When Turquoise Waters Turned Dark by Keshav Chadra | An Illustrated History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands | A coffee table book!
Foreward by Raghu Rai
Central Thought
- Colonial Legacy: The strategic importance and impact of various foreign powers on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Visual Splendour: Stunning photography capturing the islands’ picturesque landscapes, architectural ruins, and diverse local population.
- Historical Narratives: Meticulously researched stories of the people who shaped the islands’ history.
- Cultural Exploration: An immersive journey through the islands’ past and present, highlighting their cultural and historical significance.
The book presents a fresh lens on India’s colonial past, delving into the untold stories of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through a captivating blend of historical research and photography. It showcases breathtaking images of the islands’ landscapes, architecture, and local communities, appealing to readers who are passionate about travel, adventure, and visual storytelling. Additionally, the book speaks to environmental and cultural conservation, emphasizing its role in preserving the islands’ history and natural beauty while addressing modern challenges, such as the impact of tourism on heritage sites.
Play to Potential by Deepak Jayaraman | A business book like no other.
Renowned executive coach and host of the Play to Potential podcast, Deepak Jayaraman, is releasing his much-anticipated book, Play to Potential! This insightful guide challenges traditional ideas of success and self-improvement, encouraging readers to embrace life’s transitions with curiosity, exploration, and play—not just work.
Drawing from Deepak’s personal experiences, deep coaching insights, and over 100 conversations with global thought leaders on his podcast, the book offers a refreshing take on growth and reinvention. At the heart of Play to Potential is the FLAVOUR framework, a practical approach to navigating life’s many pulls and pressures. This framework empowers readers to unlock their potential across multiple dimensions: work, relationships, aspirations, and personal growth.
What sets Play to Potential apart is its ability to embrace the complexities of life. Instead of focusing on clichés like “follow your passion” or “find your purpose,” the book acknowledges the messiness of transitions—whether it’s career shifts, parenting changes, retirement, or unexpected losses—and provides actionable steps to help readers evolve across life’s many seasons.
Rather than narrow career advice, Play to Potential takes a multidimensional approach to personal growth, addressing challenges such as balancing family, health, and professional ambitions. It offers readers a relatable and practical guide to staying relevant, fulfilled, and aligned throughout the different phases of life.
What Makes This Book Unique?
- A framework for every season: Play to Potential offers insights that grow with the reader, providing tools for continuous reinvention.
- Multimedia integration: Enrich the experience with audio clips and video interviews from Deepak’s podcast, featuring inspiring conversations with leaders across fields.
- Relatable journeys: Six personal stories show how real people have unlocked their potential across different contexts.
- Holistic perspective: The book redefines potential as more than just professional success, exploring how it plays out across personal relationships and aspirations.
Through Play to Potential, Deepak Jayaraman provides not only a roadmap to success but also a philosophy for living a life of meaning, balance, and joy. Already a trusted voice to thousands through his podcast, Deepak now invites readers to reimagine what it means to “play to potential.”
THE NOTBOOK OF KABIR by ANAND | Kabir Uncensored : The Rebel Poet’s Verse For A Fearless Generation
Highlights:
Kabir as Living Resistance : Anand’s *The Notbook of Kabir* unveils a Kabir who speaks directly to contemporary struggles, offering raw, unfiltered resistance to social injustice. Through Kabir’s radical poetry, Anand challenges the entrenched systems of inequality, presenting Kabir not as a distant, historical figure, but as an immediate, revolutionary force whose voice is as urgent today as it was centuries ago.
Reimagining Activism : Kabir’s teachings are not just philosophical musings—they are a call to action. In the context of Anand’s journey, Kabir emerges as a guide for modern activism, one that calls for internal and external transformation. His message of love, equality, and justice transcends theoretical ideals, demanding real-world change. Anand’s book positions Kabir as a mentor who makes activism personal, showing that true enlightenment is not only about individual growth but also about challenging oppressive structures in society.
A Radical, Contemporary Kabir : The Notbook of Kabir brings Kabir’s ideas into the 21st century, reinterpreting his spiritual and social critiques through the lens of Ambedkarite thought and Buddhist teachings. Anand makes the case for Kabir as an enduring figure whose revolutionary ethos—opposing caste, inequality, and injustice—continues to inspire and guide contemporary movements for social change.
Universal and Timeless Message : Anand’s Kabir transcends borders, both geographical and temporal. His teachings resonate globally, with an emphasis on universal justice and human dignity. Through the book’s multi-layered exploration of Kabir’s songs, presented in both their musical and literary forms, Anand invites readers to see Kabir as not just a poet, but a living, breathing force for personal and collective transformation.
Kabir in All of Us : At its heart, The Notbook of Kabir urges readers to see Kabir not as an isolated mystic but as a reflection of the voice of resistance within themselves. Anand’s personal journey with Kabir—the way he finds Kabir in music, in song, and in everyday life—reminds us that Kabir’s radical thought is not confined to the past but lives on in all of us who challenge injustice, question authority, and seek love and equality. This is the Kabir of the people, a Kabir who speaks to us today and inspires us to find the Kabir within.
