Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Books

  • SPECIAL REPORT: Pratchett’s Discworld novels

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    Vikas Datta looks into Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels  No tyranny – be it a repressive regime or of outmoded customs and entrenched attitudes – can withstand the subversive sound of laughter. From the earliest times, perceptive observers of the human condition have used the devastating literary weapon of satire to ridicule the vices, follies, and abuses of…

  • Vayalar award for K.R. Meera

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      Former journalist K.R. Meera, 44, has bagged the Vayalar Rama Varma Award, the most prestigious literary award in Kerala. Announcing this here Saturday, M.K. Sanu, a trustee of the Vayalar Rama Varma Trust said that Meera’s novel “Aarachaar” won her the award. “The award carries a cash prize of Rs.25,000 and a citation. The…

  • First World War and India’s contribution

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    By Raja Menon  Title: India and the First World War; Author: Vedica Kant; Publisher: Roli Books. The First World War was probably the last war that soldiers went to with a sense of glory and the feeling that something good may come of it. The war itself was to prove otherwise, particularly as the leaders…

  • What Mahatma Gandhi means to us today?

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    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 What can we learn from Mahatma Gandhi as far as leadership is concerned? Was there…

  • INTERVIEW: Neel Mukherjee

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    Shilpa Raina talks to Neel Mukherjee  who says his novel The Lives of Others”  is not a family saga. The book was short-listed for Man Booker Prize Author Neel Mukherjee is absolutely “thrilled” that “The Lives of Others” has been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2104. Though he was a bit wary how…

  • Asian Lite Bookshelf

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    From the enigma of the Mughal empire to a determined, victorious fight against the system, the Asian Lite bookshelf this week is an eclectic bag of interesting reading. Take your pick: 1. Book: Colours of the Cage; Author: Arun Ferreira, Publisher: Aleph; Pages: 164 From being tortured to bearing beatings, human rights activist Arun Ferreira faced…

  • SPECIAL: Vikas Datta on James Michener

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    History made readable: James Michener’s epic novels Can there be a better source of inspiration for novelists than the expansive and colourful pageant of history, though man’s magnificent achievements, raw heroism,inspiring progress and human resilience may frequently be offset by events more inglorious and tragic? One writer who utilised the past for engrossing but insightful…

  • Asian Lite Bookshelf

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    Much has been written about Delhi, yet there is much to be written about. A book explores birds, animals and plant species adding a fresh perspective to the Indian capital, whereas another book examines the changing trajectory of Indian policy towards Afghanistan. Take a look. 1. Book: India’s Afghan Muddle; Author: Harsh V. Pant; Publisher:…

  • The rot that is India’s prison system

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    By M.R. Narayan Swamy reviews  The Bad Boys of Bokaro Jail; Author: Chetan Mahajan; Publisher: Blue Salt/Penguin Books; Pages: 213 What happens when a 42-year-old, overgrown yuppie, with one MBA degree from India and one from the US, and one who has lived in America for seven years, is sent to jail in notoriously corrupt Jharkhand…

  • Cyberspace & social issues

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    From the gutsy tale of Malala Yousafzai who stood up to the Taliban, to the role played by cyberspace in today’s lives — Asian Lite 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 The book explores India’s…

  • ‘India beyond mythology’

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    Well-known writer turned politician Shashi Tharoor says Indian publishers have grown beyond mythology Indian publishers have grown beyond retelling mythological and historical tales, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said at an event here, adding that children nowadays have access to good and quality literature. The former HRD minister was speaking Monday at the launch of Room…

  • Special Report: Tagore & Depression

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    A new book reveals Tagore’s battle with depression  Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore’s long battle with depression and loneliness can inspire people suffering from depressive illnesses to speak out and engage their near and dear ones to aid them in tackling the issue, a leading psychiatrist said. A prolific author and composer, Tagore witnessed deaths…

  • Asian Lite Bookshelf

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    Let’s rewrite the history of our universe, look at terrorism financing, read a modern classic and find your true calling. These varied themes make it to Asian Lite ‘s  bookshelf this week. Take a look. 1. Book: One Hundred Days: Her Quest, My Cure; Author: Shweta Modgil; Publisher: Tara; Pages: 150 Can one afford to just…

