The Relevance and Benefits of Reading in the 21st Century
Prakruti Maniar writes about the personal and societal benefits of reading and its impact on cognitive development, time management, and well-being amidst a plethora of modern digital distractions. I cannot tell what drew me to reading or where I got my interest in reading from. Perhaps it was my grandfather, who had a fascinating library […]
A Deep Dive into Mumbai’s Film Industry and Its Realities in Sinema by Vikram Singh
Sakhi Gundeti reviews Sinema: The Bollywood Bungle of Andy Duggal by Vikram Singh (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). Vikram Singh’s Sinema follows Anand (Andy) Duggal, a third-generation film producer from Mumbai caught up in a series of personal and professional crises. He’s getting divorced, his film isn’t doing well due to the lead actor’s absence […]
Language Politics in India: Regional Protests and Their National Implications
India is home to one of the most linguistically diverse populations in the world. According to the 2011 Census, the country recognises 22 scheduled languages. But the reality is far more vivid and rich. Over 1,600 mother tongues are spoken in India, representing centuries of regional, ethnic, and cultural evolution. Languages in India are central […]
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel: A Fresh Perspective on the Ramayana’s Controversial Queen?
Akshaya Ganesh reviews Kaikeyi: A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel (published by Redhook, 2023). As a huge fan of mythological retellings, I’ve surprisingly read very few novels on Ramayana. Most of them were from the perspectives of Lord Ram, Devi Sita or Ravana. So, the fact that there is a book exploring Kaikeyi’s perspective intrigued me. […]
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 Journey Through Bhakti and Sufi Wisdom in Shabnam Virmani’s Burn Down Your House: Provocations From Kabir
Kaustav Das reviews Burn Down Your House: Provocations From Kabir by Shabnam Virmani (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). In all places, I find my kinIn all places, I meet my ownI’m in all, all are in meI’m so many, and yetAlone – Kabir, Burn Down Your House by Shabnam Virmani Drawing on the rich oral […]
Why You Must Read Nanak Singh’s A Game of Fire After Hymns In Blood
Jainand Gurjar reviews A Game of Fire by Nanak Singh, translated from Punjabi by Navdeep Suri (published by HarperCollins India, 2024). A Game of Fire by Nanak Singh, translated by Navdeep Suri, is a sequel to Hymns In Blood. It advances the story of Hymns In Blood and introduces the reader to the wave of […]
Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh by Shrayana Bhattacharya Review: The Impact of SRK on Indian Women’s Lives
Sakhi Gundeti reviews Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India’s Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence by Shrayana Bhattacharya (published by HarperCollins India, 2021). The title of the book, Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh, makes it sound like an SRK fan wrote about his films and his characters, which is somewhat true. But it’s […]
The Complexity of Immigrant Life and Marital Woes in Still Lives by Reshma Ruia
Sneha Pathak reviews Still Lives by Reshma Ruia (published by Speaking Tiger, 2024). The Online Cambridge Dictionary defines still life as “a type of painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects that do not move.” This definition is a pretty accurate description of the main characters in Reshma Ruia’s novel Still Lives. Still Lives […]
Mallar Chatterjee’s Shakuni: A Fresh Perspective on the Mahabharata
Anshika Jain reviews Shakuni & The Dice of Doom by Mallar Chatterjee (published by Readomania, 2019). Har koi kahin na kahin naach hi raha hai, Sachiv Ji. This 21st-century Panchayat dialogue perfectly sums up the ancient Mahabharat in a way. Every character did what they did because it felt the right and just action for […]
