Afghanistan has perhaps always preferred to live with uncertainties. The eminent Bengali writer Syed Mujtaba Ali had to quit the country overnight while on a visit in 1927, threatened by political upheavals. Amitabha Ray spent some time in Kabul between 2007 and 2008, as a representative of the Government of India on a United Nations mission. Living a risky existence in an unsettled country he was nevertheless awestruck by its unique landscape, ancient heritage and the natural warmth of its people. Kabulnama is his tribute to those years, sharing personal moments of anxiety, lending a glimpse into the life of the common Afghan. It is a rare journey along the highs and lows of the land and the times. There is camaraderie amidst chaos in this story of a battle-worn nation in a rugged land, lending a ringside view of its natural beauty, history, culture, travel, food and people.

The monsoon is the season of pouring rain and intense emotions: love and longing, hope and fear, pleasure and pain, devotion and joyous excess. Through a series of evocative essays exploring rain-drenched worlds of poetry, songs, paintings, architecture, films, gardens, festivals, music, and medicine, this lavishly illustrated collection examines the history of monsoon feelings in South Asia from the twelfth century to the present. Each essay is written by a specialist in the field of South Asian arts and culture, and investigates emotions as reflections and agents of social, cultural, and political change across borders of language and religion and between different arts and cultural practices. This history of emotions in the rain is as rich, surprising, beautiful and devastating as the thundering monsoon clouds, and will delight general and scholarly audiences alike.

In this book, which is the result of painstaking research spread over many years, Professor B.N. Goswamy has brought together Nainsukh’s entire known or ascribable oeuvre: close to a hundred paintings, painted sketches and drawings which contain the first flush of his thoughts. Nainsukh of Guler is perhaps the first ever book to appear on a traditional painter of the past in India. It is a ground-breaking work: illuminating in its scholarship and written in a flowing, almost poetic style. Justly, it has received worldwide notice.

Three things come together in the series of paintings depicted in this book: a great text, a delectable old romance, and the work of one of the most talented families of painters.

The text is the 12th century Naishadhacharita of Sriharsha, one of the last great kavyas of Sanskrit literature; the story, told with the utmost delicacy, centres around the intense love that grew – mutual sights heard of, but yet unseen – between King Nala and Princess Damayanti. The painter family that produced this exquisitely painted series came from the small principality of Guler in the “Pahari” hills: today’s Himachal Pradesh. The intent of the painter/s was to cover the story in close to 110 paintings, but only 47 paintings could be completed all of them now in the collection of the Amar Mahal Museum and Library at Jammu, and here published the remaining having survived only in the form of highly finished drawings.

Rabindranath Tagore, a name very close to many people’s hearts, evokes a feeling of pride, awe and inspiration and continues to arouse curiosity about this multi-faceted personality. This book chronicles the Poet’s contributions in the context of the period to which he belonged, bringing into light those incidents, anecdotes and issues which have often been overlooked but, nonetheless, are significant as they enable us to understand Tagore better. His role as a son, brother, husband, father; his accomplishments as a poet, philosopher, writer, painter, choreographer, actor; his relations with his family, friends, contemporary writers and poets, as well as predecessors; his correspondences with the political leaders of his time within the nation as well as abroad; and, above all, his interpretations about life, revealing his quest for love, faith and devotion and his deep-rooted anguish. Tagore’s unfulfilled dreams and expectations as projected in the broad sweep of this lucid narration reveal two facets of the Poet – a man of extraordinary abilities yet a man having ordinary expectations, who could thereby understand the joys and sorrows of the common man keeping aside his own gains and losses.

Ragachitra: Deccani Ragamala Paintings presents exquisite miniature art from Bijapur, rendered in the Deccan style (19th century). A set of 44 unpublished ragamala paintings in possession of the National Museum, Delhi since 1989 has been displayed, retaining its original brilliance. The paintings stand apart in their vibrant visual appeal, depth and range of content and in the perfect symphony created between art and music. A lucid narrative documents the history of Indian classical music, the range of traditions of the raga theory and their miniature visual forms created in medieval India. It is a delightful and overwhelming aesthetic and intellectual experience for the reader.

The book presents traditional, easy-to-cook Rajasthani meals and related food recipes, for young homemakers, future chefs and all food connoisseurs. It transfers homegrown knowledge to the young generation and caters to multicultural readership. Each recipe has been combined with supplementary food items to present the concept of a tasty, wholesome and nutritious meal. They focus on a fast-changing society where “snacking” is replacing full sit-down meals and “finger food” and “quick bites” fulfill the purpose of a light dinner. The dishes add plenty of nutritive value to the diet and cater to the eating habits and fast lifestyle of the multi-tasking generation.

The select recipes are grouped in five categories cereals, pulses, vegetables, non-vegetarian dishes and special dishes for festivals.

