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Several academicians, former bureaucrats and judges, writers, artistes and scientists have expressed outrage over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill calling it "divisive" and violative of the Constitution and asked the government to withdraw it. In separate letters and petitions, they asserted that the proposed legislation threatens the federal framework provided by the Constitution and will fundamentally alter the character of the Indian republic if it comes into force. In an open letter, about 600 writers, artists, activists, former bureaucrats, ex-judges asked the government not to betray the Constitution. The signatories include historian Romila Thapar, author Amitav Ghosh, actor Nandita Das, filmmakers Aparna Sen and Anand Patwardhan, activists Yogendra Yadav Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy and Bezwada Wilson, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah and the country's first CIC Wajahat Habibullah among others. "All of us from the cultural and academic communities condemn this bill as divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional. It will, along with a nationwide NRC, bring untold suffering to people across the country. It will damage, fundamentally and irreparably, the nature of the Indian republic. This is why we demand that the government withdraw the bill. "This is why we demand that the government not betray the Constitution. We call on all people of conscience to insist that the Constitutional commitment to an equal and secular citizenry be honoured," the letter states. The Lok Sabha passed the bill a little past midnight on Monday after a heated debate that lasted over seven hours. The contentious Bill will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution there. According to the proposed legislation, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, till December 31 2014 facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. If religious persecution was the logic presented in the bill, then why were refugees such as Rohingyas from Myanmar or Hindu or Muslim Tamils from Sri Lanka or Ahmadis from Pakistan left out, the signatories asked. "Why focus on only three countries as if these constitute the only possible sources of asylum-seekers?" they asked, stressing on the need to have a refugee policy in line with international law, not a legislation dictated by an ideology that makes use of religion for political gains. "The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 tears to shreds the inclusive, composite vision of India that guided our freedom struggle. In the amendments it introduces to the Citizenship Act of 1955, the new Bill violates every single one of these fundamentals of the Constitution," the letter states. After the legislation got the nod of the Lower House, civil rights activist Mander said if the bill is passed, he will practice civil disobedience. "I will officially register as a Muslim. I will then refuse to submit any documents to NRC. I will finally demand the same punishment as any undocumented Muslim -- detention centre &amp; withdrawn citizenship. Join this civil disobedience," Mander tweeted. In a separate petition, a group of scientists and academicians said the use of religion as a criterion for citizenship in the proposed bill would mark a radical break and would be inconsistent with the basic structure of the Constitution. Academician Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a signatory to the petition, said the citizenship bill will convert a constitutional democracy into a unconstitutional ethnocracy. "We can debate the past forever. But with <keyword id="6363576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cab">CAB</keyword> India takes a giant step to officially convert a constitutional democracy into a unconstitutional ethnocracy," he tweeted. Academician Ramchandra Guha hit out at Home Minister <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-shah">Amit Shah</keyword> and said he was a professed Savarakrite and had no issue with Muhammad Ali Jinnah's two-nation theory. "Savarkar, 1943: I have no quarrel with Mr Jinnah's two-nation theory. We Hindus are a nation by ourselves and it is a historical fact that Hindus and Muslims are two nations'. The home minister, a professed Savarkarite, has no quarrel with Mr Jinnah's two-nation theory either," Guha tweeted. The petition said the idea of India emerged from the independence movement, and as enshrined in the Constitution, is that of a country that aspires to treat people of all faiths equally. "The use of religion as a criterion for citizenship in the proposed bill would mark a radical break with this history and would be inconsistent with the basic structure of the Constitution. We fear, in particular, that the careful exclusion of Muslims from the ambit of the bill will greatly strain the pluralistic fabric of the country," the petition noted. The petitioners include those affiliated to Harvard University, Masachussets University, Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Indian Institute of Science, Delhi University, Chennai Mathematical Institute, International Centre for Theoretical Science, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, the University of Bonn, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Oslo. Over 230 activists and academicians from Gujarat also wrote an open letter expressing concern over the bill. Some social organisations in Pune appealed to the Maharashtra government to move Supreme Court against the bill.

