US based author and speaker Jennelle Gordon&rsquo;s latest book, 'Unf*ck Your Sex Life' is an unapologetic guide to redefining intimacy and sexual fulfillment. Drawing from her experiences as an Intimacy Tantra Master and her personal journey of healing, Gordon blends ancient Tantric wisdom with modern relationship psychology to help readers break free from societal conditioning and embrace a more empowered sex life.&nbsp;
Her latest book, soon to be launched in India, challenges conventional narratives, offering practical exercises and insights that encourage readers to explore their desires without guilt or fear. From overcoming sexual shame and trauma to mastering the balance of masculine and feminine energies, Gordon provides a roadmap for those looking to deepen their emotional and physical connections.
One of the standout aspects of the book is its raw honesty. Gordon does not shy away from discussing topics often considered taboo, such as unlearning restrictive beliefs around pleasure, navigating sexual energy, and communicating desires effectively with a partner. Through a mix of personal anecdotes and structured guidance, she makes the often-daunting subject of sexual healing accessible and relatable.
Readers have praised the book for its insightful approach. One reviewer on Amazon noted that it opened their eyes to often-avoided topics like sexual shame and trauma, and appreciated the blend of Tantric wisdom with practical advice. Another highlighted how the book provided new perspectives and exercises that enhanced their relationship dynamics
Critics, however, argue that some of the concepts may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who are new to Tantric principles. Some readers might find the spiritual elements overwhelming if they are looking for a more clinical or psychology-driven perspective on sexual health. That said, for those open to a holistic and experiential approach, the book&nbsp;offers an enlightening take on how to reclaim one&rsquo;s passion and intimacy.
Gordon&rsquo;s impact extends beyond the pages of the book. Her work as a speaker, coach, and advocate for sexual empowerment continues to influence people worldwide. She actively shares insights on her social media and has been featured in various talks discussing the themes explored in her book.
In a world where discussions around sex and intimacy are still shrouded in stigma, Gordon's new book&nbsp;stands out as a bold, necessary, and liberating read. Whether you&rsquo;re seeking to heal past wounds, enhance your current relationship, or simply understand yourself better, Gordon&rsquo;s book provides an insightful and practical path forward.
<h2>Who is Jennelle Gordon?</h2>
Jennelle Gordon is a Tantra master, holistic healer, speaker, and educator who overcame a traumatic past marked by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in early adulthood. After breaking free from these experiences, she pursued extensive training in Tantra yoga with masters in Thailand and India, transforming her life and dedicating herself to guiding others toward healing and empowerment.
While speaking to WION, Gordon expressed her love for India and its spiritual heritage, stating that she is eager to visit the country again, which she considers as her second home. During her previous trip, she visited Delhi and Haridwar.
She is the founder of Shakti Living, an international tantric therapy practice that offers global luxury retreats and personalized tantric intimacy coaching. Through her work, she assists athletes, celebrities, and individuals from all walks of life in overcoming sexual shame and trauma while fostering deeper intimacy in their lives.
One of her most significant achievements is the creation of a college club, which later evolved into the nonprofit organization Beyond Freedom International. As its founder, she leads efforts to educate communities and support survivors in their healing journeys, empowering them to thrive beyond their past experiences.

Gordon expressed her love for India and its spiritual heritage, stating that she is eager to visit the country again, which she considers her second home after United States. During her previous trip, she visited Delhi and Haridwar

US based author and speaker Jennelle Gordon’s latest book, 'Unf*ck Your Sex Life' is an unapologetic guide to redefining intimacy and sexual fulfillment. Drawing from her experiences as an Intimacy Tantra Master and her personal journey of healing, Gordon blends ancient Tantric wisdom with modern relationship psychology to help readers break free from societal conditioning and embrace a more empowered sex life. Her latest book, soon to be launched in India, challenges conventional narratives, offering practical exercises and insights that encourage readers to explore their desires without guilt or fear. From overcoming sexual shame and trauma to mastering the balance of masculine and feminine energies, Gordon provides a roadmap for those looking to deepen their emotional and physical connections. One of the standout aspects of the book is its raw honesty. Gordon does not shy away from discussing topics often considered taboo, such as unlearning restrictive beliefs around pleasure, navigating sexual energy, and communicating desires effectively with a partner. Through a mix of personal anecdotes and structured guidance, she makes the often-daunting subject of sexual healing accessible and relatable. Readers have praised the book for its insightful approach. One reviewer on Amazon noted that it opened their eyes to often-avoided topics like sexual shame and trauma, and appreciated the blend of Tantric wisdom with practical advice. Another highlighted how the book provided new perspectives and exercises that enhanced their relationship dynamics Critics, however, argue that some of the concepts may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who are new to Tantric principles. Some readers might find the spiritual elements overwhelming if they are looking for a more clinical or psychology-driven perspective on sexual health. That said, for those open to a holistic and experiential approach, the book offers an enlightening take on how to reclaim one’s passion and intimacy. Gordon’s impact extends beyond the pages of the book. Her work as a speaker, coach, and advocate for sexual empowerment continues to influence people worldwide. She actively shares insights on her social media and has been featured in various talks discussing the themes explored in her book. In a world where discussions around sex and intimacy are still shrouded in stigma, Gordon's new book stands out as a bold, necessary, and liberating read. Whether you’re seeking to heal past wounds, enhance your current relationship, or simply understand yourself better, Gordon’s book provides an insightful and practical path forward. Who is Jennelle Gordon? Jennelle Gordon is a Tantra master, holistic healer, speaker, and educator who overcame a traumatic past marked by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in early adulthood. After breaking free from these experiences, she pursued extensive training in Tantra yoga with masters in Thailand and India, transforming her life and dedicating herself to guiding others toward healing and empowerment. While speaking to WION, Gordon expressed her love for India and its spiritual heritage, stating that she is eager to visit the country again, which she considers as her second home. During her previous trip, she visited Delhi and Haridwar. She is the founder of Shakti Living, an international tantric therapy practice that offers global luxury retreats and personalized tantric intimacy coaching. Through her work, she assists athletes, celebrities, and individuals from all walks of life in overcoming sexual shame and trauma while fostering deeper intimacy in their lives. One of her most significant achievements is the creation of a college club, which later evolved into the nonprofit organization Beyond Freedom International. As its founder, she leads efforts to educate communities and support survivors in their healing journeys, empowering them to thrive beyond their past experiences.

'The art of intimacy': US author unveils 'Indian Tantric Wisdom' for a thriving sex life in her new book

In his latest book Knife, Meditations After An Attempted Murder, Salman Rushdie recalls a doctor's observation at a Pennsylvania hospital where he was brought after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/salman-rushdie-stabbed-10-to-15-times-in-neck-eye-witness-shares-horrific-details-506357">knife attack</a> on him on August 12, 2022.

"You know what you are lucky about? You are lucky that the man who attacked you had no idea how to kill a man with a knife."

For 27-seconds on that fateful day, Rushdie was stabbed and slashed wildly by a 24-year-old man at a literary event in New York's Chautauqua. The author of fifteen novels lost an eye and the use of an arm due to the attack. Authorities later described the attacker sympathetic to Shia extremism and the causes of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).&nbsp;

The knife attack on Rushdie came over 33&nbsp;years after that Valentine's Day of 1989 when Iran's then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared his novel 'The Satanic Verses' blasphemous and issued a fatwa ordering his execution and "all those involved in its publication."

Also watch |&nbsp;WION Wideangle | Salman Rushdie attacked: The World of Fatwas, decoded

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While on a hospital bed after the knife attack, the opening line of 'The Satanic Verses' returned to haunt the 76-year-old author.&nbsp;

"To be born again," sang Gibreel farishta from the heavens, "first you have to die".

For decades after that fatwa, Rushdie went on to live as a free person. He wrote book after book, delivered lectures, travelled, married, divorced, and emerged as the nucleus of New York's literature circuit while gathering admirers and critics across the world.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/salman-rushdie-recalls-his-dream-of-getting-stabbed-just-before-attack-711427">Salman Rushdie says he saw himself being stabbed in a dream just before the attack</a>

But in 2022, the semblance of normalcy in Rushdie's life was fundamentally changed. It was three days before the 75th anniversary of India's freedom from the British rule.&nbsp;

"I was in the habit of calling Indian Independence Day 'Saleem's birthday'," Rushdie writes, as this was the moment in which Saleem Sinai, the antihero and narrator of 'Midnight's Children' had been born in 1947.&nbsp;

"But this year Independence Day had a more personal meaning. Monday, August 15 was Day Three. The day on which it became clear that I would continue to live," Rushdie writes of the moment when he knew he had survived.&nbsp;

As a city boy born in Bombay, who found home in London and New York at different points of time in his life, Rushdie in past has characterised roots as a "conservative myth, designed to keep us in our places."&nbsp;

But in the 'Knife', he describes dreaming about returning to his place of birth, present-day Mumbai, as one of the manifestations of the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the knife attack . "I dreamed of returning to my beloved Bombay — not Mumbai — and kneeling to kiss the tarmac after coming down from the plane."

