Gopalkrishna Gandhi
At the moment I am reading ‘Pethavan (The Begetter)’, a gripping Tamil novella by Imayam translated by Gita Subramanian. Before this, I read ‘Ashoka in Ancient India’, the atoning Emperor’s outstanding biography by Nayanjot Lahiri. I’d like to read two books next: ‘The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope’ by Austen Ivereigh and ‘Pope Francis: Life and Revolution: A biography of Jorge Bergoglio’ by Elisabetta Piqué.
(Gopalkrishna Gandhi is distinguished professor of history and politics, Ashoka University.)
Saba Karim
I am currently reading ‘The Hindus: An Alternative History’ by Wendy Doniger. I am fascinated by history and religion, and this book has set me off on an interesting journey. She has obviously done extensive research, and talks about Hinduism from the non-Brahmin perspective. But the book I revisit is ‘One Hundred Years Of Solitude’ by Gabriel García Márquez, my favourite writer. His prose and fiction keep me absorbed. I have all his books.
(Saba Karim is a former India Test wicketkeeper and is currently a member of the National Selection Committee.)