New Delhi: If you cherish the human-dog bond, this new book edited by Hemali Sodhi is for you. With 45 original pieces by some of India’s leading writers, new voices and individuals who have dedicated their lives to animal welfare, The Book of Dog is a testament to how deeply dogs touch human lives, to the special bond humans have with them, and the unique place they hold.
Published by HarperCollins India, The Book of Dog — edited by Hemali Sodhi — will be released online on 19 January at 7 pm on SoftCover, ThePrint’s e-venue to launch select non-fiction books.
The book is a project to which the editor and all the authors have contributed for free. All royalties will go to registered animal welfare charities.
Contributors include writer and film-maker Gulzar, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, journalist and writer Mark Tully, novelist Anita Nair, MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, author Ruskin Bond, novelist and columnist Shobhaa De, writer Jerry Pinto, and journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, all of whom have shared stories to celebrate the remarkable dogs they have known and loved.
HarperCollins India Executive Publisher Udayan Mitra said, “Somehow, when I think back to a fun, happy moment — from yesterday or from long ago — that brings a smile to my lips, it almost invariably seems to involve a dog. That’s one of the things that is special about dogs — they make the time spent with them so memorable.”
Mitra added that The Book of Dog “is full of many such precious moments and memories — real-life incidents recounted in their inimitable way by some wonderful writers who are also dog-lovers”.
“It’s a book that’s a real joy to read — whether you choose to dip into it at random or read it from cover to cover,” he said.
Hemali Sodhi is the founder of A Suitable Agency, which represents writers and advises them on corporate communications and brand strategy. She is also the head of communications at the Centre for Policy Research, a leading think tank based in Delhi, and consults with the New India Foundation, a Bengaluru-based NGO. She defines herself as a dog person and supports several animal welfare organisations.