Lavender Orchids

26/11 BraveheartAuthor: Praveen K. TeotiaPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4/5 Brave men rejoice in adversity just like the brave soldiers triumph in war. One of the deadliest attacks on India is still the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. The eerie silence of the night was penetrated by some ear-piercing sounds that not only left the listeners aghast but also made them bleed. Who could be better at narrating the minute-by-minute experience of what went into getting the situation under control meanwhile putting so many lives at stake than the person who witnessed this massacre up close? 26/11 Braveheart is a heart-wrenching account by the ex-MARCOS Praveen K. Teotia. He shares how a soldier…

Batla HouseAuthor: Karnal SinghPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4.5/5 What happened in 2008 would have remained a mystery or a half-baked truth had this book not come out in the public domain. Just like how Praveen Teotia wrote a heart-wrenching account of his deadly encounter with the terrorists in the Taj, Karnal Singh, the officer-in-charge of the raid in Flat no. 18, Batla House, pens down a spine chilling thriller that narrates the actual events that led to this encounter. Several lives were risked and blood was shed too. This event is still remembered for the political bigotry and the influence of the top organizations. Yet, in spite of so much that…

Bhagwad Gita for MillennialsAuthor: Bibek DebroyPublisher: Bibek DebroyRating: 4/5 Life is mostly busy for the millennials. The work pressure and the inability to find adequate time to brush up the roots often misleads the mind into believing that one can make do without certain important life lessons. I am not a preacher and thus, I shall not preach whether one should read Bhagwad Gita or not. I would just write about the plus points and the negative points of the book in question. Bhagwad Gita for Millennials is a handy self-help guide to understanding the scripture in an easy and fast way. The book offers translated versions of the life…

The Vision of Wisdom: Kabir (Selected Sakhis)Translator: Chandan SinhaPublisher: Rupa PublicationRating: 4.5/5 I have always been fascinated by the idea of small verses that often project a stark reality that we fail to notice while living this chaotic life. Some time back, I had got a chance to read Looking Within: Life Lessons by Lal Ded. I was thrilled to read such a beautiful book and now I got a chance to read the selected (also translated) sakhis by Kabir. It was such a quaint experience reading these short musings that store so much wisdom and learning. The Vision of Wisdom neatly translates the emotion and the purpose of the…

The Battle of BelongingAuthor: Shashi TharoorPublisher: Aleph Book CompanyRating: 4/5 Much like how ‘Why I am Hindu?’ turned out to be, ‘The Battle of Belonging’ traces the same pathway but eventually, leads to a different outcome. This book is like a convex lens, housing all the information and then finally converging to a point that, surprisingly, makes complete sense. Just like his previous books, this book too divides information into various segments- the actual point of view, the general point of view and the expected point of view. In other words, Mr Tharoor discusses the theory and practice of patriotism, its origin and its purpose. In the next part, he…

50 Desi Super DrinksAuthor: Lovneet BatraPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 4.5/ 5 50 Desi Super Drinks is a really helpful book that offers a collection of 50 easy-to-make drinks that will not only keep you well-nourished but also boost your overall well-being. Drinks like Aam Panna, Jeera water, Masala chai, Sugarcane juice, Thandai, Sattu, Buttermilk, Cinnamon milk and Tulsi tea are some of the most common household drinks that everyone prefers according to the varying seasons. But seldom do we delve deeper into knowing the quality or the nourishment factor associated with the different ingredients that make up these drinks. This book not only contains the recipes but also enlists the health…