On the shelf

The Heritage of Indian Tea
By D K Taknet
IIME
Price not mentioned

INDIAN tea, which once ruled family tables worldwide, has long been overtaken by the aggressive marketing of Sri Lankan chai. While production costs have increased, exports have fallen, though the recent Union Budget of 2002-3 has halved the excise duty from Re 1 per kg and enhanced duty on tea imports from 70 to 100 per cent. Keeping this scenario in mind, business-historian Taknet has written an interesting account of the health-giving drink that half the world calls cha and the other half, tea. This handsome volume is packed with all manner of curious anecdote and is 8220;lavishly illustrated.8217;8217;

8212; Renuka Narayanan

C Y Chintamani
By Sunil Raman
Rupa 038; Co
Price: Rs 95

THE biography of a sadly forgotten figure reads like a long history lesson. Packed into 73 pages is the life of a man who played a major role in moulding the future of post-Raj India. Born into an orthodox Brahmin family, Chintamani was an editor at 18, an author at 21 and a legislator at 36. A firm believer in the freedom of press, he always carried his resignation letter in his pocket. Just wish his biographer had brought him alive in these pages.

8212; Miranda Yambem