Books and Beyond with Bound

It might be time to ditch the traditional path to success and follow the path of “evil”! In this episode, Michelle and Tara speak with Anand Neelakanthan, author of the ‘The Asura Way’, a book that redefines the asura lifestyle and explores why “negative” traits like anger, pride, competition, commonly associated with the asuras, can actually benefit us!In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.Anand talks about why he ‘became an asura’, why he thinks the stories our parents tell us were invented to keep us in check, and why we need to wholeheartedly embrace the “evil” within us!Tune in! ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What does one of India's top entrepreneurs have to say about writing, making money, and marketing books?In this episode, Tara and Michelle speak with Ankur Warikoo, bestselling author of 'Make Epic Money', a book that teaches you everything you wish you knew about money!Ankur talks about how his relationship with money changed, gaining financial freedom, and writing a book for youngsters to learn everything about money that nobody tells them. He also talks about how he started writing, his biggest tip for writers, and the three marketing strategies he used to create a bestselling book! Bonus: Ankur also answers crowdsourced questions about managing money and tips for young writers and entrepreneurs!Tune in!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:The Fountainhead - Ayn RandRework - David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason FriedAtmamun - Kapil GuptaAtomic Habits - James ClearThe Psychology of Money - Morgan Housel‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Discover some of the finest works of Indian detective fiction, all in one place!In this episode, Michelle and Aishwarya speak with Tarun Saint, curator of 'The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction', Volumes 1 and 2! The first of its kind, the anthology compiles everything from intriguing whodunits, supernatural mysteries, and serial murders, spread across two volumes.Join us as Tarun talks about going from reading Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, to curating some of India's best detective fiction from authors like Satyajit Ray to Vikram Chandra in this long-awaited anthology. He also discusses his previous work in speculative fiction, the increasing number of women writers in detective fiction, and what the detective fiction scene in India could look like going forward! Tune in! Books and authors mentioned in this episode:The Sherlock Holmes series - Arthur Conan DoyleThe Famous Five series - Enid BlytonThe Nancy Drew series - Carolyn KeeneThe Hardy Boys series - Franklin W.  DixonThe Lottery - Shirley JacksonLamb to the Slaughter - Roald DahlThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What's it like being a female taxi driver in a city notorious for being unsafe for women?In this episode, Michelle speaks with Manjula Padmanabhan, author of 'Taxi', whose protagonist, 'Maddy', runs a women's-only taxi service in Delhi! And when Maddy receives an attractive job offer as a pretend male chauffeur for a powerful old man, she accepts and becomes 'Madan'. But what happens when the lines blur between 'Maddy' and 'Madan' and she finds herself questioning her identity? Join us as Manjula talks about her inspiration behind the book, her award-winning play 'Harvest', and why Manjula herself never learnt to drive!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:Why Men Rape - Tara KaushalWhite Tiger - Aravind AdigaEquations - Shivani SybilThrough The Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There - Lewis CarollThe Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

South Asia boasts a less than 1% divorce rate. But the real reason behind it is far from happy marriages. In this episode, Tara and Michelle sit down with Aisha Sarwari and Shasvathi Siva, as they talk about misogyny and marriages in South Asia. Aisha's book, 'Heart Tantrums', is a memoir that addresses her immigrant life and her marriage to a man with a personality-altering brain tumor and how, despite the grief and abuse she faced, she was told that being a devoted wife would fix everything.Shasvathi's book, 'Divorce is Normal', is a handy guidebook that aims to normalize divorce and provide legal, emotional, and mental support for anyone going through divorce, or considering it. What is it like to be a divorced woman in South Asia and why is there so much stigma attached?In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. Join us in a thought-provoking conversation as we delve into the realities of South Asian marriages, societal expectations, and why it's always better to "struggle with the community"!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:When I Hit You - Meena KandasamyRewriting My Happily Ever After - Ranjani RaoHow Much is Too Much? - Neha MehrotraThe Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret AtwoodAll About Love - Bell Hooks‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Find out what it was like growing up in post-independence India through the eyes of a man who lived through it all!Join Michelle as she speaks with Bhaskar Roy, author of 'Fifty Year Road', a personal memoir like no other. Bhaskar talks about growing up during the Naxalbari uprising - the armed peasant revolt of 1967 in West Bengal. He shares his earliest memories of witnessing the violence of the Naxalite movement, stories of his parents and their activism, and risky assignments that he's covered during his days as a journalist, including watching a car blow up in front of his eyes!In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.Tune in for a never-before-seen view of India's history!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García MárquezSons and Lovers - D.H. LawrenceMovies mentioned in this episode:The Calcutta Trilogy - Mrinal Sen (Director)‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

