<p>The mango, the king of fruits, is also the fruit of desire and the fruit of love. Every aspect of the tree is profoundly intertwined with Indian civilization. The leaves, flowers, and fruits of the mango are depicted in paintings and sculptures, and references to it are found in Indian literature through the ages and in several languages. It has played, and continues to play, an important role in religion, cuisine, and a variety of cultural forms. But do we really know all there is to know about this delectable fruit?</p><p>In this deeply researched and superbly written book, we go beyond the well-trodden stories of the obsessions of nawabs and kings and breathless annual debates about the best mangoes in the world. From the orchards where they grow to the vibrant markets redolent with their aroma, and ultimately to our tables, Mangifera indica describes every aspect of India’s favorite fruit. Book One begins with the history, origin, and the relevance of the mango in contemporary culture, including its place in religious rituals and festivals, literature, and diplomatic relations. Book Two takes us far back in time, 4,500 million years ago, to chart the co- evolution of the ancestors of the mango and humans. In Book Three, we traverse the length and breadth of India, encountering a kaleidoscope of mango varieties—the fragrant Alphonso, sweet Kesar, succulent Dashehri, and dozens of others—as well as never before heard stories of growers, traders, distributors, and consumers.</p>

<p>The book is a tongue-in-cheek look at how Indian English can amuse or even confuse. It presents a collect ion of 100+ classic ‘Indianisms’, each written in a way that makes it fun to read. The book delves into how each Indianism might have come to be, all the while helping the reader understand the grammatically correct way to say it.</p><div><br></div>

<p>This is a business leadership book, but it’s not about how to lead others. It’s about how to lead yourself.</p><p>Behind every business, there are leaders doing their best to navigate work alongside the universal challenges we all share—health, relationships, finances, and self-doubt. Facing these daily challenges, all the while trying to manage the uncertainties of building a business, can get exhausting. How do we take control of our lives to better lead ourselves in order to more effectively lead others?</p><p>Author, entrepreneur, and speaker Russell Benaroya reveals a formula for business success that begins with an intentional approach to design your life. In One Life to Lead, Benaroya imparts his five basic design steps to help you, and those you lead, create a foundation for sustainable life and business success. Within each design step, Benaroya shares the honest stories of notable business leaders who faced difficult decisions in the face of uncertainty, so that we may learn from their experiences. Complete with exercises, strategies, and first-hand experiences, One Life to Lead will give you the tools you need to clearly and confidently design your life.</p>

<p>Revolutionaries on Trial is a groundbreaking new study of the infamous Lahore Conspiracy Case and its principal martyrs—Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru—who belonged to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA). The trial was named after the city of Lahore where it was booked and held from 23 July 1929 onwards in Lahore Central Jail. On 7 October 1930, the judge pronounced the young men guilty of conspiring and waging a war against the British crown. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, whom the Indian public believed to be innocent at the time, were sentenced to be hanged and others received varying sentences.</p><p>The history of the Lahore Trial has so far been told as one of miscarriage of justice and the colonial state’s lack of commitment or failure to uphold the ideology of rule of law. However, Revolutionaries on Trial shows that this is, at best, just part of the story of one of the most important events of the struggle for Independence. To set the record straight, the book widens the scope of historical enquiry by examining the elaborate performances of four sets of actors—the colonial state as the plaintiff, the revolutionaries as the defendants, witnesses for the prosecution, and the Indian press and public as spectators—each with their own motivations, aspirations, and a view of the desired outcome of the trial. It further captures the extraordinary canvas of the trial which was staged not just in a courtroom but across multiple sites—offices of the investigation officers, legislative assembly, government offices, jails, courtroom, streets, printing presses, newspaper establishments, coffee houses, meeting rooms, and universities across North India. as the book examines the history of the dramatic trial, it asks new questions: why did the colonial state bother to put the revolutionaries on trial despite the vast repertoire of violence at its disposal? What more was there to the revolutionaries’ trial strategy other than using the process for propaganda? Is it possible to write a history of nationalism that incorporates acts of collaboration (e.g., spying, informing, perfidy, and denunciation) without the implicit moral judgment and destructive potentialin such acts? In what way did the trial shift the public perception about the revolutionaries, if at all?</p><p>Lucidly written and grounded in impeccable scholarship, historian Aparna Vaidik brings to vivid life the people and events of a trial that left an indelible imprint on the history of nationalism and revolution in India.</p><div><br></div>

<p>Embark on a thrilling journey through the shadows of crime and the pursuit of justice with Shackle the Storm, a collection of 14 short stories inspired by real-life events.</p><p>From bustling cities to the heart of Maoist territory, IPS officer Shailendra Srivastava unravels crimes that defy imagination. Homicides, kidnappings, scams, encounters with notorious underworld dons and even sacrificial murders—each story is a testament to the darkest aspects of human nature and the efforts of dedicated officers who stand as beacons of hope, tirelessly working to restore peace to our communities.</p><p>Drawing from his extensive first-hand encounters, the author crafts tales deeply rooted in reality, bringing to life the interplay between law enforcement and those who seek to evade it.</p><p>Shackle the Storm offers a rare glimpse into the world of crime and investigation. These narratives are not just accounts of crime and punishment; they are a celebration of the human spirit and the triumph of good over evil.</p>

