Vikram Seth’s Hanuman Chalisa: A Modern Translation of a Timeless Hymn

Amritesh Mukherjee reviews The Hanuman Chalisa by Tulsidas, translated by Vikram Seth (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). भूत पिसाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥२४॥ bhoota pisaacha nikaTa nahi(n) aawaimahaabeera jaba naama sunaawai Those who recite your name and your meritFend off every ghost and malevolent spirit. – Tulsidas, Hanuman Chalisa, translated by Vikram […]
A Comprehensive List of 112 Women Translators in India

The chasm between the rich and diverse “regional” literature and the mainstream English literature has always been large. Still, the rise in the number of translations in recent years is steadily filling that gap. Simultaneously, there’s been an increase in translation-specific initiatives and awards in the past decade that have further encouraged translators and translations. […]
How Storytelling in Corporate Culture Can Engage, Inspire & Transform Your Workplace

Do you remember the last time you sat down to read a book? What if I tell you that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%? Or that reading fiction can improve your decision-making capabilities by 50 to 100%? There are hundreds of studies proving the benefits of reading both personally […]
What are Family Archives and How Can You Make One to Capture your Family Histories?

There is a common stereotype about family histories and the stories that evoke the family setup. Sitting with a loved one – a mother, father, grandparent, aunt – maybe before bedtime or lounging in the afternoon, as they recall their childhood, their years of growing up, fables they heard, games they played, their ancestral homes, […]
Shatranj Ke Khilari: Analyzing Satyajit Ray’s Adaptation of Premchand’s Classic

Literary adaptations in Indian cinema are rare. Great literary adaptations in Indian cinema are rarer. Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977), adapted from the eponymous short story by Premchand (1924), easily falls into the latter category. If you’ve ever tried searching for sports adaptations from Indian literature, you’d be sorely disappointed by the meagre numbers, […]
Indian Feminist Literature Through the Ages

Indian feminist literature has evolved significantly through the decades and centuries, reflecting the evolution of the complex socio-cultural South Asian landscape. From the earliest reformist writings to the modern explorations of gender and identity, Indian feminist literature has a wide range of voices advocating for women’s rights and challenging the mainstream patriarchal norms. In this […]
15 Reasons Why Sports Stories Matter and Resonate With Us!

Do you remember the last time you were watching or reading a sports drama? Do you remember the climactic moments, those slo-mo, intensely detailed, nail-biting moments that shall be the defining moment in our protagonist(s)’s journey? But why are we so attracted to sports stories? Aren’t they essentially the same? Aren’t they elementally either the […]
Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka Review- A Cricket Novel Like No Other

Amritesh Mukherjee reviews Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew by Shehan Karunatilaka (published by Penguin Random House India, 2011). There’s a dearth of cricket stories in the market. Biographies and autobiographies you’ll find many in the market, but great cricket novels? Hardly. That’s why a book like Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka, where cricket drives the […]
11 Best Indian Chess Books for Every Chess Fan

If you’ve ever searched for it, you’d quickly notice the scarcity of Indian chess books. Besides Vishwanathan Anand’s excellent memoir, they are rarer to find than an underpromotion to a bishop. Don’t worry; we have some great Indian chess books for every chess lover, whether you play the game or follow it. These books range […]
20 Best Indian Sports Biographies and Autobiographies

Sports biographies and autobiographies are unique gateways to players you would otherwise just watch on your television sets or read about in newspapers and magazines. The best memoirs lend intimate access to one’s life and their struggles and victories. Our article today compiles some of the best Indian sports biographies and autobiographies through the years, […]