Krishnaswamy is a well-known documentary and television filmmaker. He is a recipient of many coveted awards, including the Padma Shri by the Government of India; Life Time Achievement Award from the US International Film & Video Festival, Los Angeles; Honor Summus Award from the Watumull Foundation, Hawaii, among many other awards. He co-authored the book Indian Film with Erik Barnouw.

Specification:

• Product Code : BK8671
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : February 28, 2018
• Pages : 368
• Weight : 260 gm.
• Size : 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Dr S. Krishnaswamy
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 812914915X
  ISBN-13: 978-8129149152

 

Description

On 5th June 1984, the Indian army began its attack on the complex at Amritsar which houses the two most sacred shrines Generals who had pledge to minimum force, and on no account to violate the shrines, were not prepared for the fierce and adept resistance they encountered. Having suffered severe casualties, the infantry were driven back and as last resorts with approval from Delhi tanks were ordered in. The Akal Takht was virtually reduced to rubble. It is doubtful if Mrs. Gandhi would have initiated Operation Blue Star had she known how bloody and devastating would be the consequences of that 24 hour conflict.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8670
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : December 31, 2006
• Pages : 261
• Weight : 240 gm.
• Size : 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Mark Tully
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129109174
  ISBN-13: 978-8129109170

 

 

Description

‘Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.’—B.R. Ambedkar

Born in 1891 into an Untouchable family, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is the man behind the Indian Constitution and the champion of the Dalit cause. Much ahead of his times, he raised pertinent issues pertaining to the broader cause of nation-building process for India. This is a collection of extracts from some of his finest works that capture him as a modernist thinker with an outstanding intellectual sweep over the major aspects of a then newly independent nation. These writings cover a wide range of issues such as the caste system, Untouchability, Hinduism, status of women, the multiple religions in India, creation of Pakistan, the constitution, and much more.

Ambedkar: An Overview is both a handy reference guide and a preamble for those who wish to familiarize themselves with the pioneering works of Babasaheb.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Dr B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) was an Indian jurist, social reformer, politician, economist and writer. He was the champion of the Dalit cause and fought against the discrimination against the Untouchables. He was one of the founders of the Indian Constitution and the first Law Minister of independent India. His best known works include The Annihilation of Caste, The Buddha and His Dhamma, Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development, Pakistan or the Partition of India, and many others.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8669
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : January 1, 2018
• Pages : 440
• Weight : 300 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 1 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : B. R. Ambedkar
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129149931
  ISBN-13: 978-8129149930

Description

India is the most amazing country in the world. It is indeed ‘incredible India’ even with all its oddities. Discover amazing facts about our country in this book such as:

• The Tirupati Balaji temple and the Kashi Vishwanath temple both received more visitors than the Vatican City and Mecca combined.
• Varanasi is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world today.
• India has more mosques (300,000) than any other nation in the world.
• India is the largest English-speaking nation in the world.

Besides these, there are many more amazing facts of India that will make you hold your breath! Grab this book today!

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
Terry O’Brien is an esteemed academician and an ardent quiz aficionado. He is keenly interested in kindling the quizzing instinct in people and an aptitude to develop the 3 Rs of learning: Read, Record, and Recall. He is a trainers’ instructor and a motivational speaker. He has penned a number of books. He is very well known for his flair for speaking and his articulating abilities in writing.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8668
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : August 20, 2016
• Pages : 116
• Weight : 160 gm.
• Size : 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Terry O’Brien
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129139898
  ISBN-13: 978-8129139894

Description

"Raghu is lying in bed, bored and longing for adventure, when his wish suddenly comes true. Hanuman, till now only a friendly face on a poster, appears by his bed. He invites Raghu to join him as he sets off to help Rama rescue Sita from Lanka. Soon, Raghu finds himself flying, seated on Hanuman s shoulder and, along with his new friend, he leaps across the sea, reaches Lanka and finds Sita. Battling rakshasas and demons, changing size and finding his way through the maze that is Ravana s palace, Raghu has the best adventure of his life with the cheerful and brave monkey god!

Funny and endearing, Hanuman comes to life like never before in this zany retelling of his adventures, all accompanied by exciting and lively illustrations."

