Four delightful tales from Arunachal Pradesh on how the world came to be ñ two brothers create the world; a river wanders over the mountain; the dove sings a lullaby; a wayward sun tries to scorch the earth.

“परमानन्द की यह अनुभूति कहाँ से जनमती है? यह उत्पन्न होती है प्रेम से, ज़मीन से जुड़ा प्रेम, उस प्रकाश से जुड़ा प्रेम जो पहाड़ियों के नक़ूश पैने करता है, उन्हें देवताओं के लिए सँवारता है। यह अनुभूति उत्पन्न होती है उस परितृप्त जीवन से जो नदियों और पेड़ों के परिपार्श्व में पनपता है, यह लड़ने, हारने और हार कर एक बार फिर से जूझने के लिए उठ खड़े होने से उत्पन्न होती है, और यह एक दिन, हम पर हमेशा के लिए यह ज़ाहिर होने से उत्पन्न होती है कि ज़िन्दगी और ज़मीन एक-दूसरे से कैसे नाभि-नालबद्ध हैं।” इतिहास, मिथक और समकालीन राजनीति को समेटते हुए ‘ज़मीन’ एक निहायत सुन्दर, किन्तु अशान्त प्रदेश और इसके रहवासियों की गाथा है। इसकी मार्फ़त कवि-उपन्यासकार ममंग दई हमें एक अविस्मरणीय यात्रा पर ले चलती हैं—काल के बन्धनों से परे कोजुम-कोजा की पवित्र भूमि से आधुनिक राज्य के रूप में अरुणाचल प्रदेश के गठन तक की यात्रा। मेइंग, जो अपने राज्य से दूर रहती है, अपने लोगों के इतिहास को दर्ज करने के लिए लौटती है—उन लोगों का इतिहास जिन्हें वह जानती है और जिन्होंने उसकी ‘ज़मीन’ को वास्तविक आकार दिया है। उनसे बातें करने, पुराने दस्तावेज़ों को उलटने-पुलटने के क्रम में असंख्य कथाएँ-उपकथाएँ सामने आती हैं, मानो तारों से खचित किसी झील का प्राचीन पानी उफनकर बाहर आने लगा हो। एक-एक कर सारे पात्र अपनी सम्पूर्णता व एक-अपर से सम्बद्धता के साथ सामने आने लगते हैं—वह संघर्ष और जिज्ञासा जो ‘नेफा’ (नॉर्थ-ईस्ट फ्रंटियर एजेंसी) की स्थापना की नींव में थी, लिपुन जैसे साहसी पुरुष और महिलाएँ जिन्होंने ऊँचे और अलंघ्य पर्वत दर्रों और घने जंगलों को पार कर दूरस्थ जनजातियों के बीच पुलों का निर्माण किया, ‘बारिशवाला’ जो प्रकृति के अबूझ इशारों को पढ़-समझ सकने में सक्षम है क्योंकि वह उससे गहरे जुड़ा हुआ है, उम्सी जो अपने आत्म की खोज में दूर-दुर्गम की यात्रा पर निकल जाती है, और लुतोर, जो अपनी जनता की नब्ज़ को परखने का हुनर रखता है, भले ही सार्वजनिक जीवन से उसका मोहभंग हो चुका है। इन सबके अलावा वहाँ भूमि और वन माफिया भी हैं, हिंसक उपद्रवियों से साँठ-गाँठ रखने वाले भ्रष्ट राजनेता हैं, ऐसे दोस्त हैं जो अपनी महत्वाकांक्षाओं की पूर्ति के लिए जानी दुश्मन में बदल सकते हैं। गीतात्मक, जीवन्त और महाकाव्यात्मक विस्तार लिये हुए ‘ज़मीन’ ऐसे लोगों और स्थान का आख्यान है, जो सर्वश्रेष्ठ उपन्यासों की तरह, अपनी चौहद्दी को लाँघता हुआ समस्त मानवता की गाथा बन जाता है।

नंदिता की कहानी भारत के सबसे प्रसिद्ध फोटोग्राफर, होमाई व्यारवाला के जीवन का जश्न मनाती है। होमाई का साहस और शिल्प कौशल पुस्तक में खूबसूरती से सामने आता है। प्रिया कुरियन के चित्रण होमाई की कार्यशैली को इतनी सटीकता से बनाए रखते हैं कि कभी-कभी ऐसा लगता है मानो होमाई ने ही पुस्तक का चित्रण किया हो। शिल्प और जीवन के बीच निरंतर बदलाव पाठकों को रंगमंच की जीवंतता की याद दिलाता है। किताब हिंदी और अंग्रेजी दोनों भाषाओं में उपलब्ध है।

Ismat the shoemaker decides to buy his family special gifts for Eid. He is persuaded by the shopkeeper to buy a pair of trousers for himself. However, there is only one last pair and it's too long. But long trousers can always be shortened, can't they? Eid arrives, and with it comes a shock and a surprise. This crisp adaptation of a delightful Turkish tale has been affectionately told and illustrated, replete with cultural resonances.

