Masala Lab returns as an irresistible collector's edition, adorned with ingenious additions, illustrations, infographics and charts: it's the collector's edition you know your kitchen-laboratory needs.

Ever wondered why your grandmother threw a teabag into the pressure cooker while boiling chickpeas, or why she measured using the knuckle of her index finger? Why does a counter-intuitive pinch of salt make your kheer more intensely flavorful? What is the Maillard reaction, and what does it have to do with fenugreek? What does your high-school chemistry knowledge, or what you remember of it, have to do with perfectly browning your onions? Just like memorizing an equation might have helped you pass an exam but not become a chemist, following a recipe without knowing its rationale can be a sub-optimal way of learning how to cook.

Masala Lab is a scientific exploration of Indian cooking aimed at inquisitive chefs who want to turn their kitchens into joyful, creative playgrounds for gastronomic experimentation. In this special edition, Meghna Menon's vibrant illustrations effortlessly complement Krish Ashok's lighthearted approach to the demystification of culinary science, making it the perfect vehicle to absorb the exhaustive testing, groundbreaking research and scientific rigor that went into the making of this revolutionary book.

Hinduism is an ancient religion, philosophy and way of life. Unlike other great religions that are based on a small set of books, there are hundreds of texts in Hinduism, most of which are very voluminous. They span not merely centuries, but millennia. And most importantly, these ancient scriptures are all in Sanskrit which many do not know. Therefore for a beginner with an interest in Hinduism it is a daunting task as you don't know where to start such a study.
In The Essentials of Hinduism, Trilochan Sastry unpacks all the ancient texts from the Vedas to the epics covering the entire range of scriptures and everything you need to know about them in an easy-to-read and accessible way making it of special interest to Hindus and those from other religions and nations, and even those who are agnostic or atheistic.

In popular imagination, Lala Lajpat Rai is frequently associated with Bhagat Singh, who, by assassinating J.P. Saunders, avenged Rai's death, caused by a police lathi charge, and was hanged for it. Lajpat Rai is also remembered for his fervent opposition to British rule.

In recent decades, however, historians have converged with the Hindu Right in rediscovering Lajpat Rai as an ideological ancestor of Hindutva. But what then explains Rai's wholehearted approval of the Congress- Muslim League cooperation, and attempt to endow Hindus and Muslims with bonds of common belonging? Why did he reinterpret India's medieval history to highlight peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims? Have our hasty conclusions about Lajpat Rai's nationalist thought concealed its complexities and distorted our understanding of nationalism in general?

Meticulously researched and eloquently written, Being Hindu, Being Indian offers the first comprehensive examination of Lajpat Rai's nationalist thought. By revealing the complexities of Rai's thinking, it provokes us to think more deeply about broader questions relevant to present-day politics: Are all expressions of ' Hindu nationalism' the same as Hindutva? What are the similarities and differences between ' Hindu' and ' Indian' nationalism? Can communalism and secularism be expressed together? How should we understand fluidity in politics? This book invites readers to treat Lajpat Rai's ideas as a gateway to think more deeply about history, politics, religious identity and nationhood.

Is there a predominant reason why India is not Pakistan? Many would likely point to the omnipresence of the military in the polity of the latter. While the interventionist attitude of the army in Pakistan easily explains the democratic shortfall in its history, the mirror opposite in India is rarely studied or credited.

Poles Apart is a unique and original investigation of the comparative roles of the military, to study their influences on the growth of democracy in the two nations. The book highlights the divisive outcomes of military coups on Pakistan's democratic trajectory while also closely analyzing potential scenarios in India when the army could have gone astray, but chose to stay apolitical.

Disgrace at the hands of China in 1962, the Emergency and Operation Blue Star, among others, make for fascinating case studies of how the army was treated shabbily but still remained politically disinclined. On the other hand, the overarching presence of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf in the Pakistani political space represent a very different set of choices and interventions.

A crisp chapter on Bangladesh and its experiments with democracy and martial rule rounds off the deeply researched study.

