The Hindu On Books newsletter: Nehru's influence on India's foreign policy, history books for children, Jataka tales and more
Here's the longlist:
In reviews, we read about the influence of Nehru's non-alignment on India's present foreign policy, quirky stories for children on Indian history, a new translation of the Jatakas introducing Buddha's stories to a new audience, an essay on book bans in Kashmir and more.
Books of the week
In The Nehru Years: An international History of Indian Non-Alignment (Juggernaut), Swapna Kona Nayudu argues that the concept of strategic autonomy has been the cornerstone of India's foreign policy, set down by Nehru. 'Non-alignment was a political vision built through historical consciousness,' she writes, adding that it 'predated and outlived the Cold War'.
In his review, Stanly Johny writes that what sets Nayudu's book apart is its rich archival depth and also the theoretical foundation she lays for non-alignment as a foreign policy doctrine.
'She presents it as 'a radical political vision' rooted in both Tagore's idea of the international (an interconnected world with soft borders) and Gandhi's critique of imperialism.'
Nayudu examines four major crises of the Nehru years— the Korean war (1950-53), the Suez crisis (1956), the Soviet intervention in Hungary (1956) and the Congo crisis (1960-64), and how India responded to them. Despite the challenges, the quest to safeguard its strategic autonomy continues to reverberate in India's foreign policy, writes Johny, as Nayudu shows in her book.
The Buddha's Path to Awakening (Harvard University Press), translated by Sarah Shaw, from the Jatakanidana in Pali, is a commentary on the 547 birth stories known as the Jatakas, which underwent numerous adaptations in the centuries after the historical Buddha's lifetime. Composed by an anonymous monk in the 5th or 6th century CE in the region known as present-day Sri Lanka, this text, says Chintan Girish Modi in his review, is significant to seekers and scholars alike because it preserves the oral traditions that have emerged and accumulated around the Bodhisatta, a title that is used to refer to a person who takes a vow to attain Buddhahood after which there is no rebirth.
'This is not a selfish aspiration. It stems from the motivation to be free of suffering in order to help free others.' With this book, Shaw, a faculty member in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, has produced a translation that makes the Jatakanidana 'accessible to people who have no knowledge of Pali but a strong wish to understand and even emulate the Buddha's path.'
The Indian children's publishing industry has sounded the bugle for a new kind of revolution — one that makes reading history cool, writes Rati Girish. From graphic novels to fictionalised stories set against the backdrop of major historical events, children's authors are exploring interesting ways to make Indian history come alive for children. Here's a list of some recommended reads: 'Songs of Freedom' (Duckbill) series by multiple authors; After Midnight: A History of Independent India (Penguin) by Meghaa Gupta with a Foreword by Manu S. Pillai; 565: The Dramatic Story of Unifying India (Hachette) by Mallika Ravikumar; A History of South India for Children (Hachette) by Pradeep Chakravarthy; and The Puffin History of India by Roshen Dalal.
Spotlight
The J&K government has banned 25 books, including works of A.G. Noorani, Arundhati Roy and Anuradha Bhasin. In an essay, Attaul Munim Zahid examines why authority always goes after books. 'Perhaps it is not the ideas themselves. Ideas, after all, are already loose in the world. But it may be the physicality of the book. While ideas are elusive, books as instruments are tangible and susceptible to the blows of power.'
The book as object is under attack, he writes. 'Not its words which have long floated online as zeroes and ones. But its form, its spine, its paper and its physicality. A physical book is a 'thingness' something rooted in being; it stands in the world, and the world stands around it. It resists deletion and takes up space and stares back. It can be hidden in pits and behind walls, or found years later in a forgotten trunk while a PDF, an e-book disappears in a keystroke.'
