Paul Shemella

What does it take to win a war? Leadership, sol-diers, strategy, weapons or finance? What explains the inadequate accomplishments of the states, with enormous resources at their disposal, vis-à-vis terrorism? Are we confronting an enemy which simply can’t be defeated? Or philosophically speaking, are we, with an aim of defeating terrorism, merely fighting against ourselves…


Reviewed by: Bibhu Prasad Routray
Fakir Mohan Senapati
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2014

From a Minister’s Journal by Fakir Syed Aizajuddin narrates his impressions gathered over time, primarily spanning former President Pervez Musharraf’s term in Pakistan (1999-2008). Aizajuddin is a writer with wide ranging experience—first as a chartered accountant with considerable corporate experience…


Reviewed by: Priyanka Singh
Sugata Bose
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2014

His Majesty’s Opponent tells the story of Subhas Chandra Bose whose life was as mysterious as his death was believed to be. While history text-books have limited his description to that of a warrior and a revolutionary in the Indian struggle for freedom, this bespectacled man with an innocent face has more to him than meets the eye, and much more to offer to the intellectual discourse on Indian politics.


Reviewed by: R. Nithya
Azra Khanam

If we believe Alistair Macmillan, India has surprised democratization theorists and fits the case for ‘deviant’ democracy. Despite the persistence of inequality, poverty, illiteracy, corruption and low urbanization, it has been able to remain a democratic state. This argument could be borrowed to explain the situation of minorities, especially Muslims…


Reviewed by: Manjur Ali
T.N. Madan

Sociology in India is not synonymous with sociology at Lucknow University. The latter however happens to be a significant bloc in the whole of the historical edifice. In an exciting neatness, and meatiness, this book offers a nuanced peek at the four legendary figures from the posterity of Lucknow University. Radhakamal Mukerjee, Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji, Dhirendra Nath Majumdar…


Reviewed by: Dev N. Pathak
B.N. Goswamy
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2014

Observing, embodying and document- ing these moments of transition and experiencing India in all its splendour and unfamiliarity were English painters Thomas Daniell and William Daniell. Thomas, the senior of the two, was born in 1749 and after struggling for some years as a painter in England, ‘animated with a love of the romantic and the beautiful…


Reviewed by: Malvika Maheshwari