THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai
invites you to a discussion on the book: “Tilak: The Empire’s Biggest Enemy”
between the author Vaibhav Purandare and journalist Madhavankutty Pillai
at 5 p.m. on Thursday 5th September 2024 in the Durbar Hall
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is pleased to invite you to a discussion between the author Vaibhav Purandare and Madhavankutty Pillai, Deputy Editor, Open Magazine, on his book “Tilak: The Empire’s Biggest Enemy” published in July 2024. The discussion will be held on Thursday 5th September 2024 at 5 p.m. in the Durbar Hall of the Society.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak – the political revolutionary who ignited the spark of Indian nationalism was considered the biggest threat to British hegemony. He was termed ‘the father of Indian unrest’ by The Times, London, and the one-time Secretary of State for India Edward Montagu felt he had ‘the greatest influence of any person’ on the Indian people. Above all, for the British Raj, Tilak was sedition-monger in chief, it prosecuted him thrice and convicted him for his fiery writings in the nationalist daily “Kesari”.
Tilak: The Empire’s Biggest Enemy is an acclaimed biography of the man who raised the slogan ‘freedom is my birthright and I shall have it.’ Hailed as ‘Lokmanya’ or ‘One Revered by the People,’ Tilak transformed India's fight for freedom from polite discourse to a mass uprising. At a time when the British were undermining Indian self-esteem and dismissing Indians as ‘uncivilized heathens,’ Tilak argued powerfully that there was much of enormous value in India’s past, its culture, heritage and civilization, awakening Indians to a sense of their own identity.
Vaibhav Purandare’s biography traces Tilak's journey from his early days in Konkan to his influential role across India, highlighting his battles against the British, imprisonments, and his commitment to Swaraj.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak's story is not just a tale of resistance but a testament to perseverance and conviction.
Vaibhav Purandare is the author of the acclaimed “Shivaji: India’s Great Warrior King,” “Savarkar: The True Story of the Father of Hindutva,” “Hitler and India: The Untold Story of His Hatred for the Country and Its People,” “Sachin Tendulkar: A Definitive Biography,” and “Bal Thackeray & the Rise of the Shiv Sena." He works as a senior journalist and editor.
Please join us for tea at 4.30 pm.
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Meenal Kshirsagar, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson - ASM LitClub
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
The Mumbai Research Centre
Jashn-e-Talat
Jashn-e-Talat:
A celebration of the legendary playback singer Padmabhushan Talat Mahmood awaits! Known for his velvety and silky voice, Talat Mahmood significantly influenced modern ghazal singing in India. The Mumbai Research Centre of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai invites you to an audio-visual presentation by Dr. Prakash Joshi, a columnist and music connoisseur. He will lead this tribute in honor of Talat Mahmood’s birth centenary.
Saturday, 24th August 2024
4:30 pm (Tea at 4 pm)
Durbar Hall, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
Note:
For event updates and cancellations due to rain patrons are advised to
1. Visit our website www.asiaticsociety.org.in
2. Contact Mr. Ronald Deniz at 9833969496 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
3. Check our Instagram handle @asiaticsocietymumbai
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary, Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla , Vice President of the Society & Chairperson – MRC
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai
invites you to a Book Discussion Programme on the book
"Camouflaged: Forgotten Stories from Battlefields" by Probal DasGupta
at 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 1st August 2024 in the Durbar Hall
The Literary Club of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai takes pleasure in inviting you to a book discussion programme on "Camouflaged: Forgotten Stories from Battlefields" by Probal DasGupta on Thursday 1st August 2024, at 5.00 p.m. in the Durbar Hall of the Society.
“Camouflaged” comprises 10
The stories are based on some incredible experiences of Indian soldiers in various wars and battles over a hundred years. They reveal the unpredictable elements of human drama, loss, imprisonment, comebacks, joys, incredulity and other emotions that surround conflicts and battlefields.
The book begins with the story of a young Indian student in England, who plays cricket with the writer Arthur Conan Doyle and goes on to become India’s first ever fighter pilot. He is injured but escapes the war that would revisit him sixty years later. In another story, an Indian prisoner escapes a torpedoed ship in the Second World War. Will he survive the raging ocean?
Surprising, revealing and intriguing - these are real stories of our nation. Tales that were forgotten and camouflaged.
The program will begin with an introduction to the book by Commodore Srikant Kesnur, historian. It will be followed by a discussion on the book involving the author Probal DasGupta and former journalist, TV anchor and music artist Eishita Chaturvedi. Finally, the author will narrate a few stories. This will be followed by a Q&A Session.
Probal DasGupta is the author of the books ‘Camouflaged’ and ‘Watershed 1967 - the latter is an authoritative book on India’s victory over China. He served with the Indian Army for a decade, with tenures on the India-Pakistan line of control, Kashmir, Bhutan and Northeast India. He has a master’s degree from Columbia University in New York (USA) and was a Braun-Myers Fellow, Tata Scholar and RD Sethna Scholar.
In his corporate career, Probal headed global consulting firms, and now runs a boutique consulting firm - Birdstone Advisors. He writes a column for FirstPost and also articles for Deccan Chronicle and Times of India.
We look forward to your participation in this discussion.
Tea will be served at 4.30 p.m.
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary, Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Meenal Kshirsagar, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson - ASM LitClub