Monday, February 27, 2012

Press Reports on Mulgi Zali Ho

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/the-second-sex/917083/

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Photos from the event - "Mulgi Zali Ho" - street play on 24th Feb 2012

Lokayat, a Pune based self funded activists group presented "Mulgi Zali Ho" at twistntales on Friday evening.

"Mulgi Zali Ho" was first staged in 1982 in Bombay by Stree Mukti Sangatana. Since then the play has been contemporised and staged by many women's activists across the country. It is a powerful and forces reflection on all. Celebrating thirty years of the play, it is a tragedy of our times that the play continues to be relevant to this day.


Getting the event rolling :


A section of the audience



Introducing Lokayat


Street Play in progress




Thanks to all, especially Alka tai of Lokayat.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

New Books and Events that give you joy !

Hi all,

In a blink, we are past the first month in this year, and inching towards our tenth anniversary. A series of events planned over the next two months leading to our birthday.

But first, the good news! Yes, we are back to our regular hours from Tues, 7th Feb. So, for all those customers who used to be here regularly in the mornings, please be informed that we are now open in the mornings as well. We close for a break (afternoons 2 to 4pm) and on Mondays. As soon as we identify somebody suitable for the afternoons, we will soon be open all day.

But we are short of good people who like to work in bookstores. So, if you know of folks who will like to work in bookstores, please ask them to get in touch with us (twistntales@hotmail.com). We are looking for persons who will like to work full time, long term part time, any combo and flexibility can be worked out. Most of you know Lijya already, and Malhar has joined us recently. We need a couple of more smart, peppy persons to add to the team. Do spread the word!

Thank you for your enthusiastic response to “Walking Along” presented in twistntales in Jan by LOK, a Kolkatta based students collective (Check our blog for snaps). Continuing our “protest” agenda, we now have Lokayat presenting “Mulgi Zali Ho”, a street play in Marathi. This play was originally presented by Stree Mukti Sanghatana in 1982, and has been successfully running for 30 years. Many of you who have been in Maharashtra for long will be familiar with this. This play is in its 30th year and is a powerful narration of the status of women today.
Lokayat is an NGO based in Pune and takes up different social and civic issues. The members are mostly students, software professionals who give their time voluntarily.

Do not miss this. “Mulgi Zali Ho” is a musical play about the plight of the girl child, with powerful and biting humour and a simple form. It has touched the chords of the masses. This group has been performing this for years. The play raises questions and problems but also ends with solutions to the problems. It starts with making obeisance to the work of those who fought for injustice to women like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Maharshi Karve, Raja Rammohan Roy, Dr.Ambedkar etc. “Mulgi Zali Ho” gives courage to women to stand up and fight back.

“Mulgi Zali Ho” will be presented in twistntales on Fri, 24th Feb’11 at 7pm.

And now for new books:

“Heart to Heart: Remembering Nainaji” by Vidya Rao @ Rs.199/-

Heart to Heart traces Naina Devi’s incredible story as told to her disciple, Vidya Rao. It describes the changes in the world of Indian classical music, women singers and women in Indian Society over the last century. Like an exquisite duet between historical record and memory, and between Naina Devi’s voice and Rao’s own, it illuminates the power and beauty of music, and the deep bond between Rao and her beloved Guru, truly heart to heart!

“The World in our Time” A Memoir by Tapan Raychaudhuri @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 365)

In the year 2007, Professor Tapan Raychaudhuri published his memoirs in Bengali, Bangal-nama. Here is the English version. The author thoughtfully but selectively borrows from the original, keeping in mind the interests of Non-Bengali Anglophiles. This book is not an autobiography of a single man but that of a Nation from its inception to maturation. The wide arc of the book which recounts tempestuous times is sure to leave you fascinated!

“The 100 Best Business books of all Time: What they Say, Why they matter and how they can help you” by Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten @ Rs. 550/-

Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten with a combined thirty-five years in the business book industry have taken pains and joy to filter the endless stream of new books to find those 100 gems! They have highlighted important takeaways and put each book in context so that you can quickly find solutions to your current situation. At the end of each review, they recommend other books that you should read next some of which may surprise you or compel you to take a fresh look at the classics! So pick this book and the books mentioned herein as most of these are right here with us- yourneighbourhoodbookstore!

