Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan was the wife of Pakistan's first prime minister. She was born Irene Margaret Pant in Kumaon in the early twentieth century. A generation earlier, her family had converted to Christianity, and Irene grew up in the shadow of the Brahmin community's still active outrage. Always intelligent, outgoing and independent, she was teaching economics in a Delhi college when she met the dashing Nawazada Liaquat Ali Khan, a rising politician in the Muslim League and an ardent champion for the cause of Pakistan.She was immediately inspired by both the man and the idea; they married in 1933 and Irene Pant became Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan. In August 1947 they left for Pakistan-led by Liaquat's mentor and friend, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Ra'ana threw herself into the work of nation building, but in 1952 Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated-the reasons for his murder are still shrouded in mystery. Ra'ana continued to be active in public life-and her contribution to women's...

Wily old women, a clever nanny goat, a helpful snake, a boy who becomes invisible, a sorcerer king ... Peopled with extraordinary beings - both real and magical, human and divine, animal and demon - this is a charming collection of folktales that has humour, fantasy and adventure in equal measure. Retold in a lively, contemporary style, there's humour, adventure and amazing flights of fantasy in these stories. The quirky illustration add to the charm of this collection.

'I, Chanakya, vow not to bind my hair until I have unseated you from the throne of Magadha.'When learned Brahmin Vishnugupta is humiliated by arrogant king Dhana Nanda in a public gathering, he swears revenge. Anger is his weakness, but strategy, his strength. This formerly unknown Brahmin goes on to become the most well-known kingmaker in Indian history: Chanakya. Using a combination of cunning, ruthlessness and luck, Chanakya fulfils his vow and propels a boy of unknown origins, Chandragupta Maurya, to the throne of the most powerful kingdom of that time, an empire even Alexander the Great hesitated to confront.This fascinating account shows how Chanakya went from being a penniless fugitive with the rebel prince of Pataliputra to the prime minister of Magadha, and finally the author of the groundbreaking Arthashastra. With fun snippets and lesser-known facts about this remarkable statesman and the Mauryan age, this book promises to be an exciting and gripping adventure story.