Contents: Welcome to Rajasthan and the Local Cuisine (Padharo Mahre Desh); Flavours of Cereals (Zaika Anaj Ka); Wheat; Sadi bati; Churma; Dupper; Missi roti; Gulgule; Lapsi; Daal dhokli; Wheat ghughari; Wheat flour roti; Puri; Plain paratha; Bharwa / aloo paratha; Sabzi paratha; Meetha paratha; Halwa; Doodh dalia; Maize; Maize roti; Makki ka dhokla; Raab; Maize papadi / khichiya; Bhutta pakodi; Bhutta sabzi; Bhutta pulav; Jajaria; Bhutta barfi; Bajra; Bajra kheech; Bajra gudmudia; Bajra khichada; Power of Pulses (Damdaar Daalen;) Mixed daal; Mangodi / badi; Mangodi ki sabzi; Kadhi pakodi; Pakodi sabzi; Besan gatte; Sabut moth; Besan chakki; Vegetables in a Variety (Sabziyan Swaad-bhari); Ratalu sabzi; Bharwa besan mirch; Mirchi bada; Kachha kela chhilka sabzi; Dried vegetables curry; Pach kuta / ker sangri; Meethi dana methi sabzi; Dana methi papad; Lahsan chutney; Papad sabzi; Kachhi haldi ki sabzi; Mirchi ke tapore; Meat, Poultry, Eggs (Maansahaari Zaika); Laal maans; Keema matar; Chicken curry; Egg curry; Fish curry; Fish fry (snack/ starter).

Shah Rukh Khan is many things: a villain, an anti-hero, a romantic hero, a heart-throb, and a superstar. Khan burst onto the big screen in 1992 as a character-actor who gave even the most reprehensible villains depth. The accolades he won allowed him to take on a plethora of more adventurous roles, proving his versatility and skill to the world of Indian cinema, but also establishing him as a celebrity icon. This book, containing essays from some of Khan’s closest coworkers, offers an intimate and honest picture of SRK the actor and Shah Rukh the man.

SRK – 25 Years of a Life looks at Shah Rukh through the eyes of the directors who transformed him into each of his unforgettable roles. It shows the creation of a living legend, tracing Khan from his early days to his current position at the pinnacle of the Bollywood casting lists. As well as offering an insight into Khan’s life that will entrance any dedicated fan, this book is designed to please the eye; its many illustrations are inspired by Bollywood’s hand-painted film posters, reminiscent of the iconic portraits that first revealed SRK’s characters. SRK writes that he hasn’t had time for introspection, and does not dwell on the details of his successes and failures. However, this book puts everything that needs to be known about SRK within the reader’s grasp. With its stark and unembellished accounts of SRK’s personal and professional life, it provides a unique window of insight into this legandary man.

The Tree with a Thousand Apples is a universal story of cultures, belongingness, revenge and atonement. A socio-political thriller set in the troubled Indian region of Kashmir, during the years 1990 to 2013, it depicts how the lives of three innocent children are shattered during an insurgent night, and what happens 20 years later when their paths cross again. This narrative, while local to the Kashmir Valley, reflects a universal truth: that lives of innocent people are caught in the crossfire of conflict zones across the world. The novel depicts the paradise that Kashmir once was, shows the ideological conflict zone it has become, and explores the question of ‘where next?’, both for the land and its people. The stylized layered format, fast-paced narration and suspenseful storytelling makes for a powerful, gripping read.

The book presents a significantly curated cross-section of the textile treasures offered by Varanasi. It combines the past and the present, linking them to different moments in the city’s history, and makes a powerful case for rediscovering, preserving and patronizing these textile treasures that are inextricably bound to the ancient aura of the city. Jaya Jaitly, emphasizes the need to acknowledge the beauty of Varanasi’s textiles emerging out of age-old traditions and techniques. She highlights the danger of the loss of livelihoods and highly sophisticated skills. She expresses concern over erosion of identity and importance in the wake of machine-made imitations being produced in other parts of the world that has already begun.

The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue are the first to examine the union of contemporary Jewelry and the photographic image, demonstrating how each of these mediums is informed and enlarged by an engagement with the other. The works included, both historical pieces and recent creations by over eighty international art jewelers, suggest the richness of this encounter and the artistic strength embodied in this dynamic combination of object and image. The examples selected for the exhibition and catalogue traverse a remarkably wide range, from traditional and even sentimental formats (such as the locket) to entirely new formats. Drawing upon the abundance of imagery available today, from vintage daguerreotypes to analog and digital photographs, X-rays, and Internet jpegs, the artists whose work was selected for Multiple Exposures: Jewelry and Photography express a stimulating range of ideas realized with a great diversity of materials and innovative jewelry-making approaches. Includes the work of artists from the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Israel, India, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil.

