On the shelf

— Megha Bahree

Jesus Lived in India
By Holger Kersten
Published by Penguin: Price Rs 295

IN a re-print of the book that was first published in Germany in 1983, this work claims to present irrefutable proof of Jesus’ sojourn in India and goes to the extent of saying that he died in this country. Kersten argues that Jesus came to India via Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally settled in Kashmir along with his mother Mary. In fact, even her grave is believed to be in Taxila (now in Pakistan) and is aligned in an east-west orientation in accordance with Jewish custom, unlike the north-south alignment of Islamic cultures. It is revered by the local Muslim populace as the grave of the mother of Jesus or Issa — considered one of the greatest prophets in Islam. There are more than a dozen textual references in Kashmir to someone who fits the description of Jesus.

— Puja Birla

The Indian Soy Cookbook
By Kavitha Reddy
Published by Rupa: Rs 295

DESPITE soybean being a versatile food, soy products don’t form heavy favourites on the Indian palate. Consequently, soybeans and soy products continue to be a largely unexplored realm in Indian culinary tastes. Reddy, a doctorate in Food Science, in an attempt to dispel such ignorance has compiled 75 recipes that contain soy products. Incidentally, they are incorporated without affecting the taste of the finished product. What is interesting in this visually appealing read is the manner in which Reddy effortlessly provides snippety information at the bottom of each page on the nutritional benefits of soybeans in the diet. For instance, the Chinese were the first to use soybeans as food and per capita consumption of soy is highest in Taiwan. Whether you are an experimental chef or not, this is one fun book to browse.

— Divya Srivastava