|
off the shelf
Jinnah, Liaquat Ali
Khan and Partition
V. N. Datta
Dear Mr Jinnah: Selected Correspondence and
Speeches of Liaquat Ali Khan, 1937-1947
edited by Professor Roger D. Long with a foreword by Stanely Wolpert. Oxford University
Press, Karachi. Pages 328. Price not stated.
This
compilation of selected correspondence and speeches of Liaquat Ali Khan,
that comes with a foreword by Stanely Wolpert, well-known Jinnah
biographer, focuses on highly significant issues and events which proved
crucial in the creation of Pakistan. Of special interest to the reader
is the author’s prefatory notes.
It mystifies the known
Kavita Soni-Sharma
Listening to culture: constructing reality
from everyday talk
by Nandita Chaudhary. Sage Publicatioins, New Delhi. Pages 235. Rs 320.
This
book is written in an abominable style to arrive at rather pedestrian
conclusions. Granted that style is a subjective matter, still I think an
author owes it to her readers to write in a simple, lucid language,
especially when she may have insightful things to say, as the foreword
tells us.
Wide
diaspora, narrow canvas
Rana Nayar
Between Two Worlds: Punjabi Short Stories
edited by S. P. Singh and translated by Rita Chaudhury and Harbir S.
Manku. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Pages 175. Rs 175.
Often,
the university presses in our context are known for peddling only
textbooks and/or research-oriented books and monographs, but Punjabi
University, Patiala, has now, for quite some time, been engaged in this
laudable enterprise of promoting English translations of significant
Punjabi literary works.
A message of hope
Priyanka Singh
The Swallow and the Hummingbird
by Santa Montefiore. Coronet Books. Pages 490. £ 6.99.
THE
Swallow and the Hummingbird reads
like a regular lost-love-found-and-lost-again story but is different in
that it reinforces the belief that one must face adversities and move on
with life. Those who can, sail, while the dejected tire themselves out
fighting the current.
Arthur
hailey: tribute
Travellers’ pick
V. Gangadhar
Millions
of people travel by plane, stay in hotels, get treated at hospitals, buy
and sell cars and are involved in money changing. How many, among them,
produce highly readable, best selling novels on these themes? Arthur
Hailey did.
Small books, big lessons
Deepti Priya Mehrotra
What Does Fear Do To You?
What Is It To Care?
What Does Freedom Mean?
by J Krishnamurti, produced by Krishnamurti Foundation of India, Chennai. Rs 60 each.
Sumitra Pant, 39, and her
husband, Mukesh, are computer professionals based in Delhi, with two
school going children. Sumitra’s friend recently sent her a set of
three small books from Chennai, titled What Does Fear Do to You?,
What Is It to Care? and What Does Freedom Mean?
Punjabi review
Marx revisited
Shalini Rawat
Marxvaad, Nav-marxvaad ate Utar-adhuniktavaad
by Dr Bhim Inder Singh. Tarkbharti Parkashan, Barnala. Pages 136. Rs 50.
During
the nineteenth century, Marx and Engel developed explanations for the
historical development of the capitalist mode of production and
exploitation. This socialist realism was adopted as the official
doctrine of the Soviet Union by Lenin and later supplemented by a host
of thinkers at the ideological level such as George Lukacs, the
Frankfurt School thinkers, Adorno, Horkheimer, Raymond Williams and
Terry Eagleton, to name a few.
Short takes
Chronicle of a martial race
Randeep Wadehra
The Story of Valiant Sikhs
by S.J.S. Pall. B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh, Amritsar. Pages 333. Rs. 500.
Here’s
a book that enumerates various valiant deeds of Sikhs ever since the
Khalsa was founded. Beginning as a defiant force against oppression and
tyranny, Sikhs began to found their own small kingdoms and
principalities — reaching the zenith during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s
reign.
-
Inspiring read
Puran Singh: An Inflamed Heart
by Gurbhagat Singh. Punjabi University, Patiala.
Pages 93. Rs 150.
-
A princess’ tragic tale
Diana: In pursuit of love
by Andrew Morton. Rupa & Co. Pages 320. Rs 295.
|
