Books | Business Upturn

Poet Vimal Mehra’s “Agni-Samadhi” Unveiled: A Tribute to Chittorgarh’s Heroic Legacy

News Desk — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:38:06 +0000

A grand literary event was held at Bal Niketan School, Jodhpur, to unveil senior poet Vimal Mehra’s narrative poem Agni-Samadhi, which chronicles the valiant tale of Chittorgarh’s first Saka (battle) and Jauhar (self-immolation). Organized by the Society for Creative Satisfaction, the gathering featured prominent literary figures, with senior critic Dr. Ramakant Sharma presiding.

The poem was unveiled by dignitaries, including chief guest Dr. Haridas Vyas and storyteller Hari Prakash Rathi, who praised Mehra’s work for its metrical brilliance and emotional depth. Society president Dr. Sunil Mathur welcomed attendees, while secretary Kamal Sharma reflected on the society’s 25 years of creative contributions.

The poet was honored with garlands, a turban, and a memento. Mehra recited excerpts from Agni-Samadhi, which drew appreciation from the audience. Highlighting the tradition of preserving history through poetry, Rathi noted, “This work deserves a place in every household.” Chief guest Dr. Vyas emphasized the balance between metrical discipline and emotional expression, praising Mehra’s poetic skill.

Vimal Mehra, known for his song collections Gaa mere mann gaa and Milan suron ki bansuriya, continues to contribute to the preservation of India’s rich poetic heritage.

Top 10 books on investment, trading, and stock market

Aditya Bhagchandani — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 13:29:04 +0000

For individuals keen on improving their understanding of investment, trading, and stock markets, reading books by experienced investors can provide invaluable insights and strategies.

Below is a curated list of 10 books, which every aspiring or seasoned investor should consider reading. Each book covers various aspects of financial markets, trading psychology, and wealth-building strategies.

1) The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

Often called the “Bible of investing,” this book is a must-read for both novice and experienced investors. Benjamin Graham, the mentor of Warren Buffett, introduces the concept of value investing, focusing on the principle of buying undervalued stocks and holding them for the long term. He explains core stock market fundamentals and advocates for sound investment practices based on research and analysis.

2) Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

A classic in the self-help and investment space, “Think and Grow Rich” was published in 1937 and remains one of the all-time bestsellers. Napoleon Hill provides a 13-step formula for success, offering insights on how mindset, perseverance, and a defined strategy are key ingredients to amassing wealth. Though not purely about stocks, the principles apply to wealth-building and investments.

3) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

This globally renowned book focuses on the difference between working for money and making money work for you. Robert Kiyosaki uses the contrast between his “rich dad” (a mentor figure) and his “poor dad” (his biological father) to show how financial independence can be achieved by understanding assets, liabilities, and strategic investments. It’s a great book to reshape your mindset on money and wealth accumulation.

4) The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

A fresh take on financial decision-making, Morgan Housel delves into how behavior plays a crucial role in building wealth. This book sheds light on investment psychology and how money decisions are driven by emotions and biases. It combines anecdotal experiences with research, making complex financial concepts more relatable.

5) One Up On Wall Street by Peter Lynch

Peter Lynch, one of the most successful mutual fund managers, shares his investment philosophies in this compelling book. He emphasizes the potential for individual investors to outperform the market by using common knowledge and awareness. Lynch covers how to pick winning stocks, identifying strong growth opportunities, and how patience plays a key role in successful investing.

6) The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Written as a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon, this book provides timeless lessons on financial management, wealth-building, and personal success. Clason uses simple yet profound principles, such as saving a portion of your earnings, living within your means, and making wise investments, to guide readers toward financial freedom.

7) The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime! by M.J. DeMarco

M.J. DeMarco presents a contrarian view to traditional wealth-building advice. The book introduces the “Fastlane” method as an alternative to the “Slowlane” (traditional, slow approach to wealth accumulation). DeMarco’s practical advice on creating wealth through entrepreneurship and high-return investments makes this a motivational read for anyone wanting to build a fortune quickly.

8) Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd

Regarded as a seminal work on value investing, “Security Analysis” provides an in-depth examination of investment fundamentals. With a foreword by Warren Buffett, the book covers detailed analysis on stock valuation, bond investment strategies, and how to make informed decisions. While comprehensive, the book is more suitable for those looking to dive deep into complex financial analysis.

9) The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

This easy-to-read book shatters stereotypes about wealth, detailing how many self-made millionaires build wealth through modest spending, disciplined saving, and smart investing. It provides a fresh perspective on what it means to be truly wealthy and how daily financial habits play a key role in achieving financial independence.

10) The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom

For those interested in learning about the investment philosophies of one of the world’s greatest investors, this book is essential. Hagstrom provides detailed insights into Warren Buffett’s principles of value investing, long-term strategy, and how he evaluates potential investments. It’s a practical guide for anyone looking to adopt a proven approach to stock market investing.

Other Honorable Mentions: If you’re hungry for more knowledge on finance and investments, you may also consider books like Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits by Philip Arthur Fisher, Market Wizards by Jack D. Schwager, and The Alchemy of Finance by George Soros, which provide diverse perspectives on market strategies and investing styles.

