Author: Karishma Upadhyay
Publisher: Hachette India
ISBN: 9388322940
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 293
Book Description
‘Raat baaki, baat baaki... Hona hai jo, ho jaane do...’ Sensuous, glamorous and bold, Parveen Babi set the Hindi cinema screen ablaze during the 1970s and ’80s, breaking the ‘pious, nice girl’ mould of the film heroine and redefining it after her own style. On screen, she sizzled in unforgettable roles in blockbusters like Deewaar, Shaan, Kaalia and Amar Akbar Anthony – while, off-screen, her bohemian and unabashed lifestyle lit up gossip columns, and her appearance on the cover of Time magazine, a first for an Indian, created a stir nationwide. Yet, for all the sensational rumours and films her life inspired, Parveen has remained something of an enigma to generations of fans. In Parveen Babi: A Life, Karishma Upadhyay traces the journey of a shy but ambitious girl from an aristocratic family in Junagadh, Gujarat, to a life of merciless scrutiny that comes with being in the Bollywood spotlight. Exploring with depth and sensitivity the myriad facets of the actress’s life, she lays bare little-known details about Parveen’s doomed romances, her obsession with the spiritual guide who advised her to quit films, the tumultuous years of battling mental illness and her tragic, untimely demise. Rich with insights from the star’s friends, former lovers and colleagues, this compelling narrative captures the nuances of an extraordinary life – the highs and lows of finding fame, love and solace, and then, in the end, losing it all.
Parveen Babi
Author: Karishma Upadhyay
Publisher: Hachette India
ISBN: 9388322940
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 293
Book Description
‘Raat baaki, baat baaki... Hona hai jo, ho jaane do...’ Sensuous, glamorous and bold, Parveen Babi set the Hindi cinema screen ablaze during the 1970s and ’80s, breaking the ‘pious, nice girl’ mould of the film heroine and redefining it after her own style. On screen, she sizzled in unforgettable roles in blockbusters like Deewaar, Shaan, Kaalia and Amar Akbar Anthony – while, off-screen, her bohemian and unabashed lifestyle lit up gossip columns, and her appearance on the cover of Time magazine, a first for an Indian, created a stir nationwide. Yet, for all the sensational rumours and films her life inspired, Parveen has remained something of an enigma to generations of fans. In Parveen Babi: A Life, Karishma Upadhyay traces the journey of a shy but ambitious girl from an aristocratic family in Junagadh, Gujarat, to a life of merciless scrutiny that comes with being in the Bollywood spotlight. Exploring with depth and sensitivity the myriad facets of the actress’s life, she lays bare little-known details about Parveen’s doomed romances, her obsession with the spiritual guide who advised her to quit films, the tumultuous years of battling mental illness and her tragic, untimely demise. Rich with insights from the star’s friends, former lovers and colleagues, this compelling narrative captures the nuances of an extraordinary life – the highs and lows of finding fame, love and solace, and then, in the end, losing it all.
Publisher: Hachette India
ISBN: 9388322940
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 293
Book Description
‘Raat baaki, baat baaki... Hona hai jo, ho jaane do...’ Sensuous, glamorous and bold, Parveen Babi set the Hindi cinema screen ablaze during the 1970s and ’80s, breaking the ‘pious, nice girl’ mould of the film heroine and redefining it after her own style. On screen, she sizzled in unforgettable roles in blockbusters like Deewaar, Shaan, Kaalia and Amar Akbar Anthony – while, off-screen, her bohemian and unabashed lifestyle lit up gossip columns, and her appearance on the cover of Time magazine, a first for an Indian, created a stir nationwide. Yet, for all the sensational rumours and films her life inspired, Parveen has remained something of an enigma to generations of fans. In Parveen Babi: A Life, Karishma Upadhyay traces the journey of a shy but ambitious girl from an aristocratic family in Junagadh, Gujarat, to a life of merciless scrutiny that comes with being in the Bollywood spotlight. Exploring with depth and sensitivity the myriad facets of the actress’s life, she lays bare little-known details about Parveen’s doomed romances, her obsession with the spiritual guide who advised her to quit films, the tumultuous years of battling mental illness and her tragic, untimely demise. Rich with insights from the star’s friends, former lovers and colleagues, this compelling narrative captures the nuances of an extraordinary life – the highs and lows of finding fame, love and solace, and then, in the end, losing it all.
