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Language Of The Immortals: A Concise History Of Sanskrit
Sanskrit has long been celebrated as one of the building blocks of Indian civilization, and is venerated in temples, scriptures, and classical literature. In Language of the Immortals, renowned scholar and critic G. N. Devy uncovers the astounding paradox of Sanskrit—an ancient language that shaped Indian thought, philosophy, and identity for millennia, yet was never truly a language of the people. With rigorous scholarship, Devy dismantles enduring myths and offers a revealing commentary on Sanskrit’s historical and cultural trajectory. He shows how it achieved unsurpassed prestige not through conquest or commerce, but sheer intellectual brilliance. He explores the way in which Sanskrit shaped intellectual life across centuries, influenced cultures beyond India, and maintained its prestige through the oral tradition and spiritual symbolism rather than the patronage of the state. This concise yet profound work reimagines what it means for a language to live on—long after it has ceased to be spoken.
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The Mysterious World Of Tigers: A Book Of Discovery
The world of the tiger, the most charismatic animal in the Indian jungle, remains shrouded in mystery despite centuries of research and observation. In this book, tiger expert Valmik Thapar, who studied the big cat in Ranthambore for fifty years, provides startling insights into how tigers behave in the wild. Through closely observed portraits of tigers like Padmini, the doting mother; Genghis, the master predator; Noon, the amorous tigress; and Broken Tooth, her suitor, the author explains little understood aspects of tiger behaviour such as how they raise their young, learn how to hunt, conduct courtship rituals, and mate. Taken together, his findings bring India’s national animal to new and startling life.
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Stories Of Words & Phrases
Have you ever been in a situation where the cat got your tongue, or you let the green-eyed monster get the better of you? Have you ever tried to keep up with the Joneses or collapsed in stitches when you heard something hilarious? What is the common thread binding the words safari, orange and algebra? And did you know the word Bluetooth was coined long before the smartphone’s invention, or that a British nobleman, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, lent his name to a popular food item? From the Persian roots of ‘khaki’ to the Shakespearean sass behind ‘crocodile tears’, this book is your backstage pass to discovering the at once fascinating, strange and amusing histories of the popular words and phrases we use every day, though mostly without pausing to reflect on their etymology. Linguistic sleuth Sumanto Chattopadhyay peels back the layers of language and takes us on a rollicking ride to demystify the origins and meanings of common words and quirky idiomatic expressions that sometimes frustrate us—and get our goat—or sound Greek to us! Stories of Words and Phrases is the perfect read for word nerds, enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys language trivia rooted in rich cultural history drawn from various parts of the world. It’s elementary, my dear Watson—this book will make you laugh, learn and unlock the wordsmith in you.
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Tara: The Dream Chaser
Tara is a modern-day princess, but her life is no fairy tale. Born into Rajput royalty, she grows up under the weight of a neglectful father and a controlling mother. Love, always a butterfly just out of reach, becomes her deepest yearning. Determined to break free, Tara escapes a gilded prison and a loveless marriage, seeking a fresh start in the City of Dreams—Mumbai. There, she meets Kabir—a Bengali-French photographer who sees through her carefully built armour. With him, she begins to heal, to live, to love. Just as she dares to believe in a future, Vivan Mehta—Bollywood’s golden boy and irresistible enigma—pulls her into a whirlwind of passion and temptation, and a spotlight she never sought. But is it possible to really let go of the past?
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Answers to the Biggest Questions About Sanatan
How could Lord Ram abandon Sita? Why did Sita undergo the demeaning ordeal of agnipariksha? Why is Dev Rishi Narad so respected and adored? Why do Sanatan Gods behave like humans? These are just a few of the profound questions that have long intrigued people in India. Yet, without clear answers, they often lead to nothing more than superficial debates. This book delves into some of the most significant questions surrounding Sanatan Dharm. By exploring ancient texts such as the Mahabharat, Ramayan, Purans and more, it seeks to provide deep insights and offer thoughtful answers to these age-old queries, resolving key debates and issues within the tradition of Sanatan Dharm.
