March is almost here and along with the hint of summer comes the promise of exciting new books. With the upcoming Indian elections, the publishing industry seems to be capitalising on the trend by releasing books around elections and politics. This month we have a book which goes behind-the-scenes of the election process, one which traces politics from the 1980s- 2000s using first-person narratives of political leaders and another which analyses whether Modi has lived up to his potential in terms of India’s economic development. These books will keep you company on sunny days- a fantasy thriller based in Mumbai, a feminist memoir and a book that will help you get rid of leader’s block. These books by Indian authors releasing this month are guaranteed to keep you captivated.
01
The Verdict: Decoding India’s Elections
Prannoy Roy & Dorab R. Sopariwala
Is there a formula for winning Indian elections? The Verdict aims to decode exactly what goes into the election process, using as-yet-undisclosed facts. It uses research and psephology (the study of elections) to answer some of the burning questions that are on the minds of every citizen. Roy and Sopariwala talk about the reliability of opinion polls, and how fear and other devious means are used to influence elections. They also touch upon whether the Indian woman’s vote matter and if electronic voting machines can be manipulated. The Verdict is an enticing read for anyone looking for answers about politics and elections in India.
Releasing on March 05. Buy it here.
02
Waiting
Nighat Gandhi
Gandhi’s new book is a collection of stories about the “private worlds” of women. Through this book, we get a glimpse of women trapped in their homes as they wait for change and dream of escape. We also see young girls struggling to remain ‘pure’ and new mothers wondering why they no longer feel any form of desire. These stories deal with subjects like love, longing, loss, mental illness, ageing and survival and are likely to make you feel uncomfortable as you are forced to confront your own demons.
Releasing on March 15. Buy it here.
03
Leader’s Block: How Great Leaders Recover After They Stumble
Ritu Gupta Mehrish
Do you love your job, but still feel demotivated and unengaged? If yes, then you might be suffering from leader’s block and Mehrish’s book should definitely be on your must-read list. Mehrish is renowned in the field of leadership development, with a clientele that includes Google, PayPal and Procter & Gamble to name a few. In Leader’s Block, she explains why professionals get leader’s block, how you can recognise the symptoms and how to get rid of it. She also interviews several senior professionals who share their stories on dealing with leader’s block.
Releasing on March 15. Buy it here.
04
Rajiv Gandhi To Narendra Modi: Broken Polity, Flickering Reforms
Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr
Rao Jr brings us first-person narratives of some of the most influential political leaders of India in Rajiv Gandhi To Narendra Modi, essentially reconstructing the story of politics from 1980 to the 2000s. This book brings us Narendra Modi’s “graphic description of his inner agony during the Gujarat riots”, Rajiv Gandhi’s statement about why he got into politics and Advani’s arguments in the Lok Sabha justifying the use of television in Kargil War. This book promises to be a thrilling ride, showcasing how these leaders took decisions that changed the course of Indian politics, and the subsequent drama it caused in their lives.
Releasing on March 15. Buy it here.
05
The Great Disappointment: How Narendra Modi Squandered A Unique Opportunity To Transform The Indian Economy
Salman Anees Soz
Soz is an international economic expert and his book is an attempt to analyse how the economy has fared under the NDA government. The Great Disappointment places the ‘Modinomics’ under brutal scrutiny to show that the PM blew his chances of making remarkable changes which would have propelled India to become a leading economy and explains why Modi’s decision were disappointing. With elections around the corner, this is a fitting time to read a book on economic policies.
Releasing on March 20. Buy it here.
06
Besharam
Priya-Alika Elias
Part manual and part memoir, Besharam is a book for Indian women on navigating the pitfalls of Indian culture while maintaining their individuality. Elias bases this book on her personal experiences, and dissects taboo subjects like sex and dating. She also goes into questions related to cultural identity and muses on why we have so many euphemisms related to menstruation. Besharam asks us to be shameless in our pursuit of freedom, and should be read by any woman who feels trapped by society.
Releasing on March 22. Buy it here.
07
Beast
Krishna Udayasankar
ACP Aditi Kashyap comes face to face with the deadly world of Saimhas (werelions) while investigating a triple homicide in Mumbai. Soon, she teams up Prithvi, an Enforcer, and together they hunt for the murderer. However, Prithvi has his own demons and his motives seem suspicious. Aditi and Prithvi’s search for the truth will take them from the suburbs of Mumbai brothels and forgotten tunnels. Udayasankar’s Beast is a thrilling saga that will manage to keep you both entertained and hooked with its twists.
Releasing on March 25. Buy it here.
Disclaimer: Some of these books were previously available on Kindle or as international editions which were available for import. This list features Indian editions of these books, which tend to be more affordable. The information featured here is accurate as of February 22, 2019.