Browser
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
Govt plans factory clusters, big reforms to boost economy amid US tariff jolt
New Delhi: The government is weighing new measures to boost manufacturing while exploring alternative markets to offset the impact of US tariffs and make Indian products more competitive globally, according to two people familiar with the matter. The proposals under discussion include interest subventions, the development of manufacturing clusters near infrastructure hubs, and measures to attract more private capital, the people cited earlier said on the condition of anonymity. The measures are also expected to focus on creating jobs, boosting exports, and strengthening domestic consumption. 'Beyond targeted incentives, the government is weighing structural reforms, ranging from tweaks in the GST (goods and services tax) framework to fresh manufacturing pushes, to raise the sector's weight in GDP," said the first person. 'Importance is also being given to sectors like engineering, electronics, textiles, steel, and construction, with a sharper focus on 'Make in India' and 'Vocal for Local.' New PLI (production-linked incentive) schemes for heavy machinery in mining and construction are also under discussion to curb import dependence," this person added. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Reform Task Force in his Independence Day speech on 15 August, aimed at driving next-generation reforms to steer India toward a $10 trillion economy by 2047. India's manufacturing sector, which accounts for about one-sixth of the economy, is projected to expand by 3.8% in fiscal year 2026 (FY26), slower than the 4.3% estimated for FY25, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The deceleration reflects the impact of US tariffs, moderating domestic demand, and a high base effect, with some sub-sectors expected to cool after last year's unsustainably strong growth. The US has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods entering the world's largest economy. The spokespersons of the ministries of finance, and commerce, and the Prime Minister's Office didn't respond to emailed queries. Meanwhile, new PLI schemes aimed at reducing import dependence have also been discussed. The Centre is looking to fire up manufacturing activities, a crucial engine of economic growth, the second person said. 'The government is also exploring the creation of factory clusters strategically located near major infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, and ports, to create manufacturing hubs that boost logistics efficiency and generate large-scale employment," this person added. 'These clusters are aimed at raising manufacturing's share in India's GDP. Linking these clusters with key infrastructure projects will help create seamless value chains, drawing both domestic and foreign investment and giving a strong push to the economy," the person said. 'The cluster-based approach to manufacturing, where firms and industries operate within an integrated ecosystem, rests on strong theory and is backed by compelling global evidence," the person added. Experts say the government is adopting a broad-based strategy to strengthen Indian manufacturing and boost global competitiveness, with an emphasis on scale, value addition, and market diversification to reduce vulnerability to tariff shocks. 'The government is taking a comprehensive approach to strengthen fiscal measures, such as targeted incentives and credit support, which are being matched with non-fiscal steps, including logistics upgrades, regulatory simplification, skilling programs, and increased investment in research and innovation," said Hardik Shah, partner, Deloitte India. 'These initiatives are designed not merely as quick fixes but as part of a long-term vision of Viksit Bharat to build resilience, reduce external dependence, and position India as a reliable, trusted, and globally competitive manufacturing hub," Shah added.
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
South vs South: Oppn names ex-SC judge Reddy as V-P pick
Former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy will be the Opposition's candidate for the vice-presidential election, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Tuesday, pitching the September 9 poll as a battle between those who uphold the Constitution and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan began his political life. INDIA bloc's Vice-Presidential candidate former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy with MPs of Opposition parties at Delhi airport. Justice Reddy's nomination is also a calculated move to push lawmakers from K Chandrasekhara Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi, YS Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress, and N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party to vote for a Telugu-speaking public figure. To be sure, the TDP and the YSRCP reiterated their support for Radhakrishnan although there was no comment from the BRS. 'All Opposition parties have decided to have a common candidate; the decision has been taken unanimously. I am happy that all opposition parties have agreed on one name. It is a big achievement for democracy, Whenever democracy and the Constitution are under attack, Opposition parties unite to fight against it. So we have decided to field a good candidate in this election,' Kharge said. Justice Reddy's nomination means that the vice-presidential election will be a battle between two candidates from southern India, a first for the position. In the 781-member electoral college comprising both Houses of Parliament, the NDA holds the edge with 425 votes. HT had reported on Monday that the Trinamool Congress was pushing for justice Reddy. 'It is the parliamentarians who elect the vice-president. Political parties may sponsor the candidates. There is only one citizenship in this country. Myself and CP Radhakrishnan ji are Indian nationals. Whether it is South, North, East, West, nothing matters…,' the former judge said. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hailed justice Reddy's selection. 