Mannu Bhandari's genius lies not in elevating women to heroines or superior beings; rather, she forces us to acknowledge that flawed, confused, and self-centered women are as worthy of agency and respect. She wrote among literary giants who were mostly men, but carved a singular space for herself with her unflinching gaze at the hypocrisy of a society that claims to venerate women yet balks at giving them the keys to their shackles. These 18 stories are representative of her wonderful insights into the inner life of women – her characters span the spectrum from rural to urban, illiterate to educated, homemakers to career professionals. Through all the stories runs a vein of gentle mockery – the inimitable Mannu Bhandari style.

A bold expose of the contemporary Indian political scene that has cast aside morality and ethics and unfailingly betrays public trust for vested interests and private ends. The novel opens with the death of Bisesar an unknown village youth in itself an insignificant event. But with an important by-election around the corner, the feasting begins as opposing political parties like vultures seize upon the unfortunate event to extract political capital out of it, thereby providing sharp insights into the exercise of power and patronage.

Twelve-year-old Sarojini’s best friend, Amir, might not be her best friend any more. Ever since Amir moved out of the basti and started going to a posh private school, it seems like he and Sarojini have nothing in common. Then Sarojini finds out about the Right to Education, a law that might help her get a free seat at Amir’s school – or, better yet, convince him to come back to a new and improved version of the government school they went to together. As she struggles to keep her best friend, Sarojini gets help from some unexpected characters, including Deepti, a feisty classmate who lives at a construction site; Vimala Madam, a human rights lawyer who might also be an evil genius; and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a long-dead freedom fighter who becomes Sarojini’s secret pen pal. Told through letters to Mrs. Naidu, this is the story of how Sarojini learns to fight – for her friendship, her family, and her future. Published by Zubaan.

At the age of fourteen, Lakshmi leaves behind her childhood among the mango trees of Ceylon for married life across the ocean in Malaysia, and soon finds herself struggling to raise a family in a country that is, by turns, unyielding and amazing, brutal and beautiful. Giving birth to a child every year until she is nineteen, Lakshmi becomes a formidable matriarch, determined to secure a better life for her daughters and sons. From the Japanese occupation during World War II to the torture of watching some of her children succumb to life’s most terrible temptations, she rises to face every new challenge with almost mythic strength. Dreamy and lyrical, told in the alternating voices of the men and women of this amazing family, The Rice Mother gorgeously evokes a world where small pleasures offset unimaginable horrors, where ghosts and gods walk hand in hand. It marks the triumphant debut of a writer whose wisdom and soaring prose will touch readers, especially women, the world over.

Children's stories.

Contents 1. Global and National Perspectives of Professional Preparation Physical Culture and Sport Masters Students in Pandemic Abdybekova Nurmira, Dzhalilova Baktykan, Ernazarova Ulpat & Mambetalieva Nurisa 2. Innovative Teaching-Learning Practices: A Paradigm Shift Sishanki Kashyap 3. Distant Educational Technologies in Foreign Language Teaching in Medical University Bayzhigitova A.A., Zamaletdinova G.S. & Dr. Karaeva Z. 4. Economic Evaluations of Health and Health Policy Biimyrsaeva Erkegul Mundusbekovna & Biimyrsaeva Aidana Kamchybekovna 5. Depicting Position of Women through Selected Poetry of A.K. Ramanujan Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar & Ms. Harsheetaa Bhardwaj 6. Exploring the Dynamics of Dysfunctional Families in Mannu Bhandari’s the Tale of a Weak Girl Srishti Jalal & Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar 7. Flipped Learning to Increase Students’ Motivation Zhyldyz Takenova 8. Evolution of Pedagogic Practices Dr. Brinda Chowdhari 9. Islamic Feminism in Nawal El Saadawi’s ‘Woman at Point Zero’ and Khaled Hosseini’s ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ Dr. Rafraf Shakil Ansari 10. Value Orientations, the Impact of Satisfaction on a Person‘s Physical Health Kasymova Nazira Omurkulovna 11. Loneliness or Dysfunction: Mannu Bhandari’s The Lonely One Srishti Jalal & Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar 12. Features of the Development of Intercultural Communication of Future Specialists Abdraeva Aigul Tolokovna, Sadykbek Kyzy Zhainagul & Sartbekova Nurzhan Koodoevna 13. The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Education in Kyrgyzstan: A Sociological Analysis Shaiyldaeva Asel, Mysakulova Guilnaz & Adina Azhigulova 14. Socialization and Optimization in Teaching of Foreign Students in a Medical University in Fundamental Disciplines Torokulova Sofiia, Chorov Mamatkan Jetimishevich & Saryeva Nurisa 15. Peculiarities of Adaptation and Teaching Fundamental Disciplines to Foreign Students in a Medical University Nurisa Saryeva, Sofiia Torokulova & Aizada Makeshova 16. Interconnectedness of Man and Nature in the Novel “The Living Mountain” by Amitav Ghosh Anna Lalzidingi & Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar 17. Portrayal of Women in Bankim Chandra’s Novel ‘Rajmohan’s Wife’ Clara C Lalrinhlui & Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar 18. Significance of Language in Ethnic Identification in West Africa Moustapha Aboubacar Diori & Dr. Brinda Chowdhari 19. The Status of English Language and its Influence in India Sagolsem Bonie Devi & Dr. Brinda Chowdhari 20. Teaching Drama: Innovative and Engaging Pedagogical Approaches Dr. Gurpyari Bhatnagar 21. A Representation of Bacha Baziin Afghan war Zones in Nadeem Aslam’s Blind Man’s Garden Shivangi Mavi & Dr. Pallavi Thakur

Provides a comprehensive assessment of the scientific evidence on prevalence and the resulting health effects of a range of exposures that are know to be hazardous to human health, including childhood and maternal undernutrition, nutritional and physiological risk factors for adult health, addictive substances, sexual and reproductive health risks, and risks in the physical environments of households and communities, as well as among workers. This book is the culmination of over four years of scientific equiry and data collection, know as the comparative risk assessment (CRA) project.