Reviews & Musings

Few voices in Urdu poetry have carried the weight of history, resistance, and deep personal introspection quite like Zehra Nigah. One of the first women to break into the traditionally male-dominated world of Urdu poetry, Nigah’s work stands as a testament to the power of words to illuminate, question, and challenge. The Story of Eve: Selected Poems, translated by Rakshanda Jalil, brings together some of her most powerful nazms and ghazals, showcasing both her literary elegance and her unflinching gaze at the human condition, particularly through the lens of gender, social injustice, and political turmoil.

There are some filmmakers whose work doesn’t just entertain; it lingers, like an old melody that finds a way to stay with you long after the credits roll. Basu Chatterjee was one of them. His cinema wasn’t loud or grand, nor did it demand to be dissected and analyzed. It simply unfolded—soft, unhurried, full of everyday lives and everyday people, leaving us with stories that felt like home. 

I picked up Kishore Kumar’s biography expecting to read about the maverick genius behind some of India’s most iconic songs. What I didn’t expect was to find a mirror—a reflection of every creative person who has ever struggled to fit into a world that demands conformity. 

ISBN: 978-9386797360   Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: Simon and Schuster India Year of Publishing: 2019 About the Book In an elite all-boys’ boarding school run by a Hindu monastic order in late-twentieth century India, things aren’t what they look like on the surface… Anirvan, a young student, is fascinated by the music and silence of spiritual life. He dreams of becoming a monk. But as he seeks his dream, he finds himself drawn to a fellow student, and they come together to form an intimate and unspeakable relationship. The boys sweat at cricket and football, crack science and mathematics in pursuit of golden careers, and meditate to the aroma of incense and flowers.  It’s a world of ruthless discipline shaped by monks in flowing saffron. A sceptical teacher mentors Anirvan and reveals his suspicion of this vigilant atmosphere. Does the beating of the boys reveal urges that cannot be named? What is the meaning of monastic celibacy? What, indeed, holds the brotherhood ...

ISBN:  979-8895569573 Genre: Horror Publisher: Notion Press Year: 2024 About the Book  Adithya is bitter when he is forced to accept the delivery of an antique bed on behalf of his neighbor. The large and majestic bed occupies his whole bedroom. Every time he sleeps on it, he has nightmares. He dreams about killing different people with whom he had disputes. And at the end of it all, he wakes up devastated, completely drained. When he soon learns that the people whom he had killed in his dreams have also died in real life―passing away naturally in their sleep―he begins to realize the power the bed wields. What follows is a macabre series of events as the monstrosity and deep dark desires of the human mind are unleashed by a power so horrific, that escaping it seems hopeless.  In The Ferryman, Krishnakumar weaves a chilling and thought-provoking tale that delves deep into the shadowy recesses of the human psyche. At the heart of this gripping psychological thriller is A...

ISBN : 978-8197412493  Genre:   Fiction/ Drama Publisher: Readomania Year: 2024 About the Book  When fate intervenes, can love prevail? Doctor Gaurang’s ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when Vedika, a corporate professional burdened by life’s challenges, enters his examination room. Sparks fly as they delve into treatment options for Vedika’s daughter’s rare medical condition, awakening emotions long dormant. An unforeseen event hurls their worlds into chaos, blurring the lines between duty and desire. As Vedika’s estranged husband, Rohan, reenters the picture, the trio confront difficult choices that could either break them apart or offer a path to redemption. Join them on a heartrending journey of love, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of invisible bonds. Can love mend what destiny has broken, or will fate do them part?  About the Author  Smita Das Jain, a passionate writer, dedicates herself to writing every day. Evidence of her writing can...

  ISBN: 978-9351951766 Genre: Fiction Publisher: Hachette India Year: 2015 About the Book  For ten-year-old Ori, his mother’s life as a theatre actor holds as much fascination as it does fear. Approaching adolescence in an unstable home, he is haunted by her nightly stage appearances and the suspicion and resentment her profession evokes in people around her, at home and among their neighbours. Increasingly consumed by an obsessive hatred of the stage, Ori is irrevocably drawn into a pattern of behaviour that can only have catastrophic consequences. Political bullies, actors, hairdressers, set boys, and backstage crew make up the world of The Firebird, a visceral exploration of a young boy stumbling into adulthood far ahead of his years. About the Author  Saikat Majumdar was born in Calcutta and educated in India and the United States. He is the author of a novel, Silverfish, and a book of criticism, Prose of the World. He currently lives in Delhi and teaches English and...

ISBN: ‎ 978-8196920951 Genre: Personal Transformation Publisher: Highbrow Scribes Year of Publishing: 2024 About the Book "Poverty is relative term" Lack of money alone cannot stop someone from succeeding in life. The social evil of poverty can be defeated with a determined mind, courage, mental strength, and education. Butterflies of Success follows the compelling journey of Mukta and Prem, a couple with four daughters who leave their village in search of a better life in Thakurli, near Bombay. Facing numerous challenges, including living in a small, unsanitary dwelling, financial struggles, and health issues, Mukta leads her family of six in a fight to improve their situation. She starts by selling boiled chickpeas and gradually expands to open a diner and a tailoring unit with Prem's help. As the business progresses, the family strives to educate and marry off their daughters, which brings new challenges, including mounting debts. Not oblivious to her parents' da...

ISBN ‏ : ‎  978-0143463962 Genre: Nonfiction Publisher: Penguin India Year of Publishing : 2024 About the Book Transforming a product or service into a trustworthy brand is key to standing out in an insanely crowded marketplace. While extensive branding literature exists on international brands, there is a scarcity of the same on Indian brands, especially the new-age ones. India’s diverse and evolving market presents unique challenges. What works in developed markets like America may not work in India. Additionally, the obstacles and limitations faced by start-ups differ significantly from those encountered by established corporations. Consequently, the literature on established Indian brands may not be highly relevant in the rapidly evolving world of startups. If you want to understand how a start-up can transform into an iconic brand in India’s diverse, crowded and ever-changing market, this book, a goldmine of strategies and stories, you must read. About the Author  Hars...

In Palestine Wail: Poems , Yahia Lababidi creates a profound and unflinching exploration of the ongoing Palestinian crisis, drawing from his own heritage and heartbreak to reflect on a political and humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded across decades. This collection, imbued with personal history, political outrage, and spiritual contemplation, serves as both a witness to injustice and a call to humanity. The work’s origins lie deeply in Lababidi’s own roots—his Palestinian grandmother, Rabiha Dajani, was forced to flee Jerusalem at gunpoint, a traumatic event that reverberates throughout Lababidi’s poetry.  As an Arab-American writer, Lababidi is uniquely positioned to speak on the intersection of identity, politics, and human rights. His poetry, both personal and political, draws a clear line between the suffering of the Palestinian people and the complicity of global powers in perpetuating that suffering. Through his words, Lababidi eloquently counters the equation that Z...