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HarperCollins is proud to announce the publication of ‘The Day I became a Runner’ A Women’s History of India through the Lens of Sport by Sohini Chattopadhyay

A Fourth Estate book



Hardback | 360 pp | INR 599



Releasing on 23rd October 2023



“One of the finest works of non-fiction I have read in years.”

Ramachandra Guha

NEW DELHI, Sept. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Day I Became a Runner starts on a striking premise—that, since running is a solitary activity conducted in the public sphere, women who take up this sport pose a more direct challenge to patriarchy than those who play sports such as badminton, cricket, tennis and so on. To support this thesis, award-winning journalist Sohini Chattopadhyay presents the compelling stories of athletes spanning the entire history of independent India and involving women from a wide range of social and geographical backgrounds. Whether it is Ila Mitra, who could have been the first Indian-origin woman at the 1940 Olympics, or Mary D’Souza, who ran and played hockey for India through the 1950s, Kamaljit Sandhu, the first Indian woman to win an individual gold outside India in Bangkok in 1970, or P.T. Usha, who redefined the 1980s and the decades that followed for women in sport across the country, each of the women in this book is a remarkable figure of post-independence India.

Written with remarkable insight and poignancy, The Day I Became a Runner is an alternative account of the Indian republic chronicled through its women athletes. In that sense, it is a women’s history of India.

“I wanted to attempt a story of India through the embodied experiences of women: what it is like to inhabit this nation as a woman citizen. From the start, my ambition was that this would be a history of the republic, a history told through the lens of sport and the lives of women. This is probably why it took me a while to write it—more than eight years, to be precise. I am truly thrilled that HarperCollins shared this vision with me—that this is a story of India, seen through what is hopefully a fresh lens—and enabled me to bring this book to you.“

Sohini Chattopadhyay, Author

“Written with stunning felicity, Sohini Chattopadhyay’s The Day I Became a Runner is a brilliant work of narrative non-fiction. This is a history of modern India, seen through the unusual but very insightful lens of women’s sports, and it reveals uncanny truths about our society and culture. A book like this comes along only once in a while. We at HarperCollins are hugely excited to be able to bring Sohini’s first book to readers under our prestigious Fourth Estate imprint.“

Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher

“The Day I Became a Runner is a spectacular debut, not only because it is an extraordinary narrative, but because it brings so many diverse strands deftly together—history, gender, sports, reportage and personal experience. We publish this important work at a time when conversations around women and sport are becoming increasingly urgent and relevant.“

Swati Chopra, Associate Publisher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sohini Chattopadhyay is a journalist and National Award-winning film critic. Her work has been translated into German, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam. She is a recipient of the New India Foundation fellowship, and has been bestowed the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award and the Human Rights Press Awards citation, among others. Her writing is archived on her website.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

Anjum Hasan says, “With curiosity, sensitivity and agility, Sohini Chattopadhyay creates a sisterhood of Indian runners.”

Jairam Ramesh says, “A hobby runner herself, the author weaves together the lives of nine notable Indian women runners to “trace the arc of citizenship in the Indian republic”. Each of them has left their imprint on not just our athletic but also our social history—one is now my colleague in Parliament. Their achievements could not have found a better chronicler and analyst. The book is delightfully written, and it has been an education to read it.”

Mukul Kesavan says, “The Day I Became a Runner isn’t just the best book ever written about Indian women in competitive sport, but it is the best book about India that you’re likely to read this year.”

Nida Kirmani says, “Sohini Chattopadhyay’s The Day I Became a Runner is a beautiful tribute to Indian women in sport. She skilfully interweaves her own relationship with running with stories of Indian women athletes from the 1940s to the present, demonstrating how women have creatively used professional sports as a way of creating space for themselves in the Indian republic. The Day I Became a Runner is a history of India told through the lives of these incredible, boundary-pushing women. It is also a touching personal story of a woman struggling to connect with her body despite the odds.”

Shobhaa Dé says, “A searing comment on the harsh realities that women athletes face as they try to make their way in the sporting world. But The Day I Became a Runner is not only about sportswomen, it is about all of us who struggle against stereotypes and the world’s expectations of how women should live.”

Sonia Faleiro says, “A beautifully written and thoroughly captivating ode to the power of dreams and the pursuit of excellence.”

Srinath Raghavan says, :This remarkable and highly readable book braids together the lives of Indian women runners and the history of sport in a deeply gendered society. In so doing, Sohini Chattopadhyay also offers us a subtle and moving account of the meanings of freedom in India since its Independence.”

Sumana Roy says, “It is possible that many of us—particularly a generation of women— have willed this book into existence. Sohini Chattopadhyay gives us a history of Indian women in a manner never attempted before, without ever letting go of an opportunity to share a joke.”

Nilanjana Roy says, “This is what the ‘Big India Book’ used to be, only better and more fascinating. Through running, Chattopadhyay traces a map of the country’s dreams, fault lines and struggles, of gender, sport and nationhood. A work of incredible research, engrossing and powerful.”