Romila Thapar, Amitav Ghosh, Nandita Das join 600 writers and artists to seek withdrawal of Citizenship Bill

<keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>’s <keyword id="9408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Park-Street">Park Street</keyword> has a legacy. It has a lot of firsts to its credit. Long back author Jaydeep Mazumder had written, India’s first department store- Hall &amp; <keyword id="16745" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anderson">Anderson</keyword>, music café, first ice cream parlour- Magnolia, first soda fountain, the first restaurants offering live entertainment – all had one address in India, Park Street. 
 Who can forget the year-end carnival that has a reputation all over the globe? It’s not just a street. Officially it may have been christened <keyword id="579289" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mother-Teresa-Sarani">Mother Teresa Sarani</keyword>, but it’s a happening place for the elitists of the country. It has seen the vintage 70s and 80s. Who would have known the singer performing live at <keyword id="424155" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trincas">Trincas</keyword> then would end up being the famous <keyword id="7376" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Usha-Uthup">Usha Uthup</keyword> now? Of Cabarets, jazz clubs and pubs, Park Street’s prominence has invited famed Bengali ‘bhodroloks’ (gentlemen). That sometimes ranged from Soumitra Chatterjee, Barun Chanda, <keyword id="14969" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satyajit-Ray">Satyajit Ray</keyword>, Anjan Dutta to writer Mani Shankar Mukherjee, <keyword id="23798" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitav-ghosh">Amitav Ghosh</keyword> and musician <keyword id="932811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nandan-Bagchi">Nandan Bagchi</keyword>. 
 And then this happened. Independent India’s first nightclub, Mocambo at Park Street doesn’t let a marketing professional enter with her driver, where she thought would be the best place to dine on her final evening in the city. She wasn’t just brazenly denied entry with the driver, but a reason as silly as the driver not wearing the proper outfit (read extravagant clothes) and was seen eating jhal muri, was given to justify its actions. At a time when the Chief Minister of the state has decided to call ‘telebhaja’ (fried snacks) an industry in the State and seeking foreign investments to expand the same, denying someone entry to the posh restaurant on this pretext is abominable for a place whose Chicken Sicillienes was quite a favourite with <keyword id="6360386" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jawaharlal-Nehru">Jawaharlal Nehru</keyword>. 
 
Mind you, the rage is taking place on social media, a place more powerful than all presidents of the world put together. While the management of the place said they have the right to admission reserved, people rightly pointed out that cannot be based on someone’s appearance. We got in touch with <keyword id="2481483" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vikrant-Batra">Vikrant Batra</keyword>, owner of <keyword id="3389204" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cafe-Delhi-Heights">Cafe Delhi Heights</keyword>, a leading chain of restaurants in the capital to understand the right properly. "’Right to admission reserved’ is a very critical term not only for the hospitality industry but also for any public place in general. It is very important to filter your crowd on the basis of the kind of experience you want to give to your customers. It relates to both safety as well as the concept behind your restaurant. Having said that it should not be exercised to discriminate people on the basis of their caste, colour, creed or their economic strata,” <keyword id="233052" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Batra">Batra</keyword> told <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>. 
 
Same view was expressed by the spokesperson of Radisson Blue MBD,Noida, who said, “Speaking from a purely legal viewpoint any hotel has a right to restrict admission to anyone as long as this is not a discriminatory action i.e. due to race, caste , religion.” 
 
Definitely, for a place like Mocambo that boasts of a dance floor reinforced with Belgian glass, and having flown down an Italian chef to design its menu with a German architect designing the interior, we could have expected some Indian hospitality to add to the feel. 
 And even if the admission stays reserved, “One cannot rule out the thumb rule of our industry - Customer is the king. All we need to do is make them feel like one,” says <keyword id="3647825" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sudhir-ahuja">Sudhir Ahuja</keyword> of <keyword id="3647830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bakstage-kolkata">Bakstage Kolkata</keyword>, a well-known pub in Sector V, <keyword id="6360091" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Salt-lake">Salt Lake</keyword>.

Kolkata Mocambo consequence: Do restaurants have the right to reject
guests on silly pretexts?

