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HarperCollins presents The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Longlisted for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction, Parini Shroff’s The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won’t soon forget.

Paperback | 352 pp | Rs 499

Available wherever books are sold | Releasing 10th April 2023

NEW DELHI, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — 

About the book

“A radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women.”—THE NEW YORK TIMES

Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him—he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die.

As it happens, being known as a ‘self-made’ widow comes with some perks. No one messes with Geeta, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It’s even been good for business: no one dares to not buy her jewelry.

Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her ‘expertise’ making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal. And not all of them are asking nicely.

What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta but for all the women in the village.

Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff’s The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won’t soon forget.

Author, Parini Shroff, says, “The Bandit Queens began ten years ago as a short story about women in a microloan group and the power of money. When I wrote it as a novel during the pandemic, it blossomed into a dark comedy about wickedly funny, sharp and clever women making their own choices in a world trying to snatch those choices. Once the ensemble cast of female characters had been drawn, there was no stopping these rambunctious women. Isolated, they felt powerless; but together, the strong bonds of their female friendship made the impossible suddenly achievable. It was then that I realized the heart of this book isn’t about what money can do, it’s about what friendship can. I grew to love and admire these sassy, fierce women and their escalating antics, and it is my hope readers will as well.”

Associate Publisher, Rahul Soni, says, “Parini Shroff’s The Bandit Queens is a dark, funny, sharp, wicked debut that deals with many weighty themes with a light but sure hand. It’s a book that I’ve been supremely excited about ever since I read the early draft, and one that I’ve chased a long time to be able to publish. I’m so glad that we’re bringing it out in India, where I know it will resonate with and delight many, many readers. The longlisting for the Women’s Prize for Fiction will be just the first of many richly deserved accolades coming Parini’s way, I’m sure!“

About the Author

Parini Shroff received her MFA from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied under Elizabeth McCracken, Alexander Chee, and Cristina García. She is a practicing attorney and currently lives in the Bay Area. The Bandit Queens is her debut novel.

Praise for the book

“With acuity, wit, and a certain kind of magic irreverence, Parini Shroff captures the complexity of female friendship, turning on a dime from humor to horror, horror to heart, and then back again, exhilarating her reader until the very last line. Tender, unpredictable, and brimming with laugh-out-loud moments, The Bandit Queens heralds a prodigious and sophisticated literary talent.” 

—Téa Obreht, bestselling author of The Tiger’s Wife and Inland

“Not since Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger has the rotten core of modern India been exposed in quite such blackly antic fashion as Parini Shroff manages here in this intermittently absurd, feminist revenge caper about a group of snarky, much-abused, predominantly Hindu wives…sheer gutsy verve.”

—The Times

“The Bandit Queens is an original, memorable, and endearing story, at times deeply serious, then laugh-out-loud funny. Parini Shroff has written a sobering but hopeful exploration of womanhood, social injustices, and second chances.” 

—Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black Cake

“Parini Shroff’s splendid The Bandit Queens is a hilarious romp about serious things—as serious as a novel gets, and as funny, too, with characters who are dear and maddening and indelible and gorgeously drawn. Twisty, compulsive, bold, surprising, moving, it’s a wonderful book.” 

—Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Souvenir Museum and The Hero of This Book

“Parini Shroff’s debut novel is a rollicking mash-up of adventure story, thriller, dark revenge, and comedy. Rooted in a rural village in India—and led by the pariah widow Geeta, whom everyone believes to have killed her husband—this is an immensely enjoyable read about a handful of women who band together to take back their lives, and take down the patriarchy.” 

—Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban and The Lady Matador’s Hotel

“A radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women…A tale that demonstrates how the antidote to bleak circumstances is female friendship.” 

—The New York Times

“Shroff cleverly considers how women might achieve autonomy within rural India’s patriarchal society through shrewd, if complicated, female friendships.” 

—The Washington Post

“This debut has captured our hearts with its wit and tenderness, and it’s an unforgettable story about a ‘self-made’ widow who gets requests from other wives to help them also get rid of their no-good husbands. Twisty and bold with a dark edge, The Bandit Queens is one we don’t think we’ll ever stop talking about!” 

—Barnes & Noble Book Club

“Shroff’s debut is a darkly hilarious take on gossip, caste, truth, village life, and the patriarchy…clever, subversive storytelling.” 

—Booklist, Starred Review

“This funny, feel-good read is a rollicking ride rife with memorable characters involved in ill-fated hijinks. It also serves up commentary on class, power dynamics and the role of women in society, with a feminist history lesson to boot.” 

—Good Housekeeping

“Laugh-out-loud…This is a deeply human book, with women surviving and overcoming in their culture while still remaining a part of it.” 

—Library Journal, Starred Review

“In Shroff’s acerbic debut, a woman helps other women escape their abusive marriages in their small village in India, often through murder…Readers are in for a razor-stuffed treat.” 

—Publishers Weekly

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 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 is now 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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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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