Translation is a desperate act, but culturally imperative and worth every attempt, on the part of the translator, to mediate between a canonical author and an eager reader when they are divided linguistically. Even as it seems quite disconcerting to me to be linked
Owing to the inordinate emphasis on English writing in India, there has been hardly any perceptible recognition of writings in other Indian languages. Recently, Sahitya Akademi has published two big volumes comprising selected writings of individual authors.
Autobiography has of late been taking unusual turns to reach us. Fiction is an easy choice when writers give their voices to handpicked characters, but we notice nearly everyone telling us where they live and what they live for in critical essays, professional notes and comments,
2007
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union it was propounded that we have reached the end of history where Liberal capitalist democracy was declared as the highest stage we are likely to achieve. Some differ and talk about a third way between socialism and capitalism.
This book gives evidence of truly formidable scholarship in a multiplicity of areas and disciplines, an acute and sophisticated mind, and a striking originality of approach; and in terms of scope and coverage it is monumental and encyclopaedic.
A common predilection among historians is to protest against the tyranny of received paradigms and thereafter, to assert how their research departs from existing models. This predilection, even predicament, is in many ways tied up with the very practice of history-writing
In mid March 2005, yet another news of school shooting in the U.S shocked the world. A teenager shot his grandparents and then proceeded to his school to shoot a teacher and several of his classmates before killing himself.
Professor Kellett’s ‘how to do’ textbook using narrative theory to excavate the layers of meaning in inter personal conflicts and as a way of moving towards dialogic negotiation to manage the conflict – is an innovative contribution
2007
Bob Woodward’s State of Denial is the third in the series Bush at War, the earlier ones being Bush at War(2002) and Plan of Attack(2004). All the three belong to the category of international bestsellers.
Few works of political philosophy in the last century can equal this thin volume under review. And few works can claim equal relevance in helping us to understand the motivations behind some key geo-political (mis) adventures of the present century so far.
A book by the president of a country, while still in office, is bound to attract attention for several reasons, especially when that country happens to be Pakistan, embroiled as it is in many kinds of controversies, particularly after 9/11.
The issue of reform of personal laws has been a site of intense conflict and tension in India. And the legal arena remains a primary site of contestation. Rina Verma Williams examines how the system of personal laws has been and continues to be critical to sustaining state authority and the exercise of power over the Indian citizenry.
Civil Service officer’s career is like a dome of multi-coloured glass reflective of the varied experiences he straddles. Colonial administrators penned their experiences in the garb of memoirs generally for the benefit of their successors, as well as with the passag of time evolved a precious repertoire of the information they were privy to, ex-officio.
As a journalist, there aren’t many things I can speak of with complete certainty. But I do know one thing. It is difficult not to admire journalists who write books. It is even harder not to admire journalists who write books about India.
In Two Men and Music: Nationalism in the Making of an Indian Classical Tradition, Janaki Bakhle explores a specific area in the history of music in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century western India,
It is a cute little book that brings back memories of how one’s brain worked overtime during long summer vacations. Young readers will identify with a little girl called Peanut who wants to come up with a foolproof idea to make some money in the holidays.
2017
Moongphali is a refreshing set of stories with Indian settings that will help Indian children relate to the stories easily. Each story will give you a takeaway thought and a fun craft idea to keep little hands busy.
2017
I had missed something in my childhood and that is reading this deeply delightful book. It made delightful reading even at this stage of senior citizenship and revealed depths of understanding of animal and human nature.
The well-known Bengali periodical Sandesh, instituted in 1913 by Upendrakishore Ray, was meant for ‘mature children’ and was subsequently edited by his son Sukumar Ray and then by his grandson Satyajit Ray, the eminent film maker.
Ranjini Rao and Ruchira Ramanujan’s book Bookworms And Jelly Bellies brings a refreshing change of pace to how we think, cook and consume our food. Aimed at children and parents who’d like to try a more ‘playful’ and creative approach to cuisine, it comes at a time when the Indian culinary world is being buffeted by the emergence of a modern Indian ‘food culture’—with competitive cooking television shows and trendy dietary fads overwhelming the simple pleasures of actually eating food and being happier for it.