Movies and books continue to be the main source of entertainment for us. And Indian authors have become a tribe to reckon with. While international authors have always successfully transited from books to movies; for e.g.; JK Rowling’s ‘<keyword id="6357995" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harry-Potter">Harry Potter</keyword> and the Philosopher’s stone’ not only sold more than a 100 million copies, but also grossed over 2 billion in revenues as a movie; we are hoping to see more Indian authors do the same. 
 
This got us thinking; what makes a book appealing for adaptation by film or TV producers? How can you tell if a book is screen-worthy? Books that are extremely popular, have a great deal of mass appeal, are intriguing and keep you captivated. 
 
And so a really good book is bait for a lot of people — on the strength of a book you're able to attract really great talent to work on its adaptation; because readers want to get closer to the characters they love. 
 We shortlisted 5 such books, who have already won the <keyword id="23919" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="crossword">Crossword</keyword> Book Award, and here goes; 
 1. The Hungry Tide by <keyword id="23798" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitav-ghosh">Amitav Ghosh</keyword> - The Hungry Tide is a very contemporary story of adventure and unlikely love, identity and history, set in one of the most fascinating regions on the earth. Off the easternmost coast of India, in the <keyword id="55869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bay-of-Bengal">Bay of Bengal</keyword>, lies the immense labyrinth of tiny islands known as the Sundarbans. 
 2. Sacred Games by <keyword id="160167" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vikram-Chandra">Vikram Chandra</keyword>: The novel draws the reader deep into the life of Inspector Sartaj Singh—and into the criminal underworld of Ganesh Gaitonde, the most wanted gangster in India. It is is a story of friendship and betrayal, of terrible violence, of an astonishing modern city and its dark side. 
 3. Past Continuous by <keyword id="628756" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neel-Mukherjee">Neel Mukherjee</keyword>: Set in 1970s and 80s India, 90s England and in the first decade of twentieth-century Bengal, on the eve of Lord Curzon’s infamous Bengal Partition of 1905, Past Continuous is a scalding book about dislocations and alienations, about outsiders and losers, about the tenuous and unconscious intersections of lives and histories and about the consolations of storytelling. It is also a book about the impossibilities of love. 
 
4. Sea of Poppies (The Ibis Trilogy) by Amitav Ghosh: The story is set prior to the First Opium War on the banks of the holy river Ganga, and in Kolkatta. The author compares the Ganges to the Nile, the lifeline of the Egyptian civilization, attributing the provenance and growth of these civilizations to these selfless, ever-flowing bodies. He portrays the characters as poppy seeds emanating in large numbers from the field to form a sea, where every single seed is uncertain about its future. 
 5. The Bankster by <keyword id="150696" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravi-Subramanian">Ravi Subramanian</keyword>: The uneasy calm in <keyword id="3881458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="greater-boston-global-bank">Greater Boston Global Bank</keyword> (GB2) is shattered when a series of murders rock the façade of the compliant and conforming bank that GB2 has built up over the years. Who is to blame? Who is driving these intriguing and bone chilling murders? What is the motive behind these gruesome killings? No one has a clue. 
 
 
(This article is authored by Sonal Gandhi , Buying and merchandising- Head books at Crossword book stores)

5 bestselling Indian books that could be blockbuster movies

<keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword> is an outspoken man whose latest book: An Era of Darkness: The British empire in India seeks to debunk what he terms is the 'rose-tinted view' of the Empire. 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> caught up with the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> MP and former <keyword id="6357801" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="union">Union</keyword> Minister to discuss the uncomfortable realities that loom our minds right now; from the demonetization move to the possibility of the US pulling out of the <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> Agreement. 
 Talking to us from the <keyword id="8555" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata">Tata</keyword> LitFest 2016 in Mumbai, he seemed to appreciate the company of <keyword id="23798" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitav-ghosh">Amitav Ghosh</keyword> on stage and appreciated the young leadership in the audience. 
 
Q1. There is a lot of literature that has been produced on colonialism. What was the push for your latest book: An Era of Darkness? 
 