“The Etymologicon (Inky Fool blog): A Circular stroll through the hidden Connections of the English language” by Mark Forsythe @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 252)

Finding strange connections between two words and their origin, Mark Forsyth’s book The Etymologicon takes you to a circular stroll through the hidden connections of the English language. The book originates from Mark Forsyth’s “Inky Fool” blog. It’s an occasionally ribald and frequently witty tour of secrets that lurk beneath the English language. From this interconnection between words, the author explores more complex connections like comparison between monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes and explaining precisely what the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening.

“Bantaism” by Bhai Niranjan Singh ‘Amrikawale” @ Rs. 140/- (pgs 150)

The sardar jokes in Bantaism have an unmatched originality and versatility, with a strong aura of a wild balle- balle undercurrent. From history of Banta Singh the author tries to throw light on the philosophy of sardar jokes by adding commentaries after each joke. Capturing all affection and abandon that accompanies its best renditions, funny but not tawdry, this eclectic collections introduces readers to an unexplored dimension of Sardar humor. Through the hilarious stories of Banta Singh and his friends, we are gently reminded that the joke is really on us, and all our pretensions.

“Emerging India: Economics, Politics and Reforms” by Bimal Jalan @ Rs. 599/-

This book is a definitive collection of writings on the changing face of economics, politics and reforms in India with a view to the future by Bimal Jalan- one of the country’s well known economists and former Governor of the R.B.I. Highlighting the need for further reforms in the running of India’s politics and administration to seize the opportunities that lie ahead of India, Bimal Jalan argues his points thoughtfully with precision and exactness. Makes essential reading for anyone interested in the history and future of India’s development as a Nation!

“Didi: A Political Biography” by Monobina Gupta @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 217)

A compelling biography of Mamata Banarjee, the woman who defeated the longest-serving democratically elected communist government in the world. Strongly derided for her ‘theatricality’ and rhetoric, Mamata Banarjee became the first woman chief minister of West Bengal. The book describes her as many things from a ‘performer’ on the stage of Indian politics to a spirited women who despite having no male patrons, a leader who was tested to the limit and emerged on top. Monobina Gupta has used her experience as a journalist and commentator on politics, to paint a fabulous portrait of one of the most important political leaders in Indian history.

“Grandeur Of the Lion” by Carl Muller @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 173)

In the third book of his acclaimed series on Sri Lanka’s history, Carl Muller recounts the glorious days of Dhutta Gamini’s reign as he transforms Anuradhapura into the greatest Buddhist city of ancient times. He is blessed by the gods- with a son and mysterious treasures like flowers with gems and caves with silver. With these divine treasures he builds enduring wonders of Buddhism like the colossal Maha Thupa and Ridi Vihara in Anuradhapura. Vividly told, full of rich mythology ‘Grandeur of the Lion’ is a brilliant invocation of the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.

“Ashoka” by Charles Allen @ Rs.750/- (pgs 460)

Charles Allen reviving the greatest ruler India has ever known; the epic- Ashoka, tells his story through a wide ranging, multi layered journey of discovery ingeniously pieced together. ‘Ashoka’ is thus a fitting testament to a forgotten epic! So, those of you who relish India’s antiquity… this book is for you!

“Karma Sutra” by Rajendar Menen @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 191)

This is a powerful document of the Indian Street – a journey into the murky urban underbelly. It’s about the lives of the marginalized, and their heroic battle against the enormous odds stacked against them every single day of their lives. It’s about how they surmount it all without complaint: the true heroes of a karma that has shackled them. It endures to instill hope in us; in even the bleakest of moments, to come out much stronger and more evolved! Pulsating with raw realism and energy, the book tells gripping, heroic stories of heartbreak and hope, of exploitation and the will to survive.
Other new books at the Store:

