Smarp Books
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Welcome to Books & Apps
by
Andy Shivaram
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Books
By
Laxmi Parasuram
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Books
Novel
Description:
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Nalini has just returned with an American degree to teach in an Indian university located in an ancient town. However, her idealistic hopes of ushering in social and attitudinal changes flounder against a system that is dominated by politics of power and self-interest. Set against the deeper rhythms of rural India the book traces how the system stifles attempts at making changes and lapses into a world of fear and criminality. For Nalini the only course that remains is cultivating a sense of stoic acceptance.
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Commentary on the state of education at lesser rural universities in India and how politics poisons the education the students should be getting.
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Novel
Description:
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12-year-old Maya's dreams of an education seem shattered when she's informed of her impending arranged marriage. But her determination to follow her desires sees her defy her father and start a journey which takes her via a Catholic boarding school to the America of the 1960s. Laxmi Parasuram draws on her own experiences to recreate the worlds of pre-Partition Kerala and radical 60s USA campus life.
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A tirade against the traditional management of young girls giving them marriage and sexual submission as their only option. The needs of men pitted against a girl’s helplessness to have a decent life in matrimony. Protest, rebellion and a quest for freedom has to find refuge only in prayer. But do Gods listen and oblige?
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Novel
Description:
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Written in an autobiographical mode, this is the story of an Indian village girl who struggled against her traditional family to get an education and be independent. Taken out of school and punished for refusing to get married at 12 years she enlisted the help of a convent to continue her education and eventually gets married. Disappointed In her confined marital home, she is again seized by an uncontrollable urge to seek a larger life and she leaves home on a scholarship grant to become a student in an American university. Again disappointed, she returns back to India where she establishes a life and discovers herself through various activities.
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Long years of submission and inner search leading to enlightenment and possible happiness by understanding the plight of women who have to help themselves. Years of life within the community bring lessons of wisdom. Does the community alleviate individual suffering?
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Essay
Description:
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Writing this book has been hovering in my mind for years from 1965 onwards when I first landed in America. My arrival and stay in that country as a student for nearly five years was an overwhelming experience which shook up all my perceptions and world views that I came with. Since then, I have visited over 20 times and stayed in many American homes. I hope this brief account will serve at least as an impression of America, its past, present and conceivable future.
America , the land of freedom, the promise of dreams , inspiration for millions of immigrant seekers lights the lamp of all hopes for the future. But where will it lead those millions who seem to have fallen out with the original American dream?
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Essay
Description:
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The notion of Americanization first caught my attention during my days as a student in America, back in the 1960s. As a fresh-faced immigrant hailing from a less-developed land, I made it my mission to emulate the ways of my American comrades, observing them with a keen eye and striving to adopt their habits in fashion, cuisine, speech, language, and swift, decisive actions. I also endeavoured to curb my overly emotional and informal tendencies, seeking to adopt a more rational and detached approach to people and situations.
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However, upon my return to India after five years, I found myself confronted with the need to revert to my old ways in the company of relatives and friends who had clung to their native customs. Yet my process of Americanization did not end there. America itself, along with its capitalism, free trade, money, individualism, and liberty, began to infiltrate India through a variety of channels, both political and social. Our government, captains of industry, political parties, and intellectuals all began to actively engage with America, and the result was a dramatic transformation of the work environment, mindset, and aspirations of the common people.
As an observer and professor of American Studies at a university, I found myself delving into my own experiences as a student in America, speculating on the future mindset of our people under the influence of these American ideals. Now, in the year 2023, at the outset of my 89th year, I have been able to give form to my ruminations and produce a book for the kind consideration of readers.
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Essay
Description:
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Marriage is a multifaceted institution. Individuals are drawn to enter into it due to reasons such as love, security, and family obligations. The marital partners might possess distinct goals and personalities. Consequently, marriage becomes a trial of resilience in the long run, with those who are willing to compromise and understand emerging as the successful ones.