Shashi- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Freedom-from-past-Indias-reparations-debate-is-set-in-motion/articleshow/48437542.cms">My speech at Oxford about the British owing India reparations struck a chord</a> with millions and my publisher thought it would be wise to create something that people could go back and refer to instead of just watch. In the recent years, there were quite a lot of books justifying the British empire filled with mythology and self-justifications by authors like <keyword id="306836" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neil-Ferguson">Neil Ferguson</keyword> and <keyword id="3861530" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lawrence-james">Lawrence James</keyword>. I decided to take on the challenge to refute the claims made by them that the British Empire had laid foundations of globalization and such. 
 
Q2. From a purely economic standpoint, I’d like to know your views on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Flipkart-Snapdeal-and-Shopclues-agree-Demonetization-has-been-a-boon-in-disguise/articleshow/55477332.cms">demonetization move.</a> 
 
Shashi- It was clearly not fully thought through. The collateral damage for innocent people in the current situation and in the foreseeable future completely outweigh the intended benefits to the economy. 
They talk of a surgical strike but a surgical strike is a result of a well thought out operation, where you go after the black marketers and the non-tax payers whereas here as we see, the largest number of victims are actually innocents; ordinary people who are queuing outside banks and ATMs unable to access their hard-earned money. 
 
The Government has failed to account that the common man uses most of the 84% of the currency that has been banned. 
 
They have also failed as there are not enough currency notes and the ATMs are not recalibrated. They couldn’t have even printed notes of the same size! 
 
I don’t understand why they couldn’t have extended the deadline to the end of the year, where you could’ve anyway tracked the amount someone is depositing in their bank account. The money underground has been driven further underground in irregular schemes and the regular money supply is choked. 
 
 <keyword id="34606" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="industries">Industries</keyword> have been halted, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Five-popular-start-ups-that-have-shut-down-this-year/articleshow/55206750.cms">SMEs are suffering</a> and tourism is affected. These irregularities were easily avoidable and even if the government might be right in the long term, they are certainly wrong in the short term. 
 Q3. After the US Elections, people fear that the <keyword id="6355055" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="USA">USA</keyword> can pull out of the Paris Agreement. What will be the impact of that? 
 Shashi- Mr. <keyword id="6354862" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trump">Trump</keyword> says that he doesn’t believe in climate change, and unless he suddenly does a turnaround on his policies, US will not ratify the agreement. Since the US ratification was a major source of pressure for a lot of countries like India, China, and others to ratify, the future seems unpromising. If the US is led by a climate change denier then, it seems to me that the Paris agreement is as good as dead in the water. Let’s see, Mr. <keyword id="41013" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ban-Ki-Moon">Ban Ki-moon</keyword> has said that he can make Mr. Trump change his mind and if that happens, it will be amazing.

EXCLUSIVE: Shashi Tharoor talks about his fears
related to demonetization and the Paris Agreement

