‘Whose Urdu is it Anyway?’, translated by Rakshanda Jalil
Contrary to the current perception that Urdu is the language of Muslims alone, reality tells a different story. Some of the greatest non-Muslim writers, like Munshi Premchand, wrote in both Hindi and Urdu. Rakhshanda Jalil translates 16 Urdu stories by non-Muslim writers in this collection to drive home the point beautifully.
‘The Mind Electric’, by Pria Anand
Neurologist Pria Anand’s debut book explores the mysterious ways in which the human brain often tends to work. Like a detective on a quest, she recounts some of the quirkiest cases of her career, including a family afflicted with acute insomnia and a young woman who believes she is possessed by the Holy Spirit. Science meets humanity in her gift for telling stories.
‘God’s Own Empire’, by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat
Raghu and Pushpa Palat revisit the forgotten legacy of Marthanda Varma, the heroic ruler of the kingdom of Travancore, who crushed the Dutch East India Company at the Battle of Colachel in 1741. Not only did this victory end Dutch colonial ambitions in India forever, it also ushered in an era of reform and righteous rule.
‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’, by Lt Gen Shakti Gurung
Lt General Shakti Gurung was the first ethnic Gurkha officer to rise to the highest levels of the Indian Army. From leading a frontline corps along the Line of Actual Control to serving as India’s defence attaché in Myanmar to retiring as the military secretary, the story of his career is told in this book through anecdotes, reflections and sharp observations.