{"title":"Five Remarkable Reads from the India Club Shelves","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor more than three decades, India Club has connected readers from across India's literary traditions. This curated collection highlights five remarkable titles - from literary classics and contemporary fiction to mythology and regional voices. Whether you are discovering Indian literature for the first time or looking for your next great read, these books offer unforgettable journeys through India's stories, history, and imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"12440-the-heart-of-the-matter-handpicked-fictions","title":"The Heart of the Matter - Handpicked Fictions","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Eminent Contributors\u003cbr\u003eEditor(s): Geeta Dharmarajan\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Katha\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2004\u003cbr\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003ePages: 296\u003cbr\u003eISBN\/UPC (if available): 8187649437\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e Description\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis selected fiction attempts to present the rich treasure trove of literature that the northeastern states of India house.  And each of the twenty one stories in this volume depicts the close link that the writers have with their cultural moorings, and it is primarily this deep-rooted bond with one’s culture, tradition and history that gives substance to the stories in this volume.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkilled in peace, gifted with war, the land of the fabled North East holds its secrets but for the fortunate few.  Here are some of the stories from the land of storytellers - - Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Nagaland.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Heart of the Matter is the second of six books that have resulted from a unique collaboration between Katha and the North East Writers Forum (NEWF), a collaboration that aims to bring to the forefront, through translations, the rich treasure trove of literature that the northeastern states of India house. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile Asomiya: Handpicked Fictions, the first in the series, is an anthology of short stories written originally in Asomiya, and depicting the sights and sounds of Assam and its people, The Heart of the Matter is a window to Assam as well as Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizorama and Nagaland, a window revealing an India that to date has not been so beautifully represented or translated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis uniqueness and these diversities are what The Heart of the Mater attempts to present-through varied narratives and through a variety of themes. And each of the twenty one stories in this volume depicts the close link that the writers have with their cultural moorings, and it is primarily this deep-rooted bond with one’s culture, tradition and history that gives substance to the stories in this volume. Thus, Kaphleia’s short story Chhingpuii depicts a Mizoram in the late nineteenth century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe series includes collections of short stories, novellas, folktales, plays and children’s stories. Both Katha and the NEWF have taken great care to make each volume distinctive, given the diversity of the region, and ensuring that there is a fair and faithful representation of most of the main language and geographical groups. The combined efforts have resulted in volume that is homogenous in that the stories are all about the human predicament, but diverse in that the cultural codes which govern human behaviour and responses are unique to this region.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContents\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eCivility Is All That Counts\u003cbr\u003eThaballei\u003cbr\u003eSomeday, Sometime Numoli\u003cbr\u003eThe Bomb\u003cbr\u003eA Christmas Story\u003cbr\u003eThe Final Request\u003cbr\u003eHe’s Still Alive\u003cbr\u003eDeath By Apotia\u003cbr\u003eFear\u003cbr\u003eBats\u003cbr\u003eThe River Within\u003cbr\u003eIne Leipaklei\u003cbr\u003eThe Adventures of Bah Ta En\u003cbr\u003eSialton Official\u003cbr\u003eItamacha\u003cbr\u003eLali\u003cbr\u003eOja Dinachandra’s Dream\u003cbr\u003eThe Hostel Sentinel\u003cbr\u003eThunderbird\u003cbr\u003eChhingpuii\u003cbr\u003eSon Of the Soil\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The India Club","offers":[{"title":"Eminent Contributors \/ Katha \/ Paperback","offer_id":40776267628713,"sku":"12440","price":24.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/1048\/4393\/files\/heartofmatter.png?v=1780609321"},{"product_id":"14060-amrita","title":"Amrita","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Usha Rajagopalan\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Rupa\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2004\u003cbr\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003ePages: 334\u003cbr\u003eISBN\/UPC (if available): 8129105659\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e Description\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmrita was born out of a fleeting visual on the television. To coax that nebulous idea to assume a form and life has been a long haul, exciting, exasperating but a deeply satisfying, learning experience. The children at the special schools I visited, their parents and trainers taught me more than what this book contains.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGauri's world implodes on her when she learns that she is an illegitimate child, born out of her mother's liaison with Raghu. One Short trip to his house is enough for Gauri to realise that her illegitimacy- and her father's ignorance of it-is nowhere near the problems that Raghu's family has. Traumatised by the violent death of their mentally challenged daughter, Amrita, on the night of her sister's wedding, the story behind Amrita's death unravels as the family reaches out to Gauri, each telling her their story. Why and how Amrita died is a cross they will all have to bear, even Gauri.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The India Club","offers":[{"title":"Usha Rajagopalan \/ Rupa \/ Paperback","offer_id":40776326381737,"sku":"14060","price":29.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/1048\/4393\/files\/amrita.png?v=1780609276"},{"product_id":"24096-the-conch-bearer","title":"The Conch Bearer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: IndiaInk\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2008\u003cbr\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003ePages: 265\u003cbr\u003eISBN\/UPC (if available): 9788186939390\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e Description\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou are about to embark on a remarkable journey. It begins on the teeming streets of Kolkata, India, and will transport you across arid plains and turbulent rivers to a secret valley high in the Himalayas. Along the way you will encounter powerful spirits, both good and unspeakably evil; fantastical creatures; and a trio of intrepid travelers who will linger in your memory long after the last page of this book is turned. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is fantasy of the first order; an exotic and compelling adventure story that is almost impossible to put down. It is also a significant literary achievement by a distinguished author, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAN EXCERPT:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a dingy shack in the less than desirable neighborhood that he calls home 12-year-old Anand is entrusted with a conch shell that possesses mystical powers. His task is to return the shell to its rightful home many hundreds of miles away. Accompanying him are Nisha, a headstrong but resourceful child of the streets, and a mysterious man of indeterminate age and surprising resources named Abadhyatta . . . \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eREVIEWS:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA real page turner, you will stay up late to finish.