Tagore, Ramayana, faith - Indian flavours to spice up bookshelf (IANS Books This Week)
By IANSThursday, February 3, 2011
NEW DELHI - The bookshelf this week is essentially Indian in flavour, showcasing the country’s soul.
1. Book: Eternal Romantic: My Father, Gemini Ganesan; Written by Narayani Ganesh; Published by Roli Books; Priced at Rs.495
The book offers an intimate glimpse into the life and times of legendary Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan. The handsome, suave actor has earned himself the sobriquet King of Romance for wooing women successfully both on and off the screen. The book provides a ringside view of his kaleidoscopic personality and life. It is a tribute to a father - who balanced super-stardom, parallel families and eight children — including Bollywood diva Rekha.
2. Book: The Jewel That is Best (Collected Brief Poems); Written by Rabindranath Tagore and translated by William Radice; Published by Penguin India; Priced at Rs.250
The Jewel That is Best comprises three volumes of Tagore’s poetry, Particles (Kanika), Jottings (Lekhan) and Sparks (Sphulinga). The poems are quiet, philosophical observations that carry as much meaning as mystery; as much sensitivity and objectivity. Written at various points in the poet’s long life, they remain resonant even today. It was perhaps his imagination as a painter that enabled Tagore to combine humanity, nature and science on one canvas.
3. Book: Power Brands 2010-2011; Edited by Abhimanyu Ghosh, Published by PlanMan Media, Priced at Rs.599 (mega edition) Rs.745 (corporate edition)
It is a reference book of Indias most powerful brands which have emanated as a result of the intense and powerful perceptions chiselled inside the minds of Indian consumers. It is a manifestation of India’s most superlative brands that have created a cult followership for themselves among Indian consumers.
The book will offer Indian readers a never-before experienced interpretation about the brands on the most exhilarating writing and extraordinary style of design and production complementing the theme of the book Evolution to Revolution.
4. Book: Two Measures of Bhakti; Written by Puntanam Namputiri, Melpattur Narayana Bhattatiripad and Vallathol Narayana Menon; Translated by Vijay Nambisan; Published by Penguin-India; Priced at Rs.150
For centuries, Jnana-Paana and Narayaninam have been the touchstones of faith in Kerala. Puntanam’s Jnana-Paana may claim to be the first modern poem in Malayalam. Being simple and innocent, it speaks directly to the reader.
Melapattur’s Narayayaniyam is the last great hurrah of classical Sanskrit in India. The poem is majestic in its humility and describes a vision of the Lord. With his elegant verse translations, Nambisan brings the poems to a new audience.
5. Book: The Ramayana; Written by Valmiki and translated by Arshia Sattar; Published by Penguin-India; Priced at Rs.599
The translation of one of India’s greatest epics makes this monumental ancient classic accessible to the present-day reader. India’s greatest epic, “The Ramayana”, pervades the country’s moral and cultural consciousness. Believed to have been composed by Valmiki sometime between the eighth and the sixth centuries BC, the Ramayana tells the tragic and magical story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, an incarnation of Vishnu, who rid the world of the demon Ravana.
