Biography

Courting destiny: a memoir / Shanti Bhushan. --New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2008

This memoir provides a participant's account of some of the most interesting and seminal cases that laid the foundations of India's constitutional history. They include the Keshav Singh case of 1964 which led to the first stand-off between executive and the judiciary; Indira Gandhi's election case which unseated her as prime minister, leading to the imposition of the emergency; and the parliament attack case in which Supreme Court, while acquitting Shaukat Guru of all charges of conspiracy, convicted him on a charge for which he was never accused. Together, they offer a broad perspective of the evolution of Indian law and the interpretation of the constitution.

Moguls of real estate / Namburu, Manoj. --New Delhi: Roli Books, 2007

The book aims to preserve for posterity the business-biographies of five of the most successful leaders of the real estate industry in India-KP Singh of DLF, Niranjan Hiranandani of Hiranandani Constructions, Sushil Ansal of Ansal API, Shapoor Pallonji Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd and Irfan Razack of Prestige Group. The book examines their lives closely and reveals how they overcame obstacles, forged their own management philosophies and revolutionized the business world. The book traces the growth including the highs and lows of the Indian estate market.

 

The World is what it is: the authorized biography of V. S. Naipaul / French, Patrick. --London: Picador, 2008

The author offers the first authoritative biography of the controversial Nobel laureate, whose only stated ambition was greatness as a writer, in pursuit of which goal nothing else was sacred. Beginning with a richly detailed portrait of Naipaul's childhood in colonial Trinidad, author gives us the boy born to an Indian family, the displaced soul in a displaced community, who by dint of talent and ambition finds the only imaginable way out: a scholarship to Oxford. London in the 1950s offers hope and his first literary success, but homesickness and depression almost defeat Vidia, his narrow escape aided by Patricia Hale, an Englishwoman who will devote herself to his work and well-being.

Business Knowledge

The Evolution of business knowledge / Scarbrough, Harry, ed. --Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008

This book highlights the impact of different institutional contexts, social networks, and technological artifacts on the way different groups share and exploit knowledge for business goals. Its findings challenge the idea that knowledge and learning are simply a resource or input to be directed by managers and policy-makers.

Climate Change

Climate change: an Indian perspective / Dash, Sushi Kumar. --Ahmedabad: Centre for Environment Education, 2007

The author has presented the science of climate change in perspective, and has added value to his effort by citing India-specific opportunities and frameworks of response to combat impacts. The phenomenon and impacts are multifaceted due to links with several sectors of development has also been suitably highlighted. The author recognizes the need to understand natural and man-made variations in conjunction with each other.

Economics

India's global wealth club: the stunning rise of its billionaires and the secrets of their success / Hiscock, Geoff. --Singapore: John Wiley, 2008

The Indian entrepreneur is spearheading India's advance towards the forefront of the world economy. This book reviews and retraces the formidable path of those individuals who have spurred the growth of Indian business and are at the heart of India's economic fabric today.

Energy Conservation

Energy security / Muller-Kraenner, Sascha. --London: Earthscan, 2008

The book presents alternatives to fossil fuels as two diametrically opposing strategies: the increased use of atomic energy; and a comprehensive climate protection policy with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy. In times of international terrorism, there are heightened concerns about nuclear proliferation, and author argues that the future must belong to renewable energy.

Food Security

Food security and global economy / Tiwari, Avanish   Kumar, ed. --New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2009

This book is an attempt to bring into focus various issues that inadvertently affect food security. Oil prices, climate change, use of agricultural products as biofuel, trade and agricultural policies of the governments of major developed and developing nations are some of these issues.

Law

Challenging the rule(s) of law: colonialism, criminology and human rights in India / Kannabiran, Kalpana, ed. --New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2008

The book contests unproblematic assumptions of the rule of law and opens out avenues for a renewed and radical study of criminal law in the country. The collection looks at criminal law from the early colonial period to the present, examining the problem of overt violence by state actors and their compliance with dominant private actors.

A Judicial Colloquium: HIV/AIDS and the law / Medhini, Laya, ed. New Delhi: Human Rights Law Networks, 2008

The book records the proceeding of Judicial Colloquium on HIV/AIDS and the law, speaking about rights based issues and HIV specific legal problems and potential solutions. The aim of the Judicial Colloquium was to bring together senior members of the judiciary from across India's High Courts to discuss the legal problems faced by people affected by HIV/AIDS. Key issues discussed at the colloquium were the right to confidentiality, rights of women and children, access to treatment, and issues of stigma and discrimination.

V.K. Puri's guide to fundraising and public relations for NGOs and non profit organisations / Centre for Social Initiative and Management. --Delhi: JBA Publishers, 2007

This book guide readers through all aspects of the fundraising process and the necessary related aspects of public relations. Fundraising is intended to make non-profit organizations more successful by helping to achieve the goals of the organisation and informing the public of their mission. Public relations plays an important role in image building and creating the right atmosphere for the growth of NGO.

Non-governmental Organisations

NGOs and social welfare: new research approaches / Lewis, David, ed. --Jaipur: Rawat, 2008

The growing profile of NGOs has both its supporters and critics. The book addresses towards a set of important issues in relation to the non-governmental sector, such as the question of funding, issues relating to democratization and governance, and the management challenges in terms of building improved sustainability and more accountable public policy.