'A distinguished jurist and champion of justice, he represents the spirit of our Constitution - safeguarding people's rights, equality and our democracy. We stand united in this ideological battle and wish him all the very best,' he said. After discussing a number of possible candidates in the Opposition meeting on Monday, the contest narrowed to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's choice of former space scientist Mylswamy Annadurai and Trinamool Congress-backed justice B Sudershan Reddy on Tuesday. As a back-up, Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi's name was also shortlisted. On Tuesday, DMK leaders indicated they won't 'push' for Annadurai if there is a larger consensus for Reddy. When the Opposition leaders met again at Kharge's house on Tuesday morning, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh proposed the name of Reddy. Kharge spoke about Reddy's profile. No other names were discussed in the meeting. Later, Congress general secretary Nasser Hussain told HT, 'In the background of the ideological battle taking place in the country, we need someone with clear thoughts, who can defend democracy and can uphold the spirit of the Constitution. We also thought a person belonging to none of the parties, someone non-partisan, and who can uphold all these values would be a good candidate in this election.' An expert on the Constitution, Reddy was born in an agricultural family on July 8, 1946 in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana (then part of the princely state of Hyderabad). Reddy graduated from Osmania University in Hyderabad in 1971. He was elevated as the additional judge of the Andhra Pradesh high court on May 2, 1995 and chief justice for Gauhati high court on December 5, 2005. On January 12, 2007, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India; he retired on July 8, 2011. Among his notable verdicts was one declaring Salwa Judum, a local militia propped up by the state government in Chhattisgarh to fight Maoists, as anti-constitutional. He was also part of a bench that pulled up the then United Progressive Alliance government for 'sleeping' on the issue of black money, and ordered a special investigation team in 2011. After his retirement, he was appointed as the first Lokayukta of Goa in March 2013. Reddy was also the chairman of the expert group for the Telangana caste survey. Reddy arrived in Delhi on Tuesday evening to an impromptu reception by Opposition leaders. The last date of filing nominations for the V-P election is August 21. Reading out the joint statement, Kharge said, 'This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle. The Opposition parties have nominated Shri B. Sudershan Reddy garu as their joint candidate since he fully reflects the values that shaped our country's freedom movement so profoundly and the values on which our country's Constitution and democracy have been anchored. All these values are under assault and therefore, our collective and determined resolve to fight this election.' DMK leader K Kanimozhi tweeted, 'Safeguarding democracy is about fighting all battles, big and small, on behalf of the people of India. INDIA stands united in this fight.' Communist Party of India lawmaker P Sandosh called the poll a fight between an RSS pracharak and the Constitution. 'This may create certain political changes in Andhra Pradesh,' he said. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said, 'Justice Reddy has had an outstanding reputation in the legal field... I believe our entire alliance has made an excellent decision...' Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji said, 'This will be a close contest.' Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh announced that his party will support justice Reddy. Bharatiya Janata Party's Amit Malviya said justice Reddy is remembered for a judgment that weakened India's fight against Naxalism, referring to the banning of the Salwa Judum. 'The judgment was seen not just as a blow to a state government's counter-insurgency strategy, but as an instance of judicial sympathy for those aligned with the Maoist cause.'
India.com
19 minutes ago
- India.com
WATCH: Indian Muslim Girls Stand Tall In London, Repel Pakistani Harassment Over Tricolour
A London's street witnessed a tense encounter as celebrations for India's Independence Day unfolded. Indian citizens had gathered to mark the occasion, waving the tricolor and raising patriotic slogans. A group of Pakistanis attempted to disrupt the celebrations and harass the participants. The confrontation targeted a group of Indian girls, including Muslim students, who were peacefully celebrating with friends. When Pakistanis tried to snatch the tricolor, the girls responded firmly. Their courage forced the intruders to retreat, while the girls continued to chant 'Hindustan Zindabad'. A video capturing the episode circulated widely on social media, showing the girls standing their ground against the harassers. The video highlights a Muslim girl holding the tricolor and celebrating with her friends. Several Pakistanis approached to intimidate the group, but she did not flinch. She answered back resolutely, compelling the intruders to leave. UK: Pakistani goons harass Indian Muslim girls on the streets of London during India's Independence Day celebrations — OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) August 18, 2025 Social media users praised her bravery, applauding her for confronting the troublemakers with confidence. Such tensions between Indian and Pakistani citizens in London are not unprecedented. Previous incidents, including clashes following the Pulwama terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, had seen similar confrontations. Demonstrations by people supporting their respective governments often escalated into disputes, requiring police intervention. Independence celebrations in both countries are just a day apart. Pakistan observes its Independence Day on August 14, while India celebrates on August 15. The close timing of these events sometimes leads to heightened emotions and occasional confrontations among diaspora communities.
