BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THIS WEEK

From a historical fiction on legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, to a book serving dollops of acerbic wit and humour, our book picks this week, curated by Chirdeep Malhotra

HISTORICAL FICTION

“The Legend of Lachit Borphukan” by Nilutpal Gohain

This historical fiction novel is based on the life of the legendary general of the Ahom kingdom, Lachit Borphukan. It tells the story of India’s historical unsung hero, who is known and revered for his leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat that defeated attempts by Mughal forces to take over the Ahom kingdom. The book chronicles the life of the Ahom general from his childhood, his rise in ranks in the army and finally being appointed as the generalissimo who dared to attack the Mughals in their own territories. This well researched and action packed book is a gripping read, and the action, the twists and turns, and the emotions in this saga will keep readers hooked for sure.



YOUNG ADULT FICTION

“Dawn: The Warrior Princess of Kashmir” by Rakesh K. Kaul

The narrative of this riveting book blends the genres of fantasy, science fiction, Indian mythological fiction, and history. It is AD 3000, and sixteen year old Dawn, along with a motley group of five outlaw boys, sets upon a tumultuous journey across Time and Space to battle the most technologically lethal empire known to humanity. This empire, based in Kashmir, has an army of weaponized AIs and mind-controlled automatons, and Dawn, being the long-lost princess of Kashmir, intends to recover her kingdom. Her only hope is to seek out secrets hidden in the Niti folk tales of Kashmir and unlock the powers within her to become the ultimate warrior. This sci-fi saga reveals eternal truths as it traverses the terrains of the Kashmir.



THEOLOGY & SPIRITUALITY

“A Street Puppy's Guide to Indian Religious Wisdom” by Hari Haran, with Iniya

This book has deep insights on the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Vasu, a character in the book, has studied and imbibed the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. He believes that sharing it could help people come to a new understanding of religion and help them live peaceful, harmonious and more fruitful lives for themselves and the world. He longs to share this information, however, he finds himself in a dog’s body! In this funny, illuminating and warm-hearted tale, Vasu shares his life story and his wisdom with the readers.



HUMOUR/ PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

“What The Pandemic Learned From Me” by Anindita Das

During the testing times of the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s a journey that each one of us has undertaken, and the journey has been that of self-realization and renewed assessment of our lives, marked by silly anecdotes, mindless distractions, and everyday truths. The author, experiencing the same thing, decided to write this book, which is an easy mix of her personal blunders and mind-boggling human behaviour in general, strung together by a series of hilarious open letters. It’s also an attempt to reaffirm the need for a good laugh to help deal with the doom and gloom that now surrounds our lives. This book is part memoir and part hilarious musings, and readers can savour this with a hot cup of Dalgona coffee, a pinch of salt and a great deal of grins.