The past and other stories
GUTS & GLORY: INCLUDES STORIES OF 26 AWE-INSPIRING INDIAN CRICKETERS (Jaico, Rs 299) by Makarand Waingankar chronicles the story of Indian cricket in the process of giving an account of the professional lives of the cricketers it surveys. Penned by a keen observer of the game, with rare, old-fashioned wit, Guts & Glory will transport readers to days like the one in which Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, even with an injured leg, had hammered legendary Australian quickies, Graham McKenzie and Neil Hawke. Rich with anecdotes, the book takes the reader on a journey through the last four decades of Indian cricket. The author reminisces about the legends of Indian cricket both past and present. The inimitable caricatures by Austin Coutinho adds to the pleasures of reading this book.
STUDIES IN INDUSTRIAL HISTORY (Indian Institute of Oriental Studies and Research, Rs 395) by Susanta Kumar Biswas is an appreciable endeavour in making the reader understand some of the most talked-about industries. It is a compilation of several essays written by the author over a period of six to seven years. The book is in keeping with the new trend in academia, which has seen 'Industrial History' emerge as a key area of study.
WAR ROOM: THE PEOPLE, TACTICS AND TECHNOLOGY BEHIND NARENDRA MODI'S 2014 WIN (Roli, Rs 295) by Ullekh N.P. is, as the title suggests, another attempt to analyse the reasons behind the spectacular electoral success of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last Lok Sabha elections. War Room records in details the innovative use of technology made by Narendra Modi's poll managers. We are familiar with the ' Ab ki baar Modi sarkar' slogan, which became an instant hit on the electronic media. But how many of us know about the 'Modi aane wala hain' ('Modi is coming') campaign that had rolled out 400 video vans to reach 95,000 backward villages in Uttar Pradesh (a state that gave the BJP an incredible 71 seats)? War Room has such and many other stories.
AGNISAKSHI: FIRE, MY WITNESS (Oxford, Rs 350) by Lalithambika Antharjanam is the late author's only novel. It is an account of a woman's life in Kerala set in the times of the freedom struggle. Agnisakshi acquaints the readers with the customs, habits, and culture of the Namboodiri community. The translator, Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan does a commendable job in staying true to the emotional tone of the original.
