On The Racks

Shakti
Rajorshi Chakraborti

Three women in Calcutta from disparate backgrounds find themselves in possession of magical powers, albeit at a Faustian price. Against the backdrop of India’s turbulent politics, the protagonists reckon with murders, rapes, love jehad, their newfound powers and encounters with a broad-chested prime minister on the streets of Jodhpur Park.

The Merman And The Book Of Power
Musharraf Ali Farooqi

The author uses the classic qissa genre—fabulist storytelling of Ara­bic, Persian and Urdu literatures—to spin a tale around fantastic creatures, ill-starred lovers and events that could herald the end of the world. It begins with Mongols destroying Baghdad in 1258. The arrival of a merman a year later unsettles the city again, as does a book which grants its possessor demonic powers.

The Game Of Votes
Farhat Bashir Khan

This explores how elections are fought in India, who gets to contest and how the media and PR machi­nery persuade voters through misdirected att­­ention and obfuscation. It delves into Indian political history and draws parallels with polls across the world to unr­avel the web of high-decibel campaigns, ingenuous marketing, fake news and celebrity influencers.