"We will pay the price for the sins of our forefathers"In this episode, Michelle speaks with Santanu Bhattacharya, author of 'One Small Voice' - a thought-provoking coming-of-age book about the politics of modern India, whose protagonist witnesses an act of mob violence in the communal riots of 1992 and is haunted by it for the rest of his life.Santanu speaks about watching multiple videos of the riots for research, being a part of the generation of writers who grew up witnessing it, and why he feels like his whole life has been a passive researcher for this book.Tune in!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:The Memoirs of Valmiki Rao - Lindsay PereiraQuarterlife - Devika RegeA Burning - Megha MajumdarThe Association of Small Bombs - Karan MahajanThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John BoyneThe Shadow Lines - Amitav GhoshOliver Twist - Charles Dickens‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

One powerful secret. Two stolen paintings. And a man who will decide the fate of the world. Join Michelle as she sits down with Tarun Mehrishi, author of ‘The Portrait of a Secret’ - a novel inspired by true events. In an epic combination of art heist, historical fiction and spy thriller, Tarun’s book explores the aftermath of the theft of two priceless paintings and a secret that has the RAW, ISI and the CIA scrambling to gain control.Tarun talks about how the book was inspired by India’s actual history of stolen art, how he acquired the inside scoop on spy work, and how his book is being adapted for the screen! Tune in!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:Wilbur SmithClear and Present Danger - Tom Clancy The Hunt for Red October - Tom ClancyCalling Sehmat - Harinder Singh SikkaMovies mentioned in this episode:Raazi - Meghna Gulzar (Director)‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Find out what centuries-old epics have to offer in the modern era!In this episode, Michelle sits down with Amit Majmudar and Shantanu Gupta to discuss all things mythology. Amit talks about his book, 'The Book of Vows', which is a retelling of the Mahabharata through all the vows that took place in the epic, sprinkled with his own insights on ethics and values. Shantanu's 'Teachings from the Ramayana' is a handy book of 25 case studies for families to navigate daily life challenges through crosswords and reflective exercises.  In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. Amit and Shantanu discuss the need for contemporary retellings, the treasure-trove of invaluable lessons they contain, and lesser-known versions that will change the way you view the epics!Tune in!‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

"One fine morning, he's told, 'Your father is dead, your brother's been exiled, so now you have to go and become king"’.In this episode, Tara and Michelle talk to Shatrujeet Nath, author of the series 'Warlord of Ayodhya'. The series focuses on Bharat - Ram's brother - who was never given a voice in the Ramayana. It tells the story of an untrained, unwilling hero who is thrown into the spotlight and has to face troubles far beyond his imagination. Will he succeed or will he bring doom to his kingdom?In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.Shatrujeet also talks about how Bharat caught his attention, how he wrote adrenaline-filled battle scenes and how he's excited to conclude his series in an epic revelation from the Ramayana that is sure to stun the reader!Tune in!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table - Roger Lancelyn GreenThe Blade Itself - Joe AbercrombieThe Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott LynchPaolo BacigalupiJ.R.R. TolkeinChina Miéville‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Three sisters, none of whom wanted to fall in love, and yet they did.Are you ready for some dramatic, relatable, and light-hearted desi romance? In this episode, Michelle and Tara speak to Andaleeb Wajid about her most popular romance series- 'Jasmine Villa'. The series comprises three books, each following one of the three sisters of Jasmine Villa as they navigate Indian family dynamics, sisterhood, and find unexpected romance in a tangle of complex, interconnected relationships. Andaleeb talks about writing romance in spite of being a cynic, adding drama in her stories for fun, and why we keep returning to rom-coms despite their unrealistic standards!  Join us as we watch this romance take off (literally)!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:Pride and Prejudice - Jane AustenOpen Water - Caleb Azumah NelsonNormal People - Sally RooneyIron Flame - Rebecca YarrosSomeone Like Her - Awais KhanThe Partition Trilogy - Manreet Sodhi SomeshwarNever Let Me Go - Kazuo IshiguroA Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