"But when I looked up there was a crowd shouting at me, Dafa ho. Begone."&nbsp;

After the near-fatal stabbing and decades of threats following Khomeini's fatwa, 'Knife, Meditations After An Attempted Murder', is Rushdie's intimate and intellectually stimulating death-defying act. He refuses to name the attacker and describes him merely as A. In an imaginary conversation with the attacker spanning several pages, Rushdie pulls off a fierce literary defence of free speech.&nbsp;

As an atheist, Rushdie dissects debatable aspects of faith, religiosity and the way they push vulnerable individuals like A. towards extremism.&nbsp;

His referral to description of death-and-dying by other literature giants and cinematic geniuses — and some incredibly poignant Shakespearean invocation — adds to the breathless narrative of the book.&nbsp;

At its heart, the book challenges the very orthodoxy that filled A. with hatred vile enough that he nearly killed Rushdie for purportedly being "disingenuous". Rushdie defends an artist and art's right to exist because without art, "our ability to think, to see freshly, and to renew our world would wither and die".&nbsp;

"Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity, and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist," Rushdie writes.&nbsp;

"Art accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence. And in the end, it outlasts those who oppress it."

'Knife, Meditations After an Attempted Murder' by Salman Rushdie is published by Penguin Random House. It is available online and major bookstores across the world.

In his latest book Knife, Meditations After An Attempted Murder, Salman Rushdie recalls a doctor's observation at a Pennsylvania hospital where he was brought after a knife attack on him on August 12, 2022.

In his latest book Knife, Meditations After An Attempted Murder, Salman Rushdie recalls a doctor's observation at a Pennsylvania hospital where he was brought after a knife attack on him on August 12, 2022. "You know what you are lucky about? You are lucky that the man who attacked you had no idea how to kill a man with a knife." For 27-seconds on that fateful day, Rushdie was stabbed and slashed wildly by a 24-year-old man at a literary event in New York's Chautauqua. The author of fifteen novels lost an eye and the use of an arm due to the attack. Authorities later described the attacker sympathetic to Shia extremism and the causes of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The knife attack on Rushdie came over 33 years after that Valentine's Day of 1989 when Iran's then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared his novel 'The Satanic Verses' blasphemous and issued a fatwa ordering his execution and "all those involved in its publication." Also watch | WION Wideangle | Salman Rushdie attacked: The World of Fatwas, decoded × While on a hospital bed after the knife attack, the opening line of 'The Satanic Verses' returned to haunt the 76-year-old author. "To be born again," sang Gibreel farishta from the heavens, "first you have to die". For decades after that fatwa, Rushdie went on to live as a free person. He wrote book after book, delivered lectures, travelled, married, divorced, and emerged as the nucleus of New York's literature circuit while gathering admirers and critics across the world. Also read | Salman Rushdie says he saw himself being stabbed in a dream just before the attack But in 2022, the semblance of normalcy in Rushdie's life was fundamentally changed. It was three days before the 75th anniversary of India's freedom from the British rule. "I was in the habit of calling Indian Independence Day 'Saleem's birthday'," Rushdie writes, as this was the moment in which Saleem Sinai, the antihero and narrator of 'Midnight's Children' had been born in 1947. "But this year Independence Day had a more personal meaning. Monday, August 15 was Day Three. The day on which it became clear that I would continue to live," Rushdie writes of the moment when he knew he had survived. As a city boy born in Bombay, who found home in London and New York at different points of time in his life, Rushdie in past has characterised roots as a "conservative myth, designed to keep us in our places." But in the 'Knife', he describes dreaming about returning to his place of birth, present-day Mumbai, as one of the manifestations of the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the knife attack . "I dreamed of returning to my beloved Bombay — not Mumbai — and kneeling to kiss the tarmac after coming down from the plane." "But when I looked up there was a crowd shouting at me, Dafa ho. Begone." After the near-fatal stabbing and decades of threats following Khomeini's fatwa, 'Knife, Meditations After An Attempted Murder', is Rushdie's intimate and intellectually stimulating death-defying act. He refuses to name the attacker and describes him merely as A. In an imaginary conversation with the attacker spanning several pages, Rushdie pulls off a fierce literary defence of free speech. As an atheist, Rushdie dissects debatable aspects of faith, religiosity and the way they push vulnerable individuals like A. towards extremism. His referral to description of death-and-dying by other literature giants and cinematic geniuses — and some incredibly poignant Shakespearean invocation — adds to the breathless narrative of the book. At its heart, the book challenges the very orthodoxy that filled A. with hatred vile enough that he nearly killed Rushdie for purportedly being "disingenuous". Rushdie defends an artist and art's right to exist because without art, "our ability to think, to see freshly, and to renew our world would wither and die". "Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity, and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist," Rushdie writes. "Art accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence. And in the end, it outlasts those who oppress it." 'Knife, Meditations After an Attempted Murder' by Salman Rushdie is published by Penguin Random House. It is available online and major bookstores across the world.

Salman Rushdie's 'Knife' cuts open an empowering defence of free speech

Whether you are a fan of the sport of Tennis or not, most bibliophiles know and would tell you that Andre Agassi's memoir 'Open' is one of the finest, most trite yet egoistically well-written look-back-at-my-famous-life there ever was. Will Smith's penchant for detail--from the beltings at home by his raging alcoholic father to that life-altering moment with Arnold Schwarzenegger, this man has the memory of a whale--is similar in language. The loud, self-derogation tonality of the biography is nothing but a curtain raiser to the self-obsessed, extremely talented and one of the finest salesman of Hollywood, ladies and gentleman: Will Smith for you!&nbsp;

<img alt="vjlnljbvjhbnk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="10f8fc88-da4f-479e-9892-e394bcc8489f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-11-27T195542.495.jpg" /> 
'Will' impresses for two reasons: the actor presents the self-help rhetoric at periodic intervals to satiate his readers' need for a good cry, and, despite his best efforts to keep ego massages in check, his preachy anecdotes about the glorious life he gets to live as one of the biggest Black stars of all time. Will Smith sure as shell knows it's not easy being Will Smith, but success is self-admittedly his heroine and he isn't in it for rehabilitation, so he masks his insecurities and plays the game. Every single day, or so he says.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-chhorii-review-nushrratt-bharuccha-takes-one-for-the-team-431971" hreflang="en">'Chhorii' review: Nushrratt Bharuccha takes one for the team</a>

 
The chapters dedicated to his tender years and the subsequent bravado at home--he quit school to be a rapper, one of the firsts to win a Grammy in fact--are carefully planted emotional snippets from the life of a Black success story who catapulted to superstardom at a time when inclusion was a topic people did not talk even at support group meetings.&nbsp;

 
'Men in Black', 'Enemy of the State', Oscar nominated 'Ali' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness', again 'Men in Black II', 'Independence Day' and even 'Hancock', Will Smith will proudly have you know he has made outrageous amounts of money that he could retire tomorrow if he wants to.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-wion-exclusive-carryminati-my-alter-ego-made-me-from-being-invisible-to-widely-recognised-430716" hreflang="en">WION exclusive! CarryMinati: My alter ego made me from being invisible to widely recognised</a>

 
Entertainment must really be running thick in his blood veins for he gets candid about love and sex, slightly held back in portions where he talks about his polygamous marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith, and his unapologetic tendency for success. "Skeptics call it self-delusion (referring to 'Summertime'); I call it ‘another Grammy’ and ‘my first #1 record.’ ” Will Smith is boastful and wants his life to serve as case study to those on the brink of giving up, or not. The intention is noble, the tone could have been mildly modest.&nbsp;

<img alt="vbjkllb.lm." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c2944e5-74e0-47c5-bbc8-667483393229" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-11-27T195620.495.jpg" /> 
Yes, a recurring theme in Smith's memoir--which he has written with able help from 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' author, Mark Manson--is the constant tussle between the invincible Hollywood star and the 'coward' buried under layers of 'overcompensation and fake bravado'. But the most honest Will Smith ever gets in this self-deprecating, megalomaniacal memoir is the part where he gets around to talking about the driving force in his life--the absolute desire to win. We learn that even when he is just playing Monopoly with his children, he is in it to win. The 'King Richard' star--one of the Oscar hopefuls this year--has zero, and we really mean 'zero', qualms about his characteristic trait of wanting to be somebody, reach somewhere in life. So, this piece of information should come as no surprise that when one of his movies smashed all Box-Office records, he wanted to surpass the actor who was making all the noise at the time: Jim Carrey. If Carrey was making $20 million a movie, Smith started bidding at 21. As a reader and lover of cinema, one cannot help but respect Will Smith's unquenchable thirst for success, and he being so brutally open about it.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-tiger-king-2-review-joe-exotics-life-is-now-a-reality-show-with-more-drama-than-the-kardashians-430587" hreflang="en">'Tiger King 2' review: Joe Exotic's life is now a reality show with more drama than the Kardashians</a>

 
In one of the first pages, Smith describes his persona as "the alien-annihilating MC, the bigger-than-life movie star, is largely a construction — a carefully crafted and honed character — designed to protect myself. To hide myself from the world. To hide the coward"--which, frankly, is a bit over the top of an introduction even by Smith's standards, but it does drive home a strong point: you love Will Smith for all the charm he sprinkles all over you whenever he is on camera, and not the sob stories that seem to have defined his formative years.

