The Black Economy in India
by Arun Kumar
Kuvera Chalise
Coordinator, Business Bureau, Nagarik and Republica
Love or hate India, we can’t deny that for most of our issues here it is our reference point and there’s a lot we can learn from its political structure, economy and the likes. I’m reading this book mostly because it’s related to my line of work, and given the crisis we are currently facing I wanted to be able to better understand how the black market operates. How the black economy operates in India is similar to how it operates in our country. The structure and method are eerily similar and for that reason, there’s a lot you can understand from this book. Arun Kumar critically examines the standard explanations for the causes and consequences of black income generation and the methods to curb it. He analyses the effects of black income on the macro-economy and the resultant inefficiency in the economy and society as a whole, and the price we pay at the social level is a loss of faith in society and its functioning. It also highlights the role of criminalization and the emerging nexus of the businessman, politician and bureaucrat in perpetuating the black economy. This book is an eye opener of sorts. It’s brilliantly argued and the author has put in a lot of effort to analyze the black economy.
Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights
by Salman Rushdie
Poonam Maharjan
Bureau Head, GenNext
Helping children enjoy reading
I got this book as a gift and this is the first time I’m reading anything by Rushdie. I had, long time back, read Midnights Children but I had left it halfway through because I found the story to be a little complicated. I probably wouldn’t have picked up a book by Rushdie had it not been gifted to me. But now that I’m reading Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights, I’m enjoying both the story and his writing style. The story pits reason against religion and there’s the oldest war of all times: The good versus evil. Here, Jinns venture into the human world where the good Jinns fight the bad. Rushdie discusses the matter of good versus evil, by way of the dark Jinn being able to influence man by whispering into their hearts. Whereas the good Jinn can also bend humans to their will, the power of the dark is more potent. I love the language. The narration is descriptive and manages to evoke all the right sounds, sights, and smells. The first 50-60 pages were a bit confusing but the story is enjoyable. To understand Rushdie, you have to be a committed reader. You can’t read him in spurts. His books need your full attention. But it’s worth the effort.
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
Sadikshy Piya
Intern, Social Bureau
I haven’t read many of Coelho’s works. Actually I have just read Eleven Minutes and I recently started reading The Alchemist. I had heard great things about this book and had read quite a few reviews and discussions about the theme it talks about. So I bought the book and got right into it. I know the book has established itself as a classic and is universally admired and I can see why. It’s very inspirational and the magical tale of Santiago teaches us about listening to our hearts, learning to recognize the signs, and following our dreams. It’s a simple book that’s profoundly moving. If you are the introspective kind who likes to ponder over the meaning of life, then this book is for you. It’s a quick and enjoyable read that will provide you with some new insights and lessons as well as remind you of old ones that you’ve forgotten over the years. The theme of following your dreams and finding your calling is an old one that’s been recycled for ages but The Alchemist drives home the point with its simple narration and believable character and the messages are worthwhile and deserving of consideration. I would recommend this book to anyone who hasn’t read it yet. It will, like it claims, change your life.
Fatalism and Development
by Dor Bahadur Bista
Bipulendra Adhikari
Senior Correspondent, Online Bureau
Fatalism and Development: Nepal’s Struggle for Modernization is the most notable book about the local socio-cultural issues of Nepalis people. Written by the renowned and most controversial anthropologist of Nepal, Dor Bahadur Bista, who disappeared soon after the publication of this book, Fatalism and Development highlights the social, cultural, economical aspects of Nepalis society. Bista leafs through Nepali history to find the influences, patterns, and ideologies that make it difficult for Nepal to meet the many challenges of adapting to a fast changing world. The author goes a step further and says that despite numerous attempts by Indian immigrants, Nepal never fully adopted the caste system. Instead, it created a permeable set of classes with its own set of disadvantages. The main one being that once a Nepali makes it into political or economic power, he/she is taught to disdain work. So the resulting society has a group of wealthy leaders who, through a set of cultural loopholes and customs, don't do much work. I’m reading this book because it seemed like the perfect read for these uncertain times and I’m definitely seeing Nepal through new eyes. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand our socio-economic structure and the caste system that most Nepalis still seem to favor.