Disclaimer: The books listed and their descriptions are based on personal opinions and are not ranked in any particular order of importance or preference. Readers are encouraged to explore and choose books that best suit their individual learning needs and investment goals.

Is there a ‘Burn Of The Everflame’ release date?

Bhavya Rai — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:30:20 +0000

Burn of the Everflame, the highly anticipated fourth and final book in Penn Cole’s The Kindred’s Curse series, has faced several delays since its initial March 2024 release date. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

Initial Delay: Cole first announced that the March 2024 release was no longer feasible. She shifted the release date to June 1, 2024, citing the extensive background work required for a book release, which can be particularly challenging for an indie author without a major publishing team.
Further Delays: In May, the release was pushed back another 30 days to accommodate pre-orders for the e-book on Amazon. By the end of June, the date was extended once again, with a new anticipated release of July 31, 2024.
Cancellation of Pre-Orders: As the July release date came and went without the book being available, pre-orders were canceled. This led to significant backlash from fans, who felt frustrated by the repeated delays and lack of a definitive release date.
Current Status: As of early August, Burn of the Everflame still does not have an official release date. Fans are hopeful for a resolution, but there has been no new update on when the book might be published.

Challenges Facing Indie Authors

Penn Cole’s situation reflects some of the common struggles faced by indie authors. Without the extensive resources of a major publishing house, Cole handles much of the work herself, which can lead to delays. The rapid success of her previous books and the pressure to meet fan expectations may also contribute to the delays.

Despite these challenges, Cole’s engagement with her audience and transparency about the issues are aspects that many readers appreciate. Here’s hoping the release of Burn of the Everflame is worth the wait!

Ikigai Book Review: 5 reasons why you should read this book

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:18:14 +0000

For those who find joy in the pages of a good book, the reasons to pick up a new read are endless.

In this article, we will delve into the reasons why you should pick Ikigai as your read this week.

For those who have read this book, they certainly will not mind picking it up from the shelf once again, but this article is particularly for those who want to read Ikigai but are doubtful about whether to give in their time and money to buy this absolutely amazing book.

Well, the Japanese concept of Ikigai in literary terms means – something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living.

The book majorly revolves around providing the simplest of simple “secrets” of life which helps in longevity, and while the book takes major adoption from Japanese well-being, it also proves with certain interviews how there are people over 100 years of age living easily without any aged pain or body issues.

The book’s major attraction is the vein diagram figure with the title Ikigai – where it shows how –

Passion, Mission, Profession, and Vocation have a similar pattern when these four questions come into play:

1. What are you Good at?
2. What you can be Paid For?
3. What the world Needs?
4. What you Love?

5 Reasons why you should read Ikigai:

To keep the reasons short and crisp, here is why you should give it a read:

1. It helps you find purpose in life.
2. It tells you how you can manage to live happily and without illness if you adopt certain habits in how you eat, how you think, and how your daily activity is surrounded.
3. It simply asks you to keep moving in life.
4. Ikigai has basic food lists which suggest how, by adapting these basic lifestyles, the Japanese people, especially in Okinawa, live longer.
5. It gives an intuitive approach to overall health.

My favorite quote from the book Ikigai:

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”

Reviews of Ikigai over the internet:

Goodreads: 3.9/5
Amazon: 4.5/5
Flipkart: 4.6/5

5 best jobs to start your career after 12th Grade

Shukrta Vaigankar — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 07:31:29 +0000

The 12th grade is a very crucial year for the students. For many students, 12th grade is the year they apply to colleges or universities for further studies. But many children also face difficulties as they are now confused about what career path they wish to take.

In many educational systems, 12th grade culminates in final exams or assessments that can heavily impact a student’s academic record and future opportunities. It is one of the typical years students need to fulfil any remaining graduation requirements, such as completing a certain number of credits or passing specific courses, etc.

The final year of high school marks a transition to adulthood for many students. They may be making decisions about their future careers, further education, or other life paths.

Besides that, for those students who have struggled in earlier years, 12th grade is often their last chance to improve and get the best academic records before applying to colleges or entering the workforce.

Choosing a job after completing 12th grade can be a huge decision and a very challenging one in terms of shaping your future. Here are 5 job alternatives to explore after completing 12th grade.

1. Engineering

Pursuing a career in engineering offers various opportunities in fields such as mechanical, electrical, civil, computer science, and more. Engineering is a dynamic and evolving field that provides opportunities for innovation, problem-solving, and technological advancement.

2. Medicine and Healthcare

If you have a passion for helping others and an interest in science, then a career in medicine and healthcare could be a rewarding choice. You can pursue undergraduate degrees in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, or other allied health professions. These fields offer opportunities for specialisation and making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

3. Business Management and Administration

A career in business management and administration offers opportunities for leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic decision-making. You can pursue undergraduate degrees in business administration, management, finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship. These fields provide a solid foundation for building a successful career in various industries, such as finance, consulting, marketing, and human resources.

4. Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science

With the rapid growth of technology and digitalization, careers in information technology and computer science are in high demand. One can pursue degrees in computer science, software engineering, and information technology. or such related fields. Jobs in IT offer opportunities for innovation, creativity, and problem-solving in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.

