1. India’s Green Startups
Jayant Sinha and Sandiip Bhammer
Juggernaut
Pp 280, Rs 499
In this new in-depth book, Jayant Sinha and Sandiip Bhammer tell India’s green business story through 14 pioneers in the field. Through interviews with the founders, this book takes us along the path that India’s green startups are paving for themselves and others who will follow in their wake. The startups profiled in the book are likely to be talked about for years to come as creators of a new era of green businesses in India.
2. The Divine Kumbh
Deepak Kumar Sen
Niyogi Books
Pp 180, Rs 695
The Divine Kumbh offers a rare and immersive exploration of the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the ancient mythology, vibrant rituals, and profound spirituality that define the event. From the Naga sadhus’ radical quest for salvation to the rich cultural traditions of the akharas, The Divine Kumbh takes readers on a journey through heritage, devotion and purification.
3. I Am on the Hitlist
Rollo Romig
Westland Books
Pp 372, Rs 799
On September 5, 2017, journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was assassinated outside her home in Bengaluru. Her murder and its aftermath continue to make headlines even years later, and her killers are yet to be brought to book. As journalist Rollo Romig follows the trail of Gauri’s life and death, and the investigation that followed, he unravels a world of political extremists, fearless writers, organised crime and shadowy religious groups.
4. Hope: The Autobiography
Pope Francis
Penguin Random House
Pp 320, Rs 1,099
Hope is the first autobiography in history ever to be published by a Pope. Written over six years, this complete autobiography starts in the early years of the 20th century, with Pope Francis’s Italian roots and his ancestors’ courageous migration to Latin America, continuing through his childhood, the enthusiasms and preoccupations of his youth, his vocation, adult life, and the whole of his papacy up to the present day.
5. Life on Mars
Namita Gokhale
Speaking Tiger
Pp 200, Rs 499
Two lonely people connect briefly during the Covid pandemic. A woman finds companionship with an unusual young man the same age as her absent sons. A one-night stand in Rishikesh ends in a surprise not once, but twice. Kunti and Gandhari, queens in the evening of their lives, try to cope with their private griefs after the slaughters of the Kurukshetra war. A swan relates the story of the doomed lovers Nala and Damayanti. These are memorable stories by one of India’s most talented writers.
