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How
seeds of empire were sown
Reviewed by Rajiv M Lochan
India in the World Economy: From Antiquity to the Present
By Tirthankar Roy. Cambridge
University Press. Pages 288. Rs 795
The
system of trading into which the European East India companies
intervened had been well-established for centuries and India was one
of the most powerful economies of the world in the year 1500. Within
250 years, Europeans were ruling India. Was European success due to
the raw violence that characterised European capitalism as against
non-violent Asian trade? Was it because of European access to American
silver or was it because of superior commercial acumen? Roy rejects
all three arguments.
High
stakes and low blows
Reviewed by Balwinder Kaur
The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic
By Anna MM Vetticad
Om Books. Pages 234. Rs 295.
The
dream merchants of Bollywood entertain billions worldwide; influencing
lifestyles, moulding mindsets, setting fashion trends and filling
gossip columns. But even ardent movie buffs underestimate the sheer
magnitude of this industry. So the author undertook the formidable
task of viewing all the films released in Delhi during 2011.
Drama
behind the screen
Small Screen Big Lies
By Kish
Wisdom Village. Pages 202. Rs 150
Tensions
are running high at a television network as declining ratings and
revenues necessitate a complete overhaul. With the mercurial Fred
Davies in charge nothing is certain and no one is safe as popular
shows and established stars are axed while a newbie assistant like
Abhish Kumar is catapulted to stardom.
All
about means and ends
Wrong Means Right End
By Varsha Dixit
Rupa Pages 311. Rs 140.
love
and romance are the farthest things from recently divorced Sneha's
mind. The matchmaking efforts of her happily married best friend
Nandini are wasted on her. As a single mother and working woman her
priorities are clear. But when Nandini's marriage is threatened by her
husband's ex-fianc`E9 everything changes.
Tribute
to Siachen heroes
Reviewd by Geetu Vaid
Siachen: The Cold War
By Rishi Kumar Aan Comics.
Pages 48. Rs 150
Battlefield Siachen
By Rishi Kumar Aan Comics.
Pages 56. Rs 150
though
not a completely untested
terrain, war comics is a largely unexplored genre in the Indian
context, thus making the two recent titles Siachen: The Cold War
and Battlefield Siachen released by Aan Comics and created by
Rishi Kumar worth taking a note, especially in the pre-Republic Day
patriotic ambience. The Indian setting of the storyline gives a
different perspective of military operations to a generation fed on
the sound and fury of action-packed video games like "Call of
Duty".
Making
of a sporting star
Reviewed by Chandni S. Chandel
Saina Nehwal… playing to
win
By Saina Nehwal
Penguin Books. Pages 118. Rs 199
All
of 22, bearing her share
of travails was like a roller-coaster ride for Saina Nehwal. The
Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, a
standing ovation at Parliament are exceptional achievements at this
age, but a lot of big and small sacrifices of a girl and her parents
have gone into making her what she is. Yet, Saina could still have
waited a few more years to release her biography. The 117-page book is
a good keep for teenagers and prospective sportspersons. She nudges
youngsters to go by their interest as she confesses that it was not
pressure from parents but her interest that made them support her.
A
welcome trend
Pandemonium
By Lauren Oliver Hodder. £6.99T
his
second title in the Delirium trilogy can be read as a stand-alone, but
it also follows Oliver’s young heroine, Lena Haloway, after she
flees her dystopian society where love is forbidden and everyone has
to undergo "the Cure" when they turn 18. Lena has reached
safety with the Invalids (those who have rejected the Cure) in
outlying forests, and she joins them to try to help overthrow the DFA,
or Deliria-Free America.
Memoir
that transcends personal history
Reviewed by Abhishek Joshi
The Victoria Cross: A Love
Story
By Ashali Varma
Pearson. Pages 243. Rs 375
Ashali
Varma's memoir is a moving
tribute to her parents, Prem and Mohini Bhagat. It is introduced to
the reader as a narrative of courage and love. Well, the love story
works at many different levels. Lt Prem Bhagat was the first Indian
officer to be awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in World War
II. His Commanding Officer described his action of clearing 55 miles
of a mined road in 96 hours as "the longest continued feat ... of
sheer cold courage."  TOP 5
Non-Fiction bestsellers
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