\u003cbr\u003e- Chicago Tribune\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e.. The pure beauty of Anand's destination is a simmering Shanri-La come to life.  This speaks directly to children, in a very enticing voice.\u003cbr\u003e- Booklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e..fresh and riveting with details of India's smells, sights and tastes, with character that posses both good and evil, and with her explortion of the fine line between faith and magic.\u003cbr\u003e- Publishers Weekly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The India Club","offers":[{"title":"Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni \/ IndiaInk \/ Paperback","offer_id":40776536555689,"sku":"24096","price":22.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/1048\/4393\/files\/conchbearer.png?v=1780609205"},{"product_id":"8388-the-heros-walk","title":"The Hero's Walk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Anita Rau Badami\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Bloomsbury\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2000\u003cbr\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003ePages: 359\u003cbr\u003eISBN\/UPC (if available): 074755711X\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e Description\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarm, witty and wise, this is a beautifully written novel from the acclaimed author of Tamarind Mem.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSripathi Rao's life is as arid as the summers of Toturpuram;, the dusty South Indian town where he lives.  All he had wanted was an ordinary life with a solid job land a happy family.  But Sripathi has never been a lucky man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only thing in his life that Sripathi Rao has been proud of is his talented vibrant daughter Maya.  But when Maya marries Alan, a fellow student at her American University, Sripathi angrily cuts off all his ties with her.  Then he receives a phone call from Vancouver informing him that daughter and her daughter have been killed in a car crash.  All Sripathi is left with are his regrets and Maya's seven-year-old daughter Nandana whom he has never seen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePRAISE FOR THE HERO'S WALK\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWry, wickedly subtle, it reminded me in the lovely luxurious way it surges along of V S Naipaul's A House for Mr. Biswas\u003cbr\u003e                                                                  - Margaret Forster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth restrained and heartbreaking.  Perfectly balanced.\u003cbr\u003e                                                                   - Publishers Weekly Standard Review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike Rohinton Mistry and Shauna Singh Baldwin, completely readable.\u003cbr\u003e                                                                    - Toronto Star\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The India Club","offers":[{"title":"Anita Rau Badami \/ Bloomsbury \/ Paperback","offer_id":40776732147881,"sku":"8388","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/1048\/4393\/files\/herowalk.png?v=1780609625"},{"product_id":"9500-the-age-of-kali-indian-travels-and-encounters","title":"The Age of Kali - Indian Travels and Encounters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor: William Dalrymple\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Flamingo\u003cbr\u003eYear: 1999\u003cbr\u003eLanguage: English\u003cbr\u003ePages: 386\u003cbr\u003eISBN\/UPC (if available): 0006547753\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e Description\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis collection of nineteen essays is a panorama of the Indian subcontinent, poised between chaos, westernization and immemorial tradition. A fine collection of writing, immaculately researched and, of course, wickedly funny.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book's title is a reference to the concept in ancient Hindu cosmology that time is divided into four great epochs. Each age (or Yug) is named after one of the four throws, from best to worst, in a traditional Indian game of dice; accordingly, each successive age represents a period of increasing moral and social deterioration.  The ancient mythological Golden Age, named after the highest throw of the dice, is known as the Krita Yug, or Age of Perfection  India is now in the throes of the Laki Yug, the Age of Kali, the lowest possible throw, an epoch of strife, corruption, darkness and disintegration.  In the Age of Kali the great gods Vishnu and Shiva are asleep and do not hear the prayers of their devotees.  In such an age, normal conventions fall apart: anything is possible.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe subcontinent has been William Dalrymple's favorite hunting ground and out of its vastness and complexity has extracted wonderful stories.  The five years he spent in Delhi working on his best-selling City of Djinns was also a productive phase in his journalism.  This new offering of his collected pieces gives a chance to discover facets of Dalrymple unknown to fans who have marveled at his phenomenal descriptive powers and his sense of history.  In particular, the account of his visit to the Tamil Tigers is one of the most stunning portrayals of a ruthless and efficient guerilla outfit and its death-daring fighters that any journalist has ever managed to piece together.  Through it all, he maintains an undercurrent of humor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContents\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContents\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction \u003cbr\u003eMap\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1 The North\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ethe age of Kali\u003cbr\u003eIn the Kingdom of Avadh\u003cbr\u003eThe city of Widows\u003cbr\u003eWarrior Queen: The Rajmata of Gwalior\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2 In Rajasthan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Sad Tale of Bahveri Devi\u003cbr\u003eCaste Wars\u003cbr\u003eSati Mata\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3 The New India\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo Bombay Portraits\u003cbr\u003eFinger-Lickin' Bad: Banglore and the Fast-Food Invaders\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4 The South\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the Court of the Fish-Eyed goddess\u003cbr\u003eUnder the Char Minar\u003cbr\u003eParashakti\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5 On the Indian ocean\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt Donna Georgina's\u003cbr\u003eUp the Tiger Path\u003cbr\u003eThe Sorcerer's Grave\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6 Pakistan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eImran Khan: Out for a Duck\u003cbr\u003eOn the Frontier\u003cbr\u003eBloods on the Tracks\u003cbr\u003eBenazir Bhutto: Mills \u0026amp; Boons in Karachi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGlossary\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The India Club","offers":[{"title":"William Dalrymple \/ Flamingo \/ Paperback","offer_id":40776761671849,"sku":"9500","price":34.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/1048\/4393\/files\/ageofkali.png?v=1780608906"}],"url":"https:\/\/indiaclub.com\/de\/collections\/five-remarkable-reads-from-the-india-club-shelves.oembed","provider":"The India Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}