Chetan Bhagat’s first non-fiction book launched

Jumbo Editorial Team

Crossword, one of India’s leading lifestyle bookstores, and Rupa Publications, a noted publishing house, launched Chetan Bhagat’s book ‘What Young India Wants’ in Mumbai on August 10.

Author of five novels, all of which went on to become blockbuster sellers since their release, this is Bhagat’s first non-fiction book. Prominent among those present in the book launch were fashion designer Masaba, Bollywood director Abhishek Kapoor and actress Shahzan Padamsee, at Crossword’s Kemps Corner outlet in Mumbai.  

‘What Young India Wants’ is a book based on Bhagat’s vast experience as a successful writer besides being a motivational speaker and a columnist. 

In clear, simple prose and with great insight, he has described contemporary India, analyses some of the complex issues faced by the everyday young Indian, offers solutions and goes as far as to invite discussions. 

He questions hard and demands answers about issues that urgently need to be addressed like the increasing rate of student suicides, ever increasing corruption, political parties among other issues.

Bhagat, along with Masaba, Abhishek Kapoor and Shahzan Padamsee, discussed some of the issues addressed in the book, shared a few stories, experiences and their hopes for a better country. 

As mentioned in the book, they asked the question ‘Unless we are all in agreement on what it is going to take to make our country better, how will things ever change?’ 

 “We are extremely happy to launch Chetan’s first non-fiction book on the Crossword platform. We appreciate his efforts towards connecting with the youth to bring about a change in the country. We wish him the very best,” Kinjal Shah, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Crossword Bookstores remarked.

Bhagat is the author of five novels, all of which have gone on to become blockbuster sellers since they were released. They have also been adapted into major Bollywood films. 

He was named one of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ by Time magazine and one of the world’s ‘100 Most Creative People in Business’ by Fast Company, USA. 

His five blockbuster novels are Five Point Someone (2004), One Night @ the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of my life (2008), 2 States (2009) and Revolution 2020 (2011).

Sunaina Ahluwalia makes it big with release of An Autumn Melody

Jumbo Editorial Team 

The Muscat-based author, Sunaina Serna Ahluwalia, having come to the limelight with the publication of her first book ‘A Safe Harbour’ in 2009, has joined the big league with her third book ‘An Autumn Melody’ having been brought out by Rupa Publications, one of the leading Indian publishers. Her second book ‘Point of No Return’ was also a success story.

‘An Autumn Melody’ is the saga of the very rich, powerful and decadent society who are convinced that they can afford to dabble in just about anything, including murder, as they can easily get away with it. 

It tells us about Darshana’s journey through life, one which she manages, despite all the odds, along with the three men who play a key role in it. Kirat, her alcoholic husband, Robi Ghosh, a prizewinning photographer and Rizwan, her first and most intense love who waits for and watches over her, but always from a distance. 

 “Since its launch, the book has been receiving rave reviews which are a proof that it has been accepted by the readers. I have been receiving several calls of my readers who went through the book and the publishers too are overwhelmed with the response,” Sunaina Ahluwalia was quoted as saying.

Her first book ‘A Safe Harbour’ was a family-oriented story while the second one ‘Point of No Return’ was a thriller. She has talked about various aspects of social life in her third book ‘An Autumn Melody’ which proves her versatility as a writer. 

“I had realised that as a reader I have enjoyed different topics and authors and I should deliver the same to my readers as well,” she remarked. Sunaina Serna Ahluwalia, whose favourite authors include Colleen McCullough, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and Margaret Mitchell, has been based in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman for over two decades. 

She is basically a free-lance advertising and public relations professional who has maintained great passion for writing. 

“Writing certainly needs a certain amount of discipline. I set a minimum target of 1,000 words a day which could occupy two to three hours of my day. This would mean not attending phone calls, cut off from the net and emails and any other bustle. And having reading time is a must,” she explained in an interview

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“I love travelling and meeting new people. Anything that gets me excited, I pour it into my books. My first book was based in India and Oman. Readers like variety, so there is nothing like knowing about a new place or reading about a place that you are very familiar with,” she added. 

Sunaina Serna Ahluwalia cares for the society and she is also into social service. 

“As a general manager of Omani Women’s Guild I squeeze for raising funds for charity. Time management is the essence when it comes to a woman like me who has her hands full. But my message to all the women out there is to be good receptors. Especially in a place like Oman where women are on par with men, women should be open to ideas and be generous in passing their knowledge and expertise. Only by doing that can we move forward as a nation and as individuals,” she noted.