5. Hospitality and Tourism

If you have an interest in travel, hospitality, and customer service, a career in hospitality and tourism will just be right for you! as it can be a fulfilling choice to go for. You can pursue degrees or diplomas in hotel management, tourism management, culinary arts, or hospitality management. Careers in hospitality offer opportunities to work in hotels, resorts, restaurants, event management companies, and travel agencies, and in some instances, they also allow you to work in foreign countries.

These are just a few examples and suggestions of career options available after completing 12th grade. It is important to explore your interests, skills, and career goals to make an informed decision about the best path for you. You may also consider seeking guidance from career counsellors, mentors, or professionals in your desired field to help you make the right choice for your future.

Overall, 12th grade is a crucial time for students as well as parents as they prepare to transition to the next phase of their lives, whether that involves higher education, entering the workforce, or seeking other opportunities.

From Sara Ali Khan to Ali Khan: Let’s have a look at the Bollywood celebs’ book recommendations

Sheetal Choudhary — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:58:06 +0000

Good news for all the book lovers who watch out for interesting book recommendations. You all have got a chance to rejoice as we have curated a list of your favourite actors and their liked books. From Sara Ali Khan to Alia Bhatt, let’s have a look at the Bollywood celebs and the books that they cherished reading, which will be a help to you as well.

1. Sara Ali Khan

Sara Ali Khan is keen on reading and often shares pictures of her current reads on her Instagram account. She spent her 2023 Paris vacation reading Marianne Eloise’s novel Obsessive Intrusive Magical Thinking.

2. Pooja Hegde

Pooja Hegde shared a picture with Haruki Murakami’s famous 1987 novel Norwegian Wood. She captioned the picture by writing, “Murakami, you make me cry.. you brilliant, twisted, beautiful, soul-provoking GENIUS.” The book is a masterpiece in itself and a good way to explore Murakami’s literature.

3. Twinkle Khanna

Twinkle Khanna is a bookworm indeed. She keeps sharing snaps of her current reads and sharing book recommendations. Twinkle is an actor turned writer and launched her book recently, which is titled, “Welcome to Paradise.” She recently shared a post with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel Independence.

4. Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone is an ace actress and has been an inspiration to many. In an interview, she once revealed that her all-time favourite book is ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khalid Hosseini.

5. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is a book person and is fond of reading varied genres of books. She also shares some insights from her reading routine on her social media account. Her favourite novels are Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Shyam by Devdutt Pattanaik.

6. Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt is an avid reader and keeps sharing her love for novels with her fans. The actress owns a YouTube channel and while answering fans’ questions, a netizen has asked her if she would like to recommend a book. It’s when the actress suggested When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

If you liked these recommendations, stay tuned for more such updates at Business Upturn.

From Colleen Hoover to Twisted Series: Books that are in hype in the bookstagram community

Dixita Hazarika — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:06:46 +0000

Bookstagram community, which is a community of the bibliophiles on Instagram, is all about sharing book reviews, aesthetic pictures of books, opinions on authors etc.

It’s a place where you will find books being hyped to such an extent that you will be forced to buy the books. That’s how much it influences you. Yes, even I, under the bookstagram influence end up buying books, which later on, for me doesn’t live up to the hype.

So, here are some of the books that are really really hyped by the bookstagram community.

Books by Collen Hoover

Hyped up books and no Collen Hoover? That can not happen. The bookstagram community hypes up the Collen Hoover books so much that if you haven’t read any of them, you will see with a surprised look ( yes, the community can get toxic sometimes). Two of her most hyped books include “It ends with us” (so obvious right) and also its sequel, ” It starts with us” (like Duh!)

A lot of the readers loved them while others didn’t. For me personally, these two books didn’t live up to the hype. Also in some of her books, trauma is kind of romanticized because of which they are a “no no” for me. But yes, there are people who enjoy reading them because it’s “fiction” but yeah, her books didn’t live up to the hype for me.

The Twisted Series

The Twisted Series, by Ana Huang is another book series which is really hyped by the community. The Twisted series have 4 books : Twisted Love, Twisted Games, Twisted Hate and Twisted Lies. The book tropes that you will find in this series are : grumpy×sunshine, enemies to lovers , brother’s best friend and fake dating.

Personally, this is one of my favourite romance book series. I mean there’s Alex Volkov, Josh Chen, Rhys Larsen and CHRISTIANN HARPERRR, I mean what’s not to like here right.

Men who burn down the world for their women and give ” Touch her and die vibes” yes that’s everyone’s fav trope and it makes it a 5 star read already. So yes, I feel this book series is definitely worth the hype.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I am pretty sure if you are a reader, you have got the news of ‘AGGTM’ coming on screen. Well, I would really suggest reading the books first. Trust me, you are going to get addicted to this series. A Female main character who solves a muder case as her school project which the police couldn’t, this series is also going to show the sides of Pip, you didn’t even imagine in your wildest dreams. So yes, you can surely give this series a try. For me, it did live up to the hype and is one of my fav series.