On 17 September 1949, C.N. Annadurai (Anna) founded the DMK after his split with Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy. The DMK slowly but surely caught the imagination of the Tamil masses. In 1962, faced with the prospect of a ban, the party shed its separatist agenda and in 1967, the DMK attained power for the first time in Tamil Nadu. Since then, it has remained a potent political force, first under M. Karunanidhi and recently under M.K. Stalin, who succeeded him.

Weathering many a political storm, including the 1972 split when its mascot, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) broke away levelling corruption charges, its ejection from power in 1976 during the Emergency, the second dismissal in 1991 for its alleged dalliance with the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka, and the debilitating split in 1993, the party has proved resilient. It was voted back to power in Tamil Nadu in 2021.

The DMK's pioneering public distribution system and welfare populism have been a model for other states. Of late, the party has touted its 'Dravidian Model' of development as a viable national alternative. Its renewed emphasis on Tamil cultural nationalism and cooperative federalism aims to counter the current majoritarian political narrative.

Yet, seventy-five years later, the DMK is more than ever under assault from caste and ultra-nationalist elements and persisting charges of unjust enrichment and dynastic politics.

At this pivotal moment in history, as the ethos of Indianness is being redefined, veteran political observer and commentator R. Kannan explores the trajectory of the DMK and its future direction. Drawing on a substantial body of first-hand accounts, The DMK Years narrates the story of the party objectively and in its entirety, making this volume essential to understanding the contours of Tamil Nadu politics.

In Iconoclast, Dr Anand Teltumbde, a distinguished public intellectual and leading authority on the Dalit movement, presents a groundbreaking biography of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Far from the embellished narratives often associated with his legacy, Teltumbde strips away the layers of myth and hyperbole to reveal the man behind the legend.

With meticulous research and intellectual honesty, Teltumbde delves into the life of Ambedkar, situating him within the dynamic context of his time. He explores the complexities of Ambedkar's persona, offering a nuanced portrait that challenges conventional perceptions. Rich with poignant photographs, this biography paints a vivid picture of Ambedkar as a visionary and as a human, and above all as an iconoclast driven by a relentless pursuit of social justice and equality. From his tireless advocacy for the Dalit community to his visionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, Ambedkar's legacy reverberates through the ages, inspiring generations to strive for a more just society.

With incisive analysis and a deep understanding of Ambedkar's philosophy, Teltumbde extends the narrative beyond the confines of history, examining Ambedkar's enduring impact on contemporary India. Iconoclast is a masterful tribute to a towering figure in modern history, offering profound insights into the epic struggle for social emancipation and the quest for a truly inclusive society.

Not many people are aware that a small country like Nepal is home to incredibly diverse culinary traditions. Each community in this beautiful country has nurtured a unique culinary legacy influenced by geographic and climatic conditions on one hand and their individual cultural heritage on the other. This is true of the Sherpas and the Thakalis from the Himalayan mountain ranges, the Brahman, Chetri, Gurung, Tamang, Newar and Kirati communities in the lower mountain ranges to the Tharus and the Madeshis in the Terai jungles in the south.

Rohini Rana, food connoisseur and the author of The Rana Cookbook, has travelled the length and breadth of Nepal interacting with different ethnic communities and recording in painstaking detail their recipes and knowledge of food and nutrition. The result is this remarkable book featuring a carefully curated selection of 108 recipes, each accompanied by stunning photographs. Its purpose is to offer readers a glimpse into the kaleidoscope that is Nepali cuisine. From the delicious rikikur (potato pancake) and the Newari Haans Ko Choela (barbecued tempered duck) to the lip-smacking momos, this book takes you on a captivating journey across Nepal-- a journey that nourishes both your belly and your soul.

'When racial and sexual injustice have been reduced, we shall still be left with the grave injustice of the smart and the dumb'--Thomas Nagel

Education achieves many things--it pulls people out of poverty, enables socio-economic mobility and promises a route to dignity. But what does education mean to different people, what does it do and whose needs are being met by education?

Even as globalization and formal education have established themselves as unquestionable truths, only a privileged few have cornered its benefits. In this process, education is being reconceived and its promises are being rewritten. Today, there clearly is more to education than going to school, getting credentials and getting a job.

