Arshia Sattar

Wendy Doniger’s book on the Kamasutra reminds us of the dignities once afforded to women in our culture

This tale of Karan Vaghela’s reign brings alive the prejudices of 13th century Gujarat

A genre-defying Kannada masterpiece ventures joyously between folklore, poetry and theatre

An Indologist from Italy reflects on the rapture that religion offers as an experience

This biography of trail-blazing Princess Sophia Duleep Singh offers a parallel narrative of 20th century feminism

Yet another Delhi book revives the glorious near past—but fails to soar

A courtesan-turned-spy frolics in Pataliputra, revealing Mauryan mischief

A corrupt underling is as crooked as the system he works in, but Bagchi’s quiet, masterly prose leaves you with sympathy for his morally bankrupt protagonist

Kunal Basu’s talent as a novelist lies well hidden in the complex maze he wanders through in this new book

Byatt’s retelling of Ragnarok, with its references to environmental destruction and cyclical violence, reminds us that a great myth is always relevant