Current Affairs May 2020 - Books
1 - Union Culture Minister released e-book “Prof. B. B. Lal - India Rediscovered”
Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel released an e-book “Prof. B. B. Lal -India Rediscovered” on the occasion of centenary year of great archaeologist Professor B. B. Lal. The book is a tribute from Ministry of culture for his immense contribution to the field of archaeology.
Prof. B. B. Lal was Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1968 to 1972 and was conferred upon Padma Bhushan in the year of 2000. He excavated several important landmark sites including Hastinapura (U.P.), Sisupalgarh (Orissa), Purana Qila (Delhi), Kalibangan (Rajasthan).
2 - Book titled Vijyant at Kargil: The Life of a Kargil War Hero released
The book titled as ‘Vijyant at Kargil: The Life of a Kargil Hero’ was released. It is published by Penguin Random House. The book is authored by Vijyant’s father Colonel VN Thapar and writer Neha Dwivedi.
It is the 1st biography about Vir Chakra awardee (posthumously) Captain Vijyant Thapar’s journey to join the Indian Military Academy and the experiences that shaped him into a fine officer. It gives a rare insight into the heart and mind of one of India’s bravest soldiers.
3 - Prince Harry-Meghan Markle's biography to be published
The first biopic on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's life, titled 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family' is scheduled to be published on August 11, 2020. The book is written by royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.
The book is said to explore how Harry and Meghan — whose lives have been under constant scrutiny — navigated royal life, from the time of their wedding in May 2018 to when they stepped down as working members of the royal family in January 2020.
4 - A Book titled “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” released
The book called “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” penned by Chinese literary writer Fang Fang and published by Harper Collins was released. The book details about 60 days of lockdown journey during COVID-19 in China. It is compilation of online diary entries and social media posts about psychological impact of forced isolation, role of the internet as both community lifeline and source of misinformation and impact of deadly virus on lives of citizens.
Fang Fang documents the beginning of the global health crisis in real time. Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City, translated by Michael Berry, will be published in book format by Harper Collins in June 2020.
5 - Ruskin Bond’s new book released
Talking Club – the children’s imprint of independent publishing house Speaking Tiger has released Hop On: My Adventures on Boats, Trains and Planes written by Ruskin Bond in an e-book format. The book chronicles the author’s travel adventures from childhood.
The illustrations for the new book have been done by Samrat Halder. Ruskin Bond has won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. For his first novel, he received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957.
6 - JK Rowling released children's book 'The Ickabog' online for free
"Harry Potter" author JK Rowling has announced a new story called "The Ickabog" to entertain children during coronavirus lockdown. The book will be released for free online. It is a fairy tale “about truth and the abuse of power”.
The Ickabog will be serialised online in 34 daily free instalments. It will then be published as a book, ebook and audiobook in November. J. K. Rowling is a British author, film & TV producer, screenwriter and philanthropist.