<p>Through the turbulent eighteenth century, Awadh grew to become one of the richest and most coveted regions in all of Hindustan. Although it was nominally ruled by the Mughal emperor in Delhi, the Mughal empire itself under Muhammad Shah ‘Rangeeley’, and later under Shah Alam II, was in terminal decline. The British and French East India Companies were vying for control of the subcontinent. As the Seven Years’ War between these European powers came to an end, and the British lost territory in other parts of the world, they became more determined to seize power in India. Meanwhile, France began a ‘war of revenge’ against its old enemy to restore its prestige. The French Revolutionary wars (1792–99) and the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815) would lead to greater volatility in India. French players continued to intrigue till the last quarter of the eighteenth century in various Indian courts. Awadh’s rise to prominence began when Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (r.1722–1739) was posted there by the Mughal emperor as a demotion for failing to quell a Jat rebellion. Undeterred, Saadat Khan and his successors worked relentlessly to bring stability and glory to the province. Shuja-ud-Daula (r.1754–1775), the third nawab, was widely considered the most powerful and courageous ruler of the time. But after the disastrous loss of the Mughal army at the Battle of Buxar (1764) Shuja was forced into an unsavoury alliance with the British. Despite this unfortunate development, Shuja worked hard to develop Awadh, and Faizabad in particular. Shuja’s son, Asaf-ud-Daula (r.1775–1797), was a visionary and an exemplary diplomat, and his mother, Bahu Begum, a formidable force of nature. Asaf created a Shia renaissance that was a challenge to both Mughal Sunni power and the increasing parochialism of the EIC. His adopted son, Wazir Ali (r.1797–1798), was deposed by the British who then crowned his uncle Saadat Ali Khan (r.1798–1814) as a puppet ruler. In the treaty of 1801, Saadat Ali Khan ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and agreed to disband his troops in favour of an expensive British-run army. These and other developments would reduce Awadh to a shadow of its former glory within a couple of decades.</p><p>Using Persian, English, and hitherto untranslated French sources as well as recent work by art historians, bestselling author Ira Mukhoty brings to focus the life and times of Awadh in the eighteenth century as well as some of the most important figures of the period—the nawabs, EIC officials such as Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Richard Wellesley, as also the powerful begums, elite eunuchs, soldiers and adventurers, such as René Madec, Jean Baptiste Gentil, Claude Martin, Antoine Polier, artists both Indian and European, and others. The Lion and the Lily is a nuanced, detailed, and richly told account of the rise and fall of Awadh in the eighteenth century against the background of the international struggle between Britain and France.</p>

<p>EATING BEEF has become anathema. We saw a spate of meat-related lynchings in the last decade. India is the second largest exporter of beef in the world. In 1948, B.R. Ambedkar undertook a study to unearth the history of untouchability. Beef was at the centre of this conspiracy. Brahmanism turned vegetarian only after the sixth century CE. The Vedic religion sanctioned excessive animal sacrifice, and ‘for the Brahmin every day was beef-steak day’. The latter-day love for the cow is a symptom of disdain for Untouchables and a counter to the anti-caste impulses of the Buddhist revolution. Ambedkar exposes the contradictions and hypocrisies internal to its ideology.</p><div><br></div>

<p>A for…atma!</p><p>B for…Brahma!</p><p>C for…caste!</p><p>Renowned mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik reimagines a Hindu way for young readers. Covering everything from major Hindu deities such as Brahma, the creator of the universe, and Devi, the powerful goddess who takes many forms, to complicated ideas of atma and the caste system, this book explores twenty-six ideas and figures from Hindu myth, each corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. With its simple writing style and fun, colourful illustrations, ABC of Hinduism for Kids is the perfect introduction to a Hindu way of life for your little ones.</p>

<p>Rahul Bajaj was an entrepreneur, a patriot and a visionary, as well as a straight talker who influenced policy discourse for decades. ‘Bajaj’ is a synonym for three-wheelers across the Third World, and the Bajaj scooter was, for many years, the most affordable transport option for India’s middle class. Rahul Bajaj was also among the first entrepreneurs to offer financial services to that income segment starting with auto loans and then expanding the portfolio to offer other consumer-facing financial services. As a result, he was always in touch with the thoughts and aspirations of India’s middle-income- and lower-middle-income groups.</p><p>He had a clear vision of India’s ideal social and economic trajectory, and as an influential member of the ‘Bombay Club’ and later as a Rajya Sabha member, he was always upfront with his trenchant views. He articulated practical, achievable goals that would help take India closer to Great Power status.</p><p>This book compiles tributes to an extraordinary individual from a list of luminaries.</p><div><br></div>

<p>Originally published as Snakeman over thirty years ago to great acclaim, this is a new, expanded edition.</p><p>From cobras in her kitchen to crocodiles in her backyard, Zai Whitaker has seen it all. For years, she and her ex-husband Rom Whitaker worked together for the conservation of reptiles and their habitat, and continue to do so as friends. Scaling Up is their story – funny, observant and a truly ‘wild ride’.</p>