Author: Priya Somaiya
Publisher: Notion Press
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 244
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Book Description
The Sunderbans… Beautiful forests as the name says… The largest mangrove forests of the world, home to several endangered species of fauna, a tourist’s dream destination, stunning landscapes that ignite a painter’s passion… But, what of the humans who inhabit this picture-perfect land of tiny islands, estuarine streams, marshy swamps, and lush green fields? Beneath the breathtakingly beautiful sky of myriad colours and the flaming red, bleeding sunsets, they lead a life of extreme hardship, every day a challenge, with the fear of attacks by the man-eating tigers, the crocodiles that abound the streams, and the constant threat of storms and cyclones that can turn their fertile fields into saline swamps in a few minutes, wiping out a lifetime’s labour. And the women… second-class humans like everywhere, but more so in this rural, remote corner, treated like beasts of burden, hard toil taking a toll of their lives, subjected to domestic violence, sexual assaults from human predators with rape and murder being common events, at the mercy of the rich and powerful… This is the saga of the courage of one such woman—Kalyani, orphaned before reaching her teens, married before fourteen, mother of four, widowed in the early thirties, extremely poor, but uncompromising in her dignity, who does not succumb to pressures or favours and brings up her children single-handedly, relying only on her own hard labour. This story, set in the village of Sajnekhali, on the banks of the Matla River, could be the story of so many who live under the bleeding skies with bleeding hearts.
Author: Priyanka Rastogi
Publisher: Partridge Publishing
ISBN: 1543705235
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 576
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Book Description
Priyanka Rastogi is a fervent explorer backed with rich experience in travel and tourism Industry from the grassroots level. As an author of ‘Early Sunrise, Early Sunset’, Priyanka opens up three treasure boxes to you, the readers. The first box reveals the beauty of the rising North East India, the seven sisters along with states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar - inside and out. The first-hand experience of the author highlights the exquisiteness of these states that lies in the simplicity of people, tribal richness and biodiversity through her short yet rooted trips. The second treasure box facilitates the hidden jewels the people - in these states. From the drivers who took her to exotic places, to strangers in homestays, hotels and restaurants, it is the people, who made it possible and gifted her a wonderful experience as a solo woman traveller. The third treasure box defines a different perspective to the ‘matrilineal society’ of North East India. Priyanka, as a mother, an entrepreneur, has beautifully reflected her observations as a woman to explore many non-familiar places. The reflections in the form of this book are Indeed a maiden attempt from her entire family. These treasure boxes are sure to bring the North-Eastern states closer to the map and help to plan your travel itineraries and budgets better.
Author: Barbara Ehrenreich
Publisher: Twelve
ISBN: 1455543713
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 304
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Book Description
A New York Times Notable BookAn ALA Notable Book "Original and illuminating." --The Washington Post What draws our species to war? What makes us see violence as a kind of sacred duty, or a ritual that boys must undergo to "become" men? Newly reissued in paperback, Blood Rites takes readers on an original journey from the elaborate human sacrifices of the ancient world to the carnage and holocaust of twentieth-century "total war." Ehrenreich sifts deftly through the fragile records of prehistory and discovers the wellspring of war in an unexpected place -- not in a "killer instinct" unique to the males of our species, but in the blood rites early humans performed to reenact their terrifying experiences of predation by stronger carnivores. Brilliant in conception and rich in scope, Blood Rites is a monumental work that continues to transform our understanding of the greatest single threat to human life.
Author: Annu Jalais
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136198695
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 264
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Book Description
Acclaimed for its unique ecosystem and Royal Bengal tigers, the mangrove islands that comprise the Sundarbans area of the Bengal delta are the setting for this pioneering anthropological work. The key question that the author explores is: what do tigers mean for the islanders of the Sundarbans? The diverse origins and current occupations of the local population produce different answers to this question – but for all, ‘the tiger question’ is a significant social marker. Far more than through caste, tribe or religion, the Sundarbans islanders articulate their social locations and interactions by reference to the non-human world – the forest and its terrifying protagonist, the man-eating tiger. The book combines rich ethnography on a little-known region with contemporary theoretical insights to provide a new frame of reference to understand social relations in the Indian subcontinent. It will be of interest to scholars and students of anthropology, sociology, development studies, religion and cultural studies, as well as those working on environment, conservation, the state and issues relating to discrimination and marginality.
Author: Priya Somaiya
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 9388414802
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 242
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Book Description
The phoenix can only rise if there is a large and credible purpose. In this filigree of enchanting stories Priya Somaiya effortlessly crafts the lives and experiences of a few women, revealing the interwoven complexity of emotions and astounding actions that could shift many mental and emotional paradigms-Sahiba undergoes a massive identity transformation and confronts undefinable tragedy with quiet courage; the determined Shakun cannot be appreciated by people who perceive the world largely through class, caste and gender biases; how can women like Fatima and Ramoli challenge the entrenched norms governing women in feudal structures; Shailaja doesn't realise that the universe does partner in fulfilling strong aspirations in the most mysterious ways; when a girl child is thrown on a railway platform after she is born and grows up on the same platform, what does it mean to just breathe and survive; widowhood in India is still neither here nor there and if Pushpa could weather the worst storm of widowhood she can just sail through others; Asma changes her name to redefine her identity and feels empowered to alter her life. These are stories of faith and humanity. It takes brazen guts and conviction in the goodness of human nature to believe that attitudinal positivity can turn around one's life. Rare and life-changing, Unwilling to Bend posits that courage is the most beautiful colour of the mind.