With <keyword id="20910895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mothers-Day" source="keywords">Mother's Day</keyword> 2024 approaching this Sunday (May 12), it's time to honour and celebrate the remarkable women who have played an indispensable role in shaping our lives. The roots of this contemporary <keyword id="19931928" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mother" source="keywords">Mother</keyword>'s Day can be traced back to the tireless efforts of Anna Jarvis, an American woman, who advocated for an official day dedicated to honouring mothers during the early 20th century. During the Civil War era in the US, Anna Jarvis's mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, founded "<keyword id="21616921" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mothers-Day-Work-Clubs" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mother's Day Work Clubs" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Mother's Day Work Clubs">Mother's Day Work Clubs</keyword>" to bolster public health and foster unity among mothers. After Ann's death in 1905, Anna campaigned vigorously for a national day honouring mothers, ultimately leading to President Woodrow Wilson proclaiming the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in 1914. In India, where mothers are revered as embodiments of love, sacrifice and strength, expressing gratitude and affection on this special day holds immense significance. To help you convey your heartfelt emotions, here are some Indian quotes and wishes to make your mother feel cherished and appreciated. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Mother’s Day special: Quotes by famous Indians" comment="subhead" text="Mother’s Day special: Quotes by famous Indians">Mother’s Day special: Quotes by famous Indians</cmsannotation> “Mother represents colourless love that knows no barter, love that never dies.” — Swami Vivekananda “It may be possible to gild pure gold, but who can make his mother more beautiful?” — Mahatma Gandhi “A mother's love is a divine melody, resonating through the cosmos and binding hearts together.” — Rabindranath Tagore “A mother's love is the closest thing to God's love manifested on earth.” — Jhumpa Lahiri “The heart of a mother is a reservoir of strength, a wellspring of compassion, and an ocean of unconditional love.” — Arundhati Roy “A mother's love is the foundation upon which the edifice of humanity stands, the cornerstone of civilization.” — Salman Rushdie “A mother's love is the universe in a heartbeat, the cosmos in a caress, the essence of existence itself.” — Amitav Ghosh <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Mother’s Day wishes for Indians" comment="subhead" text="Mother’s Day wishes for Indians"><keyword id="21616922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mothers-Day-wishes-for-Indians" source="Orion">Mother’s Day wishes for Indians</keyword></cmsannotation> Mumma, your sacrifices and selflessness have shaped me into the person I am today. On this special day, I want to express my deepest gratitude and love for everything you do. Happy Mother's Day! Amma, your warmth and affection have been the guiding force behind every success in my life. Today, I want to shower you with love and gratitude for being the best mother anyone could ask for. Happy Mother's Day! Aai, your love is the foundation on which my life is built. As I celebrate you on Mother's Day, I want you to know that you are cherished, admired, and deeply loved. Wishing you a day filled with laughter and happiness. Dear Mom, your unwavering love and unconditional support have been my greatest treasures. Wishing you a Mother's Day filled with joy, laughter, and all the happiness you deserve. To the strongest woman I know, my mother: May your day be as bright and beautiful as your smile. Thank you for being my pillar of strength and inspiration. Happy Mother's Day! Wishing a very Happy Mother's Day to the one who fills our home with laughter, warmth, and boundless affection. Mummy, you are our guiding light and source of endless inspiration. On this special day, I thank the universe for blessing me with a mother as incredible as you. Your love knows no bounds, and your kindness touches countless hearts. Happy Mother's Day! To the woman who taught us the true meaning of resilience and compassion, Happy Mother's Day! Your unwavering love and unwavering strength make you our superhero. Happy Mother's Day to the woman who juggles a million roles with grace and poise. Your love is the foundation of our family, and your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. We love you endlessly. On this Mother's Day, I wish you all the love and happiness in the world, Mom. Your endless sacrifices and tireless efforts deserve to be celebrated today and every day.

Mother’s Day 2024: Quotes and wishes for the incredible moms of India

<ul><li>Reading, especially during these times of pandemic, can boost mental health and reduce stress and anxiety among people significantly. </li><li>Every week, Business Insider collates interesting <keyword id="4100211" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Books-to-read">books to read</keyword>, giving an outlook on career and professional growth, setbacks and opportunities. </li><li>This week, we bring you adventures and thrillers by <keyword id="3396" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-authors">Indian authors</keyword>.</li></ul>Reading, especially during these times of pandemic, can boost mental health and reduce stress and anxiety among people significantly. Every week, Business Insider collates <keyword id="6779885" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="interesting-books">interesting books</keyword> to read, giving an outlook on career and professional growth, setbacks and opportunities. Here are some books that can help the isolation in times of COVID and also brush the vocabulary and literary skills. Here are some <keyword id="7136015" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="books-by-indian-authors">books by Indian authors</keyword>. Fate of Eight by Dhiraj Singh Fate of Eight is a thriller novel that revolves around the story of eight people , who are interconnected in some way — birth, marriage or death. The book takes through the journey of four women and their choices and fate. It is a story of human relationships, their destiny, their failures and more — all leading to a murder and an aggressive search for the murderer. A burning by Megha Majumdar A burning is the debut novel by Megha Majumdar, who narrates the story of a Muslim girl living in a slum. The thriller revolves around three characters, their class, fate and obstacles to dreams. Jivan is alleged of being a part of the terrorist attack on a train — only because she carelessly commented on Facebook. “The best debut novel I have come across in a long time… In telling the story of a young Muslim girl whose life is undone by a single social media post, it creates a kaleidoscope of contemporary urban India, with its internet-driven hysteria, religious fanaticism, rampant corruption, poisoned air, random violence, enraged mobs and pervasive misogyny,” says Amitav Ghosh, who is also an Indian writer known for his English fictions. Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhatena Hunted by the Sky is an adventure novel inspired by medieval India and talks about identity, class inequality. Gul has a birthmark on her arm and girls with such birthmarks are known to be disappearing for years in the Kingdom of Ambar. The same birthmark leads to her parents’ murder. She hides to protect herself but is later rescued and all she wants is revenge. Circumstances bring Gul and Cavas together. A Murder on Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey A Murder on Malabar Hill is a story of on of the first female lawyers in India Perveen Mistry. She investigates the will of the owner of a textile mill, who is dead. Mistry finds out that all the widows of Omar Farid, the owner, have signed to give the entire inheritance as charity. As she unfolds the mystery of the case, a murder happens.

