Backflap: People Called Ladakh

People Called Ladakh
Curated by Nisha Nair and Shashi Velath.
Westland. Pages 218. Rs 599
‘People Called Ladakh’ is a conscious attempt to look at the culture — both past and present, tangible and intangible, inherited and evolving — of this land. It is a heart-warming anthology of slice-of-life stories about Ladakh’s unique identity, told through the everyday experiences, livelihoods, rituals, practices and belief systems of its people. The writers who have contributed to this anthology come from diverse backgrounds. They include researchers, cultural practitioners, local architects, anthropology students, as well as a Buddhist nun.

Do Not Ask the River Her Name
by Sheela Tomy.
HarperCollins. Pages 304. Rs 499
‘Do Not Ask the River Her Name’ makes the reader look at the Israel–Palestine conflict with a fresh perspective. When an accident leaves her husband bedridden, Ruth leaves her home in search of a job. From the highlands of Wayanad, she goes to the deserts of Riyadh and Dubai, and after many trials and tribulations, eventually arrives in Nazareth, Israel, where she finds work as a caregiver. Sheela Tomy weaves together the struggles of several peoples under siege.