This book is an attempt to capture what this 'more' is, by exploring education's connections to caste, class and gender and understanding how they affect the promise of education. In documenting the fractured realities of the many children who want guns for Christmas and the psychological trauma of conflict in Manipur, how a ban on toddy-tapping affects educational choices in Tamil Nadu or why a grandmother chose to get her fifteen-year-old granddaughter married to a seventeen-year-old truck driver in rural Rajasthan and many such stories, this book attempts to paint a portrait of the political and cultural processes that affect education.

What do we really know about the Aryan migration theory, and why is that debate so hot?
Why did the people of Khajuraho carve erotic scenes on their temple walls?
What did the monks at Nalanda eat for dinner?
Did our ideals of beauty ever prefer dark skin?

Indian civilization has existed for many millennia, but how much do we know about our forebears and their cultural worlds? In this riveting book, Namit Arora takes us on an unforgettable journey through 5000 years of history, reimagining in rich detail the social and cultural moorings of Indians through the ages. Drawing on credible sources, he explores what inspired and shaped them: their political upheavals and rivalries, vocations and trades, and a variety of religious beliefs, festivals, and social set-ups. Arora makes a stop at six iconic places--the Harappan city of Dholavira, the Ikshvaku capital at Nagarjunakonda, the Buddhist centre of learning at Nalanda, enigmatic Khajuraho, Vijayanagar at Hampi, and Varanasi--enlivening the narrative with vivid descriptions, local stories, and evocative photographs. Punctuating this are chronicles of famous travellers who visited India--including Megasthenes, Xuanzang, Alberuni, and Marco Polo--whose dramatic and idiosyncratic tales conceal surprising insights about our land.

In lucid and elegant prose, Arora explores the exciting churn of ideas, beliefs, and values that unfolded among our ancestors through the centuries--some continue, for better or worse, to shape modern Indian lives, while others have been lost forever. An original, deeply engaging and extensively researched work, Indians illuminates a range of histories coursing through our veins.

Sport is a petri dish. In it, society tests not only human limits but also individual and collective attitudes and norms, often before they impact the wider world beyond the boundary.

In its quest for universal rules, organized sport must regularly balance multiple interests and answer difficult questions. This helps sport-- and through sport, society-- to tweak laws, markets, morals and technological advances. The outcomes of the resulting debates influence the way we live, view each other, and organize our world.

Why should we care about sport and its governance? Within the covers of Boundary Lab lie the answers.

The book you are holding is a unique cookbook about Indian spices, specifically focusing on the intricate
world of spice blends. What is fascinating about spice blends, you ask? Well, a garam masala may
contain anywhere between four and fifteen varied spices; a pickle masala may have a different recipe
in Andhra Pradesh than it does in Delhi; a chai masala may have a distinctive recipe in the winter
than it does in the summer.

In Masalamandi, the author sets out on a quest to unravel how a single dish can be prepared with
multiple spice blends, all created from the same whole spices yet resulting in distinct flavours! While
sharing his own experiences and interactions with these spice blends, he also offers a comprehensive
exploration of the history, mythology and cultural significance that surrounds each of them.

This is a spice trail like no other.

In Vishwa Shastra, Dhruva Jaishankar provides a comprehensive overview of India's interactions with the world--from ancient times to the present day. He describes a long tradition of Indian statecraft and strategic thinking on international affairs, charts early India's relations with a vast geography from the Mediterranean and Africa to Southeast and Northeast Asia, and captures the costs and consequences of European colonialism. Jaishankar also describes India's territorial, economic and governance challenges upon Independence and the origins of India's rivalries with Pakistan and China.

Speaking to a wide audience that includes policymakers, scholars and especially students, Vishwa Shastra offers both rich historical context and forward-looking strategies for India. Highlighting India's transition from Cold War non-alignment to post-Cold War realignment, Jaishankar outlines India's strategic objectives: bolstering national power, securing the neighborhood, maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, and leading at international institutions.

Balanced, comprehensive and rigorous, Vishwa Shastra goes beyond shedding light on how India can maneuver in a challenging geopolitical landscape and advance its interests in an interconnected world: it gives us a clear-eyed perspective on how India might actually define the emerging world order.