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Crossfire
'A master storyteller' Sunday Times 'No one does adventure quite like Smith' Daily Mirror 'Best historical novelist' Stephen King WILBUR SMITH RETURNS WITH A BRAND-NEW SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING WORLD WAR II THRILLER 1943. The tide of the Second World War is turning. The Russian victory at Stalingrad - the bloodiest battle in history - has opened the door for the Allies. Now, they must strike decisively at the heart of Hitler's Reich. But military success cannot be guaranteed without total secrecy. Special Operations Executive's Saffron Courtney is sailing from the west coast of Scotland to New York on the Queen Mary. Her mission - to identify the mole in the British Embassy in Washington, DC before Churchill and Roosevelt begin the talks that will determine British and American military strategy in the wake of the Russian victory. Haunted by the ghosts of her previous mission in the Low Countries, and with dangerous agents on her tail, Saffron must find the spy who could derail the Allied advance. Time is running out. Will Saffron complete her mission? Or will she succumb to the shadows of her past? A BRAND-NEW BOOK IN THE LONG-RUNNING EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY AND THE FOLLOW ON FROM WORLDWIDE BESTSELLERS COURTNEY'S WAR AND LEGACY OF WAR.
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The Secret Of Secrets
Robert Langdon is back in the long-awaited new race-against-time thriller from the global bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Accompanying celebrated academic, Katherine Solomon, to a lecture she’s been invited to give in Prague, Robert Langdon’s world spirals out of control when she disappears without trace from their hotel room. Far from home and well out of his comfort zone, Langdon must pit his wits against forces unknown to recover the woman he loves. But Prague is an old and dangerous city, steeped in folklore and mystery. For over two thousand years, the tides of history have washed back and forth over it, leaving behind echoes of everything that has gone before. Little can Langdon know that he is being stalked by a spectre from that dark past. He must use all of his arcane knowledge to decipher the world around him before he too is consumed by the rings of treachery and deception that have swallowed Katherine. Against a backdrop of vast castles, towering churches, graveyards buried twelve deep and labyrinthine underground passages, Langdon must navigate a shadow city hiding in plain sight, a city which has successfully kept its secrets for centuries and will not readily deliver them. This is a battlefield unlike any he has previously experienced, one on which he must fight not for his only life, but for the future of humanity itself.
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Madness in Mumbai: When Forty Gets Naughty
Until forty, Monica Singh never put a foot out of the line. And why would she? As a pampered socialite, wife of a rich businessman whose life had never taken her beyond the luxuries of Pali Hill and Mount Mary, she had almost everything she could ask for—except for love. And then her unfaithful husband leaves her for his baby-popping, business-tripling mistress, his company’s VP Sales ‘Luckshmi’, throwing her life and sense of self into disarray overnight. Abandoned by everyone she has ever known, Monica rediscovers her first love, photography, kick-starting a mad chain of events that sends her hurtling in a whirlwind through the streets of Mumbai. Navigating her way through tarot card readings, a gangster—sorry, social worker—romance, a kidnapping, a car chase, a murder plot, a surly policeman, a drug bust and more—will Monica be able to find herself at the end of it all? In all its hilarious, suspenseful, steamy and witty twists and turns, Madness in Mumbai will take you on a wild ride of self-discovery, passion and adventure that is only possible in a city like Mumbai.