Tham ma da Thai for everyday is exactly Italian architect and designer Paola Navone s approach: translating the ordinary into the surprising. Her global travels especially in India and Africa inform her work, whether residences in France and Italy, the Metropolitan Hotel by Como in Miami, or the Rooftop Bar in Chicago. She has also partnered with major brands such as Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Alessi, Gervasoni, Baxter, and Cappellini. Navone s work is widely covered in international publications, including Dwell, Interior Design Magazine, Elle Décor, Surface, and Food & Wine, among others. Her blend of colors, materials and motifs is playful yet sophisticated; fresh yet dignified and always a revelation

U Thong, 100 or so km north of Bangkok, has been an important site for over 2,000 years, as witnessed by the discovery of a 3rd century Roman coin. The moated city was connected to the Chin river, thereby gaining access to international trade routes.

The inhabitants of the early centers of Classic Southeast Asian civilization were already wealthy enough to own large quantities of ornate jewelry such as imported beads from India and carved stone from Taiwan. They had so much gold that central and western mainland Southeast Asia including the U Thong area was known in Sanskrit as Suvarnabhumi, the Golden Land.

This publication brings a new perspective to the study of ancient gold from U Thong. The author is a trained research metallurgy scientist, and these skills have been brought to bear on the highly significant corpus of early gold artifacts found in and around the moated city, the largest accumulation of such artifacts from any of the ancient muang of Thailand.

The goldsmiths were as highly skilled as those anywhere else in the world, but almost all previous studies have been written by people who can only study the outer appearance to draw conclusions regarding its age and place of origin.

Brooklyn is one of the world’s great melting pots: a place where cultures converge and creativity thrives. This handsome volume features fifty profiles of prominent individuals, all of whom were born, have lived, or still live in Brooklyn. With biographical details such as where they were born, went to school, or made a name for themselves, this book looks at Brooklyn through the lens of a contemporary outsider; it is Brooklyn heritage as seen from another perspective. Contents include: Woody Allen, Isaac Asimov, Madeleine Astor, W.H. Auden, Lauren Baccall, Matthew Barney & Björk, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Henry Ward Beecher, Lloyd Blankfein, Benjamin Britten, Mel Brooks, Al Capone, Truman Capote, Shirley Chisholm, Lady Randolph Churchill, Aaron Copland, Mos Def, Neil Diamond, Bobby Fischer, Yuri Foreman, John Forsythe, Milton Friedman, David Geffen, George Gershwin, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Rudy Giuliani, Bob Guccione, Anne Hathaway, Leona Helmsley, Harry Houdini, Wolfman Jack, Jay Z, Norah Jones, Michael Jordan, Danny Kaye, Larry King, Sandy Koufax, Spike Lee, H.P. Lovecraft, Norman Mailer, Arthur Miller & Marilyn Monroe, Henry Miller, Steve Ribell, Carl Sagan, Bernie Sanders, Beverly Sills, Barbra Streisand, Mike Tyson, Mae West and Janet Yellen.

Derivatives II represents a continuation of the works shown in my first volume of large format black and white photographs. As explained in the first book of this two-volume series, my visual language derives from early twentieth century photographers and thinkers whose works I studied. The images presented in both volumes were made in the years from 1985 to 1990. Whereas the first volume included 30 verses composed during and after these six years, the second volume includes a selective summary of events which occurred during these years. However, these historical events had no direct influence on the photographs presented in this volume: they simply provide a sense of context.

From 1985 to 1990 the world population grew almost 9 per cent, from 4.8 to 5.3 billion, influenced strongly by growth in Asia and Africa; North America grew 5.2 per cent and Europe only 2.2 per cent. A shift of economic power eastwards became inevitable as the middle classes of China, India and Indonesia started to expand at even faster rates. These were critical years because of the number of geopolitical milestones: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of China. It was also a period of declining leadership in the West after the passing of the Cold War leaders, and a period of increasing sovereign indebtedness (e.g. in the US the Federal Debt level almost doubled in these few years). In addition, the advent of the internet and rapid advances in technology began to shrink the world to today’s claustrophobic dimensions.1985 to 1990 were also critical years for large-format film photography. They were years of fundamental change for photographers because they are associated with the end of analog photography: the bankruptcy of the largest producer of sheet film, Kodak, made the type of film photography presented in this book and the preceding volume rare. These were the years when derivative chemicals and film were replaced by digital technology.

The earliest known portable digital cameras were sold in the US in November 1990. The development of digital technology progressed rapidly with the marketing refrain: “Don t think, just shoot!” As a result, the reduction in the meditative components of picture taking, development and printing changed the nature of art photography and led to an explosion in the number of potential ‘picture takers’ and exposures. – K.C. Korfmann

Living Heritage features companies and institutions which have been active for at least two hundred years. The variety of companies presented is broad and their organisational forms are diverse: some are still family-owned while others have different managerial structures. Heritage is an important cultural asset all around the world. Using it as a key to connect to a larger audience in the corporate world and outside it, this book authentically relates the story of each company with the use of photographs, history and personal stories – written by people who are part of the company, who share their own perceptions of what the company stands for and how it has reached where it is today.