Flashback
Author: Bob Christo
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 8184755112
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 298
Book Description
Robert John Christo; popularly known as Bob Christo; was born in 1938 in Sydney; Australia. After completing his civil engineering in Sydney; he took on projects which involved supporting the military supply lines of the South Vietnamese army and working as construction supervisor on the film sets of Apocalypse Now. Led by his instincts; Christo zealously followed one aspiration after another: chasing after a lost spy ship; running an escort service; modelling for African beer; singing in rock concerts; and so on. Bob Christo landed his first film role at the age of sixteen in a German movie; after working as an extra in the Düsseldorf National Theatre; Germany. Hoping to meet Parveen Babi in India; he chanced upon a part in Sanjay Khan’s Abdullah (1980) and then went on to act in hundreds of Hindi; Telugu; Tamil; Malayalam and Kannada films. In the year 2000 he became a yoga instructor after shifting base from Mumbai to Bangalore; where he passed away on 20 March 2011.
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 8184755112
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 298
Book Description
Robert John Christo; popularly known as Bob Christo; was born in 1938 in Sydney; Australia. After completing his civil engineering in Sydney; he took on projects which involved supporting the military supply lines of the South Vietnamese army and working as construction supervisor on the film sets of Apocalypse Now. Led by his instincts; Christo zealously followed one aspiration after another: chasing after a lost spy ship; running an escort service; modelling for African beer; singing in rock concerts; and so on. Bob Christo landed his first film role at the age of sixteen in a German movie; after working as an extra in the Düsseldorf National Theatre; Germany. Hoping to meet Parveen Babi in India; he chanced upon a part in Sanjay Khan’s Abdullah (1980) and then went on to act in hundreds of Hindi; Telugu; Tamil; Malayalam and Kannada films. In the year 2000 he became a yoga instructor after shifting base from Mumbai to Bangalore; where he passed away on 20 March 2011.
This Dog Barking
Author: James Farley
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 935264378X
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
Languages : en
Pages : 301
Book Description
'A journey to the end of thought. An empty box within an empty box. There is no truth. The robot is dreaming.' This Dog Barking chronicles the story of U.G. Krishnamurti, the Cosmic Naxalite, from his troubled childhood to his disillusionment with many of the leading spiritual teachers of the twentieth century and his catastrophic personal life. In 1967, UG underwent a series of biological mutations that left him in the 'natural state' - functioning without the interference of thought. With no fixed address, no followers and no organization, UG spent the next thirty years travelling the world with an uncompromising message: that 'mind is a myth' and the human condition should be demystified and de-psychologized and viewed in purely physiological terms.Candid and clear-eyed, this is a profoundly thought-provoking biography of one of the most radical philosophers of our age.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 935264378X
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
Languages : en
Pages : 301
Book Description
'A journey to the end of thought. An empty box within an empty box. There is no truth. The robot is dreaming.' This Dog Barking chronicles the story of U.G. Krishnamurti, the Cosmic Naxalite, from his troubled childhood to his disillusionment with many of the leading spiritual teachers of the twentieth century and his catastrophic personal life. In 1967, UG underwent a series of biological mutations that left him in the 'natural state' - functioning without the interference of thought. With no fixed address, no followers and no organization, UG spent the next thirty years travelling the world with an uncompromising message: that 'mind is a myth' and the human condition should be demystified and de-psychologized and viewed in purely physiological terms.Candid and clear-eyed, this is a profoundly thought-provoking biography of one of the most radical philosophers of our age.