In Kabir as an Anti Hero of Caste Politics – Challenging The Status Quo, Anand revives Kabir as a radical thinker whose bold critique of caste and societal norms resonates powerfully in today’s context of injustice and inequality, positioning the book as a rallying cry for change. Through Language as Liberation – The Politics of Translation, Anand examines Kabir’s innovative use of language and offers his own translation as an act of defiance against linguistic elitism, reasserting language as a tool for liberation. Anand layers Kabir’s voice with a sharp political context, linking Kabir’s original critiques of caste and religion to contemporary struggles for justice, particularly through an Ambedkarite-Buddhist lens, which adds a timely and provocative dimension to the discussion. This contemporary reinterpretation of Kabir’s poetry not only serves as a vehicle for social change but also challenges cultural critics to confront the sanitized versions of Kabir, calling for an authentic engagement that preserves the radical essence of his verses and revitalizes his legacy for modern readers.
MISSY by Raghav Rao | A powerful literary debut | Raghav is visiting India from the US this December for a book tour.
Central Thought
- Migration and Identity: Savi, an Indian woman, escapes a difficult life by moving to America and assuming a new identity. Her journey reflects the challenges faced by immigrants and the search for belonging.
- Social Strata Shift: Savi’s success in America allows her children to move within a different social class. They navigate a world that was previously inaccessible to their mother.
- Family Struggles: Savi’s children, raised in a different cultural context, grapple with their own desires and aspirations while honoring their family’s past.
- Forgiveness and Redemption: Savi’s journey involves healing from past wounds and finding a sense of purpose beyond mere retribution.
A powerfully mesmerizing debut, Missy by Raghav Rao, is a bold new voice, compelling narrative of escape and renewal. Follow the heart – pounding escape of Savi, from a Madras convent to the high stakes world of Chicago, as she breaks free from the shackles of her tumultuous past in India, and recreates and rediscovers herself in the uncharted American landscapes. Marked with gripping realities of the immigrant experience, Rao’s debut also offers a bold twist to conventional tales of crime and vengeance, charting a new path that inspires, transforms, and rejuvenates. A tale of dreams, dangers, destiny, and unflinching determination, ‘Missy’ will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Purpose: Digital Transformation of Individuals, Organizations, and Societies by Pankaj Setia | THE IIM BUSINESS SERIES
The book presents purpose as the core driver of digital transformation, emphasizing that a clear sense of purpose is essential for the growth of individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. Despite the availability of powerful technologies, a lack of purpose creates a transformative paradox, where concerns over individual well-being and meaningful progress persist. To address this, the book outlines three types of purpose that individuals and organizations must pursue: an instrumental purpose (the “what”), an operational purpose (the “how”), and an existential purpose (the “why”)—all of which are foundational to any digital transformation journey.
Through an organizational lens, the book builds on core principles that guide successful digital transformations, offering a wealth of examples and models focused on instrumental purpose and highlighting the digital capabilities required to achieve transformation goals. For operational purpose, the book introduces Professor Setia’s DaWoGoMo model, which provides a practical approach to transforming digital architectures, work, governance, business models, and organizational culture. Neuroscientific principles further explore why individuals and organizations should prioritize purposeful digital transformation. Ultimately, the book presents a comprehensive model for purposeful digital transformation, paving the way for an aligned and impactful use of technology.
Digital transformation is more than a buzzword—it’s the only way forward. But without a clear sense of purpose, it’s just tech for tech’s sake. In Purpose, Pankaj Setia reveals why understanding your “why” is crucial for mastering digital change. This is more than just a book about technology—it’s about how to harness technology to make a difference. Setia’s unique blend of science, research, and real-world insights shows you how to lead a purposeful digital transformation, whether you’re an individual looking to evolve, an organisation navigating tech disruption, or a society grappling with the digital age’s impact. This book isn’t just a guide to surviving digital change—it’s a blueprint for shaping the future with intention. Ready to transform with purpose? Start here. A must-read for business leaders, tech enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding the future of our digital lives.
From Unknown to Unforgettable: Strategies and Stories to Transform Your Start-Up into a Trustworthy Brand by Harsh Pamnani | A penultimate startup book!
Branding journeys of Zerodha, Zomato, Ola, SUGAR Cosmetics, Razorpay, and more.
- Understanding the Indian Market: The book emphasizes the unique challenges and opportunities in India’s diverse and evolving market, highlighting why strategies successful in developed markets may not work here.
- Building Trust: It focuses on the importance of building trust and credibility for start-ups, which is crucial for standing out in a crowded marketplace.
- Storytelling and Authenticity: The book underscores the power of storytelling and authenticity in creating a memorable brand that resonates with customers.
- Practical Strategies: It provides actionable strategies and real-life examples of Indian start-ups that have successfully transformed into trustworthy brands.
Think your start-up can just blend into the background? Think again. From Unknown to Unforgettable is the only book you need to make your brand unforgettable. In a market flooded with options, standing out isn’t optional—it’s survival. Harsh Pamnani takes you behind the scenes of some of India’s most successful start-ups, offering up the battle-tested strategies that turned unknowns into iconic brands. Whether you’re trying to grab attention in a crowded market or build trust in a sea of scepticism, this book will show you how to go from invisible to unstoppable. An essential reading for anyone looking to build an iconic brand from the ground up, navigating the complexities of the Indian market, and finding success in an ever-evolving business environment.