Here are 5 adventure and thriller novels by Indian authors that talk about identity, inequality and human relationships

Life in the lockdown has not been easy for most of us. Were isolated and theres no sign of things changing anytime soon. Well books can come to your rescue and what better way to spend the last two weeks in home-sheltering than by reading. Reading is not only a great form of escapism, but it also helps to stimulate creativity and enrich language skills, making it a great idea for all ages. Here is a list of must read books which can transport you to another time and place: 'The Hunger Games Series-The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' by <keyword id="821152" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suzanne-Collins">Suzanne Collins</keyword> (Scholastic) A new Hunger Games book is on its way, the first since 2010; it's not only for teens but also for all sci-fi lovers. A prequel to the "Hunger Games" series by Suzanne Collins, "A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" was first announced in June last year, and - as revealed in an extract published by Entertainment Weekly - 'will focus on Coriolanus Snow.' 'Hunted by the Sky' by Tanaz Bhatena (Penguin Random House India) From the author of '<keyword id="6113400" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="A-Girl-Like-That">A Girl Like That</keyword>', the YA fantasy explores identity, class inequality, alongside a high-stakes romance story, 'Hunted by the Sky' is set in the Kingdom of Ambar - a world inspired by medieval India-- a world of deadly, dark secrets and adventures. 'A Thousand Cranes for India: Reclaiming Plurality Amid Hatred' edited by Pallavi Aiyar (Seagull Books) This anthology - comprising 23 pieces of reportage, stories, poems, memoir and polemic - uses the mythology, history, and symbolism of Japanese Origami paper cranes as a pathway for some of India's best-known writers, poets and artists to pave a "shared, civic space for a conversation about the fault lines in India at a time of darkness". 'Shameless' by <keyword id="74533" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Taslima-Nasreen">Taslima Nasreen</keyword>, translated from Bengali by <keyword id="1479501" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arunava-Sinha">Arunava Sinha</keyword> (HarperCollins India) 'Shameless', the sequel to the controversial and best-selling 'Lajja', had never been published in Bengali, or any other language, until very recently, when a Hindi translation was printed. This "timely, topical and outspoken novel about communal tensions in India" is, according to its author, "not a political novel - and instead about what the politics of religion does to human beings and their relationships: a ruthless, uncompromising, heartbreaking tale of ordinary people's lives in our times". 'A Burning' by Megha Majumdar (Knopf; Penguin Random House India) "For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and <keyword id="89243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jhumpa-Lahiri">Jhumpa Lahiri</keyword>" (!), Majumdar's debut, a thriller-like epic, centres around three characters who find their lives criss-crossing in the aftermath of a catastrophe. 'Of A Burning', Amitav Ghosh has said: it's "the best debut novel I have come across in a long time In telling the story of a young Muslim girl whose life is undone by a single social media post, it creates a kaleidoscope of contemporary urban India, with its internet-driven hysteria, religious fanaticism, rampant corruption, poisoned air, random violence, enraged mobs and pervasive misogyny." SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/central-government-issues-workplace-guidelines-says-no-need-to-shut-entire-office-if-someone-test-coronavirus-positive/articleshow/75826178.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> Central government issues workplace guidelines — No need to shut entire office if someone test coronavirus positive</a>

