Backflap: Mangifera Indica: A Biography of the Mango

Mangifera Indica: A Biography of the Mango

by Sopan Joshi.

Aleph.

Pages 408. Rs 799

Beyond the often told stories of obsessions of nawabs and rajas with mango and the breathless annual debates about the best mangoes in the world, Sopan Joshi’s book describes every aspect of India’s favourite fruit — from the orchards where they grow to the vibrant markets redolent with their aroma, and ultimately to our tables. It delves into mango diplomacy, charts the co-evolution of the ancestors of the mango and humans and pieces together a kaleidoscope of mango varieties.

Ten Days of the Strike

by Sandipan Chattopadhyay.

Translated by Arunava Sinha.

HarperCollins.

Pages 335. Rs 499

A staunch anti-establishment figure and a supporter of creative freedom, Sandipan Chattopadhyay was one of the pioneers of modern Bengali literature. His writings mirrored his concerns of class and gender relations and the absurdity of the human condition, while blurring the distinctions between the mainstream and the parallel stream. In ‘Ten Days of the Strike’, his work has been translated into English for the first time.

But I Am One of You: Northeast India and the Struggle to Belong

Edited by Samrat Choudhury & Preeti Gill.

HarperCollins.

Pages 282. Rs 599

Amidst sweeping political and social changes in the Northeast and the rest of the country, have things changed for the ‘Northeasterner’? How do the tribals and the old settlers find a way to coexist in the region? Essays in this book offer different perspectives, reflecting the distinctive micro-history of diverse groups and the multiplicity of stories within every state. ‘But I Am One of You’ sheds light on the complex fabric of identity in Northeast India.

The Women Who Would Not Die

by Uddipana Goswami.

Speaking Tiger.

Pages 207. Rs 499

The 12 stories in this collection paint a searing picture of Assam. Migrants, women, children and other vulnerable people, constantly faced with violence, appear in most of these stories which are both political and personal. Folk narratives are woven into some stories, revealing a sense of hope, resilience, and restoration. The book chronicles a deeply fragmented society where people live, love and lose amidst everyday war and violence, but still find ways to cope and heal.