How did one disastrous field trip turn a history teacher's life upside down?In this episode, Michelle speaks with Anjum Hasan, author of 'History's Angel'- a riveting novel that explores life as a religious minority in modern India. When an easygoing history teacher is provoked by a student into losing his temper, he finds his life thrown into chaos as he battles with what it means to be a Muslim in present times. Anjum recalls stories from her childhood and growing up Muslim, and talks about why Delhi is the perfect setting for her story, with a rich past that is unraveled through her protagonist’s eyes.Tune in for an unforgettable revisit into history!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:The Discovery of India - Jawaharlal NehruAn Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal - Parvati SharmaAkbar of Hindustan - Parvati SharmaTT3cSrG4r1OZHzHhecNZ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Imagine a crowded railway station where an attractive stranger catches your eye. A train passes by and– they’re gone!In this episode, Michelle sits down with Damyanti Biswas to discuss her book ‘The Blue Bar’, as it unpacks the disappearance of a woman dressed in a blue sequined saree from a crowded Mumbai railway station and how, 13 years later, a trail of murders begin with nothing to show for it- except blue sequins. They discuss how Damyanti sat in railway stations watching trains as part of her research, how she obsessively read about bar dancers, and why The Blue Bar is a Mumbai novel, through and through. In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.What secrets and terrible crimes lie behind the glamor of Bollywood, dance bars, and mangroves in Mumbai? Tune in to find out!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:Beautiful Thing: Inside the Secret World of Bombay’s Dance Bars - Sonia FaleiroThe Last Courtesan - Manish GaekwadMaximum City: Bombay Lost and Found - Suketu MehtaShantaram - Gregory David RobertsSacred Games - Vikram ChandraThe Secret of More - Tejaswini Apte-RahmManjhi’s Mayhem - Tanuj SolankiMovies mentioned in this episode:Chandni Bar - Madhur Bhandarkar (Director)‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Picture this: Kerala, a family that suffers a strange hereditary affliction- and everywhere they look is the very thing that could kill them.In this episode Tara talks to Abraham Verghese about his bestselling book 'The Covenant of Water'. The book is set in the Malabar Coast of Kerala and follows three generations of a family where, in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning. Abraham talks about how his book was loosely inspired by his mother's 120-paged, illustrated depiction of her childhood, his experience in medicine, and how he always carries a pocketful of knowledge about rare diseases!Join us as we find out why this was Oprah's book club pick and why she simply did not want the book to end!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:God of Small Things - Arundhati RoyThe Better Man - Anita NairThe Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor DostoevskyThe Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois - Honorée Fanonne JeffersMaster and Commander - Patrick O’Brian‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What happens when two women find themselves in the midst of horrendous crimes? Join us as Tara and Michelle speak to two avid thriller writers– Devashish Sardana and Nidhi Upadhyay. In this episode, Devashish discusses his book “The Girl with Broken Dreams”, a story of a feisty CBI investigator who finds herself in a quest for the truth behind a string of suicides, while battling her own demons. And Nidhi Upadhyay talks about her book “I Hear You”, a story of a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, and how she starts talking to the baby in her womb- only to find him responding! In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. Tune in to hear how they started their thriller-writing journey, how they kept finding their way back despite having day jobs, and the concerning contents of a thriller writer’s search history! Books and authors mentioned in this episode:The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas HarrisAnd Then There Were None - Agatha ChristieGone Girl - Gillian FlynnGodaan - Munshi PremchandWhere the Crawdads Sing - Delia OwensMovies and TV shows mentioned in this episode:Misery - Stephen King (Director- Rob Reiner)Mahabharata - B.R. Chopra‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Why do some peoples’ life stories fascinate us?Back with a bang for a brand new season, Tara and Michelle share their love for stories about real people. They discuss tales of extraordinary courage, struggles, perseverance, successes, and failures. What draws us to these stories? Are only some stories deserving of a platform? Whose stories do we not hear enough of? Tune in to find out!Books and authors mentioned in this episode:Meow Meow: The Incredible True Story of Baby Patankar - Srinath RaoNowhere Man: The Story of Captain Kamal Bakshi, Missing Since the 1971 Indo-Pak War - Shivalik