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Of great
nations, leaders
Invincibility, Challenges and Leadership
By K. V. Krishna Rao.
Orient BlackSwan.
Pages 438. Rs 895.
Reviewed by General V. P. Malik
IN
its in-depth analysis of the developments that gave rise to empires,
civilisations and nations, and the role played therein by great leaders
of the world, Invincibility, Challenges and Leadership is a
unique book. General Krishna Rao has covered a very wide canvas in his
research and then used his knowledge and professional military and civil
experience to write about several defining moments of history, the
emergence of great leaders of that period, the challenges they handled
under critical and complex situations, and the consequences of their
intervention.
Beyond
popular myths and misconceptions
The Truth About Islam: A
Historical Study
By Lakshmeshwar Dayal
Anamika Publishers.
Pages 279. Rs 700.
Reviewed by Uttam Sengupta
READING
yet another book on Islam would normally appear a singularly unexciting
prospect. After all, few faiths have been written about so extensively
in recent times. The study of the amazing spread of Islam has been
mandatory, for quite some time, for diplomats, scholars studying
religion and statecraft and for policy makers.
Engrossing
tale of relationships
Broken Melodies
By Gajra Kottary.
HarperCollins.
Pages 279. Rs 299.
Reviewed by Kanwalpreet
GAJRA
KOTTARY says this work of hers is "a bittersweet novel about
growing up". And it is. The protagonist Niyati grows from a
confused child into a beautiful girl who realises, in the process, that
she has to keep her head on her shoulders while growing up in a
household which is "dysfunctional", as the writer puts it.
The
long road home
The Prayer Room
By Shanthi Sekaran.
HarperCollins.
Pages 382. Rs 350.
Reviewed by Balwinder Kaur
WE
have all watched movies where two people meet and love blossoms; all the
more exciting when one is from an exotic far off place. A whirlwind
romance follows, with secret rendezvous away from society’s prying
eyes. They overcome all obstacles and get married.
Urdu Book Review
In Ghalib’s
parlance
Ujaalon kay Safeer
by Mahinder Partap Chand Amrit Parkashan.
Pages 172. Rs 200.
Reviewed by Amar Nath Wadehra
JO achchay
log hotein hain, garazmandon say jhuktay hain/Surahi sar-nagun hoti hai
tab paimana bharta hai" (Good people bow before the needy/the
jug tilts in order to fill up the goblet". Although
it has lost royal patrons, and there is little scope of it fetching a
lucrative career for anyone, Urdu commands a loyal following in India
— cutting across all social, linguistic, and religious
stratifications, as evidenced by this collection that showcases the
works of various writers and poets.
Back
of the book
Heartstone
By C. J. Sansom
Panmacmillan. Pages 721. Rs 299.
Flute
finesse
S. D. Sharma
Noted flautist G. S. Rajan comments
on the contemporary and classical music scenarios
AN
invincible flautist and globe-trotting performer with mastery over
Hindustani and Carnatic music, composer, vocalist, acclaimed art critic
and able administrator, Delhi-based maestro G. S. Rajan cannot be
described in a single epithet. Born and raised in the musical family of
Gayathri and G. S. Srikrishnan at Calicut, Rajan gave a foretaste of his
musical potential by regularly performing for AIR station even while he
was still imbibing the nuances of classical music from his guru parents,
who were revered names in Carnatic music.
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