Specification

• Product code : BK8666
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : February 28, 2018
• Pages : 270
• Weight : 290 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Murray Eldridge
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129129345
  ISBN-13: 978-8129129345

Description

"Achieving High Performance seeks to answer a key question: ‘Are leaders getting the same performance out of their “followers” at work as coaches get out of their athletes in sports?’ If not, why? By combining current ideas of leadership in business with relevant elements of modern coaching in sports, the book shows that high performance is not the preserve of the the highly sourced or the elite few. With the help of examples, it describes how this approach can help average people take the leap to high performance.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Murray Eldridge is a businessman with forty years of experience in a variety of sectors like shipping, oil & gas, water and telecom industries. He is a qualified, practicing rowing coach and a keen sailor."

Specification

• Product Code : BK8665
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : February 28, 2018
• Pages : 270
• Weight : 290 gm.
• Size : 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Murray Eldridge
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129150859
  ISBN-13: 978-8129150851

Description

"‘On the morning of 19 September, while Miss Mountstephen was still away, Miss Garnett-Orme was found dead in her bed. The door was locked from the inside. On her bedside table was a glass. She was positioned on the bed as though laid out by a nurse or undertaker.’ From ‘A Mussoorie Mystery’ by Ruskin Bond.

There are very few readers who don’t get a feeling of satisfaction from reading a good short story. It is the ending to a story that can make the reader sit up and think about it—some can be good, some twisted and some absolutely anticlimactic! Read about a couple who set out to get the perfect gift for each other and the surprising twist in the end in ‘The Gift of the Magi’; a robotic dancing partner, which creates more menace than a human partner ever can in ‘The Dancing Partner’; and Bond’s own telling of a mystery set in Mussoorie, which caught the fancy of none other than Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes; and many more such stories. Selected and edited by Ruskin Bond, this collection is abound with several fantastic, scary, surprising and humorous stories.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Ruskin Bond has been writing for over sixty years, and now has over 120 titles in print—novels, collections of short stories, poetry, essays, anthologies and books for children. His first novel, The Room on the Roof, received the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. He has also received the Padma Shri (1999), the Padma Bhushan (2014) and two awards from Sahitya Akademi—one for his short stories and another for his writings for children. In 2012, the Delhi government gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award. Born in 1934, Ruskin Bond grew up in Jamnagar, Shimla, New Delhi and Dehradun. Apart from three years in the UK, he has spent all his life in India, and now lives in Mussoorie with his adopted family."

Specification

• Product Code : BK8664
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : April 10, 2017
• Pages : 142
• Weight : 120 gm.
• Size : 5.9 x 0.3 x 8.3 inches
• Cover : Paperback
• Author : Ruskin Bond
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129135825
  ISBN-13: 978-8129135827

Description

'This is the most intelligent book ever written about Indian food. Not only does it include the finest recipes of a vanishing India, but it also displays a thoughtful understanding of the origins, ingredients and philosophy of our cuisine.'-VIR SANGHVI Editor, Sunday

'Camellia Panjabi is arguably India's foremost gourmet and food expert. Her profound knowledge will always be an inspiration to me. Her book is a culinary milestone.'PAT CHAPMAN Founder of The Curry Club.

'Very different from all previous Indian cookery books. Its author is the ultimate source of many of the recipes in the Indian cookery books with which we Western cooks are familiar…I shall be very surprised if your copy of this astonishing book is not very soon covered in gravy stains from repeated use-happy souvenirs of glorious meals cooked from it and eaten with abandon and relish.'PAUL LEVY

'Meticulous testing and appropriate adaptation means with this book you can prepare that hitherto elusive assembly: the authentic curry.'FAY MASCHLER

About the Author
Camellia Panjabi was born in Mumbai. She studied economics at Cambridge and went on to become the marketing director of India's most prestigious Hotel Group-Taj Hotels-known for spearheading new cuisines and culinary ideas in its Asian and Western restaurants. With a lifelong passion for food and for exploring different cuisines, Camellia Panjabi has helped create several restaurants for these premier hotels, featuring little known regional dishes.

In 1982 Camellia opened the Bombay Brasserie in London which introduced regional Indian cooking to the UK for the first time and changed the way Indian cuisine is perceived in London. In 2001, she left the Taj Group to join her family's restaurant company, Masala World, in London, which owns Chutney Mary, Veeraswamy, Masala Zone and Amaya.