The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Ninth House is a dark academia vibe, fantasy book. It’s about a drop out student who can see ghosts and is now in a mysterious university holding a lot of secrets in its walls. This book is in my TBR and I guess I would be reading it towards the spooky season because of its vibe obviously. But yes, this book is all around bookstagram and one of the hyped books.

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Riley Sager’s books are well known because of their thriller genre. This book is well known among the community who likes to read thriller. It is about a girl who takes a lift from a stranger from college to return to her home. Meanwhile there’s a serial killer around the campus killing people. And she during her journey starts worrying if she trusted the wrong person and if he might be a killer. So, if you love thriller, you can definitely check this book out.

So these were some of the books that the bookstagram/booktok community keeps talking about and you will most probably see these books in everyone’s profile. So do give them a try. Happy reading !

Top 5 Books by Sudha Murthy – Check it out

Sakshi Dhyani — Mon, 29 May 2023 08:37:05 +0000

In a world full of technology and Social Media, sometimes we all need a little break to ground ourselves and connect ourselves with solitude and peace, giving rest to only our bodies, and eyes, but also our minds. And what can be better than grabbing a little book, with maybe a cup of coffee or tea, near a window or out in nature, and enjoying the moment, the present time? Books are indeed one of the greatest companions of the human breed. As said by the writer Oscar Wilde, “With Freedom, Flowers, Moon and Books, who could not be happy?”.

And a good book is far more special and beautiful than its content craved in pages that are glued together with two covers as the door to their world. A good book is like a mirror which reflects the imagination and beauty of the mind that the author possesses. Just like a video camera, which records beautiful things, a book records the beauty that resides inside a person’s mind. As they also say, “If you want to know a person, try to know about their favourite Books”.

And one such amazing gifted Author that our country has, is Sudha Murthy, 72 years old, an Indian author who has given birth to many amazing and mind-blowing books.

So here are the top 5 books by Sudha Murthy that every Book lover should read:-

1) The Magic of The Lost Temple.

The Magic of the Lost Temple is an Adventure-fiction book, which follows the curious character of a girl named Nooni, who is amazed by her lifestyle in her grandparent’s house. She engages herself in many fun activities such as Papad making, taking walks in nature, and making new friends. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she founds a very old step well.

The Magic Of The Lost Temple** https://amzn.eu/d/4OEUTT8

2) How I Taught my Grandmother to Read.

“How I taught my Grandmother to Read” is a wholesome and inspiring story of an old uneducated lady called ‘Krishtakka’, which decided to learn to read and write.

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read: And Other Stories [Paperback] Sudha Murty https://amzn.eu/d/aNiRZVj

3) Mother I Never Knew

“Mother I Never Knew” is a book that once you start reading, will become hard for you to put down. The book follows a character called Mukesh, who is shocked to know that he is adopted, after his father’s death. To find his true identity and biological mother, Mukesh starts a journey to find the answers to his questions, however, he is confused if he should be loyal to the mother who has been with him since his childhood, or the mother who he never knew.

Mother I Never Knew, The: Two Novellas https://amzn.eu/d/1Oeazon

4) Grandma’s Bag of Stories

Sudha Murty’s “Grandma’s Bag of Stories” is the perfect gift for all the story listeners and their parents or grandparents who are assigned the duty of reciting a story to the kids in the house.

The book is a compilation of different and fun stories by a grandmother who recites them for her 7-year granddaughter.

Grandma’s Bag of Stories: Collection of 20+ Illustrated short stories, traditional Indian folk tales for all ages for children of all ages by Sudha Murty [Paperback] Sudha Murty https://amzn.eu/d/7M3lmML

5) Wise or Otherwise.

Sudha Murty’s “Wise or Otherwise” is not just any other book, but a journey of Sudha’s experiences during her travels around entire India. The book will make its readers understand different emotions, which are the direct result of different circumstances.

Wise and Otherwise: A salute to Life [Paperback] Sudha Murty https://amzn.eu/d/74nR2L1

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn4YO8YPoU8/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcozbnJBcP/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

From Frustration to Bestseller: How a Tenth-Grader Wrote His Own Java Programming Textbook

News Desk — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:43:17 +0000

In a remarkable achievement, a tenth-grade student from Mumbai has written a bestselling book on Java programming. Hitarth Mahajan’s book “ICSE Computer Applications in Java Step-By-Step” has become a national bestseller on Amazon, reaching the top of the charts in multiple categories on Amazon’s Kindle store in less than a week of its launch.

The aim of this book is to assist students in preparing for Indian Certificate in Secondary Education (ICSE) computer applications exams by utilizing a programming pedagogy that provides extensive practice. The book’s conversational and easy language creates a positive and enjoyable learning experience for students studying computer applications in Java. The book strictly adheres to the ICSE 2023 syllabus provided by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and is immensely beneficial for students who are preparing for ICSE board exams.

This new and refreshing textbook offers readers a range of programming strategies, a Java coding guide, and an extensive collection of previous year’s ICSE questions, making it one of the most comprehensive resources available on the subject. The book’s companion website (www.icsejava.in) offers solutions to problems given in the book, additional study material, interesting videos, and relevant articles.