As the intellectual fountainhead of the ideology of Hindutva, which is in political ascendancy in India today, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is undoubtedly one of the most contentious political thinkers and leaders of the twentieth century. Accounts of his eventful and stormy life have oscillated from eulogizing hagiographies to disparaging demonization. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between and has unfortunately never been brought to light. Savarkar and his ideology stood as one of the strongest and most virulent opponents of Gandhi, his pacifist philosophy and the Indian National Congress.
An alleged atheist and a staunch rationalist who opposed orthodox Hindu beliefs, encouraged inter-caste marriage and dining, and dismissed cow worship as mere superstition, Savarkar was, arguably, the most vocal political voice for the Hindu community through the entire course of India's freedom struggle. From the heady days of revolution and generating international support for the cause of India's freedom as a law student in London, Savarkar found himself arrested, unfairly tried for sedition, transported and incarcerated at the Cellular Jail, in the Andamans, for over a decade, where he underwent unimaginable torture.
From being an optimistic advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity in his treatise on the 1857 War of Independence, what was it that transformed him in the Cellular Jail to a proponent of 'Hindutva', which viewed Muslims with suspicion?
Drawing from a vast range of original archival documents across India and abroad, this biography in two parts-the first focusing on the years leading up to his incarceration and eventual release from the Kalapani-puts Savarkar, his life and philosophy in a new perspective and looks at the man with all his achievements and failings.

It may be the twenty-first century but religious tensions and conflicts continue all across the world. Even today, religion continues to play an unparalleled role in the lives of individuals and nations with people and leaders pitting one religious identity against another. But the question that needs to be asked is this: are all religions fundamentally different from each other?

What if we go back to the source texts of all great religions of the world? What will we find?

Will we find a mountain of differences or a sea of harmony? This book addresses this question and is sure to surprise you with its findings.

When a bureaucrat who witnessed the Bhopal gas tragedy firsthand passes away from Covid, he leaves behind his oldest friend and an unfinished book.

An impassioned lament, a nostalgic tribute and a poignant ode to boyhood, Thank You, Gandhi is a unique blend of fiction and nonfiction, past and present, memoir and social commentary, and ultimately an uncategorizable book that pays homage to the enduring legacy of the father of our nation. At its epicenter sits the profound bond between K and Munna whose lives are inextricably intertwined with India's tumultuous history and Gandhi's teachings.

The ingenious metafictional device of the book inside the book becomes a timely conversation between two nations, one of the past and one of the present. When K pieces together Munna's manuscript, feeling honor-bound to complete it, he discovers his late comrade all over again. Even as he grapples with India's complex political landscape and the challenges of upholding Gandhi's ideals in a rapidly changing world, the bifocal lenses of Munna's experiences and his own introspections serve as a turbulent reckoning.

There is a time when we are growing but we merely grow and a time when we start understanding how things around us function. Some things make sense and some don' t, and we begin to ask why . . . Suddenly life takes on a meaning and we start searching for more meanings.
Over the course of more than three decades, Bela Bhatia's work and concerns have brought her face-to-face with the harsh nature of people's lives in India's ' forgotten country' -- the hamlets, villages and slums-- and the oppressive forces that rule and ruin the lives of Dalits, Adivasis, bonded labourers, women and other downtrodden groups. She has also witnessed how their everyday lives are pockmarked with violence and the brutality-- often organized-- they face when they resist.
India's Forgotten Country captures Bela's early years as an activist in rural Gujarat, her research on the Naxalite movement, her investigations of violations of democratic rights in different regions, and her recent years dealing with the ongoing conflict between the state and Maoists in Bastar. The essays build on first-hand investigations conducted in states ranging from Bihar and Telangana to Rajasthan and Nagaland, besides Kashmir. People such as Deepa Musahar, Kaliben, Muchaki Sukadi, Zarifa Begum, Tareptsuba and others have ample space in this book to speak for themselves.
These essays are stories of life, death and despair, but also serve as inspiring accounts of resistance, resilience, courage and hope.