The Manusmriti is a much-misunderstood text today. Though historically, both Manusmriti and the originator of its teachings – Svayambhuva Manu, were both held in high esteem as the foremost authority on Dharma by not only the scholars of Dharmashastra tradition, but also by great philosophers and spiritual giants belonging to different Sampradayas....

In about a week, I will complete a year as a fulltime editor in book publishing. My earlier assignments in publishing were for freelance work, especially spiritual books, considering my nearly decade-long editorial job with The Speaking Tree . I've had a life-long tenure in journalism mostly with The Times of India as an editor, although I did mean...

When I began learning from my elders and community about our scriptures, deities, and gods, my understanding was limited to only appreciating the divinity of the characters. Every act of theirs felt like part of a play. There was a lack of sensitivity to their struggles, strength of their character in overcoming challenges, and their human-like cha...

As Nepal grapples with the deaths and destruction resulting from the March 28 protests, the country continues to debate its core demand: the restoration of the monarchy and Hindu state identity. Two people lost their lives, at least 100 were injured, and numerous vehicles and businesses were set on fire during the protests, prompting the government...

OSWALD PEREIRA examines an interesting phenomenon, 'export and import of our spiritual gurus' — a strange paradox of our sages being better known in the West than in India, and the people in the country honouring them by virtue of their foreign-returned 'glory'  In a discussion on my book, Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, with members of the Bo...

As the year draws to a close, the air fills with a familiar energy: hope, anticipation, and the universal tradition of making resolutions. People chart their goals, envision fresh starts, and cling to the optimism that a new year inevitably brings. Yet, amidst these rituals, one truth quietly stands: nothing is truly in our hands. The threads of ou...

By OSWALD PEREIRA   While we celebrate Diwali this year, let's make out a special prayer to all our Gods to include that very important ingredient—religious harmony—in our cocktail of celebrations, says OSWALD PEREIRA God created human beings, wanting them to be gentle, loving and caring. Our true eternal, combined Father and Mother—God—built ...

Towards the end of August, when the air was still rife with patriotic fervour, the editorial team at Vitasta began work on a series of books coincidentally all written by retired defence personnel — and so we had a pleasant month dealing with some absolute gentlemen authors on books that highlighted the importance of our three esteemed services, th...

This is a gripping story of two young women and an autistic girl child fighting back to uphold the dignity of an honest and dedicated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Scientist whose inspirational leadership enabled the country to acquire a 'Space Weapon', but found dead under mysterious circumstances during an official visit to Germany. I...

Last month, our Publishing Director, Renu Kaul Verma , who set up Vitasta exactly 20 years ago and who never misses coming to office, unexpectedly lost her young son, 18-year-old Advaitha in a heart-numbing tragedy. At the prayer meeting held in young Advaitha's memory, it became apparent to the packed auditorium at the India International Centre t...

​ During the last 15 years or so I have visited Darul Uloom, Deoband, numerous times. Based on my personal interaction with the faculty and students there and the leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i Hind in New Delhi, I have always wondered about the incorrect reporting on Darul Uloom or any incident involving a madrasah being referred as a Deobandi Madrasah...

A WhatsApp message arrived from an author earlier this week. Like an overexcited schoolgirl, I hit the forward button immediately, sending it to Renu Kaul Verma, Vitasta's director (no harm in the editorial team at Vitasta scoring brownie points, with Renu, I thought to myself). Here's what the author had sent in her whatsapp message: "After seeing...

This memoir by Dr Susie Baboo Samuel is a charming autobiographical narrative of the tapestry of her experiences with family, friends, patients and colleagues. Crafted with love, empathy and humour, the tale takes us from traditional Kerala and Tamil Nadu, to multicultural Singapore, across the mountainous terrain of Bhutan and Nepal, and back. As ...

It was a decision we soon came to regret. In order to teach our son a lesson in gratitude and to show him how privileged he was, we decided to send him to his college in Pune via rail. The plan seemed foolproof. We managed to secure a confirmed reservation in tatkal, which initially felt like a victory. Little did we know the ordeal that awaited us...

Book Title: - "Transforming India Gamechanger in Action"  Author : - Sudesh Verma Genre: Non-fiction, Politics  Rating: (5 star)  Review:  "Transforming India Gamechanger in Action" is an insightful exploration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership journey and the transformative changes he has initiated in India. Through ...

In late March 2024, virtually out of the blue, Renu Kaul Verma, the feisty lady who set up Vitasta Publishing offered me a job as executive editor. I had spent a lifetime in The Times of India, retiring as a deputy editor with The Speaking Tree, their spiritual newspaper. Then, for a while, I had edited spiritual books for Bloomsbury and Westland, ...

We often find ourselves donning blinkers when confronted with the enduring issue of societal and political polarisation—a phenomenon fraught with dangers, yet not entirely new or recent. Indian society has grappled with polarisation along communal lines since the advent of Muslim invasions. Despite this, a remarkable and beautiful paradox exists: a...

"Beyond the Hashtag: A Decade of Twitter Activism in India" by Vitasta Publishing is a timely exploration of the evolving communication landscape in the face of technological advancements. Vitasta is a publishing house that endeavours to publish books that challenge outdated thoughts and social practices. The publishing house is well known for an e...

Was Sita present when Rama bent the bow to win her hand in marriage? As per the Ramayana authored by both Valmiki and Kamban, the news of Rama breaking the bow was sent to Sita through her female companions. But the Tulsi Ramayana insists that Sita was present at the Swayamvaram hall when the auspicious and awe-inspiring event took place. According...

The return of Ramayana and Mahabharata in research and fictional retellings has occupied a significant place in the literary-academic domain in the last three decades. Unlike the early 20th century readings, which either endorsed traditional values or totally rejected them as oppressive, the 1990s and the years that followed offered novel readings,...

In Satyajit Ray: From Frame to Frame, Shoma Chatterji examines patterns emerging from Satyajit Ray's body of work and groups his films under broad categories like hunger, masculinity, femininity. Subha Das Mollick reviews the book.  Published by Vitasta in 2022, Shoma Chatterji's book Satyajit Ray: From Frame to Frame is an interesting additio...

Ancient India, until the beginning of the second millennium, was a highly educated society with rich ancient and medieval systems of production and knowledge dissemination, as well as economic prosperity and social and political maturity, maintaining "the long tradition of pride and service" (Young India, 20 March, 1924). However, developments duri...

Kathak Lok, written by Shovana Narayan and Geetika Kalha, is almost like a spiritual journey into the depths of an art form, which initially began as formless, as the concept of Brahma. From the foreword itself, the book reverberates with the sights and sounds of magical performances of the kathakars in all their purity. The rhythm or chhanda is fu...

  There are innumerable books that have been written on Satyajit Ray, India's best known film director in the realm of realism. Even though Ray covered a wide range of subjects such as feudalism, feminism, masculinity, oppression, poverty, love – you name it – the sensitive portrayal in each and every one of his films have left audiences world...

 Ramayana: A Comparative Study of Ramakathas is an award-winning opus by A.A. Manavalan. The book is a meticulous exploration of the diverse versions of Ramayana found within and outside the Indian subcontinent. Beginning with a preface written by C.T. Indra, who wrote its English translation, followed by a foreword by the critic Indira Partha...