As an ICSE student and skilled programmer himself, the author identified a gap in the market for a new book on ICSE Computer Applications. He noticed that many of the popular textbooks focusing on the ICSE Computer Applications curriculum lacked adequate practice questions and a practical problem-solving approach, which prompted him to write this book. No wonder the book has become an instant hit among students and educators alike.

Each year more than 2.3 lakh candidates from over 2,500 schools across the country and abroad appear for the ICSE board exam. Computer Applications is a Group-III elective in the ICSE curriculum and is a popular subject among students in which they strive to score 100% marks. As the ICSE board exam on Computer Applications is scheduled to take place on 23rd March this year, the publication of this book has been timed perfectly for students who are preparing to appear for the exam.

The book has received rave reviews from students, educators, and programming experts, with many praising it for its clear and concise writing style, as well as its actionable programming tips. “The book is full of knowledge and the concepts of Java programming language are explained by the author very deeply”, said one reader. “The most comprehensive book on Java for ICSE. It has an updated question bank.”, said another reader in his Amazon review.

The success of the book has taken Hitarth by surprise. “I never expected the book to do so well,” he said. “I’m thrilled that so many students are finding it helpful.” The author credits the book’s success to the power of word-of-mouth marketing. “I have been amazed by how many readers have recommended the book to their friends and family,” he said. “It is really gratifying to know that my work is having an impact.”

The success of the book is a testament to the growing popularity of computer books in India focused on enhancing the learning of K-12 students, particularly in the digital age. The computer programming learning market for K-12 students in India is experiencing rapid growth, as more and more parents and educators recognize the importance of teaching coding and programming skills to young learners.

The Indian education system has undergone significant reforms in recent years, with a greater emphasis being placed on STEM education. As a result, there has been an increased focus on programming and coding in schools across the country, leading to a greater demand for programming books that align with the curriculum.

With the rise in demand for K-12 programming books in India and the rise of successful young coders as role models, computer programming book authors like Hitarth have been able to reach a wider audience than ever before.

According to the author, one of the factors contributing to the success of the book is its availability in e-book format, which makes it more affordable and accessible to a broader audience.

Hitarth, a student of Smt. RSB Arya Vidya Mandir Juhu in Mumbai, is not only an expert in several programming languages like Python, C++, and Java and winner of several coding contests, but also volunteers as an online programming instructor and has catalyzed computer literacy of hundreds of underprivileged students across India. He has drawn on his years of experience in learning and teaching computer science to create a book that is both inspiring and practical.

The book is available on Amazon’s Kindle store in 12 countries, and Hitarth is already working on his second book. “I am excited to see where this journey takes me,” he said. “I feel like I am just getting started.”

To buy the book, please visit https://amzn.to/3JbwEdw

5 inspiring books written by India’s former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam you should are must read

Sanga Basu — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 04:43:58 +0000

The 11th president of India, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam is one of the most influential personalities for the young generation. ‘The Missile Man of India’ has written several books for the youth to take charge for the development of their country, just as he did.

Here are the top 5 books of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam that everyone should read:-

1) Wings of Fire:-

The autobiography of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is more awe inspiring than any fiction. The real story of how the youngest son of a boatman of Rameshwaram became the Missile man of India is described in this book. Every student irrespective of their caste creed religion and race will be inspired to do something for the good of nation after reading this book. Young generation should be reading this book mandatorily.

2) Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges:-

It is the sequel of Wings of Fire. Kalam has described his experience as a president. It has been sold more than 3 lakhs copies. It was published in 2012.

3) Ignited Minds:-

It is also a must read for young students. In this book Kalam shared some of his most remarkable memories that can influence the youth. He also discussed some of the major issues India mast combat and how how the young generation can take charge of the solutions. This book was published in 2002.

4) Indomitable Spirit:-

this book is enough alone to motivate every reader across the globe to do something great respective of their current situation. The valuable thoughts of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam that we read in the book teach us that if a person wills, he can conquer any obstacle change his destiny.

5) INDIA 2020: a vision for the new Millennium:-

In this book Kalam gave statistical proofs for his belief that India would be considered a developed country by 2020. He gave examples of various successful events that the country had visited so far. Kalam also gives detailed action plan to make this dream come true. It’s also very stimulating for the young generation who wants to participate in taking his country forward.

New book Baobab Diaries by Leena Sagar encompasses a fascinating journey of African baobab trees in western India

Smriti Jaisinghani — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 12:12:21 +0000

‘Baobab Diaries: Exploring Baobab Trees of Western India’ is a photo book cum travelogue about the iconic African baobab trees which are also found in India. With a lifespan of more than a thousand years and trunk girths of up to 25 metres, these are truly gigantic and enigmatic trees, also identified as the legendary ‘Kalpavriksha’ in some places.

Fascinated by a chance sighting in late 2018 of one such huge baobab tree in Mumbai, the author Leena Sagar—who is neither a botanist nor a photographer—set off with a camera on an exciting journey of exploring baobab trees across Western India. Enjoy the trail of this living heritage, stunning photos, facts, folklore and more and learn about the benefits of this ‘Tree of Life’ from the book.

Released by Notion Press, the book is available on Amazon and Flipkart.

