Ratna Books

23/06/2025

Imayam Annamalai's “I’m Alive…for now” makes it to the longlist of Valley of Words book awards 2025 in the English translation category.

🌍✨ VoW 2025 English Translation Longlist ✨🌍

Our hearts are aglow with this year’s English Translation Longlist—bringing the richness of India’s many Bhashas to wider audiences. These works have been translated from Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu, Assamese, Punjabi, and Hindi in shining a light on diverse cultures, histories, struggles, and dreams. They are a reminder that great stories transcend linguistic boundaries.

🌿 The Longlist:
🔹 Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada — Shahu Patole / Bhushan Kargaonkar (published by )
🔹 Do Not Ask the River Her Name — Sheela Tomy / Ministhy S. (published by )
🔹 I’m Alive... For Now — Imayam / Prabha Sridevan (published by )
🔹 Ismat Chughtai In Her Own Words — Ismat Chughtai / Tahira Naqvi (published by )
🔹 Lavanyadevi — Kusum Khemani / Banibrata Mahanta (published by )
🔹 Shabnam — Syed Mujtaba Ali / Nazes Afroz (published by )
🔹 Ten Days of the Strike — Sandipan Chattopadhyay / Arunava Sinha (published by )
🔹 The Temple of No Gods — Manav Kaul / Sayari Debnath (published by )
🔹 Under the Bakul Tree — Mrinal Kalita / Partha Pratim Goswami (published by )
🔹 White Blood — Nanak Singh / Dilraj Singh Suri (published by )

✨ These translations open doors to new worlds and voices we all need to hear.
Which of these powerful works are you adding to your reading list? Share with us below!

23/06/2025

Triple delight

Three novelettes (long stories?). In one book. Each different, almost like three different books, each engaging in its own way.
What brings them together, in a single volume?

Women protagonists. Interplay of emotions within and outside one’s self. Unusual ending. When Vaasanthi is the author, you expect nothing less.

What makes this book unique is that the three stories explore three different ideas, in three different settings, by three completely different personalities and all three end with unusual decisions.

The first story is in an uber-urban environment, the conflicts between traditional values in a modern world, the connect between ‘value’ and behaviour, and redefines their very definitions. How the values of generations cast their spell on today’s women, and how they come out of it. The second one is set in a semi-urban location, the anguish and the little joys of nurturing one’s wish in the face of opposition.

The third story is set in Gunaseelam, a temple village, deep south, popular for curing mentally ill patients. It is in this story that the author has successfully walked a tight rope in adroitly balancing faith and caregiving. The story is woven around multiple characters, each with their own social, emotional and familial baggage, anchored by Paatti, the ‘old grandmother’, an unusual heroine. She explores the fragile balance between responsibility, anxiety, trust and of course, faith.

The author has deftly negotiated the balance one needs to make between positivity and realism, acceptance and rebellion, social norms and individual conviction. The translation is fluid, and the flavour of the original context is not lost in transition. The last story would have been especially tricky for a translator, since it is built in a unique environment, which may be unfamiliar to a reader new to the place. But the author’s skill and passion have carried the story well, even to a new non-Tamil reader.

The stories explore human emotions in diverse environments, which is author Vaasanthi’s hallmark. The storyline is tight, without frills and add-ons, keeping the reader focused on the idea under discussion. Even in the last story, the lack of specific introduction to the place and its significance is easily covered in the course of the narration, enabling the audience to visualize the place, the temple and the people, which is critical to internalize the story.

The triad, The masked face and other stories is a great read, for those who enjoy books on human relationships and their diversity, irrespective of age or linguistic background.
– Bhooma Veeravalli, Author

23/06/2025

🌍✨ VoW 2025 English Translation Longlist ✨🌍

Our hearts are aglow with this year’s English Translation Longlist—bringing the richness of India’s many Bhashas to wider audiences. These works have been translated from Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu, Assamese, Punjabi, and Hindi in shining a light on diverse cultures, histories, struggles, and dreams. They are a reminder that great stories transcend linguistic boundaries.

