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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 18 BOOKS November 21, 2025 Yakub Mathew’S Debut Chronicle On Maha Kumbh 2025, Brings Hundreds To IAAC Literary Festival In New York Cricket-India Confront Batting Blind Spot After Kolkata Pitch Boomerangs M ore than 600 people attended the launch of Yakub Mathew’s literary debut, Seeking the In- finite: Maha Kumbh 2025, hosted by the Indo- American Arts Council at its Literary Festival, held at the International House, NewYork City, on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The renowned Sadhguru, released the book by accept- ing a copy in front of an audience that packed Davis Hall at International House, a press release from IAAC said. The launch was followed by an interesting and thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by branding consultant Suhel Seth. The panel comprised of Harvard scholar Diana Eck, Rabbi Scott Matous, President and In-house Rabbi at All Faiths Seminary International and Executive Director at the MAKOR Center for Judaism in NewYork City, spiri- tual master Gurudev Sri Anish, and the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Seeking the Infinite is described as “a living chronicle of spiritual encounters where faith traditions meet in humility and the sacred becomes a shared language.” Through a tapestry of essays, dialogues, and reflec- tions, the book takes readers from the riverside rituals of the Maha Kumbh to intimate rooftop conversations, encouraging a shift in perspective—from viewing the festival as mere spectacle to seeing it as a “crucible of human yearning—for meaning, belonging, and tran- scendence.” Praising its inclusive and pluralist spirit, Diana Eck observed about the book that: “You invite them to share their own… it’s multi-vocal with lots of different voices… it brings together your own sense of the importance of attenuating the differences between religions to a real interfaith vision.” The anthology features insights from over fifty re- nowned personalities, weaving together diverse perspec- tives. Its foreword is contributed by luminaries like Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Muzaffar Ali, and Anupam Kher. Tharoor writes, “This coffee-table book is more than a collection of photographs; it is a window into the very essence—Mahima—of the Maha Kumbh. Here, each spread invites the reader to pause, to feel, and to remem- ber that the search for the divine is both an inward jour- ney and an outward celebration of our shared humanity.” Under the guidance of Suhel Seth, the panel delved into the complex relationship between religion and spiri- tuality. Seth’s provocative question—“If you were given a choice, would you want the person to be religious or spiritual? You can only choose one…”—sparked dynamic and thoughtful discussion. Yakub Mathew, a financial leader at institutions such as HSBC, Citi Private Banking, andWells Fargo Advisors, brings to his writing a wealth of cross-cultural experi- ence. With advanced degrees from St. Stephen’s College, Madras University, and the Asian Institute of Manage- ment, Mathew is lauded for his “trust-based, empower- ing leadership style and commitment to values-driven service.” His venture into literature “is a reflection of his adaptability and dedication to purposeful, values-orient- ed leadership,” the press release said. The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, concluded in February 2025 after 45 days of celebration. According to government estimates, more than 660 mil- lion devotees frommyriad faiths converged at the Triveni Sangam to take a holy dip, underscoring the festival’s magnitude and spiritual significance. Rooted in the ancient Rigveda and entwined with the mythic tale of Sagar Manthan—when drops of the nectar of immortality fell at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain—the Kumbh Mela rotates among these four locations in cycles of 4, 6, and 12 years. The rare Maha Kumbh, believed to occur once every 144 years, was commemorated in Prayagraj, marking a historic moment for millions. Mathew shared thoughts of his visit to the Maha Kumbh, a lifelong dream. “Joined by my wife and seven- teen dear friends from across the globe, the experience became a profound celebration of the completion of my 60th year and a spiritual journey that inspired deep reflection on life’s eternal questions.” I ndia have long curated home tracks that accentuate turn, but the assump- tion their own batters would master such conditions no longer appears safe following their defeat in the opening test against South Africa. On a treacherous Eden Gardens’ pitch, the ball bounced irregularly and turned sharply and none of the teams posted 200. Touring captain Temba Bavuma’s unbeat- en 55 was the highest score by any batter. India, a batter short as skipper Shub- man Gill retired hurt in the first innings with a neck injury and did not bat in the second, were bundled out for 93 chasing 124 for victory. South African spinners claimed 12 of the 18 Indian wickets in the match exposing the home batters’ vulnerabilities against the turning ball. South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer finished with a match haul of eight wick- ets to bag the player-of-the-match award. It was jarring to home fans used to watching nimble-footed and supple- wristed Indian batters dominate spin. India head coach Gautam Gambhir mounted a spirited defence of the much- maligned pitch on Sunday, shifting the conversation from conditions to compe- tence. “The point is that you should be able to know how to play turn,” Gambhir said in an assessment of their batting that led to the sobering defeat inside three days. “I felt that if you are willing to put your head down and if you have a solid de- fence, if you have the temperament, you can definitely score runs. “Yes, it might not be a wicket which is going to (allow you to) be very, very flamboyant, where you can play those big shots. But if you are willing to put your head down, definitely it’s a wicket where you can score.” Opener KL Rahul’s 39 in the first in- nings was the highest score by an Indian batter in the match. India have slipped to the fourth place in theWorld Test Championship standings after the loss and have plenty to ponder ahead of the second and final test in Guwahati. Gill was taken to hospital and later discharged, but is doubtful for the test in Guwahati beginning on November 22. India played spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar at number three in Kolkata but B Sai Sudharsan is likely to reclaim his top-order place in Guwahati especially if Gill is not available. -Reuters By a StaffWriter By Amlan Chakraborty PHOTOS: IAAC PHOTO:Action Imagesvia Reuters/Peter Cziborra Renowned Sadhguru, right, released author Yakub Mathew’s literary debut, Seeking the Infinite: Maha Kumbh 2025, at the IAAC Literary Festival, November 16, 2025, at International House, New York City. More than 600 people attended the launch of Yakub Mathew’s literary debut- Seeking the Infinite: Maha Kumbh 2025 – November 16, at the IAAC Literary Festival in NYC. Cricket – International Test Match Series – Fifth Test – India Practice Session – Kia Oval, London, Britain – July 30, 2025 India head coach Gautam Gambhir looks on during practice SPORTS