Sakal Publications releases two books Dilkhulas and Chef’s Diary by veteran journalist Pooja Samant

Smriti Jaisinghani — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:55:56 +0000

Sakal Publications, a well-known media house, has recently published two new genre books.

One is Dilkhulas, which focuses on the journey of some of the most-renowned Bollywood personalities including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Shabana Azmi, Parikshit Sahani, Vidya Balan, Tapsee Pannu, Padmini Kolhapure, Kalpana Iyer, Anu Agarwal and Bisbeet Chatterjee. The beauty of this book is that it shows stars as their real self, without make-up and as normal people minus the stardom aura.

The second book is Chef’s Diary. This one is a chronicle of India’s who’s who chefs and their success stories. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Ranvir Brar, Chef Vikas Khanna, Pankaj Bhadoriya, Nilesh Limaye, Prashant Sabne, Rishim Sachdeva, Shipra Khanna, Varun Inamdar, Sandeep Kad, Himanshu Taneja, Harpal Singh Sodhi, Parag Joglekar, Viraj Shenoy, Shantanu Gupte and others feature in this one.

Both the books have been authored by veteran journalist Pooja Samant, who has worked in journalism and the media industry for more than 35 years. The books are in Marathi. They are available on Amazon as well as in book stores.

“Stories will tell you how it needs to be told”- Author Reshma Joly, as she talks about her books and a new venture

Disha Deepa Jani — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:25:41 +0000

Born in 1998 in Tamil Nadu and brought up in Cochin, Reshma Joly is a force to be reckoned with. She began writing from a very young age, penning short stories and maintaining a diary. At the age of ten, she was published by Young World, a children’s supplement by The Hindu which she used to cut out as fuel to see her more of her own work in print.
At college, she founded a zine which acted as a crash course in independent publishing for the author. A toxic relationship around the same time made writing cathartic; the collection of poems she wrote at the time would later be published as her first book, ‘Salty Blues’. The illustrated book became popular among the heartbroken because it understood them and it helped them heal.

But she soon realized that people were eager to slot her as a poet when she had no interest in labels. Within two months, she wrote and published an erotica, ‘This Time’ inspired by her life in Germany. This book, the author believes, surpassed the first one in terms of numbers because of the language. The descriptions of love-making were subtle and poetic and not explicit as other erotic books tend to be. It was also real because it touched upon body hair and performance anxiety relating to sex.
And if you thought she writes only about relationships, you thought wrong because her upcoming book is inspired by Indian mythology. If you thought she can only write, you are wrong again. Because she has a YouTube channel where she serves perspectives on diverse topics. Ask her who she is and she will tell you that she is a story teller, strongly believing that a story will tell you how it needs to be told. With this in mind, she founded the company R. Joly WOR(L)DS rooted in story-telling across narrative and form.

Through words, she hopes to create worlds in which we can either lose our self or find our self in. She calls this as her purpose in life: to be a lighthouse. A guiding light to safety.

8 best fantasy novels that you must read

Vaishnavi Mishra — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 07:03:16 +0000

A book is considered to be the best friend of any human. Whereas novels can take you into completely different world of beautiful stories, characters, plot, thoughts and most prior engaging world of literature. A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, normally written in prose form, and which is typically published as a book. Many people came up with this new addiction of novels where they are addicted to reading novels for hours. a novel has various domains of interests ranging from crime, horror to romance, while today fantasy novels are more engaging and evoking.

Fantasy novels is a literature set in a imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. These are more profound by children and adults. Across the globe, fantasy novels are creating much popularity and readers. From harry potter to The Lord of the Rings, here’s a list of best 8 fantasy novels you should read now.

Harry Potter

Harry potter is a series of seven fantasy novels by J.K Rowling. The story revolves around young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The story is about Harry’s struggle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic and subjugate all wizards and Muggles. This is a much loved novels which will keep you engage throughout.

The Lord of the Rings

This is an obvious choice for many if you have read this interesting fantasy novel written by J R R Tolkien. This is a series of three adventurous novels. From homely beginnings in the Shire, a hobbit land reminiscent of the English countryside, the story ranges across Middle-earth, following the quest mainly through the eyes of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. The novel will be best for you if you love adventure.

The Name of the Wind

This is a heroic fantasy novel written by Patrick Rothfuss. The novel, told in Kvothe’s own voice, is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard, blowing their minds away.

Tigana

Tigana is a fantasy novel written by Guy Gavriel Kay. This fiction based novel will left you amazed with its amazing plot, characters and story line. The novel is set in a fictional world, in a region called the Peninsula of the Palm, which somewhat resembles renaissance Italy as well as the Peloponnese in shape.

Mistborn

Mistborn is an epic series of Fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. Vin is the main character in the novel Mistborn. She is a 16-year-old thief on the streets of Luthadel, the capital city of the Final Empire. The story revolves around her life as she comes into her own as one of the Mistborn, people who can use ingested metal particles to enhance their abilities, both mental and physical. The story will drive you into the world of supernatural power and is really exciting journey of series.

The Last Unicorn

Another best fantasy novel in the list is The Last Unicorn written by American author Peter S. Beagle. The story revolves around the tale of a unicorn. She believes that she the last of her kind in the world and undertakes a quest to discover what has happened to the others.

