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Giving ourselves generously
Reviewed by D. S. Cheema
The Art of Effective Giving
by R M Lala. Harper Collins India. Pages 136. Rs 299
Most
of us are born helpers as it
is human nature to help others. However, whenever one thinks of helping
others, most of the times it is seen as material help or helping out
with money. In fact, money had nothing to do with the original
definition of philanthropy (Greek fil-anthra-pi, the "love
of fellowmen"). R. M. Lala’s book about philanthropy is a
valuable and interesting record of generosity of some of the greats who
care for others.
Befitting tribute
to Tagore in Urdu
Reviewed by Rakhshanda Jalil
Romancing Tagore: A Collection of over 100 Tagore Poems in Urdu Nazm.
Transcreated
by Indira Varma and Rehman Musawwir. Visva Bharati and Basu Media. Pages
272. Rs
For
far too long the poetry of Tagore has been treated like a shibboleth, as
a test to distinguish the true-blue Rabindra Sangeet-loving Bengali from
the non-Bangla-speaking others. What is more, it is like a sacred space
where non-Bengalis too fear to tread. A new book corrects an old wrong.
Appropriately enough, it is called Romancing Tagore for awe and
veneration for the Bard’s immortal verses are replaced by pleasure and
passion here.
Vignettes of Raj
splendour
Lieut General (Retd) Baljit
Singh
Delhi Durbar 1911: The Complete Story
by Sunil Raman & Rohit Agarwal:
Lotus Collection, Roli Books,
Pages 176. Rs 495
In
the wake of the 1857 Mutiny, the ipso facto dominance of the East
India Company over India was replaced by the de jure rule of the British
monarch. Gradually, that arrangement acquired the connotation of India
being "the jewel in the crown" of the British Empire. Yet the
scars and fears of the mutiny would prohibit any British monarchs from
visiting India, for half a century.
She’s walked the
talk
Reviewed by Aradhika Sharma
Confessions of a Serial Dieter
by Kalli Puri. Harper Collins. Pages 225. Rs 250
Do
you have a friend who is fat? Then gift her/him this book. It’s a nice
and honest way of giving her/him the direction and the motivation of
losing weight without having to say the hard words: "You need to
lose weight", without hurting her/his feelings. Basically, that
way, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Tete-a-tete
Theatre of
conviction
Nonika Singh
While
most artists boast of their
artistic credentials and refrain from making political statements,
Kolkata-based eminent theatre person Usha Ganguli has no qualms in
admitting, "I am a very political person". Of course, her
political consciousness has nothing to do with any political party or
isms.
While
most
artists boast of their artistic credentials and refrain from making
political statements, Kolkata-based eminent theatre person Usha Ganguli
has no qualms in admitting, "I am a very political person". Of
course, her political consciousness has nothing to do with any political
party or isms. Except humanism. She believes in the right to life and
education. In her fight against oppression, her thinking is affected by
humanitarianism on the same lines as Prem Chand, Manto and Tagore.
Unravelling
glory of Islamic civilisation
Acclaimed
filmmaker and television personality Saeed Akhtar Mirza, the author of a
new book, The Monk, The Moor & Moses Ben Jalloun, says the
clash-of-civilisations theory does not apply to the modern world.
"What we are seeing now is use of political power (a power
struggle), not a clash of civilisations.
short takes
Of love and colonial tales
Reviewed by Randeep Wadehra
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