भारत में अभी भी किसी रूप में क़ायम संयुक्त परिवार का चौमंज़िला यथार्थ, यथार्थ में सबसे गहरे कीलित ग्राउंड फ़्लोर की कच्छप-पीठ पर नई, अकेली स्त्री का बहिर्मुखी अन्तर्जगत (उसका परिवेश और पड़ोस-सजग बन्धु परिवार, परिवार जो रक्त-सम्बन्धों और यौन-सम्बन्धों तक सीमित नहीं और जो विपदा के मारे सब जीव-जन्तुओं को अपना ही समझता है!) ऊपर की तीन मंज़िलों पर फैले रक्त-सम्बन्धों के भी तीन अलग-अलग वितान, किसी तरह आपसी संवाद सँभाले तीन पीढ़ियाँ, समाज के विभिन्न वर्गों के प्रति उनका रवैया और कोरोनाकाल की विभीषिकाओं से जूझता उनका त्रिकाल—पीड़ित वर्तमान—यह है भारतीय अंग्रेज़ी की मशहूर क़िस्सागो नमिता गोखले के नवीनतम उपन्यास आंधारी की बाहरी और भीतरी संरचनाओं का समतोल!

उपन्यास की धुरी एक ऐसी ख़ुदमुख़्तार, प्रकृति-सजग वृद्धा है जिसे बिहार में पुरधायन कहते हैं! जीवन की कड़वी विसंगतियों की गहरी समझ पुरधायनों में होती है और वे जानती हैं कि आस-पास के लोगों की कई चरित्रगत और स्थितिगत विडम्बनाएँ नज़रअन्दाज़ किए बिना जीवन नहीं चल पाएगा तो ‘सर्वाइवल टैक्टिक्स’ (बचाव-वृत्ति) के तहत वे सहज भाव से बाइबल की यह उक्ति जाने-अनजाने आज़माने लगती हैं—“सीइंग दे डोंट सी हीयरिंग दे डोंट हियर”! उपन्यास एक गहरे नैतिक संधान के साथ इंटरनेट-शासित सूचना-समाज की गुत्थियों की ‘अपोरिया’ में प्रवेश करता है, व्हिटमैन और दिनकर की लोकप्रिय कविताओं के आशय पाठक के साथ मिलकर समझना चाहता है कि वाममार्गी और दक्षिणपंथी राजनीति के बीच का कोई रास्ता है भी तो कहाँ—“गीत-अगीत कौन सुन्दर है?” परम्परा का अन्ध गायन या उसका समूल नाश—इनके बीच कोई आंबेडकर-सजग गांधीवादी/बहुलतावादी प्रमेय ही सुझाती हैं ‘साँग ऑफ़ मायसेल्फ़’ की अन्तिम पंक्तियाँ जो उपन्यास में बहुत क़रीने से जहाँ-तहाँ गूँथी गई हैं!

—अनामिका

र्य हजारीप्रसाद द्विवेदी ऐसे वांड़्मय-पुरुष हैं जिनका संस्कृत मुख है, प्राकृत बाहु है, अपभ्रंश जघन है और हिन्दी पाद है। नाथ सिद्धों और अपभ्रंश साहित्य पर उनके शोधपरक निबन्ध पढ़ते समय मन की आँखों के सामने उनका यह रूप साकार हो उठता है। ‘नाथ सम्प्रदाय’ में गुरु गोरखनाथ के लोक-संपृक्त स्वरूप का उद्घाटन किया गया है। स्वयं द्विवेदी जी के शब्दों में 'गोरखनाथ ने निर्मम हथौड़े की चोट से साधु और गृहस्थ दोनों की कुरीतियों को चूर्ण-विचूर्ण कर दिया। लोकजीवन में जो धार्मिक चेतना पूर्ववर्ती सिद्धों से आकर उसके पारमार्थिक उद्देश्य से विमुख हो रही थी, उसे गोरखनाथ ने नई प्राणशक्ति से अनुप्राणित किय