 
Both 'Will' and Will Smith are put ups that you love to love, sexual drama or shameful tax fiascos or not.&nbsp;

'Will' is now available on Audible India.&nbsp;

Whether you are a fan of the sport of Tennis or not, most bibliophiles know and would tell you that Andre Agassi's memoir 'Open' is one of the finest, most trite yet egoistically well-written look-back-at-my-famous-life there ever was.

Whether you are a fan of the sport of Tennis or not, most bibliophiles know and would tell you that Andre Agassi's memoir 'Open' is one of the finest, most trite yet egoistically well-written look-back-at-my-famous-life there ever was. Will Smith's penchant for detail--from the beltings at home by his raging alcoholic father to that life-altering moment with Arnold Schwarzenegger, this man has the memory of a whale--is similar in language. The loud, self-derogation tonality of the biography is nothing but a curtain raiser to the self-obsessed, extremely talented and one of the finest salesman of Hollywood, ladies and gentleman: Will Smith for you! 'Will' impresses for two reasons: the actor presents the self-help rhetoric at periodic intervals to satiate his readers' need for a good cry, and, despite his best efforts to keep ego massages in check, his preachy anecdotes about the glorious life he gets to live as one of the biggest Black stars of all time. Will Smith sure as shell knows it's not easy being Will Smith, but success is self-admittedly his heroine and he isn't in it for rehabilitation, so he masks his insecurities and plays the game. Every single day, or so he says. Also read: 'Chhorii' review: Nushrratt Bharuccha takes one for the team The chapters dedicated to his tender years and the subsequent bravado at home--he quit school to be a rapper, one of the firsts to win a Grammy in fact--are carefully planted emotional snippets from the life of a Black success story who catapulted to superstardom at a time when inclusion was a topic people did not talk even at support group meetings. 'Men in Black', 'Enemy of the State', Oscar nominated 'Ali' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness', again 'Men in Black II', 'Independence Day' and even 'Hancock', Will Smith will proudly have you know he has made outrageous amounts of money that he could retire tomorrow if he wants to. Also read: WION exclusive! CarryMinati: My alter ego made me from being invisible to widely recognised Entertainment must really be running thick in his blood veins for he gets candid about love and sex, slightly held back in portions where he talks about his polygamous marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith, and his unapologetic tendency for success. "Skeptics call it self-delusion (referring to 'Summertime'); I call it ‘another Grammy’ and ‘my first #1 record.’ ” Will Smith is boastful and wants his life to serve as case study to those on the brink of giving up, or not. The intention is noble, the tone could have been mildly modest. Yes, a recurring theme in Smith's memoir--which he has written with able help from 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' author, Mark Manson--is the constant tussle between the invincible Hollywood star and the 'coward' buried under layers of 'overcompensation and fake bravado'. But the most honest Will Smith ever gets in this self-deprecating, megalomaniacal memoir is the part where he gets around to talking about the driving force in his life--the absolute desire to win. We learn that even when he is just playing Monopoly with his children, he is in it to win. The 'King Richard' star--one of the Oscar hopefuls this year--has zero, and we really mean 'zero', qualms about his characteristic trait of wanting to be somebody, reach somewhere in life. So, this piece of information should come as no surprise that when one of his movies smashed all Box-Office records, he wanted to surpass the actor who was making all the noise at the time: Jim Carrey. If Carrey was making $20 million a movie, Smith started bidding at 21. As a reader and lover of cinema, one cannot help but respect Will Smith's unquenchable thirst for success, and he being so brutally open about it. Also read: 'Tiger King 2' review: Joe Exotic's life is now a reality show with more drama than the Kardashians In one of the first pages, Smith describes his persona as "the alien-annihilating MC, the bigger-than-life movie star, is largely a construction — a carefully crafted and honed character — designed to protect myself. To hide myself from the world. To hide the coward"--which, frankly, is a bit over the top of an introduction even by Smith's standards, but it does drive home a strong point: you love Will Smith for all the charm he sprinkles all over you whenever he is on camera, and not the sob stories that seem to have defined his formative years. Both 'Will' and Will Smith are put ups that you love to love, sexual drama or shameful tax fiascos or not. 'Will' is now available on Audible India.

'Will' book review: Will Smith, the superstar, confronts Will Smith, the coward

A recent democracy report by the Swedish V-Dem Institute -- which deplores and regrets the decline in democracy globally -- has primarily warned that India “is on the verge of losing its status as a democracy". One of the factors reponsible for this decline -- and not collapse, the report mentions, is severe shrinking of civil society."

Some intellectual trespassing between political philosophy and the social sciences have, to this end, helped entrepreneur and author Atul Khanna decipher the singlemost reason behind this -- the old form bureaucracy, which stands to break the backbone of Indian polity.

In an exclusive conversation with wionews.com, Atul Khanna spoke about how he fostered the idea of a new India in his book 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha | 600 million bright and young; free and trapped', and his passion for rebuilding the country.

"We are being governed with unsharpened, old tools. The direction of change in the 21st century is uniquely programmed in a way that we should be champions, and not victims. These tools are making the 600 million odd people hungry, under-performing, and victims. We are giving premiums to 60-year-old people who are more interested in getting their pensions and playing safe. We have to get the rid of the 'ambassador car' (read: an old-fashioned model of car). India is a leadership-obsessed country, and we have to realise that we are just changing the driver of the car from time to time but the car will keep functioning the way it has always," Khanna told wionews.com.

The author of the book further said, "My book is about all this. It is about the governance of the country, and not about the political system. My book also has solutions in its later half. It gives structural solutions to India's problems.

"'Between Me and You' is in three parts -- 'what needs to change' makes the first part. The second is about assuming the change howsoever dramatic and revolutionary it may seem. 'What this changes would mean' makes for the third part."

The title 'Between Me and You' sounds somewhat a fictional account, but Khanna begs to differ.

He told wionews.com: "Rather than writing a boring civic lesson on how a system should function, I wanted to draw a larger audience. So the style of the book became its title."

So what are the tools that India needs to get rid of or adopt in order to pave its way back to development?

Khanna said, "First and foremost... We have to have a transferable vote. We also need a mixed model of voting where the elected leader comes via a transferable vote -- so that there are no political cartels. And the leader is elected by the people directly.

"In India, parties, unlike in other nations, are not governed by the Constitution. So nobody comes to know who get the ticket and why."

Notably, with the Single Transferable Vote, the strength of the parties matches the strength of their support in the country, and representatives have a strong local link.

Under the system, areas elect a small team of representatives, such as four or five. These representatives reflect the diversity of opinions in the area.

On election day, voters number a list of candidates. Their favourite as number one, their second favourite number two, and so on. Voters can put numbers next to as many or as few candidates as they like. Parties will often stand more than one candidate in each area.

The numbers tell the people counting to move your vote if your favourite candidate has enough votes already or stands no chance of winning.

To get elected, a candidate needs a set amount of votes, known as the quota. The people counting the votes work out the quota based on the number of vacancies and the number of votes cast.

Each voter has one vote. Once the counting has finished, any candidate who has more number ones than the quota is elected. But, rather than ignore extra votes a candidate received after the amount they need to win, these votes move to each voter’s second favourite candidate.

If no one reaches the quota, then the people counting the vote remove the least popular candidate. People who voted for them have their votes moved to their second favourite candidate. This process continues until every vacancy is filled.

With the implementation of such system in India, the cartelisation of district votes, Khanna said, would go away. This would also kill dynasty politics, he added.

Khanna, however, said he is not against the son or the daughter succeeding the parent in politics. But, he said, "it should not happen in a system which is loaded in their favour."

In his book, Atul Khanna has also mentioned about the vice of rote learning. He told wionews.com: "You cannot decide if or not a person is eligible for a profession based on a two-hour long exam. Their should be an aptitude test as well. These exams thrive on scarcity -- of skills and talent.

"People often say to me I am a dreamer. Because these things sound so dreamy and far-fetched. But these ought to be done anyway."

They do. In all honesty. But the author has an interesting take on this.

Khanna said, "Would you rather have seed that take a long time to grow into a tree? Or a soil without any seeds?

"There is a complete lack of societal ideas in the society, particularly in India. And I am striving to bring them on through my book. I don't know if I'll be able to see it in my lifetime. But I'll strive so that somebody sees in their lifetime."

