Seven secrets of Vishnu - Devdutt Patnaik (2011)

Breaks down Vishnu's avatars into seven important ones and tries to explain how and why they are important to mankind. Unlike Shiva and Shakti which is all about relationship of a man and woman, Vishnu avatars are about establishing culture and society at large. A very apt way to look at Hindu scriptures.

Seven Secrets of Shiva - Devdutt Patnaik (2011)

The book divides Shiva mythological experiences into 7 parts and forms we are aware of and explains the significance of it in very simple manner. The importance of Shiva and Shakti in our mythology explains the relationship between a man and woman in its most balanced approach. What is acceptable and what is not in experiences of this relationship. How the Goddess convinces a mendicant to live a householder's life. How in the marriage the God and Goddess help each other shade their extreme wilder side in establishing a social order yet continue to let the freedom be there such that the creativity needed is not eliminated. Again the myth behind the children of Shiva and Shakti and their significance is well described. If I interpret it right, the Shiva purana was a way to symbolically describe the most primal relationship of a man and woman and their need for it.

A relatively short book but filled with explanations of mythological symbolism which needs careful thinking through.

Business Sutra - Devdutt Patnaik (2013)

This expert in mythology surprises me every time he comes with a new book. While I was studying formal management education at IIMB a friend kind of asked is our Indian context to life is against business. I gave him a rhetoric reply which did not have any grounded base or explanation. But here is book that relates lots of simple stories of business with our mythological base. I have not read any other book which provides such a clear association.

Definitely, a recommended read but a bit longish book and can test your patience at times.

Seven secrets of the Goddess - Devdutt Patnaik

This is a book on the feminine forms of the Hindu Goddesses. The book is broken into 7 themes primarily focusing on one firm at a time. Definitely, a different way to look at Hindu Goddesses. Like most Devdutt Patnaik's books these are very light read and can be completed in a couple of hours. Gives a very thought provoking treatment of traditional practices of our system.

Sahara: The Untold Story (2014) - Tamal Bandopadhyaya

The author has done a very balanced presentation of the facts related to the Sahara case. If you have been in the thick of business or legal cases in recent years Sahara case is hard to ignore in any manner. As far as the book goes there is an associativity presented with the Peerless case. The scale of Peerless case is no comparison to the size of Sahara. Overall Sahara still remains an enigma in it all. I am sure it always will as much with people as much to regulators and law keepers. I found the text a very well researched balanced view with both regulator and Sahara's view points represented well. The overall story telling is a definite plus. Although, Sahara disclaims the presented facts in the beginning of the book in my opinion there is no easy way to present a case where decisions are still pending.

Worth reading in my opinion.

The woman who died one and half times and other stories - Manoj Das

Presented as a collection with one novelette exposes a lot of idiosyncratic situations in the human interactions. A great collection of simple stories with some takeaways.

The submerged valley and other stories - Manoj Das

One more from Manoj Das. Simply unputdownable. The last story the dusky horizon is definitely worth a special mention. Three friends make a mistake unknowingly and their unique ways to take penance for a girl's death. Definitely, well stated in the book by the master story teller.

Definitely, recommended.