Wanderlust and the desire to know the land and society more had been fueling my wish to visit Kailas. There were many curiosities. All our major rivers have their source in the region. The largest reservoir of fresh water on earth is situated there. The celestial swans are found there. I recall that how in my childhood, my Grandmother used to describe Kailas as being akin to a dreamland. According to her, Shri Krishna has said in the Gita – Meruru shikhirinamaham – ‘Among mountains I am Kailas!’ It was Sage Mandhata who first set foot on this sacred soil. Adi Shankaracharya shed his mortal body here. Guru Nanak meditated here and Swaminarayana, the founder of the sect that bears his name, saw the vision of god here. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata mention Kailas. This is where Ravana had worshipped Lord Shiva. He wanted to take Kailas with him. Shiva guilefully dissuaded him from doing so. Arjuna performed penance here and received the Pashupata Astra from Shiva. Yudhishthir proceeded heavenwards via this route. One by one, all the family members fell by the roadside; only the faithful dog kept company. Bhasmasur, the Rakshas, a devotee of Shiva was reduced to cinders here. Today the dark shadow of civilisation has begun to fall even on Mansarovar. This lake is shrinking. The sacred water body, that once stretched across 410 square kilometres, is now shrunk to only 10 square kilometres. Consider this the rage of Nature. Had Kalidasa been alive, he would have been deeply saddened to see his beloved Himalaya in this state. Is it the same Himalaya that is described in Raghuvamsham and Kumar Sambhavam? Civilisation has reached a point where the divine dimensions of Himalaya are disturbed.

Death is a taboo in most societies in the world. But what if we have got this completely wrong? What if death was not the catastrophe it is made out to be but an essential aspect of life, rife with spiritual possibilities for transcendence? For the first time, someone is saying just that. In this unique treatise-like exposition, Sadhguru dwells extensively upon his inner experience as he expounds on the more profound aspects of death that are rarely spoken about. From a practical standpoint, he elaborates on what preparations one can make for one’s death, how best we can assist someone who is dying and how we can continue to support their journey even after death. Whether a believer or not, a devotee or an agnostic, an accomplished seeker or a simpleton, this is truly a book for all those who shall die!

The opportunity of service of Sai Baba came into my life as a divine blessing. As a result, my life was completely transformed. Earlier, I rarely visited Shirdi. During this Period, I visited no other Place but Shirdi. I did not think about Sai Baba very often before. During this period, I thought about nothing other than sai. My feet would always yearn to go to Shirdi

DHARMA and RELIGION are altogether different conceptions. Even as per the Oxford dictionary, ‘DHARMA’ means “eternal law of Universe” whereas ‘RELIGION’ means “a particular way of worship and faith.” All of these rules, laws etc. [pertaining to Dharma] have been observed, understood and realised by the people known as Hindu and hence Dharma is known as Hindu Dharma. However, these rules-laws etc. are applicable to every human being (Manav) all over the world (Vishwa), not confined only to Hindus. Hence, Hindu Dharma is Manav Dharma or Vishwa Dharma – the global ethics applicable to the entire humankind. If we look at the things which are considered as very sacred/pious in Hindu Dharma, it can be seen that each one of them possesses special qualities which are quite unique and useful for humankind. The Hindu Sanskriti has a special feature of wishing the well-being of ALL human beings (not just Hindus).

"Philosophy of Hinduism is a profound and critical analysis by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar that examines the foundations and philosophical underpinnings of Hinduism. Written with an intent to investigate the principles of justice, equality and morality within Hindu religious and social doctrines, the book delves into key concepts of Hindu philosophy, such as the idea of karma, dharma and the caste system. Waiting for a Visa is a powerful and eye-opening work by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, one of India's foremost social reformers and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Written in 1935-36, this autobiographical account is a collection of personal and real-life incidents that expose the harsh realities of caste discrimination faced by Ambedkar and other Dalits in the Pre-independent India."

"The Buddha and His Dhamma is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's final and perhaps most spiritually significant work, offering a detailed exploration of the life, teachings and philosophy of Gautama Buddha. First published in 1957, this book serves as a foundational text for the Navayana or Neo-Buddhist movement, which Ambedkar initiated to promote a version of Buddhism rooted in social justice, equality and compassion. In this work, Ambedkar reinterprets the teachings of the Buddha to emphasise principles of rationalism, ethical living, and human dignity, critiquing traditional religious practices that, in his view, perpetuate superstition and social inequality. He presents the Buddha as a revolutionary figure whose teachings directly oppose caste-based discrimination and advocate for a moral code that transcends ritualistic practices."