BUREAUCRACY -- THE BIGGEST HURDLE

Khanna further summarised his entire book in one simple sentence -- "it's the bureaucracy that is standing in the way of people getting jobs, not any government."

"Look at the larger picture, the government has to fight elections every five years. What do these bureaucrats do? Bureaucracy is blocking the growth of the nation," he added.

The author then went ahead to explain in detail the 'better' half of the title of his book 'Flight to Societal Moksha'. He said, "Personal 'moksha' (read: salvation) has made people too selfish. The point I have stressed in my book is what we need to do to achieve 'societal moksha'; what we need to do to make the society better.

"Mediocrity finishes you. The larger vision of the society has changed to security. People want life-long incomes, life-long security. But nobody thinks about entrepreneurship. Social equity and rewards for entrepreneurship are totally missing from India."

"We have to work doubly, triply hard now so that we survive as a democracy. Being called a developing nation is a self-certificate. We have to save ourselves from being the laughing stock. We have to work, and entrepreneurship, and better opportunities to create it, is the only way," Atul Khanna added.

So what is so different about his book 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha'?

"In my book, not only have I written about the problems, but also solutions. I have clearly said that the politicians are not bad; it's the political system that makes them that is the culprit. I have also written about the structural changes that need to be made for the 'societal moksha'. My books mentions what needs to be done; why and how. And also, who needs to do it," the author said.

Printed in black and white pages, the 300-page 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha' was published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing. It serves as a detailed analytical account of the Constitution. Author Atul Khanna also provides a set of suggestions to improve and upgrade the Constitution.

'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha | 600 million bright and young; free and trapped' is available on amazon.in.

A recent democracy report by the Swedish V-Dem Institute -- which deplores and regrets the decline in democracy globally -- has primarily warned that India “is on the verge of losing its status as a democracy".

A recent democracy report by the Swedish V-Dem Institute -- which deplores and regrets the decline in democracy globally -- has primarily warned that India “is on the verge of losing its status as a democracy". One of the factors reponsible for this decline -- and not collapse, the report mentions, is severe shrinking of civil society." Some intellectual trespassing between political philosophy and the social sciences have, to this end, helped entrepreneur and author Atul Khanna decipher the singlemost reason behind this -- the old form bureaucracy, which stands to break the backbone of Indian polity. In an exclusive conversation with wionews.com, Atul Khanna spoke about how he fostered the idea of a new India in his book 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha | 600 million bright and young; free and trapped', and his passion for rebuilding the country. "We are being governed with unsharpened, old tools. The direction of change in the 21st century is uniquely programmed in a way that we should be champions, and not victims. These tools are making the 600 million odd people hungry, under-performing, and victims. We are giving premiums to 60-year-old people who are more interested in getting their pensions and playing safe. We have to get the rid of the 'ambassador car' (read: an old-fashioned model of car). India is a leadership-obsessed country, and we have to realise that we are just changing the driver of the car from time to time but the car will keep functioning the way it has always," Khanna told wionews.com. The author of the book further said, "My book is about all this. It is about the governance of the country, and not about the political system. My book also has solutions in its later half. It gives structural solutions to India's problems. "'Between Me and You' is in three parts -- 'what needs to change' makes the first part. The second is about assuming the change howsoever dramatic and revolutionary it may seem. 'What this changes would mean' makes for the third part." The title 'Between Me and You' sounds somewhat a fictional account, but Khanna begs to differ. He told wionews.com: "Rather than writing a boring civic lesson on how a system should function, I wanted to draw a larger audience. So the style of the book became its title." So what are the tools that India needs to get rid of or adopt in order to pave its way back to development? Khanna said, "First and foremost... We have to have a transferable vote. We also need a mixed model of voting where the elected leader comes via a transferable vote -- so that there are no political cartels. And the leader is elected by the people directly. "In India, parties, unlike in other nations, are not governed by the Constitution. So nobody comes to know who get the ticket and why." Notably, with the Single Transferable Vote, the strength of the parties matches the strength of their support in the country, and representatives have a strong local link. Under the system, areas elect a small team of representatives, such as four or five. These representatives reflect the diversity of opinions in the area. On election day, voters number a list of candidates. Their favourite as number one, their second favourite number two, and so on. Voters can put numbers next to as many or as few candidates as they like. Parties will often stand more than one candidate in each area. The numbers tell the people counting to move your vote if your favourite candidate has enough votes already or stands no chance of winning. To get elected, a candidate needs a set amount of votes, known as the quota. The people counting the votes work out the quota based on the number of vacancies and the number of votes cast. Each voter has one vote. Once the counting has finished, any candidate who has more number ones than the quota is elected. But, rather than ignore extra votes a candidate received after the amount they need to win, these votes move to each voter’s second favourite candidate. If no one reaches the quota, then the people counting the vote remove the least popular candidate. People who voted for them have their votes moved to their second favourite candidate. This process continues until every vacancy is filled. With the implementation of such system in India, the cartelisation of district votes, Khanna said, would go away. This would also kill dynasty politics, he added. Khanna, however, said he is not against the son or the daughter succeeding the parent in politics. But, he said, "it should not happen in a system which is loaded in their favour." In his book, Atul Khanna has also mentioned about the vice of rote learning. He told wionews.com: "You cannot decide if or not a person is eligible for a profession based on a two-hour long exam. Their should be an aptitude test as well. These exams thrive on scarcity -- of skills and talent. "People often say to me I am a dreamer. Because these things sound so dreamy and far-fetched. But these ought to be done anyway." They do. In all honesty. But the author has an interesting take on this. Khanna said, "Would you rather have seed that take a long time to grow into a tree? Or a soil without any seeds? "There is a complete lack of societal ideas in the society, particularly in India. And I am striving to bring them on through my book. I don't know if I'll be able to see it in my lifetime. But I'll strive so that somebody sees in their lifetime." BUREAUCRACY -- THE BIGGEST HURDLE Khanna further summarised his entire book in one simple sentence -- "it's the bureaucracy that is standing in the way of people getting jobs, not any government." "Look at the larger picture, the government has to fight elections every five years. What do these bureaucrats do? Bureaucracy is blocking the growth of the nation," he added. The author then went ahead to explain in detail the 'better' half of the title of his book 'Flight to Societal Moksha'. He said, "Personal 'moksha' (read: salvation) has made people too selfish. The point I have stressed in my book is what we need to do to achieve 'societal moksha'; what we need to do to make the society better. "Mediocrity finishes you. The larger vision of the society has changed to security. People want life-long incomes, life-long security. But nobody thinks about entrepreneurship. Social equity and rewards for entrepreneurship are totally missing from India." "We have to work doubly, triply hard now so that we survive as a democracy. Being called a developing nation is a self-certificate. We have to save ourselves from being the laughing stock. We have to work, and entrepreneurship, and better opportunities to create it, is the only way," Atul Khanna added. So what is so different about his book 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha'? "In my book, not only have I written about the problems, but also solutions. I have clearly said that the politicians are not bad; it's the political system that makes them that is the culprit. I have also written about the structural changes that need to be made for the 'societal moksha'. My books mentions what needs to be done; why and how. And also, who needs to do it," the author said. Printed in black and white pages, the 300-page 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha' was published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing. It serves as a detailed analytical account of the Constitution. Author Atul Khanna also provides a set of suggestions to improve and upgrade the Constitution. 'Between You and Me: Flight to Societal Moksha | 600 million bright and young; free and trapped' is available on amazon.in.

'Between You and Me' author Atul Khanna speaks about bureaucracy in India, 'societal moksha'

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which&nbsp;outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS&nbsp;Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies.

Though the book had the scope to go into the details of important decisions which RSS took, however, the author has refrained from doing so. The basic takeaway from the book is that RSS is not as rigid in its dogma as it comes across from outside.

Last year, journalists were taken by surprise when Mohan Bhagwat, in a press conference, said that certain portions from&nbsp;M S Golwalkar's (the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS) book - 'A Bunch of Thoughts', have been edited. He said that eternal thoughts have been retained and those&nbsp;found to be outdated and out of context have been removed. At that&nbsp;time, I thought that it is a paradigm shift but that was not the case, which I discovered after reading Arun Anand's book.

The author has published a speech of Balasaheb Deoras (the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS), given on May 8, 1974 in Pune, wherein in the context of religion and outdated practices, Deoras spoke about&nbsp;eternal and changeable thoughts. In his speech, he categorically stated that organisation can do away with old and out of context practices as they have become irrelevant.&nbsp;

It demonstrates that change may come slow to RSS, but it is not immune to it.&nbsp;It is for this reason, the RSS has repositioned itself in the context of minorities and softened its ethnocultural nationalism wherever it is required. The example, in this case, is North East where RSS did not let beef become an issue in Nagaland and Meghalaya elections. RSS has also softened its position on multiple issues keeping the political&nbsp;climate in mind. 
 
The example in the case could be putting Ayodhya issue to sleep when Vajpayee ran a coalition government.