100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes
Author: Sujata Assomull
Publisher: Roli Books
ISBN: 9788194110972
Category : Costume
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a definitive guide to these colorful silver screen outfits and more Beautifully illustrated and a must-buy for fans and scholars of women's fashion and Bollywood cinema Full of insider know-how from designer legends such as Manish Malhotra 100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a celebration of fashion in Indian cinema, studded with beautiful illustrations of India's most enduring glam icons. It pays tribute to the colorful silver screen looks that have not only come to define their lms and actresses, but have also shaped the way millions of Indian women view style: Madhubala's classic Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Kajol's tomboy chic in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kareena Kapoor's game-changing Patialas in Jab We Met (2007), and many more. Packed with insider know-how on the creative processes behind these influential costumes - from designer legends such as Manish Malhotra to the stylish performers themselves - 100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a must-have for both fans and scholars of women's fashion, Bollywood cinema, and the quintessential quirks of modern Indian culture.
Publisher: Roli Books
ISBN: 9788194110972
Category : Costume
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a definitive guide to these colorful silver screen outfits and more Beautifully illustrated and a must-buy for fans and scholars of women's fashion and Bollywood cinema Full of insider know-how from designer legends such as Manish Malhotra 100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a celebration of fashion in Indian cinema, studded with beautiful illustrations of India's most enduring glam icons. It pays tribute to the colorful silver screen looks that have not only come to define their lms and actresses, but have also shaped the way millions of Indian women view style: Madhubala's classic Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Kajol's tomboy chic in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kareena Kapoor's game-changing Patialas in Jab We Met (2007), and many more. Packed with insider know-how on the creative processes behind these influential costumes - from designer legends such as Manish Malhotra to the stylish performers themselves - 100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a must-have for both fans and scholars of women's fashion, Bollywood cinema, and the quintessential quirks of modern Indian culture.
The Golden Code
Author: Rukshana Eisa
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
ISBN: 9386867176
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 207
Book Description
Foreword by Shweta Bachchan Nanda MASTERING THE ART OF SOCIAL SUCCESS In a world where being polite is considered a sign of weakness, image consultant and grooming expert Rukshana Eisa takes a bold step and shows how good manners come in handy in everyday life. The Golden Code meticulously details manners and standards for every situation, be it dining at a swanky restaurant, interacting with higher management, hosting a formal party, preparing for a first date, dressing for a fancy event or giving a speech. A must-read for anyone wishing to live an elegant life! “Grooming and etiquette extend beyond cosmetic boundaries. It is more about cultivating your personality and channelizing your strengths. The ability to transfer those qualities with poise and grace has always been Rukshana Eisa’s gift. Her book The Golden Code is a terrific insight on how to acquire the golden touch for your personality and inner beauty. It is a way forward in the most elegant way. ” —K A R A N J O H A R “I firmly believe that one’s etiquette has a great impact on their professional success and personal well-being. With [this] book, one can develop their etiquette and social skills to bring out the best in themselves. Like Rukshana I believe being well-mannered is extremely attractive and never hurt anybody.” —S H A H R U K H K H A N Rukshana Eisa has been a leading fashion model, an onboard leader with international airlines and an etiquette and grooming professional since the past 17 years. Her expertise in the field of etiquette training has seen her coach professionals, corporates, brides-to-be, youth on the cusp of a career and a wide array of management and hospitality executives. Given her vast experience, she has been the official grooming leader for participants of the Miss India pageants. She has also groomed Rohit Khandelwal, who made India proud by winning the prestigious Mister World 2016 title.
