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Spy Princess
''Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan'' is a book that traces the life of children's story writer and decorated British secret agent of the Second World War, Noor Inayat Khan. It was researched and written by Shrabani Basu, and first published in the United Kingdom in 2006 by Sutton Publishing. The book has a foreword by M. R. D. Foot and contains information from her formerly secret personal Special Operations Executive (SOE) files, released in 2003. After a prologue detailing Khan's final journey to Dachau concentration camp in 1944, early chapters cover her ancestral link to Tipu Sultan and early life in Moscow, London and Paris. In 1940, just before Paris was occupied, she escaped with her family to Britain and volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). A fluent French speaker and a trained radio operator, she was soon recruited by the SOE, a secret British organisation. In June 1943, she became the first woman radio operator to be infiltrated into occu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shrabani Basu
Shrabani Basu is an Indian journalist and historian, best known for writing ''Spy Princess: The life of Noor Inayat Khan, Spy Princess'' (2006), an account of the life of Noor Inayat Khan, and ''Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant, Victoria & Abdul'' (2010), based on the friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim (the Munshi), Abdul Karim. She later compiled the stories of Indian Army during World War I, Indian men sent to Europe in the First World War, in ''For King and Another Country'' (2015). In ''The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer'' (2021), she showed how Arthur Conan Doyle proved the innocence of George Edalji, an Indian lawyer in early twentieth century Midlands, England. Basu's work has been adapted into the film ''Victoria & Abdul'' (2017), and has led to the founding of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust and a memorial to Khan, erected in Gordon Square, London. In 2020, she unveiled a Blue Plaque outside Khan's home on Taviton Street. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Madeleine (book)
''Madeleine'' is a biography of Noor Inayat Khan, authored by her close friend Jean Overton Fuller, and first published by Victor Gollancz Sir Victor Gollancz (; 9 April 1893 – 8 February 1967) was a British publisher and humanitarian. Gollancz was known as a supporter of left-wing politics. His loyalties shifted between liberalism and communism; he defined himself as a Christian ... in 1952. It was initially rejected by six of seven publishers Fuller submitted it to, but eventually had some success and was reprinted in 1971, with added detail of Khan's ancestry. References 1952 non-fiction books British non-fiction books Biographies about writers Books about espionage Books about World War II {{WWII-book-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to service personnel in the broader British Empire (later Commonwealth of Nations), with most successor independent nations now having established their own honours systems and no longer recommending British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command. No civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British monarch. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace. The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
RBMedia
RBMedia is an audiobook publishing company with sales globally. Headquartered in Landover, Maryland, it claims to be the largest audiobook publisher in the world. The company was founded in 2017 through the acquisition of independent audiobook companies, which now operate as imprints of RBMedia. Among them are: Recorded Books, Tantor Media, HighBridge Audio, ChristianAudio, Gildan Media, W.F. Howes, Wavesound, GraphicAudio. With studios in New York and elsewhere, it is based near the former Recorded Books headquarters. After being assembled by Shamrock Advisors and controlled by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, it was acquired in September 2023 by H.I.G. Capital and Francisco Partners. History Recorded Books Recorded Books (later to be the "RB" in RBMedia) was founded in Maryland in 1978 and was a pioneer in the industry. When it was acquired in December 1999 by Haights Cross Communications, the company operated as its division. Eight months after purchasing HighBridge Audio from Workm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zia Inayat Khan
Zia Inayat-Khan (born 1971) is a scholar and teacher of Sufism in the lineage of his grandfather, Inayat Khan. He is president of the Inayati Order and founder of Suluk Academy, a school of contemplative study with branches in the United States and Europe. Biography Zia Inayat Khan was born in Novato, California, in 1971, and is the first son of Sufi teachers Vilayat Inayat Khan Vilayat Inayat Khan (19 June 1916 17 June 2004) was a teacher of meditation and of the traditions of the East Indian Chishti Order, Chishti Sufi order of Sufism. His teaching derived from the tradition of his father, Inayat Khan, founder of Su ... and Murshida Taj Inayat. Vilayat made it clear to Zia at an early age that he wished him to take the mantle of his Sufi lineage as passed down from Inayat Khan, and instructed him in meditation and spiritual retreat. Zia was confirmed as spiritual successor to Vilayat in 2001, and has served as head of the Inayati Order, guiding Inayati communities in Nor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roli Books