Ramachandra Guha says, “I have had the great pleasure of having read, in manuscript form, Sohini Chattopadhyay’s wonderful book on women runners in India. Sohini is both a superb reporter and a beautiful writer. While the motif of struggle and sacrifice runs through the book, each story is moving in its own distinctive way. This is one of the finest works of non-fiction I have read in years.”

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA

HarperCollins is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, having begun publishing in India in 1992. HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award, including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live! Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world, including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India has won the Publisher of the Year Award four times at Tata Literature Live!, in 2022, 2021, 2018 and 2016, and at Publishing Next in 2021 and 2015. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers.

PRE-ORDER NOW: https://amzn.to/4530tpL 

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HarperCollins is delighted to announce the upcoming publication of A Book of Books by Sonali Bendre Behl

Paperback |Non-Fiction| INR 599

Available now on pre-order | Releasing 23 April 2025

NEW DELHI, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India has announced the upcoming publication of A Book of Books, authored by Sonali Bendre Behl.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Book That Talks About Everything Books. The why, the what and the how. Why read, why it’s important to be a reader, why start young. What to read, with recommendations for children, young adults and adults, across genres and for varied reading interests. How to love and treasure books and become a reader for life. The perfect book for readers, aspiring readers, bibliophiles and anybody and everybody WHO LOVES BOOKS.

Sonali Bendre Behl, author, says, “Reading has been my constant companion, shaping my perspectives and enriching my life in countless ways. With A Book of Books, I hope to share this joy and help readers – both young and old – cultivate a lifelong love for reading. This book is more than just about books; it’s a guide, a journal, and a friend in every reader’s journey. I believe stories have the power to connect, heal, and inspire, and I wanted to create something that encourages that connection. HarperCollins, with its deep commitment to storytelling and nurturing readers, felt like the perfect home for this book. I’m excited for readers to make this book their own, exploring the world of reading in a way that’s personal and meaningful to them.”

Tina Narang, Executive Publisher – Children’s – HarperCollins India, adds, “At HarperCollins, our mission has been not just to publish books but to champion reading with one short and simple catchword ‘Read’. And we found an excellent partner in our read campaign in Sonali. With her long-standing passion for books that has translated into a very popular Sonali’s Book Club, Sonali was the perfect person to write a book on books and reading! We are thrilled to publish a book that talks about everything books, and invites readers to discover the world that lies beyond the cover of a book and how compelling and powerful it can be to turn a page! And read!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonali Bendre Behl is an award-winning Indian film actress, author and a passionate advocate of storytelling. She is the author of the candid and insightful Modern Gurukul, where she shares her experiences as a mother navigating modern parenting. Her enduring love for books inspired her to create Sonali’s Book Club, a vibrant digital community celebrating literature and meaningful conversations. She is now embarking on a new chapter in her writing journey, offering readers a thoughtful exploration of books and their profound impact on our lives.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS INDIA

HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live!, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins  India is also the recipient of five Publisher of the Year Awards – in 2021 and 2015 at the Publishing Next Industry Awards, and in 2021, 2018 and 2016 at Tata Literature Live. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers.

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BIG BANG NIGHT: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ AND USAIN BOLT JOIN HUBLOT IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE 20 YEARS OF ITS ICONIC MODEL

GENEVA, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hublot marked the 20th anniversary of its iconic Big Bang model with a memorable evening and first ever encounter of its ambassadors Kylian Mbappé and Usain Bolt at the Geneva Arena, as part of the Watches & Wonders fair. This unforgettable celebration was a tribute to Hublot’s trailblazing spirit and an ode to the brand’s “Art of Fusion”.

Hublot: Eneko Atxa, Clare Smyth, Anne-Sophie Pic, Andreas Caminada and Yannick Alleno

Last night, Hublot brought together the international elite of watchmaking, sport, gastronomy and music to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang, the watch that revolutionised contemporary Swiss watchmaking. The event highlighted the many facets of the world of Hublot, truly sensorial experiences. Chefs and brand ambassadors Anne-Sophie Pic, Clare Smyth, Yannick Alléno, Eneko Atxa and Andreas Caminada boast a combined total of 43 Michelin stars between them; these five culinary masters put on an unprecedented gastronomic performance as they prepared personalised signature dishes created especially for the anniversary. Each chef worked live in their own space, creating culinary delights which were a treat for the guests’ eyes and taste buds.

Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot, welcomed the guests with a moving speech recounting the Big Bang’s two decades of phenomenal success. “Our icon, the Big Bang, has redefined the codes of contemporary watchmaking,” he said. “Twenty years on, celebrating its revolutionary mindset, the Big Bang continues to embody the boldness, innovation and pioneering spirit for which Hublot is renowned. It was such an emotional moment to have our Hublot Family united on this unprecedented occasion”.