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Sky Was Never The Limit : The story of Shubhanshu Shukla
First-ever biography of Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla From Lucknow to Low Earth Orbit: Sky Was Never the Limit follows the incredible journey of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—from a quiet, studious boy in the lanes of Lucknow to India’s astronaut aboard the International Space Station. No Legacy, Only Determination: Born into a modest family with no aviation background, Shukla carved his path through sheer discipline, academic brilliance, and fearless patriotism. Secret Dreams, Silent Grit: He secretly appeared for the NDA entrance exam and went on to become a decorated fighter pilot, test pilot, and eventually, India’s spacefarer. A Hero’s Inner Journey: This biography captures not just his professional milestones but the inner transformation of a boy who carried galaxies in his mind and chased them with unwavering resolve. A Nation’s Pride, A Billion Hopes: Brimming with drama, heart, and national pride, this is the story of a man who didn’t just touch space—but elevated the spirit of a billion Indians.
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A New History of India for Children: From Its Origins to the Twenty-first Century
In A New History of India for Children, award-winning historian Rudrangshu Mukherjee along with photographer–archivist Toby Sinclair and the late cultural historian Shobita Punja, tell the story of one of the oldest, most diverse countries in the world with simplicity and clarity. The book touches upon all the most important milestones in India’s history, from the first dinosaurs to roam its lands to the metro that snakes through its modern, metropolitan capital city. It begins in prehistory, billions of years ago, describing how the geography of India came to be what it is today, and traces the evolution of Indian civilization through key events and people. What began with the Harappan Culture grew and flourished under the Maurya and Gupta empires, was enriched by the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal empire, and went on to be colonized and exploited by the British Raj. Led to glorious Independence by stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel, India then suffered the heartbreak of Partition, before evolving into one of the world’s most powerful countries in the twenty-first century. This complete one-volume history for children, illustrated by maps and full-colour photographs, covers everything from lost cities and epic empires to colonial conquests and modern marvels. There’s something for every young reader in this fascinating account of India’s vibrant and eventful history.
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The Longest Game: The 5 Kasparov Karpov Matches for the World Chess Championship
One of the greatest rivalries in sports history. On 10 September 1984, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov started their match for the World Chess Championship in Moscow. The clash between the reigning champion and his brazen young challenger was highly anticipated, but no one could have foreseen what was in store. In the next six years they would play five matches for the highest title and create one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history. The matches lasted a staggering total of 14 months, and the two Ks played 5540 moves in 144 games. The first match became front-page news when after five months FIDE President Florencio Campomanes stepped in to stop the match for reasons that still remain mysterious. A new match was staged and 22-year-old Garry Kasparov became the youngest World Chess Champion in history. His win was not only hailed as a triumph of imaginative attacking chess, but also as a political victory. The representative of perestroika had beaten the old champion, a symbol of Soviet stagnation. Kasparov defended his title in three more matches, all of them full of drama. In The Longest Game Jan Timman chronicles the many twists and turns of this fascinating saga. He includes his behind-the scenes impressions and takes a fresh look at the games.
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The Syndicator
It ends where it begins. Four couples. Six books. One saga. Tristan and Morana. Dante and Amara. Alpha and Zephyr. Shadow Man and Lyla. The world is darker. The game more dangerous. The stakes much more deadly. A new era is born.