Roli Books is an Indian publishing house that produces and publishes books pertaining to Indian heritage. It was founded in 1978 by Pramod Kapoor and is jointly run by his family. Its imprints include Lustre Press for illustrated books, India Ink for fiction, and the Lotus Collection for biographies, non-illustrated non-fiction books. Origin Roli Books was founded in 1978 by Pramod Kapoor, initially with an illustrated book on Rajasthan, first printed in Singapore. The company developed relations with publishing houses in France following Kapoor trip to Paris in 1981, when he bought 3,000 copies of ''The Last Maharaja'' and sold the whole lot in India. Subsequently, they published books and sold them in France. By its 25th anniversary, it was also publishing fiction. Imprints Imprints at Roli Books include Lustre Press for illustrated books, India Ink for fiction, and the Lotus Collection for biographies, non-illustrated non-fiction books. Products The company publishes cof ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gulam Noon, Baron Noon
Gulam Kaderbhoy Noon, Baron Noon, (24 January 1936 – 27 October 2015) was a British businessman originally from Mumbai, India. Known as the "Curry King", Noon operated a number of food product companies in Southall, London. He was a member of the Dawoodi Bohra Ismaili Shia community. Early life Noon was born in 1936, into a Dawoodi Bohra Muslim family which operated a sweet shop in Bombay. His father died when he was 7, and a relative ran the business until Noon took over its management at the age of 17. He renamed the shop "Royal Sweets", and expanded its clientele and size until it was capable of exporting internationally. In 1964, Noon travelled to Britain and emigrated permanently in 1972. He established a sweet shop in Southall, producing such products as Bombay mix. Career Noon founded and operated a number of food product companies in Southall, London, specialising in Indian cuisine. His main business was Noon Products which he established in September 1987, manufac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Jack
Ian Grant Jack FRSL (7 February 1945 – 28 October 2022) was a British reporter, writer and editor. He edited the ''Independent on Sunday'', the literary magazine ''Granta'' and wrote regularly for ''The Guardian''. Early life Jack was born in Farnworth, Lancashire, on 7 February 1945, to parents who had migrated from Fife in 1930. Jack's mother, Isabella (née Gillespie), was born in Kirkcaldy and brought up in Hill of Beath, and his father Henry was born in Dunfermline. The family returned to Scotland when he was seven years old, in 1952. He grew up in North Queensferry and was educated there and at Dunfermline High School. Career After a false start as a would-be librarian, Jack joined ''The Glasgow Herald'' as a trainee journalist in 1965. After a short spell in its head office he was sent to work on two weekly papers in Lanarkshire, the now-defunct ''Cambuslang Advertiser'' and the '' East Kilbride News''. Later he worked for the '' Scottish Daily Express'' at its Gl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kamalesh Sharma
Kamalesh Sharma (born 30 September 1941) is an Indian diplomat who served as the fifth secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2008 to 2016. Previously, he was the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2008. In addition, he is the Chancellor Emeritus of Queen's University Belfast. Education Sharma is an alumnus of the Modern School on Barakhamba Road in New Delhi, St. Stephen's College in Delhi and King's College, Cambridge. Career Sharma was an officer in the Indian Foreign Service from 1965 to 2002. He served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 1997 to May 2002, before his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service. From 2002 to 2004, he was the UN Secretary General's special representative to East Timor. He subsequently served as High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2008. He is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society. He was also the Chancellor of Queen's Unive ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Cross
The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational Courage, gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been equal in stature to the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for valour. It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British Armed Forces and to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. It was previously awarded to residents of Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries (and in one case George Cross (Malta), to Malta, a colony that subsequently became a Commonwealth country), most of which have since established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Croix De Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts; the '' croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures'' ("cross of war for external theatres of operations") was established in 1921 for these. The was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France. The may be awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have been " mentioned in dispatches", meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic deeds in combat and were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nazi
Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During Hitler's rise to power, it was frequently referred to as Hitler Fascism () and Hitlerism (). The term "neo-Nazism" is applied to other far-right groups with similar ideology, which formed after World War II, and after Nazi Germany collapsed. Nazism is a form of fascism, with disdain for liberal democracy and the parliamentary system. Its beliefs include support for dictatorship, fervent antisemitism, anti-communism, anti-Slavism, anti-Romani sentiment, scientific racism, white supremacy, Nordicism, social Darwinism, homophobia, ableism, and the use of eugenics. The ultranationalism of the Nazis originated in pan-Germanism and the ethno-nationalist ''Völkisch movement, Völkisch'' movement which had been a prominent aspect of German nationa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