The evening continued with a breathtaking performance by master mentalist and friend of the brand, Lior Suchard, who stunned the audience. Among the guests present were a host of Hublot ambassadors and friends, including football champion Kylian Mbappé, the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, professional sailor and 3 times Vendée Globe finisher, Alan Roura, world champion sprinter, Mujinga Kambundji, and head coaches for the France and Portugal football teams Didier Deschamps and Roberto Martinez.

The Geneva-born, New York-based DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Alissia then ignited the room with a vibrant set. Her unique style, a blend of funk, R&B and pop, set the stage perfectly for the highlight of the event: A performance by Mika. Hublot invited the Lebanese-American-British artist famous for his numerous hits to celebrate this special anniversary, and the star duly delivered a dazzling performance in an electric atmosphere. The party went on until the early hours of the morning, with Alissia returning to the decks for a high-energy DJ set that had guests dancing the night away.

A true creative canvas, the Big Bang has set the stage for two decades of breathtaking ingenuity, enabling the introduction of new materials, rethinking traditional mechanical complications and transcending the barriers between watchmaking and art.

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Hublot: Usain Bolt, Kylian Mbappé, Julien Tornare

 

Hublot: Kylian Mbappé, Julien Tornare and Usain Bolt

 

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Trump Tariffs and India’s Trade Strategy – India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to Speak at IGF Mumbai’s NXT25: Leading the Leap Summit

IGF’s flagship event returns to Jio World Convention Centre for second consecutive year

  • Two-day event to bring together CEOs, global investors, policymakers and celebrities to explore the biggest trends shaping India’s future on the world stage
  • Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to outline the state’s economic vision
  • Bollywood and media icons including Imtiaz Ali, Ekta Kapoor, and Fatima Sana Shaikh to share insights on India’s evolving creative economy
  • Freelancer CEO Matt Barrie to explore the future of work and the rise of the global gig economy
  • Former IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar to spotlight India’s start-up ecosystem

MUMBAI, India, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — India Global Forum (IGF) is set to host a high-profile discussion featuring Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, in an exclusive conversation with Bloomberg TV at IGF Mumbai 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre on 7 April. This timely discussion comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on global imports, including a 27% levy on Indian exports to the United States.

With the world’s economic order at a pivotal moment, the Minister will delve into the implications of these tariffs on India and global markets. The conversation will focus on India’s strategy to navigate shifting trade policies, bolster its manufacturing sector, and strengthen economic partnerships amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.

The two-day summit under the theme ‘NXT25: Leading the Leap’ will bring together CEOs, global investors and policymakers to explore the biggest trends shaping India’s future on the world stage, highlighting India’s ambitions for the next 25 years and its emergence as a global powerhouse in investment, technology, sustainability, and innovation.

In a highly anticipated session, India’s next generation of business leaders including Parth Jindal, Jay Kotak, Vaaman Sehgal and Harsh Jain feature in a no-holds-barred conversation about bold ideas, tough lessons, and the disruptive vision reshaping the country’s future in a lively and unfiltered discussion.

On 8 April, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will take centre stage in a fireside chat, where he will outline Maharashtra’s vision for economic leadership, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.

“As global trade faces unprecedented challenges following the recent tariff announcements by President Trump, IGF Mumbai 2025 comes at a critical juncture. This event will set the agenda for international collaboration and investment, offering a platform to not only respond to these developments but to shape the future of global trade. The conversations and partnerships forged at IGF Mumbai 2025 will be pivotal in driving progress across key sectors, ensuring India remains at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and economic leadership,” said Manoj Ladwa, Founder and CEO, India Global Forum.

IGF Mumbai 2025 will spotlight India’s role in shaping global trends and India’s goal in leading economic growth, partnerships, and progress. The summit will feature thought leaders and industry pioneers across business, policy, technology, and culture, including:

  • Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s Former Minister of State, Information and Technology
  • Lord Patrick J Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation of the United Kingdom
  • Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange of India
  • Ekta Kapoor, Producer
  • Imtiaz Ali, Director
  • Fatima Sana Shaikh, Actor
  • Kunal Bahl, Co-founder, Titan Capital and Snapdeal
  • Shweta Bajpai, Group Director, Finserv, Media, Travel, Meta
  • Matt Barrie, CEO, Freelancer
  • Faraz Khalid, CEO, Noon Group
  • Jonathan Legh-Smith, Executive Director, UKQuantum
  • Vineet Rai, Founder and Vice Chairman, Aavishkaar Group
  • Sanjay Nayar, Founder, Sorin Investments
  • Shiv Sehgal, President and Head, Nuvama Capital Markets
  • Keshav Reddy, Founder & CEO, Equal AI
  • Peter CHUN, Chairman & President of the World Smart Cities Forum

Click here for programme details and a full list of speakers

The summit is supported by the UK Government, Government of Maharashtra, and the Commerce Ministry of India. Bloomberg TV is the official media partner.

About India Global Forum

India Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity. To know more, click here

Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow

Twitter: @IGFUpdates & @manojladwa

LinkedIn: India Global Forum

#IGFMumbai

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