The Eye of the world

This is a high fantasy english novel by famous American author Robert Jordan. The story revolves around around protagonists Rand al’Thor, Matrim (Mat) Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, Egwene al’Vere, and Nynaeve al’Meara, after their residence of “Emond’s Field” is unexpectedly attacked by Trollocs and a Myrddraal intent on capturing Rand, Mat, and Perrin. They all then decides to save their village from further attack. The novel has many twist and turns which will engage you throughout.

A Game of Thrones

R.R. Martin most renowned and accoladed work A Games of Thrones is a masterpiece in the world of fantasy novels. It is the first novel in the series of fantasy novel A song of Ice and Fire. A Game of Thrones revolves around events from various points of view, Martin introduces the plot-lines of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens. The novel has inspired several spin-off works, including several games.

Greatest reformers of Indian society: People who brought social revolution

Shravan Kanade — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 12:30:49 +0000

Social reform is a powerful attempt that seeks to change or correct any preexisting injustice or malpractice. It is a gradual process for positive change. India has a very rich and diverse cultural society. Some of the oldest civilisations of the world took place near the banks of its great rivers. Since India is culturally rich and diverse, there are many rituals and practices performed in the different regions by the people of India, hence with lots of good there existed some malpractices, that were corrected by the great reformers.

Here are some of the greatest reformers in the history of India:

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Bharat Ratna Babasahab Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is known as one of the greatest Social reformers of India, he was a jurist, economist, academic , politician, anthropologist, and writer. Dr. Ambedkar was born in the town of Mhow (M.P.) on 14 April 1891. Ambedkar’s family was a poor Dalit family, his father was in British military. Since childhood he faced caste based discrimination. He was not allowed to sit inside the classroom and drink water from the water vessel of his school, this task was performed by a peon of that school, he faced discrimination because of his caste. Thus he decided to work for the upliftment of the Dalits and untouchables.

He established an institution “Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha” intended to promote socio-economic welfare of depressed castes. By 1927 Ambedkar launched movements against untouchability. He fought for Dalits to enter in Hindu temple . he condemned the Vedic text “Manusmriti” and burned copies of it on 25 December , celebrated as Manusmriti Dahan Din.

As he drafted the great constitution of India, he also drafted some special provisions for the lower castes , for their upliftment. He is remembered for his great works and fight against discrimination.

Jyotiba Phule : Jyotirao Phule was a great social reformer who worked for the education of women and lower castes. they worked for the social equality for women and Dalits . He was born in 11^th April 1827 in the Mali known for the gardening work traditionally . At the age of 21 he visited a Christian missionaries girls school, and he decided to educate women and lower castes. Jyotiba first educated his wife Savitribai Phule and then established a school for women education.

Jyotiba worked for women remarriage and started an orphanage for the kids of widow women. Phule establishe Satya Shodhak Samaj and worked against the caste based discrimination and untouchability.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy : Raja Ram Mohan Roy worked for against the practices such as Sati Pratha and Bal Vivah. Roy was a Bengali scholar , he had great knowledge of English, Sanskrit, Arbi, Persian , Latin and Greek. He was the founder of Bramho Sambha . Mughal king Akbar –II honored him by the title of RAJA.

Brahmo Samaj believes in the existence of One Supreme God — “a God, endowed with a distinct personality & moral attributes equal to His nature, and intelligence befitting the Author and Preserver of the Universe,” and worship Him alone.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha to fight the social evils and demerits, and to propagate social and educational reforms in India. He was the man who fought against superstitions, a pioneer in Indian education, and a trend setter in Bengali Prose and Indian press.

These were the few from many great Social Reformers of Indian society. Although there are many good cultures and practices among the people of India , but there are some bad practices too.. we hope from the future to honour our society with such great people again.

5 Books for beginners to build reading habit and enjoy classic novels simultaneously

News Desk — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:07:34 +0000

The biggest problem with building a reading habit is that we want to read the epic on the first day! Imagine asking a kid from kinder garden to solve 10th standard Maths. People don’t understand that building any habit requires small steps and consistently taking those small steps every day. Therefore, we need to take baby steps in beginning and start with some light reading. So, here’s a list of books for beginners to develop a strong reading habit.

1. Animal Farm by George Orwell: A perfect book for beginners to start with. It is a classic novella and a political satire by George Orwell. It is a microcosm of the political situation of its time but, don’t worry you won’t find boring history lessons in it. However, it is an interesting story of a farm where a rebellion is started by animals against humans. Unfortunately, they fail and Napolean, who is a pig (literally) becomes the dictator.

Page Count: 115 Approx.

2. The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway: One of the famous works of the Nobel Laureate Hemingway, ‘The Old Man And The Sea’ has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953. It revolves around Santiago, who is an old fisherman in Cuba and his struggle with a huge Marlin far away in the sea. Well, it is interesting than it sounds.

Page Count: 130 Approx.

3. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White: It is a children’s novel and you might have seen movies based on the book. Okay, it is a children’s novel but great for beginners. So, don’t let your ego come in between your growth. It is about a barn spider named Charlotte who tries to save a pig from being slaughtered.