It is for this reason many people fail to fathom RSS’s deep inroads in ST, SC and OBC sections of the society.

Similarly, the book dwells into individual contributions made by the RSS heads during their respective tenures. For example, MS Golwalkar’s thrust on pracharak system and cow to be used as a symbol of a cultural and political entity or a massive expansion of RSS under Deoras. 
 
<img alt="The Saffron Surge" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1019901-bd58-4668-ad7f-0178ab5d0f26" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/rss_0.jpeg" />

The book also highlights the role of K S Sudarshan (the fifth Sarsanghchalak of RSS) taking up the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh and drawing a line between refugees and illegal immigrants which the current government has incorporated in the bill which is yet to be passed by Parliament.

The book introduces the reader to thoughts and ideas of various RSS heads which allowed the organisation to grow in multiple directions.

What the book did not do and could have done was - covering important political developments which people remember. For example, the formation of anti-Congress governments in 1967, formation of Janata Party government in 1977 and its view of VP Singh government. Though RSS says that it has never been directly into politics, but the views espoused by the heads have always turned into policy issues for BJP.

The book could have gone into details of Sudarshan’s view on Vajpayee and Advani when he wanted them to make a way for the younger generation. These issues would have cast greater light on the important role which RSS chiefs have played all along. The author should have also contextualised the riots and why a certain section was at the receiving end.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Today, a lot of people attribute the success of harnessing diaspora to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but after reading the book you understand that it is a result of cumulative efforts put in by respective RSS chiefs.

M S Golwalkar organised a Global Hindu Convention in 1966 at Prayag. &nbsp;His initiative was further carried forward by Dr. Rajendra Singh aka Rajju bhaiya who became the first RSS chief to extensively travel outside the country. Certain words which have become prominent in the tenure of BJP can also be traced back to some RSS chiefs. For example, Rajju bhaiya used the word &nbsp;‘Assertive Hindu’ to describe the organisation.

The thrust towards Swadeshi science received a special push when Sudarshan officiated as the head, are one of the few highlights of the book which shows a deep umbilical connection of BJP with RSS. Arun has also traced the origin of the relationship between RSS and BJP by going back to the time and describing the way Bharatiya Jana Sangh received help from RSS when Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was at helms of affair. At this point of time, Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nana Ji Deshmukh got associated with the BJS. 
&nbsp; 
His book also details the formation of RSS during colonial India. He, very deftly, describes what its founder Dr. Hedgewar did but has failed to look into what influenced him to come up with the idea of cultural ethnonationalism. This would have made the book interesting. For an example, It is well known as to who and what influenced Gandhi and Nehru but we do not get a glimpse of the mental map of almost all the Sarsanghchalaks in the book.

Like it or not, RSS is here to stay in India, but its role and perception has changed.

It claims to be a cultural organisation but people at large now believe, and which is true, that RSS has turned into a mean electoral machine by investing itself heavily in the civil society issues.

It is here the Congress has failed, and hence, declined rapidly in many areas. RSS is a project to change the contours of the Hindu society, but India is a multicultural country and, in future, RSS may again have to make a change in its functioning and ideology as per the emerging reality if it wants to evolve and survive.

Lastly, RSS played an important role in making Vajpayee and Modi the Prime Ministers but its Hindutva politics has limits. Vajpayee became PM because of coalition vote and Modi because aspirational India came along the RSS-BJP combine. Hindutva vote alone is not enough for RSS to keep it political project floating and that is the hard reality.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies.

'The Saffron Surge' is a book for those who want to know about people who ran RSS. It is a book which outlines basic facts and life chronology of RSS Sarsanghchalaks and those who shaped its politics and policies. Though the book had the scope to go into the details of important decisions which RSS took, however, the author has refrained from doing so. The basic takeaway from the book is that RSS is not as rigid in its dogma as it comes across from outside. Last year, journalists were taken by surprise when Mohan Bhagwat, in a press conference, said that certain portions from M S Golwalkar's (the second Sarsanghchalak of RSS) book - 'A Bunch of Thoughts', have been edited. He said that eternal thoughts have been retained and those found to be outdated and out of context have been removed. At that time, I thought that it is a paradigm shift but that was not the case, which I discovered after reading Arun Anand's book. The author has published a speech of Balasaheb Deoras (the third Sarsanghchalak of RSS), given on May 8, 1974 in Pune, wherein in the context of religion and outdated practices, Deoras spoke about eternal and changeable thoughts. In his speech, he categorically stated that organisation can do away with old and out of context practices as they have become irrelevant. It demonstrates that change may come slow to RSS, but it is not immune to it. It is for this reason, the RSS has repositioned itself in the context of minorities and softened its ethnocultural nationalism wherever it is required. The example, in this case, is North East where RSS did not let beef become an issue in Nagaland and Meghalaya elections. RSS has also softened its position on multiple issues keeping the political climate in mind. The example in the case could be putting Ayodhya issue to sleep when Vajpayee ran a coalition government. It is for this reason many people fail to fathom RSS’s deep inroads in ST, SC and OBC sections of the society. Similarly, the book dwells into individual contributions made by the RSS heads during their respective tenures. For example, MS Golwalkar’s thrust on pracharak system and cow to be used as a symbol of a cultural and political entity or a massive expansion of RSS under Deoras. The book also highlights the role of K S Sudarshan (the fifth Sarsanghchalak of RSS) taking up the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh and drawing a line between refugees and illegal immigrants which the current government has incorporated in the bill which is yet to be passed by Parliament. The book introduces the reader to thoughts and ideas of various RSS heads which allowed the organisation to grow in multiple directions. What the book did not do and could have done was - covering important political developments which people remember. For example, the formation of anti-Congress governments in 1967, formation of Janata Party government in 1977 and its view of VP Singh government. Though RSS says that it has never been directly into politics, but the views espoused by the heads have always turned into policy issues for BJP. The book could have gone into details of Sudarshan’s view on Vajpayee and Advani when he wanted them to make a way for the younger generation. These issues would have cast greater light on the important role which RSS chiefs have played all along. The author should have also contextualised the riots and why a certain section was at the receiving end. Today, a lot of people attribute the success of harnessing diaspora to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but after reading the book you understand that it is a result of cumulative efforts put in by respective RSS chiefs. M S Golwalkar organised a Global Hindu Convention in 1966 at Prayag. His initiative was further carried forward by Dr. Rajendra Singh aka Rajju bhaiya who became the first RSS chief to extensively travel outside the country. Certain words which have become prominent in the tenure of BJP can also be traced back to some RSS chiefs. For example, Rajju bhaiya used the word ‘Assertive Hindu’ to describe the organisation. The thrust towards Swadeshi science received a special push when Sudarshan officiated as the head, are one of the few highlights of the book which shows a deep umbilical connection of BJP with RSS. Arun has also traced the origin of the relationship between RSS and BJP by going back to the time and describing the way Bharatiya Jana Sangh received help from RSS when Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was at helms of affair. At this point of time, Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nana Ji Deshmukh got associated with the BJS. His book also details the formation of RSS during colonial India. He, very deftly, describes what its founder Dr. Hedgewar did but has failed to look into what influenced him to come up with the idea of cultural ethnonationalism. This would have made the book interesting. For an example, It is well known as to who and what influenced Gandhi and Nehru but we do not get a glimpse of the mental map of almost all the Sarsanghchalaks in the book. Like it or not, RSS is here to stay in India, but its role and perception has changed. It claims to be a cultural organisation but people at large now believe, and which is true, that RSS has turned into a mean electoral machine by investing itself heavily in the civil society issues. It is here the Congress has failed, and hence, declined rapidly in many areas. RSS is a project to change the contours of the Hindu society, but India is a multicultural country and, in future, RSS may again have to make a change in its functioning and ideology as per the emerging reality if it wants to evolve and survive. Lastly, RSS played an important role in making Vajpayee and Modi the Prime Ministers but its Hindutva politics has limits. Vajpayee became PM because of coalition vote and Modi because aspirational India came along the RSS-BJP combine. Hindutva vote alone is not enough for RSS to keep it political project floating and that is the hard reality. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Book review: 'The Saffron Surge' - RSS is not immune to the changing world but needs to do more

The prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly is in the news again. His autobiography “A Century Is Not Enough” is out.

As far as the title of the book goes, it seems that he was inspired by ex-diplomat Kunwar Natwar Singh, who released his autobiography a few years back with the title “One Life Is Not Enough”. But barring title it is a different stuff altogether.

Though, I still have to read the book but have read many reviews of it and got to know about it to the considerable extent. As I read in one of the reviews of the book, you may love Sourav or despise him but you have to accept that he has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades.

Sourav Ganguly is the man with strong conviction – “I am like this only, leave me or take me” sort of. When Ganguly is telling the world about his life and career through his book, for someone like me who had followed his career from end-to-end, it becomes quite important to recall salient moments of his career.

