Friday, September 26, 2014

One writer who taught the Indians to Dream and believe in them

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, himself leads the path by telling the readers through his narration, what it means to ascend the ladder of accomplishment and knowledge.


When thoughts receive wings, they fly away like a fluttering butterfly. The thoughts transcend the boundaries of imagination and derive creativity that is hard to replicate or measure by any human capacity. This is exactly what happens when a scientist writes a book. It does not remain a research based subject, but mellows down to an inspiring alley where readers can churn more thoughts and add to their ever-inflating collection. Wings of Fire is truly the book of the new millennium. It has India at the pivot where everything else revolves around it. With a clear objective of wanting to see the country reach its true heights by 2020, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, himself leads the path by telling the readers through his narration, what it means to rise along the ladder of success and knowledge.
Raised in a challenging environment, Dr. Abdul Kalam excelled in his academics and was one of the pillars of the Nuclear program in India. He is rightly called the ‘Missile Man’ of Asia. A boat-owner’s son, Dr. Kalam is an inspiring idol and epitome of professional supremacy. His books are literary jewels, acknowledged in international and domestic circuits. His one line that cuts through the realm of time and space is “We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire". The energy carried in one single line has the power to change lives.
When thoughts receive wings, they fly away like a fluttering butterfly. The thoughts transcend the boundaries of imagination and derive creativity that is hard to replicate or measure by any human capacity. This is exactly what happens when a scientist writes a book. It does not remain a research based subject, but mellows down to an inspiring alley where readers can churn more thoughts and add to their ever-inflating collection. Wings of Fire is truly the book of the new millennium. It has India at the pivot where everything else revolves around it. With a clear objective of wanting to see the country reach its true heights by 2020, Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, himself leads the path by telling the readers through his narration, what it means to rise along the ladder of success and knowledge.
Raised in a challenging environment, Dr. Abdul Kalam excelled in his academics and was one of the pillars of the Nuclear program in India. He is rightly called the ‘Missile Man’ of Asia. A boat-owner’s son, Dr. Kalam is an inspiring idol and epitome of professional supremacy. His books are literary jewels, acknowledged in international and domestic circuits. His one line that cuts through the realm of time and space is “We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire". The energy carried in one single line has the power to change lives.

What began as a tryst with science, Dr. Kalam authored one of the best reference book in space aviation, titled “Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology”, way back in the year 1988. His dream was finally connected with words when India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium was published in 1998, the very year India re-announced its entry into the elite league of Nuclear capable nations. Following the great critical and commercial success, he brought his writing skill to the gallery by publishing “Wings of Fire”. A truly idealistic novel that stirs passion in every Indian, both natural and adopted, rate this book as a life-changing encounter. The ideas illustrated in the novel are ignited on fire and it continues to rage with spirited enthusiasm. Manifesto to Change became a sequel to India 2020, when it was published recently in 2014. In between Dr. Kalam penned  nine novels, that have all been equally audacious and rampant in declaring the love for the kids and youth, while clearly defining the role of the elderly in designing the future of India. His definition of ‘patriotism’ motivates the reader to a level where you can actually feel the heartbeat pulsate with frantic fervor. Some readers have even acknowledged that every turn of the page gives them a feeling of  ‘Hoisting the Tricolor’. Each encounter is a respectful salute to the contributions of soldiers, farmers, leaders and every single person who has contributed in some way or the other. Reading his books is a treat to the intellectual faculties and that is why, Dr. Kalam continues to be a writer with ‘Astronomical’ creativity.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Remembering Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh is no more; however his legacy to the world of Indo-Anglian literature will continue. Some of his most famous works include Delhi: A Novel; The Mark of Vishnu and Other Stories; I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale; A History of the Sikhs; Tragedy of Punjab; Sex, Scotch and Scholarship: Selected Writings; Not a Nice Man to Know; Black Jasmine; We Indians; Women and Men in my Life; Ghadar: India's First Armed Revolution; Declaring Love in Four Languages; Burial at the Sea; A History of the Sikhs; Death at my Doorstep; Uncertain Liaisons: Sex, Strife and Togetherness in Urban India, With Malice Towards One and All and The End of India. He was born in Hadali in Punjab (now part of Pakistan) in 1915. He studied at Modern School, New Delhi; St. Stephens, Delhi University, King's College, London; and read for the Bar at the Inner Temple.
 
Khushwant Singh started his career as a lawyer until he entered the Indian Foreign Service and worked as Information Officer of the Government of India in Toronto, Canada. He later worked in London. He became a member of the Rajya Sabha.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan that he returned in protest to the siege of the Golden Temple in 1984. He died on March 20, 2014. We will miss his satirical humor, wit and wisdom

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Award Thursdays - Orhan Pamuk

On Award Thursdays this week, BookChums features popular Turkish screenwriter, writer and academic Orhan Pamuk. Needless to say, his most popular literary works include Snow, The White Castle, The Black Book, Istanbul: Memories and the City, The New Life, Other Colors: Essays and a Story, The Museum of Innocence, and The Naive and Sentimental Novelist. He was born in 1952 in Istanbul. He is currently the Robert Yik-Fong Tam Professor in Humanities at Columbia University.

Pamuk attended Robert College in Istanbul and then Istanbul Technical University. He discontinued his studies to become a full-time writer and graduated in Journalism from the University of Istanbul. His first book was Darkness and Light and was a co-recipient of the Milliyet Press Novel Contest. He won several prizes for his essays and today, he is also popular for his support for the political rights of the Kurds. In 2005, he was put on trial for highlighting the genocide of the Armenian Christians and the plight of Kurds in Ottoman Turkey. By doing so he had made an attempt to emphasize on political freedom.

Pamuk has been a recipient of awards including the Nobel Prize in Literature, Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger, Premio Grinzanr Cavour and International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Embrace our collection of Magazines

Embrace our collection of Magazines

Embrace our collection of Magazines

This New Years, replenish and rejuvenate with our collection of Magazines. We have selected an assortment of magazines,, hand picked especially to serve and cater to you. Have a blast!