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Pearl of wisdom
Jyoti Singh
Bahudha and the Post 9/11
World
by Balmiki Prasad Singh. Oxford University Press.
Pages 370. Rs 745.
THE fundamental issue
facing the world today is unbeatably, "How to live?" or more
appropriately "How we all ought to live?" This crucial
question finds an answer in the volume under review. Drawing upon the
ancient Indian philosophical concept of Bahudha—Pluralism—the
dominant strain in the volume reflects the attitude of modern
civilisation.
In defence of faith
A.J. Philip
The Delusion Of Disbelief
David Aikman. Tyndale House Publishers. Pages 250. $16.50.
ATHEISM is as old as
Charvaka maharshi whose philosophy focused on sense perception and
matter. He propounded the theory that matter is the only reality and
perception through the senses the only method of gaining knowledge. The
all-encompassing Hinduism accepted atheism as another strand of faith
like monotheism and polytheism. Few realise that Buddhism is essentially
based on the belief that God is non-existent.
Delightful romp
Deepika Gurdev
Almost Single
by Advaita Kala. HarperCollins India. Pages 284. Rs 195.
ON my recent visit to
Chandigarh, I had to put my well-planned reading list aside because a
cover had caught my attention at a book depot in the city. It showed a
woman in a rather corporate looking maroon saree teamed with red Reebok
shoes. It immediately commanded attention. Would this be one of those
covers created just to sell?
A flight of fancy
Ivninderpal Singh
One Afternoon
by Roma Bansal. Rupa & Co. Pages 250.
Rs 195.
Relationships
are defined
by social norms and values. And those, which don’t conform to social
order, are looked down upon and social actions come into play to ‘force’
the ‘offenders’ to fall in line. The story revolves around a
relationship between two women who never come out in the open to
challenge society and in the end part ways.
Dylan code deciphered
Amarinder Sandhu
Viva Santiago
by Colin Fernandes.
Penguin. Pages 137. Rs 199.
VIVA Santiago tells the
story of Alonso Gonzalez and his family settled in Goa. Alonso’s
maverick grandfather is the central character and the story revolves
around him and his doings. The opening sentence of the book sums up
grandpa’s philosophy: "Life should not be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving in a well-preserved body; rather, to
slide in sideways, Mojito in one hand, Mary Jane in the other, screaming
Whoo! What a ride!"
Resurgent city
Madhusree Chatterjee
The Untold Charminar:
Writings on Hyderabad
Ed. Syeda Imam. Penguin. Rs 399.
Edited by former
"ad-woman" Syeda Imam, The Untold Charminar: Writings on
Hyderabad is an anthology on a city that was once ruled by the world's
richest man - the Nizam. And its essays sure shine like the twinkling
jewels in his treasury. Hyderabad after all
bequeathed to the world some of the most legendary diamonds that the
Indian royalty has ever seen - the Orloff, the Jacob, the Hope, the
Great Moghul, the Taj-e-Mah and the Darya-i-Noor, mined from the famous
pits of Golconda.
Four Indians in Man Asian
Prize long list
FOUR Indian authors have
found a place in the long list of the prestigious Man Asian Literary
Prize 2008. All four Indians authors
were published by Penguin, a statement from the publisher said Thursday.
The long list of the prize
was announced July 22 and there are 21 writers on this list this year.
Love through letters
Andy McSmith
THERE is a scene in the
film Sex and the City that has sent its mostly female fans
crowding into bookshops, only to emerge empty-handed. Carrie Bradshaw,
played by Sarah Jessica Parker, is lying in bed next to her lover, Mr
Big (Chris Noth), reading extracts from an interesting-looking book
called Love Letters of Great Men.
Punjabi Review
Epic endeavour
B. S. Thaur
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