From The Hunger Games to Taslima Nasreen—  binge-worthy books to sail through Lockdown 4.0

<ul><li>India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act is being challenged by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) less than a day after being passed by the Rajya Sabha. </li><li>IUML claims that the act is unconstitutional and violates the fundamental right to equality. </li><li>It has asked for stay order on the Act until the matter is resolved. </li></ul>India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) was passed in the Rajya Sabha just yesterday and it’s already being challenged by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). It has filed a petition with the Supreme Court accusing the new act of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/academicians-ex-babus-authors-scientists-seek-withdrawal-of-citizenship-bill/articleshow/72469434.cms">being in violation</a> of the Constitution’s fundamental right to equality. <div type="image" title="CAB3" msid="72487641" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Protests against CAB turn violent in Guwahati, Assam&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>
 Protests have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-citizenship-bill-assam-protests-rise-conrad-sangma-and-aribam-syam-sharma-join/articleshow/67830987.cms">ravaging India’s north-east</a> since the cabinet’s decision to introduce the bill in Lok Sabha. The violence only escalated after CAB <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/lok-sabha-works-through-the-night-to-pass-citizenship-bill/articleshow/72450180.cms">moved to the Rajya Sabha for approval</a>. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/society/news/north-east-student-body-in-warns-indian-government-against-amending-the-citizenship-act/articleshow/72276774.cms">Protestors</a> burnt tires on the roads and threw bricks at the police, forcibly shutting down shops and markets. When the Border Security Force (BSF) tried to stop them, they damaged the fire brigade vehicle. 

<div type="image" title="CAB4" msid="72487676" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Protesters burn tires along the roads&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 CAB is now ready to become law — an official act instead of a bill — after the Rajya Sabha passed the bill following a gruelling six-and-half-hour debate. Guwahati continues to be at the epicentre of anti-CAB protests — railways services have been halted, a curfew has been imposed and mobile serves in ten districts have been suspended. To control the deteriorating law and order situation in Assam and Tripura, eight columns of the Indian Army have been deployed along with 12 companies from the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF). Why is the Citizenship (Amendment) Act being challenged? CAB takes the original Citizenship Act of 1955 and adds a religious element to it, according to PRS, an independent research institute. It restricts the eligibility of citizenship for illegal immigrants to certain religions — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — leaving Muslims, Jews and atheists out of the fold. Some have even labelled it India’s new ‘<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50670393">anti-Muslim</a>’ law. <div type="image" title="CAB2_edited" msid="72487556" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Congressmen burn the effigy of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) during their protest march in Patna on Wednesday&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>
 IUML claims that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is in violation of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the constitution — the right to equality, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to life. Its writ petition to the Supreme Court is asking for a stay order on the amendment until the matter’s been fully explored. <div type="image" title="IUML leaders" msid="72487539" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;IUML leaders (left to right) P K Kunhalikutty, Khader Mohideen, Panakkad Hyder, and Ali Shihab Thangal &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 The US Commission of International Religous Freedom (USCIRF) also echoed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-citizenship-bill-is-a-dangerous-turn-in-the-wrong-direction-says-us-commission-for-religious-freedom/articleshow/72452797.cms">similar concerns </a>on Monday. “The CAB is a dangerous turn in the wrong direction; it runs counter to India’s rich history of secular pluralism and the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law regardless of faith,” it said. CAA is also in violation of the Assam Accord of 1985, which led to the deportation of illegal immigrants from the state regardless of of their religion. <div type="image" title="CAB5" msid="72487770" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People stage a demonstration against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Agartala, Tripura&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