When Ganguly was selected for the tri-series in Australia in 1991-92, all we thought that he was a budding cricketer, son of an influential Cricket administrator who was pushed to international arena quite prematurely.

Since he was with the side for the months (remember each side played eight group matches in that series), he was given a chance in an ODI (his debut match for India) against West Indies. It was a forgettable show Ganguly was dropped and forgotten.

We hardly noticed him for the next 4 ½ years, until his name was announced (rather unexpectedly) for the tour of England in the summer of 1996. He and Rahul Dravid grabbed the places vacated by Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar in the middle order with both the hands.

Sourav Ganguly scored back to back centuries and attained cult status instantaneously. Over the next few years, he pipped Rahul Dravid for the claim of captaincy as Ganguly was an undisputed member of ODI team as well, which Dravid wasn’t during 1997-98.

One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman the god of offside as he was described once. He along with Tendulkar was one of the most successful ODI opening pairs in the history. He played many great knocks in ODIs but the one at Taunton (he scored 183) against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match deserves a special mention.

Ganguly had a dream run as Indian skipper during 2000-05. True that he had batsmen like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman at his disposal but still plenty of credit for the resurrection of the team goes to the fearless and aggressive leadership of Ganguly. During his period at the helm, Ganguly was handling both veterans and newcomers quite well.

Remember Tendulkar was almost seven years his senior in Test seniority. Ganguly was audacious. He has admitted that one of the toughest tasks for him was to tell Anil Kumble during an overseas tour once that Kumble was not making the cut into the playing eleven. Ganguly must be in an awkward situation considering Kumble made his Test debut six years before Ganguly.

Ganguly has praised MS Dhoni unequivocally in his book and very subtly took the credit of given Dhoni to the nation. As such the claim Ganguly has made is correct. It was Ganguly who put the final stamp on Dhoni’s inclusion in team India in 2004 and he promoted him up in the batting order in that famous Vizag ODI against Pakistan.

Dhoni slammed a century and rest is history. During his last Test match in 2008 against Australia, as a mark for respect, Dhoni asked Ganguly to lead the side when India was fielding. Ganguly has well acknowledged that goodwill gesture in his book.

Apart from Dhoni, Ganguly handled newcomers very well. He played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days.

In his book, Ganguly had given sufficient coverage to his feud with Greg Chappel. It was a forgettable episode of Ganguly’s career. Ganguly has mentioned that he had some other impression of Chappel (a positive impression) when he met him in Australia but things were entirely different when Chappel joined team India as the coach.

Sourav is free to have his take on the episode but he could have probably handled the whole issue is the more mature way. The spat went dirty beyond limits, which affected Ganguly’s career as well.

But this is the way Ganguly has been, outspoken and with great conviction about his actions. In later years, he teamed up with Shahrukh Khan for KKR when IPL started in 2008. But partnerships fell flat soon. Ganguly has covered this well in his book.

Sourav Ganguly had a roller coaster career during 1996-2008 for India and for IPL thereafter for few years. His autobiography must be a good read for Cricket freak and hope it is as slick as his batting used to be.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Sourav Ganguly had a roller coaster career during 1996-2008 for India and for IPL thereafter for few years

The prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly is in the news again. His autobiography “A Century Is Not Enough” is out. As far as the title of the book goes, it seems that he was inspired by ex-diplomat Kunwar Natwar Singh, who released his autobiography a few years back with the title “One Life Is Not Enough”. But barring title it is a different stuff altogether. Though, I still have to read the book but have read many reviews of it and got to know about it to the considerable extent. As I read in one of the reviews of the book, you may love Sourav or despise him but you have to accept that he has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades. Sourav Ganguly is the man with strong conviction – “I am like this only, leave me or take me” sort of. When Ganguly is telling the world about his life and career through his book, for someone like me who had followed his career from end-to-end, it becomes quite important to recall salient moments of his career. When Ganguly was selected for the tri-series in Australia in 1991-92, all we thought that he was a budding cricketer, son of an influential Cricket administrator who was pushed to international arena quite prematurely. Since he was with the side for the months (remember each side played eight group matches in that series), he was given a chance in an ODI (his debut match for India) against West Indies. It was a forgettable show Ganguly was dropped and forgotten. We hardly noticed him for the next 4 ½ years, until his name was announced (rather unexpectedly) for the tour of England in the summer of 1996. He and Rahul Dravid grabbed the places vacated by Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar in the middle order with both the hands. Sourav Ganguly scored back to back centuries and attained cult status instantaneously. Over the next few years, he pipped Rahul Dravid for the claim of captaincy as Ganguly was an undisputed member of ODI team as well, which Dravid wasn’t during 1997-98. One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman the god of offside as he was described once. He along with Tendulkar was one of the most successful ODI opening pairs in the history. He played many great knocks in ODIs but the one at Taunton (he scored 183) against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match deserves a special mention. Ganguly had a dream run as Indian skipper during 2000-05. True that he had batsmen like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman at his disposal but still plenty of credit for the resurrection of the team goes to the fearless and aggressive leadership of Ganguly. During his period at the helm, Ganguly was handling both veterans and newcomers quite well. Remember Tendulkar was almost seven years his senior in Test seniority. Ganguly was audacious. He has admitted that one of the toughest tasks for him was to tell Anil Kumble during an overseas tour once that Kumble was not making the cut into the playing eleven. Ganguly must be in an awkward situation considering Kumble made his Test debut six years before Ganguly. Ganguly has praised MS Dhoni unequivocally in his book and very subtly took the credit of given Dhoni to the nation. As such the claim Ganguly has made is correct. It was Ganguly who put the final stamp on Dhoni’s inclusion in team India in 2004 and he promoted him up in the batting order in that famous Vizag ODI against Pakistan. Dhoni slammed a century and rest is history. During his last Test match in 2008 against Australia, as a mark for respect, Dhoni asked Ganguly to lead the side when India was fielding. Ganguly has well acknowledged that goodwill gesture in his book. Apart from Dhoni, Ganguly handled newcomers very well. He played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days. In his book, Ganguly had given sufficient coverage to his feud with Greg Chappel. It was a forgettable episode of Ganguly’s career. Ganguly has mentioned that he had some other impression of Chappel (a positive impression) when he met him in Australia but things were entirely different when Chappel joined team India as the coach. Sourav is free to have his take on the episode but he could have probably handled the whole issue is the more mature way. The spat went dirty beyond limits, which affected Ganguly’s career as well. But this is the way Ganguly has been, outspoken and with great conviction about his actions. In later years, he teamed up with Shahrukh Khan for KKR when IPL started in 2008. But partnerships fell flat soon. Ganguly has covered this well in his book. Sourav Ganguly had a roller coaster career during 1996-2008 for India and for IPL thereafter for few years. His autobiography must be a good read for Cricket freak and hope it is as slick as his batting used to be. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: How Sourav Ganguly led team India from one victory to another

The prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly is in the news again. His autobiography &ldquo;A Century Is Not Enough&rdquo; is out.

As far as the title of the book goes, it seems that he was inspired by ex-diplomat Kunwar Natwar Singh, who released his autobiography a few years back with the title &ldquo;One Life Is Not Enough&rdquo;. But barring title it is a different stuff altogether.

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<h5>Sourav Ganguly has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades.</h5>
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Though, I still have to read the book but have read many reviews of it and got to know about it to the considerable extent. As I read in one of the reviews of the book, you may love Sourav or despise him but you have to accept that he has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades.

Sourav Ganguly is the man with strong conviction &ndash; &ldquo;I am like this only, leave me or take me&rdquo; sort of. When Ganguly is telling the world about his life and career through his book, for someone like me who had followed his career from end-to-end, it becomes quite important to recall salient moments of his career.

When Ganguly was selected for the tri-series in Australia in 1991-92, all we thought that he was a budding cricketer, son of an influential Cricket administrator who was pushed to international arena quite prematurely.

Since he was with the side for the months (remember each side played eight group matches in that series), he was given a chance in an ODI (his debut match for India) against West Indies. It was a forgettable show; Ganguly was dropped and forgotten.

We hardly noticed him for the next 4 &frac12; years, until his name was announced (rather unexpectedly) for the tour of England in the summer of 1996. He and Rahul Dravid grabbed the places vacated by Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar in the middle order with both the hands.

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<h5>One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman; the god of offside as he was described once.</h5>
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Sourav Ganguly scored back to back centuries and attained cult status instantaneously. Over the next few years, he pipped Rahul Dravid for the claim of captaincy as Ganguly was an undisputed member of ODI team as well, which Dravid wasn&rsquo;t during 1997-98.

One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman; the god of offside as he was described once. He along with Tendulkar was one of the most successful ODI opening pairs in the history. He played many great knocks in ODIs but the one at Taunton (he scored 183) against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match deserves a special mention.