Author: Kevin Bales
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0812995775
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305
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Book Description
For readers of such crusading works of nonfiction as Katherine Boo’s Beyond the Beautiful Forevers and Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains comes a powerful and captivating examination of two entwined global crises: environmental destruction and human trafficking—and an inspiring, bold plan for how we can solve them. A leading expert on modern-day slavery, Kevin Bales has traveled to some of the world’s most dangerous places documenting and battling human trafficking. In the course of his reporting, Bales began to notice a pattern emerging: Where slavery existed, so did massive, unchecked environmental destruction. But why? Bales set off to find the answer in a fascinating and moving journey that took him into the lives of modern-day slaves and along a supply chain that leads directly to the cellphones in our pockets. What he discovered is that even as it destroys individuals, families, and communities, new forms of slavery that proliferate in the world’s lawless zones also pose a grave threat to the environment. Simply put, modern-day slavery is destroying the planet. The product of seven years of travel and research, Blood and Earth brings us dramatic stories from the world’s most beautiful and tragic places, the environmental and human-rights hotspots where this crisis is concentrated. But it also tells the stories of some of the most common products we all consume—from computers to shrimp to jewelry—whose origins are found in these same places. Blood and Earth calls on us to recognize the grievous harm we have done to one another, put an end to it, and recommit to repairing the world. This is a clear-eyed and inspiring book that suggests how we can begin the work of healing humanity and the planet we share. Praise for Blood and Earth “A heart-wrenching narrative . . . Weaving together interviews, history, and statistics, the author shines a light on how the poverty, chaos, wars, and government corruption create the perfect storm where slavery flourishes and environmental destruction follows. . . . A clear-eyed account of man’s inhumanity to man and Earth. Read it to get informed, and then take action.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “[An] exposé of the global economy’s ‘deadly dance’ between slavery and environmental disaster . . . Based on extensive travels through eastern Congo’s mineral mines, Bangladeshi fisheries, Ghanian gold mines, and Brazilian forests, Bales reveals the appalling truth in graphic detail. . . . Readers will be deeply disturbed to learn how the links connecting slavery, environmental issues, and modern convenience are forged.”—Publishers Weekly “This well-researched and vivid book studies the connection between slavery and environmental destruction, and what it will take to end both.”—Shelf Awareness (starred review) “This is a remarkable book, demonstrating once more the deep links between the ongoing degradation of the planet and the ongoing degradation of its most vulnerable people. It’s a bracing reminder that a mentality that allows throwaway people also allows a throwaway earth.”—Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
Author: Priya Somaiya
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 9388271882
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 188
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Book Description
Listening doesn't always get the attention that it deserves and is mostly taken for granted. It is a powerful ability that humans possess but is hardly used or applied. Problems between parents and children, between seniors and subordinates, between governments and the public-most interpersonal and social issues emanate from poor listening. As we grow in life our responsibility lies more in listening than in speaking. The seeds of conflict are very often sown when we stop listening. Listening is a complex process, varied and fragile. What is the nature of listening required by individuals, organisations and nation states during times of transition and transformation? What kind of listening competencies are needed to positively cement our relationships? Which listening skills would we need when we want to understand ourselves better? Silence too is a part of communication. How can you 'listen' to silence and understand its meaning? Silence and the internalisation of wisdom have the potential to revolutionise thinking and social development. The Intent to Listen is a comprehensive attempt to analyse and understand the power of listening-about how, when and what actually facilitate its development and application. Detailed, simple and peppered with stories and scenarios, this is a must-read for effective communication.
Author: Kennedy Warne
Publisher: Island Press
ISBN: 1610910249
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 195
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Book Description
What’s the connection between a platter of jumbo shrimp at your local restaurant and murdered fishermen in Honduras, impoverished women in Ecuador, and disastrous hurricanes along America’s Gulf coast? Mangroves. Many people have never heard of these salt-water forests, but for those who depend on their riches, mangroves are indispensable. They are natural storm barriers, home to innumerable exotic creatures—from crabeating vipers to man-eating tigers—and provide food and livelihoods to millions of coastal dwellers. Now they are being destroyed to make way for shrimp farming and other coastal development. For those who stand in the way of these industries, the consequences can be deadly. In Let Them Eat Shrimp, Kennedy Warne takes readers into the muddy battle zone that is the mangrove forest. A tangle of snaking roots and twisted trunks, mangroves are often dismissed as foul wastelands. In fact, they are supermarkets of the sea, providing shellfish, crabs, honey, timber, and charcoal to coastal communities from Florida to South America to New Zealand. Generations have built their lives around mangroves and consider these swamps sacred. To shrimp farmers and land developers, mangroves simply represent a good investment. The tidal land on which they stand often has no title, so with a nod and wink from a compliant official, it can be turned from a public resource to a private possession. The forests are bulldozed, their traditional users dispossessed. The true price of shrimp farming and other coastal development has gone largely unheralded in the U.S. media. A longtime journalist, Warne now captures the insatiability of these industries and the magic of the mangroves. His vivid account will make every reader pause before ordering the shrimp.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Periodicals
Languages : en
Pages : 862
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Book Description
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Languages : en
Pages : 1060
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Book Description