Hindutva is a geo-cultural concept that embodies respect, a sense of place, and the feeling of coexistence for everyone. This synchronicity-oriented cultural consciousness has made it quite liberal, tolerant, and flexible. The situation deteriorated when external invaders took advantage of the liberality of this overly tolerant culture and started to cut at its very roots. The excessive permissiveness of Hindutva was misinterpreted as cowardice, leading to a concerted effort to destroy all its fundamental elements. Even today, various conspiracies are being devised with a similar aim. Forbearance has rendered the supporters and followers of ‘Hindutva’, or ‘Indianness’, indifferent, impotent, and fatalistic. The common-good-oriented philosophy of self-righteousness does not imply that, in this world and in our behavior, we should forget our duty to ourselves and neglect self-defense. The policy of abandonment in the face of invaders has nothing to do with the philosophy and principle of coexistence and tolerance. Every time Hindutva failed to confront invading enemies, its supporters not only suffered humiliation but also lived under subjugation. Hindutva is so devoted to the pursuit of truth that it does not compromise on any account. For Hindutva, the existence of this world is not the ultimate truth; rather, it is an illusion. In other words, what exists in reality is simply a manifestation of an eternal and true non-dual Brahman. —From this book

A collection of short-stories set in the 20th Century India for the 21st Century kids & a nostalgic walk, for their parents & grandparents. Although this book has been named after the city of Chandausi, it contains stories from various places like Rishikesh, Agra, Champaran, Tilhar, Sambhal, Kanpur, Banaras, Lucknow and many others. These are the short stories of a bygone era-a period when India had either not gained independence or had been independent for not more than 35 years. These are the tales of journeys-taken up from the early 20th century to the end of a millennium, from Shahjahanpur to Delhi, from Bijnor to Hyderabad, from Hathras to Sweden & Norway, from Lakshmi Talkies, Allahabad to Night Watchman, Bangalore, from Panki to USA, from Dehradun to Canada, from Chandausi to Australia and many others. We are sure in all these stories, you will be able to find at least one character, which reminds you of your own self-of what you are, were or always wanted to be. Let us know the character with whom you have been able to relate to the most. Happy reading. “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,”-Thomas A. Edison. -Here’s a collection of short stories to inspire the readers.

This book contains 38 Nano tales by different authors depicting life, motivation and inspiration. This is the world’s first book to be published on Nano tales. Nano tale is a small story written in little words with a strong message. The figure of speech used by the writers is at its best. Irony, rhetoric, sarcasm, pun, and satire are some essential tools of a Nano tale. The words are limited, but the message is loud and clear.

In the suburbs of Mumbai, the atmosphere is grim. There is an evil shadow lurking around, stalking and snatching away able-bodied people. The hapless victims are never found again, their bodily traces lost forever. Embroiled in this is Maya Bhargava, a schoolteacher trying to forget a past personal tragedy. Focusing on her promising career, she is learning to pick the broken pieces of her heart and move on. While still trying to cope, love comes her way. It comes from the most unexpected of quarters, from a man named Bhaskar Sadachari who is despised and feared for his weird ways. The sensible and cautious Maya has her head in the right place, but it is her heart that refuses to obey. She chooses her new husband. And then the horrors begin to unfold.

Rhea and Dia are inseparable soulmates. But when Isha moves in next door, their friendship goes through trying times. Will Rhea, Dia and Isha become three best pals? And who is that boy always lurking in the background? Richa Jha weaves a clever, believable story of the typical joys, thrills, conflicts, jealousies, patch ups and all the bitter sweet stuff friendships are made of. Alicia Souza's feisty and utterly playful artwork and hand-etched letterings add a charming quirkiness to this delightful story.

Aadya looks just like her mother (Aai) same little nose, same delicate ears, same big eyes and identical thick, long hair. But one day, Aai goes away to a big hospital with a promise to return before she learns her next Math lesson. The long-awaited return shocks Aadya because her mother now looks entirely unlike her. She wonders if Aai will ever greet her with her usual cheery, "Hello! Mini-me." Or will She have to take matters into her own hands to hear that again? With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Aai and I is an empowering story about the bond between a mother and a daughter and of the little one finding her own identity as she no longer 'looks' the same as her mother. Mamta Nainy captures Elan Aadya's innocence, impatience, and dilemma, and Sanket Pethkar's vibrant, gorgeous artwork brings to life the nuanced see-saw of the child's emotions in this Maharashtrian household.

