Tales of Triumph
BY MAHMOOD HOSSAIN AND AYUSH MADAN
Diwali, the festival of lights, isn’t just about light triumphant over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil; it’s also the beginning of a new year. This is a time of renewal, utilising the tools we have at hand towards self-improvement, and restoring the balance in your lives. Shedding the old becomes easier when there are compelling resources to guide you through the many phases of your evolution. So we’ve put together a list of books written by South Asian authors within the last few years, which we hope will provide fresh perspectives to those who feel lost, urging readers to reflect and embark on new enriching paths of personal growth.
The Magic Mindset: How to Find Your Happy Place by Preeti Shenoy (2021)
Author Preeti Shenoy presents a set of principles for every aspect of one’s existence, prompted by the various challenges we face throughout life’s many stages. While we generally try to adopt a positive approach when facing hurdles, it’s not always possible to see the brighter side of things. The magic mindset that she talks about is all about embracing and accepting the less desirable outcomes – even the ones where our surroundings seem so bleak that our minds refuse to find the silver lining. This book becomes a guide to help us shift our perspectives from hopelessness and despair to hope, joy, and belief. In other words, things are not as bad as they seem; and on the path of renewal, there are more favourable outlooks with purpose and joy.
Available on Kindle.
11 Rules For Life: Secrets to Level Up by Chetan Bhagat (2024)
The movie 3 Idiots (2009) is almost universally adored, but few actually know that the source material for the film was a book that came out five years prior. The novel Five Point Someone, was written by Chetan Bhagat, one of India’s most successful and best-selling authors. Earlier this year, he published his 14th book, 11 Rules For Life, with each chapter revealing a ‘rule’ Chetan has learned from his own setbacks and successes. Framed as a back-and-forth between him and a food delivery driver, Chetan uses his trademark conversational and relatable prose to explore Indian cultural pressures and mentorship, giving readers a guide to rewiring their mindsets for success. You can catch more of Bhagat’s life advice on his YouTube channel, @ChetanBhagat1.
Available on Kindle, Asia Books or Naiin.
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo (2023)
This coming-of-age story bundles up the themes of grief, sisterhood, losing, and winning. Western Lane, longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024 and shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023, revolves around an 11-year-old girl named Gopi, who has been playing squash all her life. After her mother dies, her father enlists Gopi in a gruelling training regimen, which becomes her entire world and creates a tense rift between her and her sisters. The author’s debut novel, it highlights the complexities of a young girl’s journey of overcoming loss and finding comfort in sport, channelling her emotion through physical means in an all-too-relatable immigrant experience. From tragedy and sporting trials, to her maturation and finding a path to potential triumph, this is a story of a young girl transcending herself.
Available on Kindle, Apple Books, Kinokuniya, and Asia Books.
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma (2024)
Society has sold us a version of success that has left many of us feeling empty and frustrated. The truth is, real wealth is more than flashy cars, exotic island vacations, and zeroes in your bank account. In this book, New York Times bestseller and personal growth expert Robin Sharma gives you the practical tools and transformational tactics to create ‘real wealth’ – a life full of happiness, vitality, and serenity. Do you have what it takes to ‘go ghost’ for a year, coming back the most evolved version of yourself? Are you ready to learn the secrets that keep the rich, rich? Readers say Robin’s small, daily, improvements when done consistently lead to stunning results. But don’t just take their word for it, pick up his book for yourself.
Available on Kindle, Audible, Kinokuniya, Asia Books, and Naiin.
Untold: Defining Moments of the Uprooted by Multiple Authors (2021)
Edited by Gabrielle Deonath and Kamini Ramdeen, this unique book is a Brown Girl Magazine anthology – a collection of real stories, exploring the South Asian experience in the United States of America, United Kingdom, and Canada. With the contribution of over 30 authors, these pages cover the subjects of identity, relationships, and the state of being, sharing intimate or personal moments that relate to immigration, infertility, divorce, mental health, racism, religion, and much more. Adding to those character-defining topics is the challenge of balancing the push and pull between two cultures that are rooted in two different hemispheres. Each store sheds light on the harsh truths faced by brown women, all while they resiliently uphold their true, authentic selves.
Available on Kindle.
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff (2023)
A national bestseller that took the US by storm, The Bandit Queens is Parini Shroff’s smashing debut novel. The story of a young Indian woman named Geeta who is falsely blamed for the death of her husband, the story follows her as she discovers that being known as a ‘self- made’ widow has some surprising perks. No one messes with her, no one threatens her, and no one tries to control her. That is, until other women in the village start asking Geeta for help getting rid of their own husbands. Blending humour with sharp social insight, Parini explores the unexpected camaraderie among women, inspired by her own experiences growing up in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat. Infused with the tenacity of those who must find light in dark places, The Bandit Queens offers a fresh perspective of courage and freedom.
Available on Kindle, Asia Books and Kinokuniya.