BakshiUnbroken - Indrani MukerjeaWomen in the Wild: Stories of India’s Most Brilliant Women Wildlife Biologists - Anita ManiThe Taliban and I - Sushmita BandyopadhyayMadam Commissioner: The Extraordinary Life of an Indian Police Chief - Meeran Chadha BorwankarRemnants of a Separation - Aanchal MalhotraR.A.W Hitman: The Real Story of Agent Lima - Hussain ZaidiFriends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing - Matthew PerrySridevi: The South Years - Amborish Roy ChoudhuryShoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike - Phil KnightFire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Banaras - Radhika IyengarHis Majesty’s Headhunters: The Siege of Kohima that Shaped World History -  Mmhonlümo KikonWe Come From the Mist: Writings from MeghalayaTruck de India!: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Hindustan - Rajat UbhaykarWhat’s Left of the Jungle: A Conservation Story - Nitin SekarLady Doctors: The Untold Stories of India’s First Women in Medicine - Kavitha RaoAruna’s Story: The True Account of a Rape and its Aftermath - Pinki ViraniMovies and TV shows mentioned:Beckham - Fisher StevensTaali - Ravi JadhavProduced by Aishwarya Javalgekar‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Are you ready to go down the path of success? In this episode, Tara and Michelle talk to the ISKCON monk Gopinath Das, author of “The Power of Karma Yoga: Decoding Ancient Wisdom for Lasting Success”. An IIT graduate turned monk, Gopinath Das is on a mission to educate modern society by combining science and profound life advice found in ancient texts. In an exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.What secrets of life do the ancient books hold? Tune in to find out! Books mentioned in this episode: Rafa: My Story- Rafael Nadal, John CarlinIrresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked- Adam AlterThe Obstacle is the Way- Ryan HolidayEgo is the Enemy- Ryan HolidayProduced by Aishwarya Javalgekar‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What happens if you are faced with a choice that complicates matters between your professional and personal lives? This episode sees Tara and Michelle dive into a conversation with Rheea Mukherjee and Gargi Rawat, as they explore the nuances of modern-day activism and the ethical dilemmas that come with it.Join us as we talk to Rheea Mukherjee about her book “The Girl Who Kept Falling In Love”, and how it uncovers the story of Kaya who hurtles into activism in her search for purpose, and along the way, witnesses extreme torment and heartfelt love. Will she conquer her insecurities and do what she set out to accomplish? The hosts also talk to Gargi Rawat, author of “Tiger Season”, about the complexities of the human-wildlife conflict as the protagonist Sunaina, embarks on a journey of wild-life conservation, controversies, and unintentional love. Will she find a balance among them?In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. Tune in for a thought-provoking episode!Books mentioned in this episode:The Adivasi Will Not Dance: Stories- Hansda Sowvendra ShekharLeila- Prayaag AkbarThe Lottery- Shirley JacksonWhat’s Left of the Jungle: A Conservation Story- Nitin SekarMovies mentioned in this episode:Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya- Rajat MukherjeeThe List- Yomi AdegokeProduced by Aishwarya Javalgekar‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What is it like burning bodies amidst raging fires every day? Who are the corpse-burners and the owners of the “sacred fire”?In this episode, Tara speaks to Radhika Iyengar, author of “Fire On The Ganges: Life Among The Dead In Banaras”, as she provides us insight into the Doms’ lives- the community tasked with handling the last rites of the dead. Researched and compiled from her interactions and interviews with the community, Radhika’s book explores the individual stories of struggles and success within the Dom community.Join us in conversation with Tara and Radhika as they talk about the everyday lives of the Doms, how their work affects them, and how some of them are defying all odds to build a life for themselves. Produced by Aishwarya Javalgekar‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we will shine a spotlight on two compelling contemporary voices each month, individuals who are reshaping the landscape of Indian literature. In this special episode of Books & Beyond, Tara and Michelle converse with Aditi Kumar and Shivalik Bakshi as they take us on a tour of the Indian Army and give us an insider’s view of defence families.Exploring the heartbreaking story of the forgotten men of the 1971 Indo-Pak war and the relentless search to get them back home, Shivalik Bakshi brings us the story of his own uncle, Capt Kamal Bakshi who was declared ‘Missing-Believed Killed’ after the Battle of Chamb, in his book “Nowhere Man”. Aditi Kumar’s novel “Operation Payback” is the story of a Veer Nari who decides to join the Indian Army to honour her husband’s legacy, and delivers an audacious plan of action to deliver much-deserved payback not just for herself but for the entire nation. Tune in to hear heartfelt and never-before-heard stories about individuals who serve in the armed forces!Produced by Aishwarya Javalgekar‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.