AUTHOR OF THE MONTH – AVAY SHUKLA

  A civil servant, environmentalist, and writer, Avay Shukla dons many hats with equal panache. His book – ‘Spectre of Choor Dhar – Tales from the Mountains’ published by Vishwakarma Publications is a collection of intriguing short stories set in Himachal Pradesh. I interviewed him after the release of his book. He revealed interesting insights […]

Newspaper English: reviewed by Dr Uma Shankar Pandey

Reviewed by Dr. Uma Shankar Pandey, Associate Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Surendranath College for Women, Kolkata; (mailusp@gmail.com) Renowned British linguist Roger Fowler once famously described language as ‘not a clear window but a refracting and structuring medium’. There are different ways of saying the same thing; different expressions carry ideological distinctions. Many […]

8 Worst Movies Based on Books

“I examine 8 of the worst movies based on books that give currency to the popular axiom – ‘The book was better’. Does you list match mine?” What could be a bibliophile’s worst nightmare? Many things indeed! For me it is to see my favourite book being meddled with, in order to be adapted for […]

Book Your Joy : A Menu for New Readers

If you are trying to cultivate a love for reading, it is necessary that you pick the books that genuinely interest you. Here’s a guide for all those just beginning to read.  Reading is the perfect escape from the harsh realities of the world. The books we read shape our worldview and help us understand […]

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH – PREETI PATHAK

One thing that stays with you after reading Preeti Pathak’s book is that there is more to life than mere routine grind. She should know for she has donned several hats in her life. From a marketing professional to being a housewife, mother and now a full time author, life has come full circle for […]

Dalit Literature : A Reflection of an Alternate Reality

” Since it’s onset in the 1970’s, Dalit literature in India has developed a consciousness of its own and become a potent tool to voice the harsh life realities of the so called ‘lower caste’ people. However, the issues of it’s coarse language and unsophisticated literary aesthetics has always been a matter of debate. I […]

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH – SAMPADA KARANDIKAR

Sitting at my office desk, I was struggling to put together an article when I saw a fresh batch of books being carried inside Vishwakarma Publications office. The dazzling red cover attracted my attention, and on a closer look the unusual title intrigued me. I picked up a copy with the intention of rummaging through […]

World Book Day

The idea of life being a book is an old one, and only points out the immense respect and value that books have commanded since times immemorial. If our lives are books, it must imply that books hold the secrets to decipher our lives. In this sentiment, we interviewed five people from varying backgrounds on […]

Literary Cultures in Small Towns

“Small towns boast of a flourishing literary culture around tea stalls, in mushairas, kavi samellans and through widely available literature in vernacular languages. Get a peek into the intriguingly colorful literary cultures in small towns.“ Truth is often stranger than fiction, and yet it is often in stereotypes, far removed from truth, that we put […]