  • Britain assisted Maoist torture

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    Thomas Bell, a journalist who writes on Nepal for The Economist and other publications, has in his new book, “Kathmandu”, accused British secret service MI6 of aiding Nepal authorities in the torture of Maoist rebels during the South Asian country’s civil war, a media report said Sunday. Bell said that Britain funded a four-year intelligence…

  • Asian Lite Bookshelf

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    Breaking some myths about former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, how a laid-back girl became the czar of India television and a journalist shares some interesting newsroom stories. Asian Lite Bookshelf this Weekend has interesting mix. Take your pick. 1. Book: Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi: An Inside Job?; Author: Faraz Ahmad; Publisher: Vitasta; Pages: 312; For…

  • Asian Lite Bookshelf

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    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 will go to any length to fulfill their desires. All this and more is at the Asian Lite book stack this…

  • Teaching Ghalib to Americans

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    Arun Kumar says India-born author Gopi Chand Narang gives a taste of Ghalib to Americans An India-born former World Bank staff member turned poet and novelist has penned a new English translation of famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib’s works to meaningfully engage American readers. Gopi Chand Narang, leading literary critic and former President of Sahitya Akademi,…

  • Nazi Noir and more

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    Vikas Datta in his column Bookends focus on Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther series  Is it a feasible idea to set a series of noirish detective novels in a totalitarian state like Nazi Germany which itself practised violence intensively against its own citizens, or even in the midst of the viciously bloody conflict that was World…

  • INTERVIEW: Chetan Bhagat

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    When I need a new kick, I’ll consider direction, Chetan Bhagat told  Subhash K. Jha  Author Chetan Bhagat, who tried his hand at screenplay writing with the Salman Khan-starrer “Kick”, says he may try donning the director’s hat when he needs a new ‘kick’ in life. In an interview, Bhagat has spoken about his tryst with screenplay writing,…

  • Asian Lite – Book-Shelf

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    Reckless voices and poetic verses won a book the Pulitzer prize this year and other fictional tales made the longlisted and shortlisted list of several book awards: The book-shelf this weekend has the magic of imaginative richness. Take your pick. 1. Book: Three Sections: Poet: Vijay Seshadri; Publisher: Harper Collins; Pages: 68; In an array…

  • Portrait of a politician as a writer

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    Vikas Datta portrays politicians as successful writers  A British prime minister who was a novelist too, a US president known for works on history and nature, an Indian statesman who was a famous philosopher too… They make a compelling case that politics is not a full-time occupation and its practitioners can shine in other fields…

  • Sex & Sensuality in Indian literature

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    Shilpa Raina looks into the new wave of literature from the land of Kama Sutra  No more is the genre of erotica alien to Indian literature and no more are publishers afraid of the word “sex”. But what is new is the way writers are exploring women’s sexuality, without shying away from writing about closed…

  • INTERVIEW: Chetan Bhagat

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    Writer Chetan Bhagat told Nivedita that ‘Indian educational system broken somewhere’  Celebrated writer Chetan Bhagat feels that the college cutoffs should not bog one down because hard work can also take people places, adding that the country’s education system is “broken somewhere”. “A student securing 98 per cent is no less capable or intelligent than the…

  • ASIAN LITE – Book-Shelf

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    Death, spies and thrillers An exciting week for books with a variety of thrills, chills and spy stories. Take your pick. 1. Book: The Sad Demise of Manpreet Singh; Author: Patrick Bryson; Publisher: Hachette Dominic “Biscuit” McLeod is an expert in making the best of a bad situation. A viss fraud investigator at the Australian…

  • Neel Mukherjee longlisted for Man Booker Prize

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     A novel written by a British Indian author has made it to the first long list of the coveted Man Booker Prize for fiction for this year. London-based Neel Mukherjee was among 2014 longlist or Man Bookers ‘Dozen’ for his novel “The Lives of Others” which was published in May this year, a Man Booker…

  • OBIT: Nadine Gordimer

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    Saeed Naqvi pays tribute to Nadine Gordimer- Chronicler of apartheid and South Africa’s transition  The world was in ideological transition when I met Nadine Gordimer in her bungalow in a Johannesburg suburb. Nelson Mandela had been released that very month after 27 years in the “White Man’s prison”. Earlier, the Soviet Union had collapsed. Wild victory celebrations…

