Prem Rao : Stories from a Story Teller

A "must read" for Hindus all over the world! Dr Anand Ranganathan explains in his meticulously researched book that far from being the "Fascist Majority in a Hindu Rashtra" Hindus in India are really victims of wrongs that have been followed for decades -even after Independence in 1947.

Even to this day, over 75 years after India gained freedom from British Rule, one of the architects of the fight for freedom, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, remains shrouded in mystery. This book by Maj. Gen. M K Paul, Indian Army (Retd), about one of the greatest sons of India, is a captivating and informative account of the life and times of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Many books, especially biographies and books on history, leave the reader with a feeling of "What If?" This book too made me wonder what if things had been different. I would highly recommend this book, for those – especially amongst our youth – who are interested in Indian history, military history and biography.

One of the most fascinating books about the Second World War. A collection of essays that covers the entire duration of the War from how it started in 1939 to how it ended in 1945.

Personal accounts from those who lived through the events described intersperse the contributions from well-known historians and scholars. This makes the book all the more readable and interesting. 

The economic growth of India is being propelled by digitalisation. It has made our lives easier in many ways. This is the first in a series of podcasts I hope to do on what Digital India means to the people of India. 

Andrew Lownie's 2019 book is an eye opener on the lives of two people who were very much in the public eye for most of the 20th century in Britain:  Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and his wife, Edwina, Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Lownie writes about aspects of their lives which were not commonly known. 

We follow Mountbatten's career in the Royal Navy from 1916 to 1947, then his tenure as the last British Viceroy of India (1947) and how he resumed his naval career till he became the First Sea Lord in 1955. Edwina, in her own right, was one of the richest women in the world. Ever since they got married in 1922, the Mountbattens were seen as a glamourous couple, members of high society and close to British Royalty. They lived at a time when the British Empire was at it peak and lived long enough to see the Empire collapse after the Second World War. As the title suggests, this book covers their marriage and the many love affairs they had in the course of a long life together.  

Wouldn't you like to write better? May be you aren’t able to make time for writing, may be you are not satisfied with your output, or may be you are not motivated to write as you once were. Here I share my thoughts and those of some famous writers to budding and seasoned writers alike.

We got the opportunity to listen to many talented writers speak about their books and work on Day 2 of the XI Bangalore Literature Festival, 2022. 

I was delighted to interview authors Raghu and Pushpa Plat on their new historical novel, " Destiny's Child" in one of the sessions today. A most enjoyable experience. 

My mind goes back to the inaugural #BlrLitFest held in 2012 which I had attended. One can see how the Festival has grown from strength to strength over the years. 

The Bangalore Literature Festival held on December 3 and 4, 2022 drew a galaxy of writers who spoke about their books and related subjects.

In this podcast, I share my take on the some of the sessions I enjoyed on Day 1, December 3. 

The recently concluded XI edition of the Bangalore Literature Festival drew to it a galaxy of writers, giving the large audiences much to enjoy about their writing work. I share my impressions of some of the sessions that I enjoyed during the day. 

My impressions of the XIth edition of the Bangalore Literature Festival held on December 3 and 4, 2022. 

Over two warm winter days, the bibliophiles of Bengaluru, where I live, enjoyed attending the Bangalore Literature Festival- one of the premier literature festivals in India. We were fortunate to listen to a galaxy of authors and speakers who spoke of their books, and topics related to literature and the arts.

This is the first of my podcasts on the Bangalore Literature Festival, 2022.