Conventional perspectives on marriage can constrain women and influence the course of the marital relationship. In certain marriages, factors like greed or the pursuit of security can outweigh the importance of love and partnership. Marriages involving same-sex couples, individuals from different racial backgrounds, and varying age groups exhibit their own unique attributes.
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This book provides several examples, which are not exhaustive but are intended to offer insights into the diverse spectrum of marriages taking place in contemporary India..
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Essay
Description:
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Our nation today has placed all its hopes on growth and change from the past. Young people are encouraged to go for innovations and startups to achieve success and become pioneers of leadership in making this change.
Our old comfort zones of employment and old feelings of loyalty to the past have come under question. As we are going through these attempts to make a kind of social revolution, this book tries to make us wonder and analyse the trends of growth and its aftermath on those many hopefuls.
The question that comes up repeatedly is whether getting out of old fixed zones will bring the desired comfort in the present ways of growth.
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Essay
Description:
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This book challenges the common notion that old age is merely a decline or the “last stage” of life. Instead, it proposes a radical shift in perspective, suggesting that senior age can be a time of strength, success and happiness. Drawing on insights from Psychology, medicine and modern living, the book explores how seniors can reimagine their lives and overcome the challenges associated with ageing.
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Through personal anecdotes and expert opinions, the book addresses the longing many seniors have to recapture the carefree energy of their youth. It confronts the societal attitudes and limitations imposed on seniors, advocating for innovative solutions and modern strategies to enhance the quality of life for older individuals.
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By offering insights from experts like psychologist Dr Gary Small, the book suggests that successful ageing is not automatic but achievable with purpose, planning and a proactive approach to life’s later stages.
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Novel
Description
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This compelling book is divided into four distinct parts, each comprising multiple chapters that weave a powerful narrative. Part One has seven chapters, Part Two has four, Part Three has four, and Part Four also has four chapters. The story follows a young boy who leaves home in protest against his family's insistence on getting him married. Seeking a new life, he lands in America, where he faces various challenges and experiences that shape his journey.
In America, the protagonist struggles to find peace, turning to meditation as a means to cope with his inner turmoil. He works hard to support himself, but memories of his mother and past experiences constantly haunt him. The story delves deep into his emotional battles and his efforts to reconcile with his past while trying to establish a new life in a foreign land.
After ten years, he receives an urgent message about his mother being on her deathbed. Rushing back home, he is confronted with the stark reality of change. His father has been murdered, and his mother, now unable to recognize him, passes away shortly after his return. Through these heart-wrenching events, the protagonist learns a profound lesson about the power of memories and attachments, realizing that his struggle for detachment and isolation is overwhelmed by the deep-rooted connections to his past.
This book is a poignant exploration of the human condition, illustrating the complexities of familial relationships, the search for peace, and the inevitable pull of memories and attachments. It offers a thought-provoking look at how our past shapes our present and the enduring impact of love and loss.
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Essay
Description
“Brainstorming Happiness: Journey from Struggle to Choice” is a practical guide to transforming life’s challenges into opportunities for personal growth and fulfilment. Through mindfulness, resilience-building and inner-strength, this book helps you shift your mindset and make confident choices that lead to happiness.
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With engaging exercises and real-life examples, it provides tools to overcome adversity, break free from stress and strengthen your mental and emotional health, empowering you to design the life you desire.
Ready to choose happiness and thrive? Your journey starts here
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Meet the Author
Dr Laxmi Parasuram retired as a Professor in the University of Burdwan in West Bengal. She received her Masters and PhD from the University of Kentucky.
Dr Parasuram came from Kerala and now lives in Kolkata with her husband. She has two children living in the UK and USA. She has been a recipient of two Fulbright awards and is the author of several novels, ‘Entrapped in Academia’, ‘Pursuit of Freedom’, 'Memoirs of Rebellion', 'American Impressions', 'Star-Spangled Globe', ' We are Married! What next?', 'Thinking out of Comfort Zones', 'Thinking out of Growing Older', and 'Shivananda Returns Home to Complete his Learning'. She has many years of teaching experience and has travelled widely to give lectures and participated in conferences worldwide. She is an active member of Soroptimist International, a global association of working women