Kitaab Kaulum

'Khoyi Cheezon Ka Shok' is a new collection of poems in Hindi by Savita Singh. Professor in the School of Gender and Development Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, Savita Singh shares her experience of writing poetry with broadcaster Achala Sharma. She also recites some of her poems from the book.

'Khoyi Cheezon Ka Shok' has been published by Rajkamal Prakashan Group. Savita Singh has published three other collections of her poetry, Apne Jaisa Jeevan (2001, Rajkamal Prakashan), Neend Thi Aur Raat Thi (2005, Rajkamal Prakashan), Swapna Samay (2013, Rajkamal Prakashan). She has a collection of  fifty poems, Nayi Sadi Ke liye Pachas Kavitayen ( 2012, Vani Prakashan).  Her work has been translated into French, a collection of assorted poems, Je Suis La Maison Des Etoiles (Dastaan, 2008). She co-edited an anthology in the world women genre, Seven Leaves, One Autumn (2011, Rajkamal Prakashan). Her poetry has been translated also into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Catalonian, among others.

Madhulika Liddle talks about her new novel in English 'The Garden of Heaven'- set against a backdrop of Delhi, stretching from the end of the 12th century- with Achala Sharma.

The Garden of Heaven, published by Speaking Tiger Books in October 2021, covers a period of two hundred years between two massive attacks on Dilli— one by Muhammed of Ghōr in 1192 and second by Taimur in 1398.

In a segment on trivia about books, Pervaiz Alam names some of the most talked-about books of 2021.

'Saal Chaurasi' by Pritpal Kaur is a new novel in Hindi portraying the characters dealing with the consequences in the aftermath of the anti Sikh riots of 1984 in India.

Nearly 3,000 members of India's Sikh community were massacred after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984.

Several government inquiries investigated the causes of the violence over the years and examined whether the massacre could have been averted and whether there were lapses of duty on the past of the authorities, leaving a sense of 'justice denied' in the Sikh community.

Published by Bharat Pustak Bhandar in October, 2021, 'Saal Chaurasi' by Pritpal Kaur is a poignant tale of of the violence that broke out in Delhi and other parts of the country, following the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi. Pritpal Kaur, Delhi-based journalist and novelist, talks about her new novel with Achala Sharma, presenter of Kitaab Kaulum- a Cine Ink Podcast series about books.

In a segment on trivia about books, Pervaiz Alam introduces the famous India Office Library of London.

Prominent author of novels and short stories in Hindi, Manisha Kulshreshtha talks to broadcaster Achala Sharma about her latest novel 'Sofia' published by Samayik Prakashan.

Welcome to the 21st century in India! A young Muslim woman Sofia falls in love with Shailesh without realising that she has stirred up a hornet's nest as she grapples with the issues of caste, class, patriarchy and above all- religion. Sounds like a usual story but 'Sofia' has got another twist- not the usual 'love jihad' but 'honour killing'.

In a trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam discovers how old is the concept of having public libraries.

Chimniyon Se Lahoo Ki Gandh, a new novel by Hindi author Jai Nandan, is a poignant tale of the plight of factory workers in India. Having the first hand experience of working in a steel company for more than four decades, Jai Nandan shares his pain, anguish and deep knowledge of working as an ordinary factory worker in conversation with broadcaster Achala Sharma.

Chimniyon Se Lahoo Ki Gandh is Jai Nandan’s seventh novel published by Pralek Prakashan Private Limited, Thane, Maharashtra in June 2021.

In a trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam discovers a connection between A.H. Wheeler of Allahabad fame and popularity of Paperback Editions.

One of the most celebrated Hindi poets, Jaishankar Prasad (1889-1937), known for his Chhayavadi poetry, is the subject of a new novel in Hindi 'Kantha' by Shyam Bihari Shyamal, published by Rajkamal Publications in August 2021.

Kantha also portrays several contemporaries of Prasad such as Madan Mohan Malviya, Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, Premchand, Surya Kant Tripathi, Mahadevi Verma and Ram Chandra Shukla.

Broadcaster Achala Sharma talks to Shyam Bihari Shyamal in the 15th episode of Kitaab Kaulum.

In a trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam finds out about the history of dictionaries.

Joseph Héliodore Sagesse Vertu Garcin de Tassy (1794 –1878), a French Orientalist, has often been called the first historian of Hindi and Urdu in Europe. His texts on Hindi, Urdu and Islam brought new insight into French public discourse. He translated one of Urdu's first poets Vali Deccani into French and called him 'Hafez' of India.

Now, for the first time, Kishore Gaurav has translated 'Literatures of Hindoustan' (1850-1860) by Garcin de Tassy into English and Hindi, published by Sampark & Vani Prakashan, respectively. The 14th episode of Kitaab Kaulum features Kishore Gaurav in conversation with presenter Achala Sharma.

In the trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam looks at some of the most popular characters from books such as Robinson Crusoe and Elizabeth Bennet.

Anusuya's husband, Rafiq, a college professor and theatre director, mysteriously disappears. Rafiq's student Janaki is also missing. But the police refuse to register a missing-persons case as locals believe it a case of ‘Love Jihad’. And, this is where the nexus between politics and communalism gets deeper.

First published in Hindi by Rajkamal Publications, Vaidhanik Galp, a political thriller, written by Chandan Pandey has also been published in English entitled 'Legal Fiction' by Harper Collins in 2021. The English translation is by Bharatbhooshan Tiwari.

Broadcaster Achala Sharma discusses the novel with its writer Chandan Pandey in the 13th episode of Cineink podcast series 'Kitaab Kaulum'.

In the trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam looks at the history of books for blind people with a focus on 'braille books'.

What's common among these Hindi movies- Garm Hawa, Sparsh, Lamhe, Rudaali, Aina, Dil To Pagal Hai, Raazi, and Vicky Donor? The answer is a woman screenwriter on board.

The 12th episode of Cineink podcast 'Kitaab Kaulum' features 'Scripting Bollywood: Candid Conversations With Women Who Write Hindi Cinema' by Anubha Yadav. Presented by broadcaster Achala Sharma, the podcast interviews Anubha Yadav and focuses on the life-world and writing practices of women screenwriters in Hindi cinema.

In the trivia on books, Pervaiz Alam looks at the future of books- from Papyrus to e-books and audios.

The 11th episode of Cineink podcast series 'Kitaab Kaulum' features a long story in Hindi 'Gau Sewak' by Anil Yadav who talks to Achala Sharma in detail about his much-talked-about book.

Published by Rajkamal Publications, the 'Gau Sewak' tells the story of Dhama Chero who has been asked by his party to do something special to ensure a victory in the election: lynch a Muslim man to consolidate his base, leading his boys to hunt down a victim who can be framed.

Gau Sewak is a hard-hitting story seeped in ground realities and politics of modern India, say critics.

In the trivia on books, broadcaster Pervaiz Alam looks at the first modern travelogue of Urdu 'Musafir Ki Diary' by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, now, the subject of an upcoming major podcast series produced by Cineink.