Welcome to a mysterious land where ghosts. Ghouls and spirits rule. Welcome to a place where haunted houses and evil souls will make a shiver run down your spine. A spooky tale in the scenic hills of Mussoorie awaits you while uncanny happenings in a literary competition are sure to intrigue you. The case of a mysterious white Maruti baffles everyone, even as the unsuspecting jogger experiences something he had never bargained for. A group of friends will encounter the worst terror of their lives while nightmares of his death rack the young man! Author's In and The Book Bakers present an eclectic mix of true stories, legends, and fables that have often been a part of India's folklore—armed with some of the best authors in India's paranormal literature history. CASE FILES OF THE DEAD; India's first pure horror public anthology will turn every host into (G)Host!!!

Some relationships in life begin casually and come with us for a very long-time, more than we expected! Sometimes we misunderstand people and a few times we misunderstand what they mean to us. When we realize it, It is too late. Do we get a chance to restart? This fiction is about a few people in their prime part of life - late teens to early twenties. Priya, the Talkative, boisterous girl sets the pace of the story. She can be friends with anyone unlike sanjana, who sees her bestial and only friend in Oriya. All Indian teenage girls have a thing in common - their liking for Reel life heroes. The girls were no exception. They are die-hard fans of an upcoming actor from a star family, Rishi. Not an everyday thing, but it did happen to them. Priya, sanjana and Rishi cross paths. They meet, greet, get friendly and get closer. It is about these three people's journey - their emotions, their behaviour, and their relationship. The same love that brings them closer drifts them apart when dynamics change. Out of love, do they make, break or mend their relationship!.

This book is based on a critical feminist reading of selected Delhi High Court judgements pronounced in the 1990s. It focuses on the phenomenon of female criminality and the pervasiveness of the disciplinary powers of law in our lives. Through an overview of existing studies on female crime in India and the interaction with the working) of the law and the legal system, This engagement pushes our understanding of law from an instrument of control and mode of social transformation to mere rhetoric. Not to argue for the futility of engaging with the law but emphasising the need to look at it closely and critically.

Duster the dog is more of a cat. He loves the naps, the flaps, and the fish. And he doesn't like to announce arrivals, to play fetch, and to dig for bones. Especially, certainly, not the bones. His human craves dog love. Will the two ever be right for each other? Richa Jha narrates with brevity and humour a tiny, universal tale of love and companionship (and expectations) that is sure to strike a chord with the readers. Neeti Banerji's endearing frames are chocked full of details with Easter eggs and parallel threads to add to the re-readability of the story. The minimal palette and simple character shapes - Duster is essentially an oblong with legs - work with the highly detailed line-art to engage and not overwhelm.

Every year, the crème de la crème of Indian students appear in JEE of the IITs to qualify for admission to what is considered the Mecca of technical education in India. Years of meticulous training and mental preparation must be timed to deliver the peak performance at the right moment. The years of competitive examinations have given birth to efficient technocrats, both men and women, who believe that �if one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams and endeavours to live the life that they have imagined, one will achieve success in it. If a person aspires for the highest position, it is not disgraceful to stop at the second or third place.�This book has been written keeping in mind the void regarding the tools needed to achieve proper study skills to succeed in IIT-JEE. The book's main objective is to provide practical techniques to help aspirants encash the education opportunity at IIT-JEE. The comprehensive and updated information about the examination will help him embark on the path of achievement and, consequently, a successful career.

Look into the mirror of the sciety and all you see is a scarecrow!" An anthology that mirrors the society at large. Thirteen stories that take you to the streets of Kabul to the paddy fields in rural Bengal, from a chirstmas in Paris to a famine in Orissa, from the lavish life futility of a rockstar to the aspiring dreams of a prostitute from artistic nudity to meeting God. This anthology has it all. The roller coaster ride of emotions will justify life is nor black , nor white but mostly grey!! And the scarecrow in some paddy field will keep mocking the society and it's futile taboos!! Can we be the scarecrow? An anthology you may love or hate but can't ignore for sure!!