On The Racks

Priya Sahgal
The Contenders | Simon & Shuster

“A perpetual work in progress” is how Priya Sahgal introduces Rahul Gandhi in this book that profiles 16  young (by our gerontocratic standards) political leaders—from Tejashwi Yadav to Kanimozhi—who are stepping up in what looks to be a generational change.  The author, an experienced journalist, weaves her personal experiences into her sketches of these men and women.

Ed. by Kavitha Iyer
26/11: Stories of Strength | Penguin Books

The Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008 are a scar across India’s modern history. This is about the survivors—those left to pick up the pieces of their broken lives and carry on, battling PTSD, loss and res­ultant vengefulness. But ten years on, in a triumph of the compassion of the human spirit, most have overcome the horrific adversity that 26/11 pushed them into and have built hopeful lives.

Susmita Mukherjee
Mee and Juhibaby | Speaking Tiger

An accomplished thespian pens a novel, and does creditably! This is the story of a mother (Juhibaby), an offspring of ‘Jatra’ artistes of Bengal, her shift to Delhi as a new bride, and her difficult relations with her daughter (Mee), who moves to Bombay as an actress, ends up as a burnt-out case and is ready for reconciliation. Mukherjee does plot, character and dialogue well, but alas, cuts on description for pace.