Ganguly had a dream run as Indian skipper during 2000-05. True that he had batsmen like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman at his disposal but still plenty of credit for the resurrection of the team goes to the fearless and aggressive leadership of Ganguly. During his period at the helm, Ganguly was handling both veterans and newcomers quite well.

Remember Tendulkar was almost seven years his senior in Test seniority. Ganguly was audacious. He has admitted that one of the toughest tasks for him was to tell Anil Kumble during an overseas tour once that Kumble was not making the cut into the playing eleven. Ganguly must be in an awkward situation considering Kumble made his Test debut six years before Ganguly.

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<h5>Ganguly played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days.</h5>
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Ganguly has praised MS Dhoni unequivocally in his book and very subtly took the credit of given Dhoni to the nation. As such the claim Ganguly has made is correct. It was Ganguly who put the final stamp on Dhoni&rsquo;s inclusion in team India in 2004 and he promoted him up in the batting order in that famous Vizag ODI against Pakistan.

Dhoni slammed a century and rest is history. During his last Test match in 2008 against Australia, as a mark for respect, Dhoni asked Ganguly to lead the side when India was fielding. Ganguly has well acknowledged that goodwill gesture in his book.

Apart from Dhoni, Ganguly handled newcomers very well. He played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days.

In his book, Ganguly had given sufficient coverage to his feud with Greg Chappel. It was a forgettable episode of Ganguly&rsquo;s career. Ganguly has mentioned that he had some other impression of Chappel (a positive impression) when he met him in Australia but things were entirely different when Chappel joined team India as the coach.

Sourav is free to have his take on the episode but he could have probably handled the whole issue is the more mature way. The spat went dirty beyond limits, which affected Ganguly&rsquo;s career as well.

But this is the way Ganguly has been, outspoken and with great conviction about his actions. In later years, he teamed up with Shahrukh Khan for KKR when IPL started in 2008. But partnerships fell flat soon. Ganguly has covered this well in his book.

Sourav Ganguly had a roller coaster career during 1996-2008 for India and for IPL thereafter for few years. His autobiography must be a good read for Cricket freak and hope it is as slick as his batting used to be.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly is in the news again. His autobiography “A Century Is Not Enough” is out. As far as the title of the book goes, it seems that he was inspired by ex-diplomat Kunwar Natwar Singh, who released his autobiography a few years back with the title “One Life Is Not Enough”. But barring title it is a different stuff altogether. Sourav Ganguly has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades. × Though, I still have to read the book but have read many reviews of it and got to know about it to the considerable extent. As I read in one of the reviews of the book, you may love Sourav or despise him but you have to accept that he has been one of the most impactful players in the Indian Cricket in the recent decades. Sourav Ganguly is the man with strong conviction – “I am like this only, leave me or take me” sort of. When Ganguly is telling the world about his life and career through his book, for someone like me who had followed his career from end-to-end, it becomes quite important to recall salient moments of his career. When Ganguly was selected for the tri-series in Australia in 1991-92, all we thought that he was a budding cricketer, son of an influential Cricket administrator who was pushed to international arena quite prematurely. Since he was with the side for the months (remember each side played eight group matches in that series), he was given a chance in an ODI (his debut match for India) against West Indies. It was a forgettable show; Ganguly was dropped and forgotten. We hardly noticed him for the next 4 ½ years, until his name was announced (rather unexpectedly) for the tour of England in the summer of 1996. He and Rahul Dravid grabbed the places vacated by Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar in the middle order with both the hands. One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman; the god of offside as he was described once. × Sourav Ganguly scored back to back centuries and attained cult status instantaneously. Over the next few years, he pipped Rahul Dravid for the claim of captaincy as Ganguly was an undisputed member of ODI team as well, which Dravid wasn’t during 1997-98. One thing Ganguly established right in the beginning of his career that he was extremely fluent batsman; the god of offside as he was described once. He along with Tendulkar was one of the most successful ODI opening pairs in the history. He played many great knocks in ODIs but the one at Taunton (he scored 183) against Sri Lanka in a World Cup match deserves a special mention. Ganguly had a dream run as Indian skipper during 2000-05. True that he had batsmen like Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman at his disposal but still plenty of credit for the resurrection of the team goes to the fearless and aggressive leadership of Ganguly. During his period at the helm, Ganguly was handling both veterans and newcomers quite well. Remember Tendulkar was almost seven years his senior in Test seniority. Ganguly was audacious. He has admitted that one of the toughest tasks for him was to tell Anil Kumble during an overseas tour once that Kumble was not making the cut into the playing eleven. Ganguly must be in an awkward situation considering Kumble made his Test debut six years before Ganguly. Ganguly played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days. × Ganguly has praised MS Dhoni unequivocally in his book and very subtly took the credit of given Dhoni to the nation. As such the claim Ganguly has made is correct. It was Ganguly who put the final stamp on Dhoni’s inclusion in team India in 2004 and he promoted him up in the batting order in that famous Vizag ODI against Pakistan. Dhoni slammed a century and rest is history. During his last Test match in 2008 against Australia, as a mark for respect, Dhoni asked Ganguly to lead the side when India was fielding. Ganguly has well acknowledged that goodwill gesture in his book. Apart from Dhoni, Ganguly handled newcomers very well. He played a major role in shaping career of Sehwag, Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan in their initial days. In his book, Ganguly had given sufficient coverage to his feud with Greg Chappel. It was a forgettable episode of Ganguly’s career. Ganguly has mentioned that he had some other impression of Chappel (a positive impression) when he met him in Australia but things were entirely different when Chappel joined team India as the coach. Sourav is free to have his take on the episode but he could have probably handled the whole issue is the more mature way. The spat went dirty beyond limits, which affected Ganguly’s career as well. But this is the way Ganguly has been, outspoken and with great conviction about his actions. In later years, he teamed up with Shahrukh Khan for KKR when IPL started in 2008. But partnerships fell flat soon. Ganguly has covered this well in his book. Sourav Ganguly had a roller coaster career during 1996-2008 for India and for IPL thereafter for few years. His autobiography must be a good read for Cricket freak and hope it is as slick as his batting used to be. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Author Koral Dasgupta has always used Indian art, music and dance as a poignant element in her stories. The stories always give an insight into an unknown world of creativity and imaginations. Her first fiction Fall Winter Collection, spoke about music and art in the pristine Shantiniketan, her second fiction, Rasia: The Dance Of Desire, uses Bharatnatyam as a backdrop for a story of love, passion, obsession and jealousy &nbsp;and takes the readers to Mumbai, bylanes of Kolkata and the stony structures of Manhattan. 
 
Dasgupta uses Bharatnatyam as a common thread to string together the three main characters of her book. Both Manasi and Vatsala are good dancers but with completely different temperament. Both are in love with Shekhar, a dynamic leader of Kala Mandir- the dance school that he and his wife Manasi run together. Shekhar&#39;s devotion to dance is unmatched and his decision in life have all centred around his love for the dance form.&nbsp; 
 
While Manasi is calm, loyal and devoted to her husband&#39;s cause, Vatsala is erratic, stubborn and almost challenges Shekhar to teach her dance. Sparks fly almost immediately when Shekhar and Vatsala first meet. He is intrigued by her stubbornness and to ward her off initially, gives her impossible tasks and yet she doesn&#39;t relent which eventually draws Shekhar towards her.&nbsp;

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The book cover of Rasia: The Dance Of Desire (via Koral Dasgupta) (WION)
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Dasgupta uses multiple narrators to take the story forward and as a result, it is difficult to root for one character solely as you get perspective of all of them. The narrative also keeps travelling, from bylanes of Kolkata to the calm Kala Mandir in Mumbai to the maddening Manhattan, New York where Shekhar and Manasi along with their students perform the most ambitious ballet - aptly titled Rasia - a dance between Lord Shiva and his two divine consorts, Gauri and Kali. 
 
While dance binds the three characters, they are uniquely different from each other. At its core is Shekhar, a self-made man who left a regular, comfortable job to pursue his passion for dance. There is a method to his madness, his obsession with dance and while he loves his wife and his people unconditionally, it is also weirdly guided by ambition. His wife, Manasi, on the other hand, is shy, introvert and overtly loyal to her husband. Manasi is the reason behind Shekhar&#39;s stupendous rise yet she keeps herself in the background and lets her man bask in the glory. The third character in the story, Vatsala is impulsive and is stubborn and her obsession with Shekhar leads to havoc in his and Manasi&#39;s marriage.&nbsp; 
 
To her credit, Dasgupta, keeps the language fluid making the book engaging throughout. to describe any dance form through words is difficult, but Dasgupta paints a vivid picture making Bharatnatyam and the people involved with the dance form come alive. In fact, the book has cinematic quality because of its riveting tale of love and obsession.&nbsp; 
 
Should you be reading Rasia?&nbsp;For sure, because not only does it talk of a beautiful story of a man and wife but it also helps in delving a little deeper into Indian classical dance forms.&nbsp;

Publisher: Rupa&nbsp; 
Price: Rs 169

&nbsp;

A story of love, passion and jealous, the story of Rasia has Bharatnatyam at its core.