A collection of short stories written by students at DPS

Ammachi can’t find her glasses one morning and everything goes topsy-turvy! Page after page spills with drama, humour, detail and local flavour as Priya Kuriyan spins a hilarious tale about a crazy day with unforgettable Ammachi — “the archetypal grandmother from memories of my own childhood in Kerala,” as Priya says. The celebrated illustrator is at her best in her first wordless picture book.

When M.F. Husain loses his shoes, Jai offers to help find them. The two zoom in and out of his paintings, passing milestones in the artist's life

Muthu’s constant companion is a rooster called Goondi. But her grandfather tells her not to get too attached to Goondi, since he belongs to Selvi Paati. And the village head wants to buy him for his son’s wedding feast… Muthu can’t bear the thought! So, she makes her move and Thatha makes his, in this tender story about what a dear friend is worth. Pictures add richness and depth to this layered narrative set in an Irula fishing village in Tamil Nadu. Their varying tones and textures capture the setting, the people and the moments.

Ayeshaís favourite day is Sunday, for itís her Abbaís day. Come, letís find out what happens at Ayeshaís home every Sunday and what makes it so special!

It is raining and there is not much one can do outdoors. Come and listen to Aajis story about the Kolis, the original inhabitants of Bombay, their favourite fish Bombay Duck and the citys magnificent docks.Written by Fleur D’Souza and Illustrated by Kripa.

Details awaited

What does it take for a person to alter the course of a nation? Spotlighting 25 such change-making individuals, the book looks at the times in which they lived, the challenges they dealt with, and the paths they forged. Quick introductions position personalities as game changers, chatty stories sketch their profiles, crisp timelines fill in the gaps, insightful quotations balance perspectives, and creative collages present visual montages. What emerges is the powerful journey of a country at the threshold of change, committed to charting its own course, helmed by its richest resource – its people. Age 10+

It’s Monday morning. Time for school. And his model of the earth…? Chintu Chitnis suddenly remembers he hasn’t made it! There’s a last-minute scramble to finish the project, with his little sister Pihu pitching in not very helpfully. And then, in school, Chintu finds an entire continent missing! Where did it go? Set in a Konkani household, this light and humorous story with playful pictures is a quick first introduction to the continents of the world.

When Fakruddin worries, he gets frantic. And Frantic Fakru is now worried because his fridge is spoilt, the day is hot, and he is desperate for cold water. What does he do? A light-hearted story with a smart idea and cheerful watercolour illustrations which bring alive the ambience of Fakru's neighbourhood in Bhopal.

A magically beautiful story about Malar and her grandfather. A laptime, bedtime, anytime story for you to share. Enjoy! A beginnerís book for children learning to read.

Bumoni’s big backyard, just outside the Kaziranga National Park, is bursting with banana trees. Then one night a herd of wild elephants crosses the river, discovers the trees, and gorges on them. Bumoni’s family is very upset – how do they keep the elephants away? Bumoni has an idea! But then, what will the elephants eat now? Spare but dramatic pictures create mood and atmosphere in this affectionately told story, set in Assam, of a family’s sustainable relationship with the environment – and elephants!

Secret Wild Vet Kalyani is a book inspired by N Kalyani, Tamil Nadu’s first woman veterinarian who graduated from Madras Veterinary College in 1952, challenging gender norms within the profession. Through a cheerful poem set in the Nilgiri hills, the author and Katha’s Founder President Geeta Dharmarajan imagines her Irular protagonist as a kind of superwoman who helps rescue animals, birds and reptiles in danger. Filled with everything from guns to ropes and jungle antics, this adventure story truly comes alive with the help of lively illustrations by designer Boski Jain. According to the book, the DNA analysis (2018) of a skeleton from the Indus Valley Civilisation found in Rakhigarhi showed greater affinity with the Irula people than any other ethnic group in India. “A study by Yelmen et al (2019) found that the Irula were the closest likely proxy for the indigenous “AASI”, or Ancient Ancestral South Indian, one of the presumed founders and autochthonous original populations,” informs the book.

Jivuba wants to become a singer but she cannot because she has to get married. Luckily, Dammu, the wise apsara of the forest, casts a spell to remedy the situation! But what happens when the spell breaks?

Introducing Mayil Ganeshan, a lively 12-year-old who finally has the opportunity to express herself fully in her diary. This is a significant step towards achieving her goal of becoming a writer, as she hopes to make up for all the unfinished stories and the aimless novel she had written before. In her diary, Mayil shares a spontaneous, sensitive, honest, intimate, and often humorous account of her life and thoughts as a perceptive young girl going through the ups and downs of adolescence. This coming-of-age book is a must-read, with enough humor, heart, and wisdom to entertain and inspire readers of all ages. Age 10+

Small noses catch small colds. Big noses catch big colds. Gajapati Kulapati the elephant has a big nose and catches a great, big, mighty cold! And what happens when he sneezes – Aaaaachoooo….? With repetitive sounds and words that roll rhythmically through the pages, this bestselling series about the adorable elephant puts the zing back into storytelling and reading aloud. Bright, zestful pictures and dynamic visual text echo the lilt, making these big, happy books of fun.