From sports to history, Rediff reader Sabyasachi Dutta shares a selection of books for you to add to your reading list in 2020.
How much do you know about Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal and the Taj Mahal?
'He had a lovely, lovely, sense of humour, very subdued and very, very subtle, but it was very, very, prominent.'
Quiet vacationing is a valuable tool to manage stress and maintain well-being during busy periods. It's not a replacement for a full vacation but a way to cope with breaks.
'On October 12-13, he started shivering from fear in his tent.' 'That was the time he wrote a letter to my mother to conduct Ganeshji's Atharvashirsha.' 'The moment he finished writing that letter, he told us, he felt serene calmness.'
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
'We want to prove to the world that they will get the best code written from a small place like Wayanad.'
Maharaja is an audacious attempt that breaks down the tropes of a crime film with a brilliant Vijay Sethupathi in the lead, notes Arjun Menon.
Notorious for drugs and crime and afflicted by large-scale poverty, the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town is better known for being one of the biggest slums on the planet. But World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten is attempting to change the image for good through cricket.
'I can feel the master's pain, because he must be sitting there and cursing and saying, 'Why was I born?''
Puri gave up the comforts of Citibank to set up a new-age bank from a rat-infested room in the Kamala Mills Compound in Worli, Mumbai and build a marquee brand. A look at his 26-year stint as HDFC Bank's boss.
Not only will Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri and Deepika Chikhalia attend the Pran Pratistha ceremony, Moti Sagar, Ramanand Sagar's son, also received an invitation.
'I grew up in an environment which is very submissive and conservative. People would judge you if you wore a short skirt.' 'I made my way up from there to Mumbai and landed a big song Aila Re Aila with a huge star like Akshay Kumar.'
'The Constitution of India defeated the BJP.'
'The Supreme Court has now demonstrated its capacity to right its own wrongs, and to place the rule of law above all else.'
BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar's wife and son who keep themselves far from the political limelight reveal what it is like to campaign for the first time.
'I was not able to watch that 19th over bowled by Arshdeep.' 'My son and daughter were watching the match and my eyes were closed.' 'When they used to shout 'Dot ball', I used to open my eyes, that is how I saw that Arshdeep over.'
Although the BJP has never been ballistic about the BJD and Narendra Modi has avoided being critical of Naveen Patnaik, the BJP is optimistic that the party can improve its electoral fortunes in Odisha on its own, notes Rup Narayan Das.
'If there is an artiste somewhere in India or in the world who wants to express her art, I hoped that this award would inspire them, and add meaning to their journey.'
Listening to her and showing appreciation can improve your connection, suggests rediffGURU Kanchan Rai.
'Pura phas gaya woh... barbad, satyanash ho gaya woh.' 'Usko ticket bhi diya, election bhi ladha woh; ganda video bhi bahar aa gaya; hamara izzat bhi nikal diya woh; abhi letter ke baare main pooch ke kya hota hai?'
'Hinduism meshed with his sense that the world was paradoxical and puzzling.'
What might seem like harmless flirting to you could be interpreted differently by him, especially when you have a history with that person, says rediffGURU Ravi Mittal.
With rising incomes, education, and health awareness in India, especially in the big cities, droves of people are saying no to sugar.
'Chinese are going bang, bang, bang building 30-35 reactors.' 'We should announce a programme of 50 new reactors and show that we mean business on the ground and not just announcements.'
President Droupadi Murmu has approved 76 gallantry awards, including four Kirti Chakras posthumously and 11 Shaurya Chakras to personnel of the security forces, on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, officials said.
For India, it is a symbol of will and a successful feat of arms.
'When the mill strike started, there was crisis in every mill worker household.' 'One entire generation went without education.' 'Hunger forced them to take to crime.'
It showcases products that help the differently abled live an independent life.
As the temple is inaugurated, unfortunately for Advani but unsurprisingly for the rest of us, the architect of the party's rise will not lead the ceremony and claim credit for his achievement, notes Aakar Patel.
'I somehow felt that Muzaffar Ali was in Aligarh to feel the pulse of the Muslim youth, especially in the darker and harsher times that India is passing through,' notes Mohammad Sajjad.
'When there was no crime committed, everything had to be fabricated. They see it as a war, and everything is fair in love and war.'
Byju Raveendran, the founder and chief executive officer of the beleaguered edtech firm Byju's, said the company credited all pending January salaries to employees over the past few days. This was communicated to the employees in another letter sent on February 4. Byju's has about 15,000 employees. "I know you were told that you would get your salaries by Monday.
The 230-year-old Alila Fort in Bishangarh is now a hotel.
The key problem with the current generation is that most people don't understand how much is enough to lead a good life! exclaims Virender Kapoor.
I was fascinated to see a room that was decorated like an Indian palace at Osbourne House, which was Queen Victoria's home when she visited the Isle of Wight.
Deepa Gahlot lists some 2023 movies that you need to watch if you haven't already.
Describing India as an important member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad) and a crucial partner for stability in the Indo-Pacific, the letter said that the lawmakers support the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.
2023 was a good year for international cinema with many strong films premiering at the Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto film festivals.
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