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
ISBN: 9386867176
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 207
Book Description
Foreword by Shweta Bachchan Nanda MASTERING THE ART OF SOCIAL SUCCESS In a world where being polite is considered a sign of weakness, image consultant and grooming expert Rukshana Eisa takes a bold step and shows how good manners come in handy in everyday life. The Golden Code meticulously details manners and standards for every situation, be it dining at a swanky restaurant, interacting with higher management, hosting a formal party, preparing for a first date, dressing for a fancy event or giving a speech. A must-read for anyone wishing to live an elegant life! “Grooming and etiquette extend beyond cosmetic boundaries. It is more about cultivating your personality and channelizing your strengths. The ability to transfer those qualities with poise and grace has always been Rukshana Eisa’s gift. Her book The Golden Code is a terrific insight on how to acquire the golden touch for your personality and inner beauty. It is a way forward in the most elegant way. ” —K A R A N J O H A R “I firmly believe that one’s etiquette has a great impact on their professional success and personal well-being. With [this] book, one can develop their etiquette and social skills to bring out the best in themselves. Like Rukshana I believe being well-mannered is extremely attractive and never hurt anybody.” —S H A H R U K H K H A N Rukshana Eisa has been a leading fashion model, an onboard leader with international airlines and an etiquette and grooming professional since the past 17 years. Her expertise in the field of etiquette training has seen her coach professionals, corporates, brides-to-be, youth on the cusp of a career and a wide array of management and hospitality executives. Given her vast experience, she has been the official grooming leader for participants of the Miss India pageants. She has also groomed Rohit Khandelwal, who made India proud by winning the prestigious Mister World 2016 title.
Timepass
Author: Protima Bedi
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 9780140288803
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
Few lives have been more eventful and controversial than Protima Bedi's, and Timepass, derived from her unfinished autobiography, journals and her letters to family, friends and lovers, is a startlingly frank and passionate memoir. Protima recounts with unflinching honesty the events that shaped her life: her humiliation as a child at being branded the ugly duckling, repeated rape by a cousin when she was barely ten, the failure of her 'open' marriage with Kabir Bedi, her many sexual encounters, and the romantic relationships she had with prominent politicians and artistes. She writes, too, of her intense involvement with dance, her relationship with her guru and fellow dancers, the difficult mission of establishing Nrityagram, and the suicide of her son--a tragedy from which she never fully recovered. In a moving epilogue to the book, her daughter, Pooja Bedi, describes her last days and the circumstances of her death. Illustrated with over fifty photographs, Timepass is the story of a remarkable woman who had the spirit, the courage and the intelligence to live life entirely on her own terms. I have broken every single rule that our society has so carefully constructed. doing and never given a damn. I have flaunted my youth, my sex, my intelligence, and I have done it shamelessly. I have loved many, been loved by some...
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 9780140288803
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
Few lives have been more eventful and controversial than Protima Bedi's, and Timepass, derived from her unfinished autobiography, journals and her letters to family, friends and lovers, is a startlingly frank and passionate memoir. Protima recounts with unflinching honesty the events that shaped her life: her humiliation as a child at being branded the ugly duckling, repeated rape by a cousin when she was barely ten, the failure of her 'open' marriage with Kabir Bedi, her many sexual encounters, and the romantic relationships she had with prominent politicians and artistes. She writes, too, of her intense involvement with dance, her relationship with her guru and fellow dancers, the difficult mission of establishing Nrityagram, and the suicide of her son--a tragedy from which she never fully recovered. In a moving epilogue to the book, her daughter, Pooja Bedi, describes her last days and the circumstances of her death. Illustrated with over fifty photographs, Timepass is the story of a remarkable woman who had the spirit, the courage and the intelligence to live life entirely on her own terms. I have broken every single rule that our society has so carefully constructed. doing and never given a damn. I have flaunted my youth, my sex, my intelligence, and I have done it shamelessly. I have loved many, been loved by some...
Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh
Author: Shrayana Bhattacharya
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 9354892019
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 426
Book Description
In this pathbreaking work, Shrayana Bhattacharya maps the economic and personal trajectories--the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries--of a diverse group of women. Divided by class but united in fandom, they remain steadfast in their search for intimacy, independence and fun. Embracing Hindi film idol Shah Rukh Khan allows them a small respite from an oppressive culture, a fillip to their fantasies of a friendlier masculinity in Indian men. Most struggle to find the freedom-or income-to follow their favourite actor. Bobbing along in this stream of multiple lives for more than a decade-from Manju's boredom in 'rurban' Rampur and Gold's anger at having to compete with Western women for male attention in Delhi's nightclubs, to Zahira's break from domestic abuse in Ahmedabad-Bhattacharya gleans the details on what Indian women think about men, money, movies, beauty, helplessness, agency and love. A most unusual and compelling book on the female gaze, this is the story of how women have experienced post-liberalization India.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 9354892019
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 426
Book Description
In this pathbreaking work, Shrayana Bhattacharya maps the economic and personal trajectories--the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries--of a diverse group of women. Divided by class but united in fandom, they remain steadfast in their search for intimacy, independence and fun. Embracing Hindi film idol Shah Rukh Khan allows them a small respite from an oppressive culture, a fillip to their fantasies of a friendlier masculinity in Indian men. Most struggle to find the freedom-or income-to follow their favourite actor. Bobbing along in this stream of multiple lives for more than a decade-from Manju's boredom in 'rurban' Rampur and Gold's anger at having to compete with Western women for male attention in Delhi's nightclubs, to Zahira's break from domestic abuse in Ahmedabad-Bhattacharya gleans the details on what Indian women think about men, money, movies, beauty, helplessness, agency and love. A most unusual and compelling book on the female gaze, this is the story of how women have experienced post-liberalization India.
Goner
Author: Louis Brawley
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
ISBN: 1626257388
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 309
Book Description
Louis Brawley met UG Krishnamurti in 2002 and spent the following five years travelling with him in the USA, India and Europe keeping a record of this remarkable non-teacher and documenting his own inner struggles as his ideas about life, love and Enlightenment were constantly tossed around and demolished. Louis fell into the role of foil and sidekick to UG’s bizarre interactions with his friends and audience and, as UG’s health deteriorated, he became his informal caregiver. Louis Brawley doesn’t use honeyed platitudes to tell the story of a sage and his devoted follower; instead he tells an often unflattering story of his own struggles and shortcomings and the dynamic uncertainties of life with a man who “tore apart everything human beings have built up inside and out for centuries.” Goner will teach you the meaning of the phrase “paradoxical truth”. UG Krishnamurti gave up everything for truth, but delighted in ridiculous fabrications; he was a teacher who refused to teach, a man who mocked do-gooders but was deeply kind; he was chaste but foul mouthed, he was a man who decried the supernatural … yet there were strange coincidences around him. “…the way he lived, his living quarters and his mode of expression were one continuous movement, a three dimensional, living book of teaching. If you were observant, you could learn from him on contact with no need for explanation.”
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
ISBN: 1626257388
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 309
Book Description
Louis Brawley met UG Krishnamurti in 2002 and spent the following five years travelling with him in the USA, India and Europe keeping a record of this remarkable non-teacher and documenting his own inner struggles as his ideas about life, love and Enlightenment were constantly tossed around and demolished. Louis fell into the role of foil and sidekick to UG’s bizarre interactions with his friends and audience and, as UG’s health deteriorated, he became his informal caregiver. Louis Brawley doesn’t use honeyed platitudes to tell the story of a sage and his devoted follower; instead he tells an often unflattering story of his own struggles and shortcomings and the dynamic uncertainties of life with a man who “tore apart everything human beings have built up inside and out for centuries.” Goner will teach you the meaning of the phrase “paradoxical truth”. UG Krishnamurti gave up everything for truth, but delighted in ridiculous fabrications; he was a teacher who refused to teach, a man who mocked do-gooders but was deeply kind; he was chaste but foul mouthed, he was a man who decried the supernatural … yet there were strange coincidences around him. “…the way he lived, his living quarters and his mode of expression were one continuous movement, a three dimensional, living book of teaching. If you were observant, you could learn from him on contact with no need for explanation.”
The Cultural Gutter
Author: Carol Borden
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 0557958393
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 218
Book Description
Science fiction, fantasy, comics, romance, genre movies, games all drain into the Cultural Gutter, a website dedicated to thoughtful articles about disreputable art-media and genres that are a little embarrassing. Irredeemable. Worthy of Note, but rolling like errant pennies back into the gutter. The Cultural Gutter is dangerous because we have a philosophy. We try to balance enthusiasm with clear-eyed, honest engagement with the material and with our readers. This book expands on our mission with 10 articles each from science fiction/fantasy editor James Schellenberg, comics editor and publisher Carol Borden, romance editor Chris Szego, screen editor Ian Driscoll and founding editor and former games editor Jim Munroe.