Author Koral Dasgupta has always used Indian art, music and dance as a poignant element in her stories. The stories always give an insight into an unknown world of creativity and imaginations. Her first fiction Fall Winter Collection, spoke about music and art in the pristine Shantiniketan, her second fiction, Rasia: The Dance Of Desire, uses Bharatnatyam as a backdrop for a story of love, passion, obsession and jealousy and takes the readers to Mumbai, bylanes of Kolkata and the stony structures of Manhattan. Dasgupta uses Bharatnatyam as a common thread to string together the three main characters of her book. Both Manasi and Vatsala are good dancers but with completely different temperament. Both are in love with Shekhar, a dynamic leader of Kala Mandir- the dance school that he and his wife Manasi run together. Shekhar's devotion to dance is unmatched and his decision in life have all centred around his love for the dance form. While Manasi is calm, loyal and devoted to her husband's cause, Vatsala is erratic, stubborn and almost challenges Shekhar to teach her dance. Sparks fly almost immediately when Shekhar and Vatsala first meet. He is intrigued by her stubbornness and to ward her off initially, gives her impossible tasks and yet she doesn't relent which eventually draws Shekhar towards her. The book cover of Rasia: The Dance Of Desire (via Koral Dasgupta) (WION) × Dasgupta uses multiple narrators to take the story forward and as a result, it is difficult to root for one character solely as you get perspective of all of them. The narrative also keeps travelling, from bylanes of Kolkata to the calm Kala Mandir in Mumbai to the maddening Manhattan, New York where Shekhar and Manasi along with their students perform the most ambitious ballet - aptly titled Rasia - a dance between Lord Shiva and his two divine consorts, Gauri and Kali. While dance binds the three characters, they are uniquely different from each other. At its core is Shekhar, a self-made man who left a regular, comfortable job to pursue his passion for dance. There is a method to his madness, his obsession with dance and while he loves his wife and his people unconditionally, it is also weirdly guided by ambition. His wife, Manasi, on the other hand, is shy, introvert and overtly loyal to her husband. Manasi is the reason behind Shekhar's stupendous rise yet she keeps herself in the background and lets her man bask in the glory. The third character in the story, Vatsala is impulsive and is stubborn and her obsession with Shekhar leads to havoc in his and Manasi's marriage. To her credit, Dasgupta, keeps the language fluid making the book engaging throughout. to describe any dance form through words is difficult, but Dasgupta paints a vivid picture making Bharatnatyam and the people involved with the dance form come alive. In fact, the book has cinematic quality because of its riveting tale of love and obsession. Should you be reading Rasia? For sure, because not only does it talk of a beautiful story of a man and wife but it also helps in delving a little deeper into Indian classical dance forms. Publisher: Rupa Price: Rs 169

Book Review: Rasia: The Dance Of Desire

Parveen Talha is a writer, bureaucrat and a lover of the Lucknow city.

Parveen&#39;s achievements are endless. She has been the first Muslim woman in India to serve in any Class I civil service in India, the first Indian Revenue Service officer to become a member of the Union Public Service Commission, and the first woman to serve in Narcotics Department of India.

On the release of her second book, A Word Thrice Uttered, Talha spoke to WION on a number of topics related to her life, literary work, and living. She explained how her surrounding is the biggest inspiration for her writing. She tries to find compelling stories in the people around her.

I asked Parveenji whether writing has been an incomplete dream of her as she started writing only after retirement; Talha responded that she always wanted to become an &quot;independent person&quot; but &quot;writing is something which does not give you a proper status or livelihood until you become a well-known author.&quot; As now, she is retired and made a comfortable life for her, she is focussing on her hobby of writing.

Parveen Talha&#39;s first book, Fida-e-Lucknow as well as her second book, &lsquo;A Word Thrice Uttered&rsquo; make a very deft portrayal of Hindu-Muslim characters. Commenting on it Talha said, it comes from the &#39;Ganga-Jamna tehzeeb&rsquo; of Lucknow. The city is the crucible of &quot;joint culture, meaning all the communities living there becomes part of the other culture.&quot;

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&#39;A Word Thrice Uttered&#39; a book by Parveen Talha. (Others)
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We must say that the &#39;ganga-jamna tehzeeb&rsquo; reflects in the stories also.

Parveen Talha has strong relation with animals too. She feels as much about animals as she feels about humans, and that strong connection she shares with the non-human world reflects in her stories too.

Talha told how she was always &quot;encouraged by her father to always keep an animal and be kind to them.&quot;

Talha believes that &quot;each and everything, be it living or non-living thing made by God, has a purpose to serve and humans have no right to say that it belongs to them only.&quot;

Talha&#39;s stories often show a friendly relationship between different animals. The story Sona and Tiger, for instance, shows an unusual motherly love between a dog and cow. Incidentally, Parveen Talha really enjoys the pictures of different species of animals playing together.

Books of Talha portrays human emotions in a very raw form and because of her lucid writing style a reader, the stories sound very familiar. There is a female character in the story, &#39;Virginity Lost... So What?&#39;, who is trying to find a guy who doesn&#39;t mind her lost virginity Or the boy &#39;In Let Me Have a Love Affair&#39; who desperately tries to fall in love. Talha said she has &quot;felt all those emotions&quot; and she writes what she feels inside.

Parveen believes that &quot;happiness and tragedy come in a cycle in a person&rsquo;s life&quot; and she likes to portray the reality in her stories. And the best way to keep attuned to reality is to make sure that the &quot;protagonist&rsquo;s life can&rsquo;t be filled with happiness only&quot; and it will be a mix of all kinds of ups and downs.

&quot;Happy endings simply mean the story ends there, but beyond that, there is always the cycle of tragedy followed by happiness.&quot;

Talha also expressed her willingness to write novels in the future. But before she starts working on a novel, she wants to write a short story trilogy.

Parveen Talha&rsquo;s first book is now available in Urdu translation.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

The world of animals and humans, Hindu and Muslim culture, the real and the surreal all comes enmeshed in Parveen Talha's A Word Thrice Uttered.

Parveen Talha is a writer, bureaucrat and a lover of the Lucknow city. Parveen's achievements are endless. She has been the first Muslim woman in India to serve in any Class I civil service in India, the first Indian Revenue Service officer to become a member of the Union Public Service Commission, and the first woman to serve in Narcotics Department of India. On the release of her second book, A Word Thrice Uttered, Talha spoke to WION on a number of topics related to her life, literary work, and living. She explained how her surrounding is the biggest inspiration for her writing. She tries to find compelling stories in the people around her. I asked Parveenji whether writing has been an incomplete dream of her as she started writing only after retirement; Talha responded that she always wanted to become an "independent person" but "writing is something which does not give you a proper status or livelihood until you become a well-known author." As now, she is retired and made a comfortable life for her, she is focussing on her hobby of writing. Parveen Talha's first book, Fida-e-Lucknow as well as her second book, ‘A Word Thrice Uttered’ make a very deft portrayal of Hindu-Muslim characters. Commenting on it Talha said, it comes from the 'Ganga-Jamna tehzeeb’ of Lucknow. The city is the crucible of "joint culture, meaning all the communities living there becomes part of the other culture." 'A Word Thrice Uttered' a book by Parveen Talha. (Others) × We must say that the 'ganga-jamna tehzeeb’ reflects in the stories also. Parveen Talha has strong relation with animals too. She feels as much about animals as she feels about humans, and that strong connection she shares with the non-human world reflects in her stories too. Talha told how she was always "encouraged by her father to always keep an animal and be kind to them." Talha believes that "each and everything, be it living or non-living thing made by God, has a purpose to serve and humans have no right to say that it belongs to them only." Talha's stories often show a friendly relationship between different animals. The story Sona and Tiger, for instance, shows an unusual motherly love between a dog and cow. Incidentally, Parveen Talha really enjoys the pictures of different species of animals playing together. Books of Talha portrays human emotions in a very raw form and because of her lucid writing style a reader, the stories sound very familiar. There is a female character in the story, 'Virginity Lost... So What?', who is trying to find a guy who doesn't mind her lost virginity Or the boy 'In Let Me Have a Love Affair' who desperately tries to fall in love. Talha said she has "felt all those emotions" and she writes what she feels inside. Parveen believes that "happiness and tragedy come in a cycle in a person’s life" and she likes to portray the reality in her stories. And the best way to keep attuned to reality is to make sure that the "protagonist’s life can’t be filled with happiness only" and it will be a mix of all kinds of ups and downs. "Happy endings simply mean the story ends there, but beyond that, there is always the cycle of tragedy followed by happiness." Talha also expressed her willingness to write novels in the future. But before she starts working on a novel, she wants to write a short story trilogy. Parveen Talha’s first book is now available in Urdu translation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Lucknow's Ganga-Jumuni tehzeeb comes alive in Parveen Talha's short stories

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