After the partition of India in 1947, just like several displaced families who lost their homes and belongings and found new ones, sometimes travelling hundreds of kilometres in one night, a family left Pakistan and came across the border to India and settled in Ferozpur. Lala Narain Das, the head of the family began selling newspapers on his bicycle and then opened a bookstore to cater to the demands of the army offices in the cantonment. Gradually the store grew and the boys of the family were trained and sent to different parts of India to set up their own bookstores.

A few years later, Lala Narain Das’ three sons shifted to Dehra Dun, a valley in the foothills of the Himalayas and ran a bookstore. After a few years, the three brothers set up their own separate book businesses with Sohan Lal Arora setting up Natraj: a publishing firm that specialised in books on defence and military affairs.

Natraj was born in a small office and gradually spread its wings and expanded into a small bookstore. Sohan Lal’s eldest son, Upendra began working with him after his graduation and felt the need to also publish books on ecology, a hitherto ignored subject. This led to a further expansion of the publishing firm and the bookstore and ‘The Green Bookshop’ came into being. Upendra Arora is a today well known name among the publishing fraternity, and in the state of Uttarakhand. Peter Hopkirk’s “In Search of Kim” carries a mention of his meeting with Upendra Arora and India’s best loved writer, Ruskin Bond has dedicated a book to Upendra, who he says belongs to the unique tribe booksellers who actually care about books and authors.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: Soldiering With Dignity
Lt.Gen Depinder Singh

The exclusive and authorised biography of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, written by his Military Assistant when he was Chief of Army Staff, was released by former Prime Minister Vajpayee in New Delhi.

My Life, My Words
Remembering Mahatma Gandhi
Foreword: HH the Dalai Lama
Introduction: Nirmala Despande

This elegant book of quotations by and on Mahatma Gandhi was launched in New Delhi by Shiela Dixit, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi. She was very impressed by the size and presentation of the book. The book was launched in London at the Nehru Centre by Lord Swraj Paul who met Gandhi when he was younger and praised Natraj’s efforts in bringing out the publication. This book has been co-published with the Flag Foundation of India, run by Congress Parliamentarian Naveen Jindal and his wife Shalu.

Handbook for Public Information Officers under the RTI Act
R.S.Tolia

R.S. Tolia is the Chief Public Information Commissioner for Uttarakhand. He put together a very useful book for officers working under the act to help them understand and implement it.

Suhasini Haider, of CNN-IBN launched the book in Dehra Dun. She spoke about the importance of the Act and the need for its effective implementation. She said Dr. Tolia’s endeavour to make the act accessible for the public and for those working under it would go a long way in bringing transparency to the system.