Won't write about India due to lack of knowledge or confidence: Jeffrey Archer
English novelist and former British politician, Jeffrey Archer, had his book Turn a Blind Eye launched in India at a virtual event of Kitab organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement. In an exclusive conversation with Vidya Gajapathi Raju, Archer spoke about his new book and more. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh tracks the event
India gives bigger perspective of life than Norway: Himanshu Gulati
Himanshu Gulati, the Indian-origin youngest MP of Norway, had also served as a Deputy Minister of Justice at the age of 25. He is one of the youngest politicians of the Scandinavian country to have assumed such a high profile post. Besides working for his party (Progress Party), Gulati, whose parents are from India, has a keen interest in travelling and has been to more than 160 countries. In an exclusive chat with Ehsaas Woman of Chandigarh, Rishma Gill, Gulati spoke about his political journey as a Norwegian and much more at a session in Ek Mulakat Vishesh, hosted by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh tracks the event
Letters from a daughter to her mother
In a virtual session of Tete-a-tea organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation of Kolkata, UK-based author, journalist and social worker Lady Mohini Kent Noon, had an engaging conversation with Dr Alka Bagri and Bina Rani – two leading women achievers of Indian origin in the UK and cancer survivors. The two women spoke on the overarching influence of mothers in their lives as the session focussed on Lady Mohini Kent Noon’s book 'Dear Mama', a compilation of intimate letters to their mothers written by billionaires, spiritual gurus, members of the British House of Lords, political leaders, members of royal families, actors, entrepreneurs, journalists, photographers and doctors. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of the conversation
Cultural melange on Holi eve mesmerizes Kolkata audience
Kolkata/IBNS: It was a mesmerising evening where the participants soaked in the explosion of colours, songs and dance that symbolise Holi, the festival of multi-hued love marking the advent of spring.
India is collection of nations, like Europe: Lord Meghnad Desai
Lord Meghnad Desai, a British economist and a Labour politician in the UK, was the guest at Kitaab organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement. In the course of his interaction with Indian economist and civil servant Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Lord Desai spoke about his book Rebellious Lord, Indian politics and economy. India Blooms brings excerpts
Sahir Ludhianvi's songs have tinge of melancholy in the idea of romance: Author Nasreen Munni Kabir
Author Nasreen Munni Kabir was the guest at the "tête-à-tea" organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation. During her conversation with Namrata Joshi, Kabir spoke about her latest book In the Year of Sahir 2021 Diary which is based on poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts
I see no business for 10-year-olds to have phone or social media account: Author Jyotsna Mohan
Author Jyotsna Mohan, who has worked for a national television news channel, has addressed the issues the kids of the present generation are facing in her latest book Stoned, Shamed, Depressed. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of Mohan's interaction with senior journalist Nidhi Razdan over the book in the event Kitab hosted by Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with Phulkari: Women of Amritsar and presented by Shree Cement.
Spirituality not integral to an artist's journey: Geeta Chandran
Bharatnatyam dancer Geeta Chandran was the guest at Ek Mulakat Visesh organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement in late November. In the course of interaction, Chandran spoke about her dance, career and more. India Blooms brings excerpts
We cannot generalise a society or a country: Author Hamid Ansari on Pakistan
Techie and author Hamid Ansari, who was caught in Pakistan being accused of being an Indian spy, wrote about his ordeal and suffering days in the South Asian country in his book Hamid. In an interaction with senior journalist Nidhi Razdan at Kitab, an event organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement, in late November, Ansari bared his thoughts. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts
BJP govt tried to establish alternative idea of India in last six years: Shashi Tharoor
Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, launched his latest book The Battle of Belonging at a session of Kitab organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation. In an interaction with senior journalist Karan Thapar, Tharoor spoke about the idea of India and how it has been impacted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the last six years of its rule. IBNS brings excerpts of the conversation
I don't believe in feminism but femininity: Author Koral Dasgupta
Author Koral Dasgupta, who was the guest at the latest session of An Author's Afternoon organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement last week, spoke about her latest book Ahalya. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts
Kolkata: A battle of belonging to India and having India belong to you is raging at the moment as attempts are being made to turn the nation's "civic nationalism" into a "religious-cultural nationalism", said Congress leader and writer Shashi Tharoor at the virtual launch of his new book “The Battle of Belonging”.
Relationship with mother difficult to be defined: Author Lady Mohini Kent Noon
Lady Mohini Kent Noon, the author of the book Dear Mama, was busy in conversation with barrister-writer-activist Cherie Blair in the latest session of Kitab organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement. In the course of the conversation, Mohini Kent Noon spoke about her book about intimate letters from eminent personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi to their mothers as well letters by several other girls who were victims of human trafficking. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts
Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief, Karnal Singh, was a part of the special team of Delhi Police, which had carried out the much debated encounter of terrorists in Batla House in the national capital in 2008. In an interaction with Ehsaas Woman of Mumbai Ketki Bhatia in the latest edition of An Author's Afternoon, hosted by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement, Singh spoke about his book Batla House where he wrote about the encounter extensively. IBNS-TWF correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of the interaction
Feminism to me means each of us has the freedom of choice: Mallika Sarabhai
Indian classical dancer-actor-activist Mallika Sarabhai, who uses her art forms in bringing social change, was the guest at Ek Mulakat Vishesh organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with Shree Cement. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings excerpts of her virtual interaction with Sunita Shekhawat in October