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The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath
The place will be of their choosing. The time will be of their choosing. But the Indians will have their vengeance. 1025 CE, India. Mahmud of Ghazni believes he has crushed the spirit of Bharat---the Shiva Linga at the Somnath temple lies shattered and thousands are dead. But among the ashes of destruction, an oath is taken. Five people---a Tamil warrior, a Gujarati merchant, a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, a scholar-emperor from Malwa, and the most powerful man on Earth, Emperor Rajendra Chola---resolve to undertake a perilous quest and strike at the heart of the invader's kingdom. From the grandeur of the Chola Empire to the shadows of Ghazni's bloodstained court, The Chola Tigers is the scintillating story of a fierce retaliation. A story of unity forged through pain, of courage born from despair, and of vengeance that becomes Dharma
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Bellevue
From the bestselling author and “master of the medical thriller”, Robin Cook, comes a new tale of suspense-horror about a first-year resident who experiences life-shattering visions that reveal the truth behind some of the greatest medical advances in the history of medicine. Twenty-four-year-old Michael “Mitt” Fuller starts his surgical residency with great anticipation at the nearly 300-year-old, iconic Bellevue hospital, following in the footsteps of four previous, celebrated Fuller generations. The pressure is on for this newly minted doctor, and to his advantage he’s always had a secret sixth sense, a sensitivity to the nonphysical which gradually plays a progressive role, especially as one patient after another assigned to his care begin to die from mysterious causes. As he struggles to find out why these people are dying while simultaneously having to deal with the unreasonable demands of being first-year resident, things rapidly spiral out of control. Between fatigue, stress, and nerves, it’s no wonder that these first few days and nights of his surgical residency are tough ones. What is surprising, though, are the visions that begin to plague Mitt – visions of a little girl in a blood-stained dress, hearing bloodcurdling screams in the distance, and worse. As bodies mount and Mitt’s stress level rises, he finds himself drawn into the secrets of the abandoned Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital building, which to his astonishment still exists, defying demolition a few doors north of the modern Bellevue Hospital high-rise. Forcing an unauthorized entry into this storied but scary structure, Mitt discovers he’s more closely tied to the sins of the past than he ever thought possible.
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For Richer For Poorer
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A loving mother and successful fashion designer struggles to keep her family together and her business afloat in this gripping novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel. After working as head designer for Oscar de la Renta, Eugenia Ward started her own company when she turned forty, fourteen years ago. She is now a major name in evening gowns and wedding gowns, ready-to-wear and haute couture. But with the fashion business in major downturn, she has recently suffered heavy losses, and Eugenia desperately needs new investors—and new ideas. At the same time, she is the matriarch and guiding light for her five adult children, a single mother for more than a decade, since her divorce from the spendthrift Italian prince she’d married young. As the family gathers for a summer vacation at a beach house, wedding plans for her daughter Gloria are ballooning in expense even as the loutish behavior of Gloria’s fiancé causes Eugenia to question her daughter’s judgment. Meanwhile, Gloria’s sister Daphne is due to deliver twins right around the wedding date . . . which is also very close make or break New York Fashion Week. The silver lining in it all may be meeting Patrick Hughes, a successful real estate developer who’s also going through a rough patch. A brilliant and creative businessman, Patrick gives her valuable advice about her business challenges. Eugenia finds friendship with Patrick sailing on his yacht and starts to imagine a new beginning, independent of her roles as mother and entrepreneur. But as the family gathers for the big wedding, tensions are running high, money may be running out, and a hurricane is looming on the horizon. Danielle Steel’s glamorous and gripping novel offers an inspiring portrait of a strong and determined woman who rises to meet life’s challenges with fortitude, creativity, and love.
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The Scandalous Kolovskys
Heiress and the Rebel Spirited young heiress Annika Kolovsky has gone from opulent ballrooms to the children's ward - what is this pampered princess playing at? Is she too interested in sexy Spaniard Ross Wyatt? Rich, Russian and Reckless in famous playboy Aleksi Kolovsky has stunned the world by getting engaged! But the ring on his PA's finger is just until the House of Kolovsky deeds are his. Aleksi told Kate to think of it as a promotion - to lover! Dark Vengeance Zakahr Belenki has clawed his way out of the gutters to seek revenge on the family that abandoned him. All that stands in his way is his secretary, Lavinia. Her refreshing honesty and passion make Zakahr's conscience waver.
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Flowers on the Path
A pragmatic mind may deem flowers unworthy of notice-devoid as they are of the nourishment and utility of fruit, leaf, bark and root. Yet these fragile and ephemeral blooms dare to flaunt the wonders of Nature. From heady fragrance to miraculous colours and intricate design, it is this spirited extravagance which draws, touches and inspires us in remarkable ways. A motley bouquet, the articles that comprise Flowers on the Path offer insights from Sadhguru that spark you with their incisive clarity, delight you with humour, or even render you in profound stillness within. Whether the subject covers social issues and worldly affairs, individual challenges, or dimensions of the beyond, Sadhguru's ability to delve to the root and look at life in all its totality is evident. As a flower can confound you with its brilliance and beauty, so too does each article hold the possibility to confuse you out of your conclusions, and pave the way towards true knowing.