  • In Love with Death

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    Join author and philanthropist Satish Modi as he talks about his book, In Love with Death, at the Just Festival in Edinburgh on Saturday 16 August. Now in its fourteenth year, Just is one of Edinburgh’s most exciting and diverse festivals. The festival explores equality and diversity through a range of top-quality speakers, performances, films, food, exhibitions and workshops.…

  • OBIT: Nadine Gordime

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    Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, 90, dies in Johannesburg The writer, who was one of the literary world’s most powerful voices against apartheid – died at her home after a short illness, her family said. She wrote more than 30 books, including the novels My Son’s Story, Burger’s Daughter and July’s People, BBC reported. She jointly won 1974’s…

  • Violent cartoons and children

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    Shilpa Raina and Mudit Gupta analysing the violent in children’s cartoon series. How violent cartoon shows make children aggressive ? Children are unable to understand the thin line between reality and fiction, say experts who feel violent cartoon shows make them aggressive and less sensitive to pain and suffering.”Children don’t understand that the violence shown…

  • Humour in the Battlefield

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    Vikas Datta in his weekly column Bookends analyses the Humour in the Battlefield War and humour – no two words can seem as divergent. But some incorrigibles, adept in uniting the most incongruous elements, have fashioned out quite a close relationship, manifested in some unforgettable depictions of armed conflict and combatants, bringing out the heroism,…

  • PROFILE – Writer T.V.Paul

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    Asian Lite profiles TV Paul,  an Indo-Canadian academic and the author of The Warrior State. Paul says Pakistan’s leaders lack vision, obsessed with India Pakistan’s failure to utilise foreign aid for socio-economic development has contributed to its sorry plight and such is the obsession of its political elite with military security that the country hasn’t developed even…

  • BOOK REVIEW – Kanshiram

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    M.R. Narayan Swamy reviews Kanshiram by Badri Narayan. The book is a tribute to an Indian leader who re-invented Ambedkar to mesmerise Dalits BOOK: Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits; Author: Badri Narayan; Publisher: Penguin/Viking; Pages: 265; Price Kanshiram was to Dalits what Narendra Modi is for Hindutva – an icon. Much like Modi, Kanshiram struggled…

  • LITE BOOKSHELF – Politics, Politics

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    This week’s bookshelf contains a mix of  poems, translations and political imagination. Dilemmas of the self, evocation of modern India, some unpublished letters – Please take a look. 1. Book: The Political Imagination; Author: Nayantara Sahgal; Publisher: Harper Collins; Pages: 242 Through the last five decades, the author has constantly responded to the changes that have…

  • ROME – A world quite like ours

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    Vikas Datta says the ancient Rome is almost like ours Picture a metropolis where citizens live in multi-storey buildings, throng streets teeming with people from all over the world, eagerly follow and gossip over the foibles of the rich and famous, are keenly involved in governance which however is a preserve of a professional breed of…

  • ‘Book went through many drafts’

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    Renita D’Silva, author of ‘Monsoon Memories’, speaks to Anjana Parikh from Asian Lite about the story of a girl named Shirin who yearns to go home. When she comes to England, her life is dry, quiet, with none of the passion, the heat, the bustle and the frenzy of home. AL: When was the time…

  • Belgium’s best export – Tintin

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    Vikas Datta looks into Belgium’s most enduring export: Tintin’s adventures and politics. Asian Lite, the best newspaper for NRIs and Indian diaspora will carry regular features Comic books, like many products we know, are an American invention. The US and Japan (manga) account for most since the form appeared in the 1930s, but neither can…

  • What keeps the Marwaris thriving?

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      Title: The Marwaris – From Jagat Seth to the Birlas; Author: Thomas A. Timberg; Series Editor: Gurcharan Das; Publisher: Allen Lane; Pages: 184; Price: Rs.499 What makes Marwaris so successful as a business community that a quarter of the Indian names in the Forbes billionaires list are from the community? Is it their sense…

  • Book on Modi in Chinese

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    A book on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s life and economic vision has been translated into Chinese and is being published by a leading university, with its release slated for early next month. “India’s Modi – incredible emergence of a star -(peoples’ power changes a nation)” by Sinologist and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun…

  • Batman turns 75

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    Batman, the action hero created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger that has now turned 75, again comfortably shows his darker side thanks to the latest film trilogy, with his pop psychedelic past now forgotten. Back in the 1930s, DC Comics charged Kane, who for decades minimised Finger’s stylistic contributions, with inventing a character that…