How do we know him? And what do we know of him? This son of the yesteryear journalist Thomas Smith, this pillar in the old redbrick building of The Statesman at thecrossing ofthe Barakhamba Road, this storyteller of the Raj Days, at par with the Charles Allen and Paul Scott. I first met him, when I walked […]

Did you know? Although the pressures on nature had not become so acute in Gandhi’s lifetime, this wise man had the foresight to see that our planet’s carrying capacity is not infinite and some restraint will have to be placed on how much pressure we can place on its air, water, forests and minerals. Mahatma […]

The Bhagavad Gita says, “One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme, is unaffected by sinful action, just as the lotus is untouched by water.” These are beautiful words and the most sound advice on detachment to the modern-day professional. Detachment doesn’t mean you should not aspire to reach the […]

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same and this couldn’t be truer, especially when talking about the status of women in our country. Rape laws have been amended and there are hundreds of fast-track courts, but Nirbhaya, whose brutal rape horrified the nation, gets justice after seven long years and even that […]

It is World Book Day today and we at Vitasta take the pledge to encourage and promote reading by bringing out engaging, thought-provoking and exceptional books to suit the taste of every reader. Let us together spread the joy of reading. Tell your children how books can be their best friends. Start early. Read them […]

Vitasta’s new book, Multi-Agency Response To Violence Against Women, has a provocative subtitle, ‘Feminist Social Work with the Police system’. What does it exactly mean? How is it different from Social Work otherwise? On the occasion of March 8, I would like to explain what it signifies. Patriarchy is a social malaise that breeds inequality of […]

AS THE year comes to an end, a troubling thought has been: Is the Indian publishing industry going Through a flat phase? Two years ago, Academic books market share was 40%, Children’s books was 30%, Trade publishing was 30%. Today, the K 12 market share is 71%, Higher Education share is 22% and only 7% […]

IT WAS especially important for India to be present at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year, to redeem her image as one of the world’s greatest tolerant democracies. India-born Salman Rushdie, in his inaugural address said, publishing was the ’embodiment’ and ‘guardian of freedom of speech’. He added, ‘If you believe in a single vision […]