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The Liar's Room
One room two liars no way out. The addictive new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of 'THE HOUSE'
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Library Of The Dead
A murderer is on the loose on the streets of New York City: nicknamed the Doomsday Killer, he's claimed six victims in just two weeks, and the city is terrified. Even worse, the police are mystified: the victims have nothing in common, defying all profiling, and all that connects them is that each received a sick postcard in the mail before they died - a postcard that announced their date of death. In desperation, the FBI assigns the case to maverick agent Will Piper, once the most accomplished serial killing expert in the bureau's history, now on a dissolute spiral to retirement. Battling his own demons, Will is soon drawn back into a world he both loves and hates, determined to catch the killer whatever it takes. But his search takes him in a direction he could never have predicted, uncovering a shocking secret that has been closely guarded for centuries. A secret that once lay buried in an underground library beneath an 8th Century monastery, but which has now been unearthed - with deadly consequences. A select few defend the secret of the library with their lives - and as Will closes in on the truth, they are determined to stop him, at any cost ...
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Life and Death of Sambhaji
It begins to dawn on the nine-year-old Sambhaji that his father has fled from the clutches of the Mughal Badshah Aurangzeb and left him behind. He must now find his way back home with the help of strangers . . . Under the shadow of an illustrious father, Sambhaji finds himself thrust into the Maratha-Mughal conflict from a tender age. His mistakes cost him dearly and when his father suddenly dies and he becomes the chhatrapati, it is as if he has inherited a crown of thorns. In the nine years that follow, he faces a constant battle-internally, as palace intrigues simmer to kill him, and externally, as Aurangzeb descends on the Deccan with full military force. Even Chhatrapati Shivaji had never faced a full-blown Mughal aggression. Will he be able to protect the Maratha nation and Swaraj that was his father's dream? Will he prove to be a worthy son to his father-in life as well as in death? History has been unfair to Sambhaji, but it can't deny that he inspired a generation of Maratha warriors, who eventually ensured the end of Aurangzeb's jihad.
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Maya Modi Azad : Dalit Politics in the Time of Hindutva
The Dalit political landscape in India offers a difficult analytical puzzle. The last decade has witnessed the decline of the Bahujan Samaj Party and identity politics, along with the shift of a section of Dalits towards the Bharatiya Janata Party and its redefined disadvantaged Hindutva, as well as protests by new Dalit organizations against atrocities and right-wing hegemony. Dalit politics today is thus marked by two contrasting trends: of political protest against but also electoral preference for the right wing. The story of how the Dalit discourse has responded to the changing socio-political context unfolds against this backdrop. Maya, Modi, Azad maps these shifts with a particular focus on Uttar Pradesh. It is the state where Mayawati, who sought to create a new 'umbrella party' with a Dalit core, and later, Narendra Modi, who attracted a section of Dalits into the saffron fold, have shaped Dalit politics over the last two decades. It is also where a new Dalit leader, Chandrashekhar Azad, is challenging both Hindutva hegemony and the BSP, and is attempting to revive the Dalit movement. Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar's astute and insightful analysis of this triangular contestation is significant for understanding not just Dalit but democratic politics in India as we head into what is likely to be a deeply divisive general election in 2024.
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Bridging Connections
An Anthology Of Sri Lankan Short Stories
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Mastermind India Volume 2
Questions And Answers From The BBC WORLD TV quiz Game
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The Second Hundred (1978-2016) Volume 2
A compilation of one hundred editorials of The Hindu chosen from the period 1878 to 1978 from its founding till its centenary presents a fascinating window to key events that have shaped the course of India's history