Books and Authors - Current Affairs for December, 2017

The Vice-President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu launched the New Delhi Edition of Marathi daily 'Lokmat' at a function on Dec 14, 2017. Vice President indicated the media has great power to influence the people and the Fourth Estate should use this freedom of expression to spread harmony and contribute to the nation's development. Shri Venkaiah Naidu said the media should exercise the freedom of expression with responsibility. Shri Venkaiah Naidu recalled the history of the Lokmat newspaper, which is entering into its centennial year this day, and its contribution to India's freedom struggle. Lokmat: Know More

• "Lokmat" is a Marathi language newspaper published from Mumbai, and several other cities in Maharashtra state.
• Founded in 1971 by Jawaharlal Darda, it is the largest selling daily. with 1.3 million copies a day.
• Circulation: 1.3 million Daily (as of Jul - Dec 2015)
• Editor-in-chief: Vijay J. Darda
• Founder: Rajendra Darda
• Founded: December 15, 1971
• Format: Broadsheet

Renowned Hindi scholar and writer Mamta Kalia (77) was chosen for Vyas Samman 2017 for her novel "Dukkham Sukkham". She was selected by selection committee headed by author Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari. Dukkham Sukkham published in 2009 is saga of a lower middle-class familys three generations. The literary work focuses on the transition in relations and situations of our society. Mamta Kalia

• She was born in 1940 in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. She had received MA in English from Delhi University before taking up lecturership at SNDT Women's University in Mumbai.
• Since 1973, she headed degree college in Allahabad before retiring in 2001.
• She is known for her works in Hindi and English including "Beghar", "Janch Abhi Jaari Hai", "Nirmohi", and "Bolne Wali Aurat".
• Earlier she has received "Yashpal Katha Samman" from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, "Ram Manohar Lohia Samman" and "Sahitya Bhushan Samman".

• The Vyas Samman award was instituted by KK Birla Foundation in 1991.
• It is awarded annually to outstanding literary work in Hindi authored and published in past 10 years by an Indian citizen.
• The award carries monetary award of Rs.3.5 lakh, a citation and a plaque.

Conflicts of Interest is a book where Sunita Narain gives a personal account of her battles as part of the country's green movement. The book offers a new understanding of the contests that we face in getting changes on the ground and future challenges. Penguin India has acquired Sunita Narain's Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through India's Green Movement. The book is a personal account of India's foremost environmentalist's battles as part of the country's Green Movement. While outlining the enormous environmental challenges that India faces today, Dr. Sunita Narain will talk about how corporate lobbies and political interests often scuttle their effective resolution. She will recount some widely reported controversies triggered by research undertaken by her along with her team at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), such as the pesticides in colas report, air pollution research in Delhi, endosulfan research in Karnataka, among others. The book includes an 'environmental manifesto' in which Dr. Narain lays out a blueprint for the direction India must take, if it is to deal with the exigencies of climate change and environmental degradation.