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 0557958393
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 218
Book Description
Science fiction, fantasy, comics, romance, genre movies, games all drain into the Cultural Gutter, a website dedicated to thoughtful articles about disreputable art-media and genres that are a little embarrassing. Irredeemable. Worthy of Note, but rolling like errant pennies back into the gutter. The Cultural Gutter is dangerous because we have a philosophy. We try to balance enthusiasm with clear-eyed, honest engagement with the material and with our readers. This book expands on our mission with 10 articles each from science fiction/fantasy editor James Schellenberg, comics editor and publisher Carol Borden, romance editor Chris Szego, screen editor Ian Driscoll and founding editor and former games editor Jim Munroe.
The Lives of Freda
Author: Andrew Whitehead
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789388874083
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
The extraordinary story of an Englishwoman who became Indian; a person born and raised at the heart of Empire who went to jail because she believed in a free India; a Christian girl who became a world renowned Bhiksuni, a Buddhist nun. From the moment she married a handsome young Sikh at a registry office in Oxford in 1933, Freda Bedi, née Houlston, regarded herself as Indian, even though it was another year before she set foot in the country. She was English by birth and upbringing--and Indian by marriage, cultural affinity and political loyalty. Later, she travelled the world as a revered Buddhist teacher, but India would remain her home to the end. The life of Freda Bedi is a remarkable story of multiple border crossings. Born in a middle-class home in provincial England, she became a champion of Indian nationalism, even serving time in jail in Lahore as a Satyagrahi. In Kashmir in the 1940s, while her husband B.P.L. Bedi drafted the 'New Kashmir' manifesto, she assisted underground left-wing Kashmiri nationalists, and joined a women's militia to defend Srinagar from invading Pakistani tribesmen. In 1959, she persuaded Nehru to give her a role coordinating efforts to help Tibetan refugees who came with the Dalai Lama and immersed herself in the project, setting up a nunnery and a school for young lamas. Some years later, she became the first western woman, and possibly the first woman ever, to receive full ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. This meticulously researched and superbly written biography does perfect justice to Freda Bedi's extraordinary life. By interviewing her children and friends, and delving into the family's extensive archives of letters and recordings--as well as official records and newspaper archives--Andrew Whitehead paints a compelling picture of a woman who challenged barriers of nation, religion, race and gender, always remaining true to her strong sense of justice and equity.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789388874083
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 394
Book Description
The extraordinary story of an Englishwoman who became Indian; a person born and raised at the heart of Empire who went to jail because she believed in a free India; a Christian girl who became a world renowned Bhiksuni, a Buddhist nun. From the moment she married a handsome young Sikh at a registry office in Oxford in 1933, Freda Bedi, née Houlston, regarded herself as Indian, even though it was another year before she set foot in the country. She was English by birth and upbringing--and Indian by marriage, cultural affinity and political loyalty. Later, she travelled the world as a revered Buddhist teacher, but India would remain her home to the end. The life of Freda Bedi is a remarkable story of multiple border crossings. Born in a middle-class home in provincial England, she became a champion of Indian nationalism, even serving time in jail in Lahore as a Satyagrahi. In Kashmir in the 1940s, while her husband B.P.L. Bedi drafted the 'New Kashmir' manifesto, she assisted underground left-wing Kashmiri nationalists, and joined a women's militia to defend Srinagar from invading Pakistani tribesmen. In 1959, she persuaded Nehru to give her a role coordinating efforts to help Tibetan refugees who came with the Dalai Lama and immersed herself in the project, setting up a nunnery and a school for young lamas. Some years later, she became the first western woman, and possibly the first woman ever, to receive full ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. This meticulously researched and superbly written biography does perfect justice to Freda Bedi's extraordinary life. By interviewing her children and friends, and delving into the family's extensive archives of letters and recordings--as well as official records and newspaper archives--Andrew Whitehead paints a compelling picture of a woman who challenged barriers of nation, religion, race and gender, always remaining true to her strong sense of justice and equity.