Specification

• Product Code : BK8663
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
• Edition : December 31, 1899
• Pages : 192
• Weight : 820 gm.
• Size : 10.8 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : Camellia Panjabi
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129114666
  ISBN-13: 978-8129114662

Description

"Adapted as a hit film, this book is the fourth in Bhagat’s list of novels and also the fourth one to be adapted as a movie. This fun-filled love story that gets complicated when the question of marriage comes up, is a loose adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s own marriage.

This is a story of a love affair between two IIM students hailing from two different states, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Miles apart in distance and custom, Krish and Ananya’s love blossoms within the confines of their college walls. But with the end of college and beginning of a career, the question of marriage does not stand far away.

They embark on a journey of convincing their parents for the marriage. But the persuasion takes a lot more than just a few words. The journey that the couple takes from being romantically involved to getting married is full of twists and turns. This is more because, in India, it is easy to fall in love but tricky to convert that love into a love marriage.

The book details the quintessential Indian parents, the way marriages generally work in India and the two varied cultures beautifully; it also goes on to show that far beyond religion and creed, love keeps fighting for its place.

About the Author

Chetan Bhagat is an Indian author, columnist and screenwriter, who is popularly known for his English-language novels, mostly based on the lives of young urban middle class Indians. Bhagat's novels have sold over seven million copies and in 2008, The New York Times quoted Bhagat as ""the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history."

Specification

• Product Code : BK8661
• Publisher : Rupa Publications India
  
• Edition : 1 January 2014
• Pages : 269
• Weight : 200 gm
• Size : 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Binding : Paperback
• Author : CHETAN BHAGAT
• Language : English
• ISBN-10: 8129135523
  ISBN-13: 978-8129135520

"The Vikramorvasiyam of Kalidasa
A New Skt.Comm. and Arthaprakashika, Various Reading Introd., a Literal Tr., Exhaustive Notes in Eng.& Appendices"

" Venisamhara of Bhatta Narayana The commentary of Jagaddhara Curtailed or Enlarged as necessary, various readings, a literal English translation, critical and explanatory notes in english"

Svapnavasavadatta of Bhasa: Edited with a short Sanskrit Commentary, English Translation and Critical Notes

By ekah of course is meant Kalida'sa, the author of Abhijna'nas'akuntala, Raghuwamsa, etc., and it is him we are here concerned with. Of his personal history very little is definitely known. The name itself signifies 'a servant of the goddess Durga' it is probable that like so many other names it was bestowed without any reference to its original signification. But on it is based a tradition which represents him to have been an illiterate person, till by the favour of the goddess he suddenly found himself endowed with the poetic gift. Ka'li-da'sa is curiously reticent about himself in his works; nor are any records of him by other hands now available. Whatever we can say about his life is based on external and secondary sources and must necessarily remain a matter of more or less guess-work. His birth-place was probably somewhere in Malwa and from his glowing description of Ujjayini it would appear that he was a resident of that city. Legends are current about his having been a court-poet of King Vikramaditya, (a matter to which we shall refer further on); and his works, it is true, show considerable acquaintance with court life. He was a Bra'hmana by caste and a devout worshipper of Siva, though by no means a narrow-minded sectarian. He seems to have travelled a great deal throughout India; his graphic description of the Himalayan scenes reads very much like that of an eye-witness.

"The Ratnavali or the 'Jewel Necklace' is a drama of the Natika type by Sriharsa. Theme is the marriage, through various obstacles and at the clever intervention of the minister Yaugandharayana, of king Udayana and Ratnavali, daughter of the king of Ceylon.

A brief but sufficiently exhaustive commentary in sanskrit has been written, as there was no suitable ancient commentary available on this play. Another feature of this edition is the introduction wherein all that has been known of the author and the play has been put together for ready reference and and systematic study."

"The Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa with the commentary Sanjivani of Mallinatha Cantos I-V"

The Raghuvamsa sings of the great solar race of Iksvaku in which Visnu was pleased to become incarnate as Rama, that he might destroy the demon Ravana and free the gods and men from his tyranny. This story of the Ramayana forms the central theme of the poem 'Raghuvamsa'.