Books & Authors — Page 2

Abu'l-Fazl was one of the 'Navaratnas' (Nine Jewels) of Akbar’s court, compiling official court chronicles in three volumes. [Memory Trick: 'Abu'l' is the noble scribe who used his sweet 'pen' to praise 'Akbar's' achievements!]

German philosopher Karl Marx wrote 'Das Kapital' (Capital) as a foundational document of communist and socialist economic theory. [Memory Trick: Marx drew a red line ('Marx') against corporate owners of 'Capital'!]

Homer is the semi-legendary blind poet of ancient Greece, revered for codifying ancient oral mythologies. [Memory Trick: He makes a cozy 'Home' ('Homer') for the epic tales of heroes returning from Trojan seas!]

Salman Rushdie became a world literary star with 'Midnight's Children', linking the births of children at the stroke of 1947 independence with mystical powers. [Memory Trick: 'Salman' caught the magic of the independence night in a 'Rush' ('Rush'-die) of words!]

Nanabhoy 'Nani' Palkhivala was an eminent jurist and liberal economist who analyzed union budgets and citizen rights in 'We, the People'. [Memory Trick: Just like grandmother ('Nani') guides the family, 'Nani' Palkhivala protected the Constitution for We standard citizens!]

Amartya Sen won the Nobel in Economics in 1998; his book defends India’s age-old tradition of pluralism, skepticism, and intellectual debate. [Memory Trick: An immortal ('Amartya') voice proving that discussion makes logical 'Sen'-se!]

Jane Austen satirical masterpiece highlights the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Georgian society. [Memory Trick: Aunt ('Austen') Jane writes clever tea-time books on marriage 'Pride and Prejudice'!]

Banabhatta wrote 'Harshacharita' and 'Kadambari', a complex romance novel featuring a story within a story, completed by his son. [Memory Trick: He fires sharp 'Bana' (arrows) of beautiful Sanskrit descriptions!]

Pandit Vishnu Sharma collected the clever tales to quickly teach the principles of statecraft ('Niti') to three dull princes within six months. [Memory Trick: 'Vishnu' the protector sent 'Sharma' (scholarly comfort) to the standard royal classroom!]

Goswami Tulsidas translated Valmiki's Sanskrit epic into direct Awadhi verse, enriching North Indian folk devotionalism. [Memory Trick: Placing holy basil 'Tulsi' (Tulsidas) leaves on the epic path of Lord Rama!]

'Kathasaritsagara' means the Ocean of Rivers of Stories, containing 350 tales based on Gunadhya's lost Brihatkatha. [Memory Trick: An ocean ('Sagara') of rivers ('Sarit') of clever folk 'Katha' (Stories)!]

Kiran Desai's novel explores the life of an embittered retired judge and his granddaughter in Kalimpong, showing colonial legacies. [Memory Trick: A ray of sun 'Kiran' cutting through the rainy mountain 'Loss' of the Himalayas!]

'Sea of Poppies' deals with opium trade and colonial transport of indentured laborers across the Indian Ocean prior to the Opium Wars. [Memory Trick: Ships sailing on a dark 'Sea' of red 'Poppies' (poppy seeds)!]

Jaishankar Prasad's 'Kamayani' is considered the crown jewel of modern Hindi poetry, representing the psychological transition from intellect to faith. [Memory Trick: Praying to 'Jai'-'Shankar' at the peak of the epic Himalayan flood!]

Subhas Chandra Bose wrote 'The Indian Struggle' during his European exile, analyzing the various phases, pacts, and movements of the freedom campaign. [Memory Trick: The grand leader Netaji Subhas Bose marching ahead in the ultimate 'Indian Struggle'!]

Chetan Bhagat's debut novel 'Five Point Someone: What not to do at IIT' critiqued the rigid academic grading system, capturing youth culture. [Memory Trick: Getting a low GPA of 'Five Point' was a tragedy that became a highly funny book!]