(From Top) Jaswant Singh at the much-awaited booklaunch at ITC’s Maurya Sheraton & Towers; Sudha Murthy with Montek Singh Alhuwalia at the Indian Habitat Centre ; Sanjeev Kapur with the Singapore Airlines team at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi

It was a busy week for the capital’s book lovers and they turned out in full force for two much talked about authors. Jaswant Singh’s controversial A Call to Honour: In Service of Emergent India caused a stir that refused to die down the entire week. Published by Rupa & Co., the much-awaited book takes one through Singh’s life and particularly his time in government. Unveiled at the ITC’s Maurya Sheraton & Towers the venue was packed with many familiar faces. The book was set on its way with a panel discussion in which journalists Mark Tully, M J Akbar and C. Raja Mohan as well as former diplomat Naresh Chandra took centre-stage. Seen among the audience were Maneka Gandhi and Amar Singh.

Though the book created a sensation, the former minister and author said firmly that sensationalism was not the point he wanted it to make. “As I wrote, I really pondered on the transformation the country has gone through in all these years,” said Singh.

The other book launch, the re-release of Sudha Murty’s Wise & Otherwise: A Salute to Life (Penguin), also saw a fair share of Delhi’s finest turning up at the India Habitat Centre. But invitees who harboured the hope of meeting her husband, the Infosys chief mentor, Narayan Murthy at the do were disappointed. The book was released by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission, while the noted theatre personality Shyama Haldar did the honours and read from it to an enthralled audience.

First published in 2002, the title has been translated into major Indian languages. A collection of Murthy’s columns that have been published in various newspapers and magazines, it featured 51 emotionally charged short stories. “I write from my heart and don’t pretend which is perhaps why people relate to what I write,” said Murthy. Montek Singh Ahluwalia had many words of praise for the authour : “the characters in her stories come through strongly. That’s one of the hallmarks of good writing.” And no debate there, of course the readers agree.

A royal treat

This one is for inveterate travellers with a penchant for haute cuisine. Last week, Singapore Airlines added an Indian member to its impressive roster of celebrity chefs from across the globe. The airline has taken onboard Sanjeev Kapoor, one of India’s favourite chefs, as a member of its International Culinary Panel. Invitees at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi got a taste of what Kapoor has in store for the airline’s First Class passengers.

Kapoor’s signature shahi thalis, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, have been put together after much research on what passengers really want to dig into when flying high in the sky. With airlines food being the common grouse for all travellers, this one took quite some research indeed. However, it has translated itself into dishes such as crab curry, tandoori prawns and chicken gravy for the meat-eaters, while the vegetarians can dig into spinach and pea patties, stuffed mushrooms and baby potatoes in curry. And, of course, the meal will be topped off with lassi and masala tea.

B.K Ong, general manager, Singapore Airlines, said as guests enjoyed an in-flight culinary experience on terra firma: “The endeavour is toprovide a customised in-flight experience.” The passengers certainly won’t be complaining.

The thalis go online on Singapore Airlines in August and on flights from Singapore to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore and back. But alas, passengers on both Economy and Business Class must settle for the routine Indian meal options that are available.

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma and Prem Singh