For all those of us eagerly looking forward to making the most of summer by indulging in reading some new offerings, April is -- for all intents and purposes -- the month of joy. With an ever expanding list of books releasing during the month, bookworms may be faced with a platter that is as diverse as it can get.


Five books to look forward to in April 2017


IANS Automatic

The vicious attacks on Africans in Greater Noida are a reminder of the palpable hatred, which many of us still harbour for the 'blacks' and which the lynching mob betrayed at the first opportunity.


Shocked Africans try to grapple with racist attacks


At a star-studded evening here, meant to celebrate and reward extraordinary work by emerging artists, Odisha-based Sitaram Swain was awarded the sixth Glenfiddichs Emerging Artist of the Year 2017.


Odisha's Sitaram Swain bags Rs 10 lakh cash prize, Scottish residency


In what may turn out to be a good news for the capital's dwellers, Minister of Culture and Tourism Kapil Mishra has said he believes in improving the city's nightlife and that attempts are underway in this direction.


Working to improve nightlife in Delhi: Minister


A magnificently elegant interior dotted with all things artistic -- surreal paintings, graffiti and moving quotations etched on its walls -- houses, to the wonder of many, young and enthusiastic children happily learning tidbits of art. And from whom? No, not amateur teachers but top professional artists.


Where art is a learning, therapy and creative hub


He is the author of the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history -- "The Shiva Trilogy" -- and his last book, "Scion of Ikshvaku", was the biggest literary blockbuster of 2015, all of which have together sold over 3.5 million copies.


Not just 'Adarsh Bhartiya Nari', Sita was a warrior: Amish Tripathi


The passing away of Nobel prize winning poet Derek Walcott, the best known writer from the Caribbean internationally, is a great loss to literature and more so to hundreds of thousands of readers from across the globe who were transported to the region as they devoured his works.


A mighty poet and playwright, Derek Walcott's death is a striking reality (Tribute)


In a small town called Pathsala, about 60 km from this principal town of Assam, a mission has been underway for more than half a century. The task at hand is not easy -- revival of the Nati dance of India's outlawed Devadasi tradition.


Assam's Devadasi dance experiences a slow revival


Nestled in Uttar Pradeshs glass-factory district of Firozabad is Kheriya, a small village which for over 50 years now has been enacting the hugely popular Ramlila with pomp and fervour. What makes it distinct is that Muslims form the majority of its cast, presenting an enduring and spectacular tapestry of communal harmony.


This Ramlila presents an enduring tapestry of communal harmony


For those interested in literature, it is a trip down memory lane -- Shakespeare, Shelly, Keats and Dickens -- at this pristine book agency on the famed Daryaganj road in the national capital, which gets transformed into a book lane on Sunday mornings.


This 'secret' bookstore in Daryaganj is a bibliophile's paradise


Why does one go to a beach? To relax or to check out water sports, perhaps. But this beach in Dubai has transformed into a dining and entertainment hot-spot with a line-up that includes celebrity chefs, home-grown restaurant concepts and fantastic family-friendly activities.


A host of cuisines on offer at Etisalat Beach Canteen (Foodie Trail-Dubai)


Patna, March 8 IANS) Tetri Devi and her co-villager Sugia Devi in a flood-prone village in impoverished Koshi region of Bihar have been working and earning as farm labourer to fulfil the needs of their family, like millions of other women across the state. But, they are yet to feel empowered.


Empowerment eludes Bihar women despite economic contribution to households (March 8 is International Women's Day)


A British mother, in pursuit of justice in India for her slain teenaged daughter for the last nine years, has now resorted to crowd-funding to track down key witnesses and offer a reward for information that could help nail the attackers.


Through crowd-funding, British mother offers reward for leads to daughter's killers


Spring, Kashmir's season of a million flowers, butterflies, singing birds, honeybees and murmuring mountain streams charged by winter's plentiful snowfall, is already here.


Will spring, season of flowers, bring new hope in Kashmir?


After arriving in India in January last year, Chinese internet and technology conglomerate LeEco fast became the "true disrupter" in the evolving Indian smartphone market with its huge marketing spend -- and the announcement of a state-of-the-art assembling/manufacturing unit.


This is how the great LeEco India story went bust (Tech Trends)


He is a well known naturalist and conservationist, has served two terms as a trustee of WWF India and has been an honorary wildlife warden in Chennai. And as a lifelong dog lover, he says that the plight of dogs in India has never been as bad as it is today.


'Plight of dogs in India never so bad as it is now'


The inception of their 50-year-journey was without fanfare and in the face of quite some opposition, but the commitment and passion of iconic dance couple Raja and Radha Reddy brought Kuchipudi on to the cultural map of the world.


Born to dance: Raja-Radha Reddy's Kuchipudi taverses 50 years (Arts Feature)


Strolling up and down the streets is a routine affair for all of us but a humble Mumbai-based artist is out to capture hope and positivity that we fail to take note of in our humdrum lives.


Joy in little things: This exhibition captures hope in mundane everyday life of an Indian metropolis


An evening full of fun, frolic and anticipation of what lay ahead was seen here as five luxury aficionados collaborated together to play host to Capital's discerning elite at a multi-sensorial experience -- from exhilarating smells to a decked up bar -- that enthralled all attendees.


Luxury aficionados turn into Alchemists, create a multi-sensorial experience


Title: Heroines -- Powerful Indian Women of Myth and History; Author: Ira Mukhoty; Publisher: Aleph; Price: Rs 499; Pages: 211


Holier than thou? These Indian women shattered prevailing notions long before Western women's emancipation (Book Review)


Some of the rarest beauties of yesteryears are all set to roll out on the roads during the 51st edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally, which will be flagged off by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, on February 26.

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