“Travelling to Infinity – My Life with Stephen” by Jane Hawking @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 488)
“Confessions of a Serial Dieter – A weightloss memoir” by Kalli Purie @ Rs. 250/-
“Bollywood Quiz Book” @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 150)
“Bali and the Ocean of Milk” by Nilanjan P Choudhury @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 306)
“The Chilled Parent” by Rita Offen @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 139)
“A Saint in the Board Room” by R. Durgadoss and B. Yerram Raju @ Rs. 295/-
“The 5 levels of Leadership” by John C Maxwell @ Rs. 650/- (pgs 408)
“Corruption in India – The DNA and the RNA” by Bibek Debroy and Laveesh Bhandari @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 191)
“Hot tea across India” by Rishad Saam Mehta @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 191)
“Urban Shots” by Paritosh Uttam @ Rs. 145/- (pgs 222)
“Read Write Right – Common Errors in English” by Terry O’Brien @ Rs. 140/-
“Miss New India” by Bharati Mukherjee @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 325)
“The Illustrated Lives in The Wilderness” @ Rs. 375/- (pgs 315)
“The Newsroom Mafia” by Oswald Pereira @ Rs. 245/- (pgs 259)
“Wah Dhoni” by Arun Kumar Thakur @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 160)
“Hope Soars – Life after Cancer” Ed. by Jyotsna Govil @ Rs. 395/- (pgs 214)
“The Habit of Love” by Namita Gokhale @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 250)
“The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins @ Rs. 295/-
Other titles in the series
“Catching Fire”
“Mocking Jay” (both also are at Rs. 295/-)
“Nocturnes” by Kazou Ishiguro @ Rs. 350/-
“Success secrets of Sherlock Holmes” by David Acor @ Rs. 499/-
“Grandma’s Bag of Stories” by Sudha Murthy @ Rs. 199/-
“And all is Said” By Zareer Masani @ Rs. 299/-
“The Extras” by Kiran Nagarkar @ Rs. 599/-
“Her piece of Sky” – Contemporary Hindi Stories by Deepa Agarwal @ Rs. 295/-
“Inside Apple – The secrets behind the past and future success of Steve Job’s Iconic Brand” by Adam Lashinsky @ Rs. 499/-
“Your Complete Forecast 2012 Horoscope” by Began Daruwalla @ Rs.325/- (pgs 528)
“The Masque of Africa: Glimpses of African Belief” by V.S. Naipaul @ Rs.399/- (pgs 324) (Now in Paperback!)
“The Songbird on my Shoulder: Confessions of an Unrepentant Madam” by Saaz Aggarwal @ Rs.300/-
“The Story of Indian Business Series” edited by Gurcharan Das @ Rs.399/-
Titles in the Series:
· ‘Merchants of Tamilakam’ by Kanakalatha Mukund
· ‘Arthashastra’ by Thomas R. Trautmann
· ‘The East India Company’ by Tirthankar Roy
“Popular Penguins” - On the Occasion of Penguin’s 125th Birthday, they have brought together 25 titles as the Popular penguins. They are a one time print edition priced at wonderfully wow (low) prices! Grab, read and enjoy! The following titles in stock:

‘Everybody loves a good drought: Stories from India’s poorest Districts’ by P.Sainath
‘The Ramayana’ translated by Arshia Sattar
‘My Experiments with Truth’ translated by Mahadev Desai
‘Life of Pi’ Yann Martel
‘Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found’ by Suketu Mehta
‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhati Roy
‘Train to Pakistan’ by Khuswant Singh
“Haroun and the Sea of Stories’ by Salman Rushdie
‘The idea of India’ by Sunil Khilnani
‘In an Antique Land’ by Amitav Ghosh
‘The Village by the Sea’ by Anita Desai
‘The Inheritance of Loss’ by Kiran Desai
‘The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian Culture, History and Identity’ by Amartya Sen
‘The Room on the Roof’ by Ruskin Bond
‘The Discovery of India’ by Jawaharlal Nehru
‘Ignited Minds’ by A. P.J Abdul Kalam
‘The Guide’ by R.K. Narayan

Happy Reading and enjoy all that you read!

See you at the Store,

From the team at,

twistntales

Friday, February 3, 2012

Join the citizens campaign - Every Child Counts !

Door Step School in Aundh is spearheading the "Every Child Counts" campaign in Pune. Please give your time by volunteering. Check out their blog and volunteering activities on this link :