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A story of
unflinching determination
Reviewed by Seerat Toor
Grewal
Unbreakable: An Autobiography
by M.C. Mary Kom.
Harper Collins.
Pages: 155. Rs 199
Unbreakable:
An Autobiography is more than a book. It's an inspiration for all
those who want to dream big despite the odds they face in their daily
lives. Also, it is a must read for women who could not challenge the
status quo imposed by their families or society at large, to pursue
their higher goals.
When
people have a say
Reviewed by M M Goel
Building a Citizens' Partnership in Democratic Governance
by George Koreth & Kiron Wadhera.
Sage.
Pages 327. Rs 595
Good
governance is indispensable for a democratic set-up of
government. Although there is no single model of effective governance
common to all regions, transparency and accountability are the two
pillars of any pro-people government. These focus on providing
time-bound services to citizens, make them integral part of decision
making and bring them closer to government.
Evaluating
Indian values
Reviewed by S L Sharma
Indian Sociology Engagement with Values
by Kapila Khemundu. Kalpaz.
Pages 424 , Rs 1250.
What
is happening to human values these days? Are they decaying or
advancing? Closer home, what is happening to Indian values? Are they
caving in under the impact of modernisation and globalisation or are
they still present and agile? Are they simply changing, or adapting to
changing times, or getting altered? Questions like these keep
bothering all of us from time to time. Some of us may be having our
opinions about the current situation but nobody quite seems to know
the definite answer.
Tackling
terrorists, MI5 style
Close Call
by Stella Rimington.
Bloomsbury. Pages 344. Rs 499.
Liz
Carlyle is the head of Counter Terrorism unit in Britain's MI5.
It is her duty to keep her country safe from terrorists, and she keeps
a special eye on the international arms trade, the illegal one, where
there are no end-user certificates.
Complicated
relationships
Reviewed by Balwinder Kaur
The Tiffin
by Mahtab Narsimhan.
Hot Key. Pages 169. Rs 299.
Overworked
and underpaid, beaten and bullied Kunal is unwanted and
unloved. Unable to bear his hellish existence any longer he is at a
breaking point. Ready to burn all bridges, he tries to run away from
enforced slavery at the dhaba and its abusive heartless owner.
But things don't go as per the plan, the situation worsens and the
12-year-old is about to be sold-off to become a beggar.
This Place
by Amitabha Bagchi.
Fourth Estate. Pages 253. Rs 499.
Demolition
and reconstruction is on the cards for a rundown unsavoury part
of Baltimore. Life as they know is about to change irrevocably for the
close knit multi-racial community on 26th Street. Not everyone is as
overjoyed as landlord Shabbir Ahmad who is busy calculating ways to
get maximum compensation from the city.
Bambi, Chops and Wag
by Ranjit Lal.
Roli. Pages 181. Rs 195.
Highly
exhausting, extremely aggravating and often embarrassing but
always endearing antics of threepet dogs are cherished memories
relived in this book. With woofs, wags and licks, each one of the
three little puppies commanded a special place in the hearts and lives
of the author's family. Each one with their own foibles, failings and
idiosyncrasies enrich the lives of three generations.
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