🌿 The Longlist:
🔹 Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada — Shahu Patole / Bhushan Kargaonkar (published by )
🔹 Do Not Ask the River Her Name — Sheela Tomy / Ministhy S. (published by )
🔹 I’m Alive... For Now — Imayam / Prabha Sridevan (published by )
🔹 Ismat Chughtai In Her Own Words — Ismat Chughtai / Tahira Naqvi (published by )
🔹 Lavanyadevi — Kusum Khemani / Banibrata Mahanta (published by )
🔹 Shabnam — Syed Mujtaba Ali / Nazes Afroz (published by )
🔹 Ten Days of the Strike — Sandipan Chattopadhyay / Arunava Sinha (published by )
🔹 The Temple of No Gods — Manav Kaul / Sayari Debnath (published by )
🔹 Under the Bakul Tree — Mrinal Kalita / Partha Pratim Goswami (published by )
🔹 White Blood — Nanak Singh / Dilraj Singh Suri (published by )

✨ These translations open doors to new worlds and voices we all need to hear.
Which of these powerful works are you adding to your reading list? Share with us below!

13/06/2025

🌺 𝑼𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 🌺

Dive into Githanjali’s powerful stories that challenge patriarchal norms and give voice to women’s lived realities. 📖💔 These tales of resistance, stigma, and transformation redefine the narrative around women’s lives and their bodies. ✊👩✨

From 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, this collection dares to explore themes often silenced by society. 🔍🕊️

Grab your copy today. Visit our website for more. 💬💡

https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/the-rock-that-was-not/

10/06/2025

🧠✨ Dive into the labyrinth of the mind with Kula Saikia’s award-winning stories!

Every seemingly ordinary moment hides layers of chaos, desire, and deep introspection. 🌆💭

From urban anxieties to hidden joys, these tales unravel the puzzle of being human. 🕵️‍♂️📚

💫 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒚𝒂 𝑨𝒌𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 (2015)
🌀 Magic realism meets psychological depth in 20 unforgettable stories!

📚 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻. 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄! 🛍️📦

https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/if-a-river/

🔗 For more info, visit our website. Link in bio! 🌐

📖

04/06/2025

📖 Uncover the hidden depths of a teenager's fight for life 💔, intertwined with family bonds 👨‍👩‍👧 and the relentless pursuit of hope ✨. This is a story that grips your heart ❤️ and soul 🌀, leaving you breathless till the very end 😮‍💨.

📚 Available on Amazon!
🔗 Visit our website for more info. https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/im-alive-for-now/

🌍 ✍️ 🚨 🧠 📘 📚 📖 🇮🇳 🗣️ 🙏

31/05/2025

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 📖✨

Sethu’s short stories masterfully blend the ordinary with the magical, offering readers a glimpse into worlds where the supernatural hides in plain sight. 🌍✨ From the thought-provoking journey of Munuswami in 𝑱𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒉𝒊 to characters that merge myth and reality, these tales resonate deeply, lingering long after the book is closed. 💭📚

Available at Amazon.

🌐 https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/jalasamadhi/

20/05/2025

🌟 Meet Vasudeva: The eternal wanderer who has seen it all – joy and sorrow, magic and reality, passion and philosophy. For a century, he roamed the lands, embracing every moment, every challenge, and every revelation. Now, he shares his timeless journey to inspire and entertain you on your own path. 🌍✨

📚 Ready to walk with him? Order your copy today and let his story accompany you on your journey. 📖
✨

https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/vasudeva-the-wanderer-prince/

16/05/2025

Fiction that reshapes reality. 🌍✨

Dive into Avadhoot Dongare's extraordinary Marathi novel, where the Maoist political landscape isn't just a backdrop—it's alive. Nadeem Khan’s masterful English translation mirrors every intricate move, unraveling a tapestry of stories, objects, and commentary. A reminder of fiction’s boundless power. 📖

Order Now: https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/leaf-water-and-flow/

10/05/2025

𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐢: 𝐎𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 is the searing story of Suvvi, a Madiga girl who dares to dream of becoming a teacher in the early days of independent India. Born to illiterate parents in the village of Vejendla, Suvvi’s spirit is unshaken—even when the son of the most powerful landlord publicly vows to destroy her for rejecting him.

With the courage of her community and the fire of justice in her heart, Suvvi fights back. Will her defiance change her destiny?

✨ A tale of caste, power, resistance—and the unbreakable will of a girl who dared to say no.

📖 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘩𝘪: 𝘖𝘧 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 — Available now.

https://ratnabookseries.wordpress.com/randhi-of-power-and-desire/

Visit our website for more info. Link in bio.