She darted up to her brother, grabbed his stick of chalk and scrawled an intricate shape that her fingers traced, she didn’t know how... Selentra, youngest of three siblings born to a weaver’s family living in the dark-forested hills of Kote, suddenly discovers that she has the extraordinary gift the Ancients spoke of. Little does Selentra’s family know that her astonishing ability, when mastered, could free their gagged country from the wicked Ag-yanees. All her secret might have earned Selentra was the sullen jealousy of her brother, Dumor – the oh-so-unworthy favourite. But her power could prove so huge, so vital and so potent that her ruthless enemies are already poised to strike her down. Who will protect Selentra from her foes – including her own brother – as she crosses the chasm between her destiny and her will? Is Selentra doomed? Or truly blessed? Sharp as an icy wind, gleaming like a charmed gem and twisty as a mountain path, this imaginative tale of courage and conflict will make you wish that it were true.
India's gift to the world-Kautilya's Arthashastra addresses almost every aspect of governance from the duties and objectives of the ruler to social welfare, financial management, town planning, law and justice and foreign affairs. Lost for centuries, it was miraculously rediscovered by Rudrapatna Shamasastry, a Sanskrit scholar, in 1905 CE. This version, especially adapted for young readers, aims to acquaint them with a heritage work, while providing insights into the nitty gritty of running a country. Using examples from history as well as current geopolitics, it attempts to illustrate how Kautilya's theories of governance remain as relevant as they were two thousand years ago.
Nineteenth-century Tibet was an unknown entity, a complete geographical mystery to the West. Where did its capital city Lhasa lie? Which rivers, lakes and mountains stretched across this land? Where were its fabled monasteries and legendary goldfields? And did the magical flying lamas actually exist? It was next to impossible for a white man to enter this rigorously guarded territory. And so was chosen an intrepid Indian explorer from the mountains of Kumaon-Nain Singh Rawat. Trekking across this country, he risked life and limb and donned innumerable clever disguises as he surveyed the vast expanses and identified countless villages, cities and people. From putting Lhasa accurately on the world map to earning the title of Pundit, his eventful and often arduous travels led to his name being permanently engraved in the annals of Indian exploration. Based on his actual diaries, this gripping narrative is also a tribute to the indomitable spirit of this fascinating man, who rose from being an impoverished village schoolteacher to a legendary hero.
Fourteen-year-old Debu sets off across the high mountain passes from Kumaon to Tibet to search for his father who got lost in a blizzard the year before. Adventures follow thick and fast—a forced stay in a monastery with a boy lama who takes a fancy to him, his capture by the cruel, enigmatic bandit Nangbo, who has magical powers, and a stay in the legendary goldfields of Thok Jalong. And finally—a heart-pounding, breathtaking horse race. Does Debu find his father. Does he win the race? Pick up this page-turner to find out!
One night fifteen-year-old Rajula's carefree life in the green hills of Kumaon is changed forever. A mysterious man begins to haunt her dreams and he turns out to be no other than the ruler of Katyur King Malushahi! The problem is her father: the formidable sorcercer Sunapati Shauka. He has promised her hand to a Tibetan chieftain and now weaves a web of deceit and danger between Rajula and Malushahi. When Rajula learns that Malushahi and she had been sworn in marriage by their mothers much before, she follows her heart and her fate on a perilous journey to the Katyuri capital Bairath. Despite her mother's magical spells she has to use all her courage and wits to battle the odds she faces. And for Malushahi winning her hand poses a death-defying challenge. The epic tale of Rajula's bravery and Malushahi's steadfastness has been sung by bards in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand for centuries and is retold here for the first time in English.