Page Count: 190 Approx.

4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: You must have seen the 2013’s film adaption of the novel starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This novel is set in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ and is all about the American dream.

Page Count: 215 Approx.

5. Swami and Friends by R. K. Narayan: A rather long novel than others in the list, Swami and Friends’ English is simple, which makes it a perfect fit for this list. This novel is the first novel of a trilogy and set in British India. The novel explores the colonial exploitation through the everyday stories of Swami.

Page Count: 460 Approx.

So, these were the 5 best books for beginners to help them build a reading habit with some classic novels too. You can try a little harder text after finishing reading or whenever you feel you’re ready.

All the best!

7 best selling novels that you must read

News Desk — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 12:22:28 +0000

“A novel is a direct impression of life.” – Henry James

Books have always been a part of our lives. We have been reading the tales of fiction and non-fiction ever since we were children. Books have been there in the loneliest of our times and proved to be a constant. Ever since the dawn of literature, different book and different tale tangled different emotions , such as, love, happiness, sadness, excitement, fear, etc.

Different genre of books have touched different corners of heart of millions of people around the world. even in the era of digital world, where majority of population is drowned in video games and online streaming, there are still some people who find their solace in the aroma of an old book, sniffing and reading it with a cup of chai.

To honor and glorify this art and creativity, we have curated a 7 step adventure. Step up and take a wild ride into the roots of imagination and mind.

Here are the best 7 novels that you must read-

TO KILL THE MOCKINGBIRD: the unforgettable novel of a childhood in sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into Academy Award-winning film, also a classic. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird, unveils the most prominent human behavior. One must read this book to take a wild ride into the roots of human behavior

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis, published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. It is the first published and best known of a series of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia. Among all the author’s books, it is also the most widely held in libraries. it was published on 16 October, 1950.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen in 1813. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. Its humor lies in its honest depiction of manners, education, marriage, and money during the Regency era in Great Britain.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone by J. K. Rowling, the first book from the series of seven books. We all love Harry Potter and know of his journey and this is considered as one of the biggest young adult books of all time. Philosopher’s stone introduces us to the beloved Harry Potter, his friends Ron and Hermione, Professor Dumbledore, the wizarding School and Lord Voldemort. The book has been translated into 80 languages and has been made into an 8 part series films which has in total earned 7.7 billion dollars, the books in themselves have sold more than 500 million copies, all together.

THE LITTLE PRINCE: The Little Prince is a novella by French aristocrat, writer, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It was first published in English and French in the US by Reinal & Hitchcock in April 1943, and posthumously in France following the liberation of France as Saint-Exupery’s works had been banned by the Vichy Regime. it represents the free mind of children and their constant urge to ask questions. It is published in 300 languages and over 1.2 billions copies have been sold.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy book by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the world at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 children’s book The Hobbit, but eventually developed into a much larger work.It is an epic fantasy novel that tells the story of a quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. The opening lines to the readers read “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”. It has converted the book into a multi-million dollar earning movie series with the same name.

DON QUIXOTE: The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, or just Don Quixote, is a Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It was published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615. A founding work of Western literature, it is often labeled “the first modern novel” and many authors consider it to be the best literary work ever written. the book has sold 500 million copies worldwide . The story follows Alonso Quijano, who proves that chivalry will in fact never die. Originally it was seen as a parody of the chivalric romances.

Scientists view New imaging test decodes how lungs are damaged by severe COVID-19

News Desk — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 11:19:45 +0000

The using of novel technique has enabled the high resolution imaging of damaged lung tissues, the scientist have foundthe consequeces of severe COVID-19 in the structure of the organ’s blood vessels and air sacs, findings that may support the development of new treatment methods against the disease.

According to the study, published in the journal eLife, the scientist have innovated new X-ray technique which has led to high resolution and three-dimensional imaging of lung tissue infected with novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The researchers from the University of Gottingen in Germany, used new method and noticed significant changes in the blood vessels, inflammation, and the deposition of protein and dead cells on the walls of lungs tiny air sacs called alveoli.

These make the gas exchange by the organ either difficult or impossible. According to the scientists, it is the first time when we are able to visualised the changes that are taking place in larger tissue volumes, without cutting and staining, or damaging the tissue with the new imaging approch.

They said further that its well suited for tracing blood vessels and their branches in three dimensions, localising cells of the immune systems present at inflammation sites and measuring the thickness of the alveolar walls.

The researcher are of view that data could also be used to simulate gas exchange in the organ due to the three dimensional reconstruction of the lung tissues. Since X-ray penetrate deep into tissue, the scientist can use to study the relation between the microscopic tissue structure and the larger function of organ.

“Based on this first proof -of-concept study, we propose multi-scale phase contrast X-ray tomography as a tool to unravel the pathophysiology of COVID-19,” the researchers wrote in the study.

The scientist are of view that this technique development will allow the treatment and medicine to prevent severe lung damage on COVID-19 or to promote recovery.

“It is only when we can clearly see and understand the process of the happening, so that we cqn develop the targeted interventions and drugs,” said Danny Jonigk, a coauthor of the study from Medical University Hannover in Germany.