Organizational Change

The Acrobatics of change: concepts, techniques, strategies and execution / Moid Siddiqui. New Delhi: Response Books, 2008

The book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the concepts of change dynamics and change techniques, including brainstorming, trigger techniques, SWOT analysis and wild idea sessions. The second part tells the true story of the company's turnaround, which is being published for the first time. The book is blend of theories, concepts and practical techniques.

Politics and government

Inclusion and exclusion in local governance: field studies from rural India / Baviskar, B.S., ed. --New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2009

The publication is a product of rare national-level study conducted in forty two panchayats across twelve states to reveal how democratic decentralization is working in Indian villages. This is done through stories of empowerment as well as discrimination against women, schedule castes and schedule tribes (SCs and STs). The field studies offer insights about rural India from a micro-level perspective instead of providing macro-level generalities.

Social Sciences/Sociology

The Art of city making / Landry, Charles. --London: Earthscan, 2007

The book aided by international case studies, explains how to reassess urban potential so that cities can strengthen their identity and adapt to the changing global terms of trade and mass migration. It explores the deeper fault-lines, paradoxes and strategic dilemmas that make creating the good city so difficult.

Contested grounds: essays on nature, culture, and power / Baviskar, Amita, ed. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2008

This volume examines practices of political organisation, civic participation, religious activity, cultural production, sexual relationships, family organisation, and economic activity through which displaced communities reconstruct themselves. This volume spans four centuries -from the little known eighteenth-century Indian Ocean slave diaspora to the high-velocity mobility of the twenty-first century.

Transnational South Asians: the making of a neo-diaspora / Koshy, Susan, ed. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2008

This volume examines practices of political organisation, civic participation, religious activity, cultural production, sexual relationships, family organisation, and economic activity through which displaced communities reconstruct themselves. This volume spans four centuries -from the little known eighteenth-century Indian Ocean slave diaspora to the high-velocity mobility of the twenty-first century.

India: urban poverty report 2009 / India. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2009 (Reference)

The report identifies the problems faced by the poor and focuses on the systematic changes that are needed. It looks at the process of globalization and the development strategy in the country, and asks why the poor exist in urban India and how they are being physically and economically absorbed into the system. It analyses the processes of urbanization, migration, changes in the economic structure, and the pattern of infrastructural investment, highlighting how these impact on the well-being of the poor.

Telecommunication

India on television: how satellite news channels have changed the way we think and act / Mehta, Nalin. New Delhi: Harper Collins, 2008

The author explains a complex story of how Indian television, in the space of about 15 years, became the country's most dynamic medium and how the consequences of that change affect sport, politics and most aspects of daily life. This is book on transformation of India.

Terrorism

A Mission in Kashmir / Whitehead, Andrew. --New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2007

The book attempts to establish how the Kashmir dispute first erupted have been obscured and impeded by competing nationalisms. Retrieving stories of attackers and survivors, looters and looted, fighters and civilians, author sets out to write a full and impartial account of how Kashmir became a theatre of war. He has gathered a remarkable range of first-hand testimonies of the most notorious episode in the invasion-the desecration of a convent and mission hospital in the riverside town of Baramulla.

New Additions in Delhi Documenta

(For reference only)

This is the compilation of Raghu Rai's photographs of ancient and modern Delhi.

This is a destination guide of Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida. The book provide information about places to visit, hotels, bazaars, places of worship, Delhi Metro routes etc.

This book walks through some of the symbols that compel Delhi to stand apart, showcasing an old civilization and more importantly, an energetic, creative and entrepreneurial young nation grappling with the excitement of constant reinvention, of change. Delhi has the best of all world within her open borders, from the ancient past to the vibrant present and Dilliwallahs are an engaging lot, proud of their epic legacy, raring to keep the ethos of change alive.

The author describes the tourist destinations of Delhi. The book also deals with brief history of monuments of Delhi.

The book lists the most important buildings in the city which every Delhiite needs to know about. The first handbook of Delhi's modern architecture, it includes a description of each building, and of the architect and his vision for the work; key features to look out for and a glossary to explain all architectural terms.

New Additions in Electronic Reports

(For reference only)

Note: These reports can be accessed through the shortcut ’Electronic Documents' on the OPAC terminal.

Over one billion people live with inadequate access to safe drinking water with dramatic consequences for lives, livelihoods and development. Transparency International's Global Corruption Report 2008 demonstrates in its thematic section that corruption is a cause and catalyst for this water crisis which is likely to be further exacerbated by climate change. Corruption affects all aspects of the water sector from water resources management to drinking water services, irrigation and hydropower. Scholars and professionals document the impact of corruption in the sector with case studies from all around the world and offer practical suggestions for reform. The second part of the Report provides a snapshot of corruption-related developments in 35 countries from all world regions. The third part presents summaries of corruption-related research, highlighting innovative methodologies and new empirical findings that help to better understand the dynamics of corruption and devise more effective anti-corruption strategies.

Source: http://www.transparency.org/content/download/32994/505946

The World health report 2008 - primary health care: now more than ever. World Health Organisation, 2008

This World Health Report revisits the ambitious vision of primary health care as a set of values and principles for guiding the development of health systems. The Report represents an important opportunity to draw on the lessons of the past, consider the challenges that lie ahead, and identify major avenues for health systems to narrow the intolerable gaps between aspiration and implementation. "Rather than improving their response capacity and anticipating new challenges, health systems seems to be drifting from one short-term priority to another, increasingly fragmented and without a clear sense of direction," says World Health Report 2008.

Source: http://www.who.int/whr/2008/whr08_en.pdf

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