About the book Frauds and economic crime rates remain at a record high, impacting more and more companies in diverse ways than ever before. The only way to reduce the impact of such frauds is to get a detailed understanding of the subject and adopt preventive measures instead of reactive measures. Fraud reporting is one of the most important themes in the current corporate governance scenario. Considering the importance of this area, various regulators have come out with reporting requirements in the recent past with an aim to ensure adequate and timely reporting of frauds. In this context, understanding of the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders is pertinent. This book is an attempt by authors to provide a comprehensive publication on the two specialised areas – 'Forensic Investigations' and 'Fraud reporting'. The book addresses two key corporate governance requirements top on the agenda of regulators, enforcement agencies, boards and audit committees: 1. Rules, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders towards: · Reporting of frauds under governance regulations in India · Prevention, detection and investigation of frauds 2. Practical approach for conducting forensic investigations in India Practical tips, case studies and expert insights: In addition to covering a gist of the topic with relevant provisions, and authors' viewpoint, key chapters also include relevant seasoned expert's take on the topic based on their vast practical experience. Each expert has more than three decades of experience including the last two decades in leadership roles. The idea was to present a practitioner's perspective based on practical experience in their role as an independent director or CEO or CFO, etc. More than 100 case studies are presented in the book to explain different concepts and learnings from various frauds discovered and investigated in India over the last two decades. Few of the Questions addressed in the book: · Is there a requirement to report all frauds to the regulators? · Who is responsible for reporting? · What is the role of audit committee, CEO, CFO, CHRO, internal/external auditors in prevention, detection, investigation and reporting of frauds? · Can an organization ignore anonymous complaints? · Can one access data from personal devices of employees during an investigation? · How can one use forensic interviews as an effective tool to establish fraud? · Is WhatsApp chat accepted as an evidence? · Once fraud is established what are the next steps an organisation is expected to initiate? · What is the difference between an audit and an investigation? · How the approach to forensic investigations has evolved over the last two decades in India? · Can we blindly rely on technology to prevent and detect frauds? · Evolving methods for prediction, prevention and detection of frauds?
‘I, Chanakya, vow not to bind my hair until I have unseated you from the throne of Magadha.’ When learned Brahmin Vishnugupta is humiliated by arrogant king Dhana Nanda in a public gathering, he swears revenge. Anger is his weakness, but strategy, his strength. This formerly unknown Brahmin goes on to become the most well-known kingmaker in Indian history: Chanakya. Using a combination of cunning, ruthlessness and luck, Chanakya fulfils his vow and propels a boy of unknown origins, Chandragupta Maurya, to the throne of the most powerful kingdom of that time, an empire even Alexander the Great hesitated to confront. This fascinating account shows how Chanakya went from being a penniless fugitive with the rebel prince of Pataliputra to the prime minister of Magadha, and finally the author of the groundbreaking Arthashastra. With fun snippets and lesser-known facts about this remarkable statesman and the Mauryan age, this book promises to be an exciting and gripping adventure story.
Wily old women, a clever nanny goat, a helpful snake, a boy who becomes invisible, a sorcerer king ... Peopled with extraordinary beings - both real and magical, human and divine, animal and demon - this is a charming collection of folktales that has humour, fantasy and adventure in equal measure.Retold in a lively, contemporary style, there's humour, adventure and amazing flights of fantasy in these stories. The quirky illustrations add to the charm of this collection.
Nidhi Verma, finds herself having an extraordinary experience, whilst she is on her death bed under unexpected circumstances. As the doctors work furiously to identify the underlying causes that led to her sudden collapse, her mind starts to take a walk down memory lane, to find its own reasons. With each increasing dosage of medication, she slips deeper and deeper into the storehouse of her memories, many of which she had kept carefully buried. She desperately tries to shut them out, but one unwanted scene continues to play after another. She is forced to now watch the movie of her entire life, only this time, as a viewer and not the actor. Each vision raises uncomfortable questions and reveals aspects of her personality that she had denied. Forced to now confront issues related to her forgotten sexuality, jealously and the complicated relationships with her best friend, Ziya and husband, Kumar, Nidhi begins to see herself in a new light. As illusions start to fade, she is keen to live a more authentic life and become a better version of herself, while equally embracing her flaws and vulnerabilities, knowing none of these define her. The question remains- Will she make it alive to life differently? The Hangover of Choices is an engaging story, which will surely make the readers ask- If I was on my deathbed, what would I see?
STOP. Listen. A tree has a message for you. Halt. There's a tiger on the prowl. Buckle up. You're rafting down an icy river. Get up and start bailing. The storm is rising and raging. Take note. The climate is changing. Be awed and inspired as this book takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the spectacular diversity of nature in more than 40 classic and modern stories, poems and essays. Read some of the best writing by wildlife experts, bestselling authors, nature writers, adventurers and explorers. Feel oh-so-lucky about being on this life-giving Earth, and open your eyes to how we are harming it and endangering our own future.
Kriti feels there’s something strange about Mr. Yatri’s house — something chilly and forbidding. There’s something strange about Mr. Yatri too. He’s a photographer, famous for his portraits of children. Mohit laughs at her fears. But children have been vanishing mysteriously in the hill town of Banari. And Kriti has an uneasy feeling that it’s not just a simple case of kidnapping. Neel Pargat, a reporter from the National News, shares her suspicions. And then — after several eerie, bloodcurdling experiences — Kriti realises that the traveller’s ghost is haunting her too...
Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan was the wife of Pakistan's first prime minister. She was born Irene Margaret Pant in Kumaon in the early twentieth century. A generation earlier, her family had converted to Christianity, and Irene grew up in the shadow of the Brahmin community's still active outrage. Always intelligent, outgoing and independent, she was teaching economics in a Delhi college when she met the dashing Nawazada Liaquat Ali Khan, a rising politician in the Muslim League and an ardent champion for the cause of Pakistan. She was immediately inspired by both the man and the idea; they married in 1933 and Irene Pant became Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan. In August 1947 they left for Pakistan-led by Liaquat's mentor and friend, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Ra'ana threw herself into the work of nation building, but in 1952 Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated-the reasons for his murder are still shrouded in mystery. Ra'ana continued to be active in public life-and her contribution to women's empowerment in Pakistan is felt to this day. Ra'ana's life story embodies all the major tropes of the Indian subcontinent's recent history. Three religions-Hinduism, Christianity and Islam-had an immense impact on her life, and she participated actively in all the major movements of her time-the freedom struggle, the Pakistan movement, and the fight for women's empowerment. She could see clearly what went wrong after 1947 and wasn't afraid to say so. She spoke out openly against the rise of religious conservatism in Pakistan and the growing role of the army. She was occasionally derided or ignored, but she never gave up. It is this spirit that The Begum captures.
A little girl, Manikarnika, with an uncanny sense of her own destiny, grew up to be none other than the brave queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai. Trained in horse riding and the martial arts from an early age, Manu was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Maharaja of Jhansi, when she was thirteen. Soon after her husband’s death, the reins of the kingdom passed on to her, and she took up this responsibility undeterred and fearless. When Jhansi faced the danger of annexation, she fought against the British with unflinching courage, losing her life in the course of the battle. She has since become one of the most inspiring heroes of the freedom struggle and a much-admired role model. Deepa Agarwal chronicles the life and times of this legendary character in a gripping narrative, drawing a colourful portrait of bravery. This riveting account also includes nuggets of information about the eventful year 1857, making for a fascinating read.
Selected stories for children from the Mahabharata ranging from how the Mahabharata was written to the Mritasanjivani story, the birth of Devavrata, the palace of Lac, Draupadi's Swayamvara, the passing of Bhishma and many other equally enthralling stories from one of the greatest epics of all time. This is the second book in the recently launched From the House of Harper series which will include collections of classic Indian tales. The first book in the series was a collection of the Panchatantra stories, A Basketful of Animal Tales.
Best friends have been through it all-from bonding over strange pets and mysterious illnesses to learning to forgive and be loyal and loving. Deepa Agarwal's heart-warming collection of short stories is filled with adventure, secrets, pranks, and best of all, true friendship.
Yesterday, by the grace of Allah, I, Mehr-un-nissa, daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and Asmat Begum, completed thirteen years of existence on this earth... Thirteen years...I'm not sure how pleased I am to have reached this significant age.' Long before she became Nur Jahan--Emperor Jahangir's last wife and the most influential Mughal queen--she was Mehr-un-nissa. Born to Persian refugees who attained eminence at the Mughal court, Mehr-un-nissa grew up on the fringes of Emperor Akbar's court in Agra, Kabul and Lahore. In this fictional diary, Deepa Agarwal gives us a glimpse into the queen's teenage years: how she grows into a strong and passionate young woman; her love for poetry and writing; and her interest in the larger world around her. Her diary also describes the Mughal world through the eyes of a young girl: the vibrant Meena Bazaars; the elaborate festival celebrations; and the intricacies of life in the zenana. But above all, her diary records her ambition to meet the love of her life and also to carve a place for herself in history. A fascinating blend of history and fiction, The Teenage Diary of Nur Jahan brings alive a bygone age in a unique and captivating manner for young readers.
The Roots of India series will bring children closer to their roots through stories that will introduce them to the India of the past, the present and the future - its mythology, its history, its geography, its people, its cities, its food and everything that constitutes the rich cultural diversity of India. The first boxset in the series, Great Stories of India, will contain a collection of some of India's greatest stories ranging from tales from the Panchatantra and stories of the Mahabharata to India's many festivals and its ancient learned men and women.
Best Stories from Around the World is a collection of timeless pieces from the world's greatest storytellers-Oscar Wilde, O' Henry, Saki, H.G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and many more. Hailing from different countries such as America, Ireland, the United Kingdom and India, this book is an entertaining consolidation of diverse stories which cover a broad range of topics and themes. While 'The Gift of the Magi' resonates with the sense of love and loss, 'The Selfish Giant' and 'Rip Van Winkle' relives our childhood. Some stories warm your heart, some make you think and some delight you with their magical language while at the same time they explore universal themes and arouse a gamut of responses. A must-have, this book offers a plethora of classics to read and enjoy for any lover of a good story.
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