 The bill justifies its stance stating that only religions who are a minority in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were included as eligible for citizenship. This is despite the fact, as many debaters have pointed out, that Muslims are a minority in both Sri Lanka and Nepal. “India is a democracy, though people have the right to voice their ideas and demands, such actions are not appreciated in society,” said Assam Chief Secretary <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-admits-protests-over-citizenship-bill-a-challenge-calls-for-calm-1987411">Alok Kumar</a>. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, will be arguing on IUML’s behalf in the Supreme Court. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-citizenship-bill-is-a-dangerous-turn-in-the-wrong-direction-says-us-commission-for-religious-freedom/articleshow/72452797.cms">India’s Citizenship Bill is a dangerous turn in the wrong direction, says US Commission for Religious Freedom</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/lok-sabha-works-through-the-night-to-pass-citizenship-bill/articleshow/72450180.cms">Lok Sabha works through the night to pass citizenship bill</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/academicians-ex-babus-authors-scientists-seek-withdrawal-of-citizenship-bill/articleshow/72469434.cms">Romila Thapar, Amitav Ghosh, Nandita Das join 600 writers and artists to seek withdrawal of Citizenship Bill</a>

India's Citizenship Act gets challenged at the Supreme Court barely a day after passing Parliament

NEW DELHI: Noted <keyword id="211145" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="writer-and-journalist">writer and journalist</keyword> <keyword id="166218" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Khushwant-Singh">Khushwant Singh</keyword> passed away on Thursday. He was 99. 
 
Singh was best known for his trenchant secularism, his humour, and an abiding love for poetry. 
 "He was fine and passed away peacefully at home on Thursday," his daughter <keyword id="299216" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mala-Singh">Mala Singh</keyword> said. His cremation will take place at Lodhi Crematorium at 4pm today. 
 
Read also: Khushwant Singh's column in TOI, dated October 23, 2011 - <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9527596.cms" target="_blank">An agnostic's view of life &amp; death</a> 
 
Born on February 2, 1915 at Hadali, now in Pakistan, Singh wrote classics like "Train to Pakistan", "I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale" and "Delhi". 
 
He was a lawyer-turned-diplomat-turned-writer. His autobiography, "Truth, Love and a Little Malice", was published by Penguin Books in 2002. 
 
He was editor of several literary and news magazines, including the Illustrated Weekly of India as well as two newspapers, the Hindustan Times and the National Herald, through the 1970s and 1980s. 
 
In 2007, he was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Oh no Khushwant Singh is no more. He made our lives so much richer by his literary contributions. “With Malice towards one and all” RIP — <keyword id="1671" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-Khan">SHAH RUKH KHAN</keyword> (@iamsrk) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamsrk/statuses/446554120938192896">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Khushwant Singh. End of an era. Only KS could say 'There's no condom for a pen." And prove it!
	— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeShobhaa/statuses/446551474776965120">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
Read also: Khushwant Singh's column in TOI, dated May 17, 2011 - <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7210234.cms" target="_blank">He lived by example</a> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Very sad to hear of the death of Khushwant Singh - great historian, novelist, editor, columnist, and a wonderfully kind, generous man. RIP.
	— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) <a href="https://twitter.com/GhoshAmitav/statuses/446557223825584128">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		If you haven't read Khushwant Singh's columns, novels or stories, you're missing out on a sizeable chunk of top notch Indian literature
	— ȿ ‏ (@Syddie) <a href="https://twitter.com/Syddie/statuses/446559305739685888">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		RIP Khushwant Singh - bet he will be telling jokes in heaven.
	— Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ndcnn/statuses/446559088324120576">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
Read also: Vinita Dawra Nangia's blog, dated November 3, 2013 - <a href="http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/O-zone/entry/be-true-to-your-self-is-khushwant-s-lesson" target="_blank">Be true to your self, is Khushwant's lesson</a> 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Rip Khushwant singh! End of an era! Find memories of train to Pakistan n t bond I shared with him! Wil miss u!
	— Divya Dutta (@divyadutta25) <a href="https://twitter.com/divyadutta25/statuses/446558373010354176">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Khushwant will be remembered for this great history of the Sikhs. He was a very generous man. His bravest act was to take on Bhindranwale...
	— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ram_Guha/statuses/446558103798951936">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
 
Singh, who was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986, was awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned the decoration in 1984 in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army. 
 
He is survived by son Rahul and daughter Mala. 
 
(With inputs from AP)

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